The saga of the Alpha male Goldfinch

Tonight the weather was beautiful so I spent several hours outside eating and reading a book. I was watching the thistle sock closely and the American Goldfinches were landing and eating most of the time I was out there. There was a female and several males.

The female and several of the males can get along and eat at the sock at the same time. Here are 2 males.

Here is a young Goldfinch and a female Goldfinch, maybe mommy.

The four of them were eating from time to time and then the Alpha male would show up and they all had to take off, leaving the Alpha male to eat by himself. If they tried to stay, the Alpha male would nip at them until they flew off.

Here is the bully Alpha male.

Great Blue Heron

Like I was saying in my earlier posts, besides there being 3 Green Herons, there seems to be at least 3 Great Blue Herons on the lake I walk around as well. They like to pose for me.

Wood Duck

Normally on my walks I might see one female Wood Duck or a male and female Wood Duck. I don't usually see 2 female Wood Ducks together, but it was certainly nice to see.

Female House Finch

This was the first time that I had a male American Goldfinch and a female House Finch eating from the thistle sock at the same time.

There's something in your teeth

It is always hard for me to pass up a good Mallard picture. This female would not leave me alone. When I was standing near the shore scanning for more birds, she just kept looking at me like she needed me to take a pic. I didn't want to break it to her that she had algae in her mouth.

Green Herons

There are at least 3 Green Herons on my little lake. There is the immature in the last post and these 2. I took these pictures today at opposite sides of the lake.

I didn't notice the turtle in the first picture until I got home!

Rain, Rain...

Even though it is raining, I am going to try and get in some birding today. We really do need the rain.

Immature Green Heron

Today there was an immature Green Heron at the lake. It looked exactly like the picture in my field guide.