Goldfinches

They’re like falling stars in the back yard — bright fluffs of yellow with dramatic black accents.

The volunteer sunflower patch that grew beneath our bird feeder looks pretty rag tag, but this is when it gets most interesting to the goldfinches.

The females are much more discreet, but equally fond of sunflower seeds. We have several feeders with them, but the finches prefer to harvest their own.

Sometimes, polite requests to share are met with stony refusal.

Their chatter always makes me smile. They’re later nesters, and this time of year they are especially evident. They’re one of the treasures around here.