While the fireflies have seemingly diminished for the summer, the sun of the season has not quite changed its tune. Yet. The mornings are still damp with the notion that a humid day is on the way. The evening shadows are not much different than they were a fortnight ago. But yet, the yard did seem to dance just a little more today. Though the ground remains bone hard and the grass is only hanging on to green in the lowest lying areas, a spark of color juts out from here or there. The color of the sky remains that dull color of a mad winter ocean. Bleak and melancholy. Perhaps, in a few day’s time…wisps of ashen smoke will linger in.
But, looking down at the yard, and not up, today’s color was yellow. The woodland sunflowers are stretching out tall and the black-eyed Susans apparently did not get the memo about the drought-like conditions because they are burgeoning to the point of winning flower of the year.
Cue the dainty American Goldfinch. Finches that is. For if there is one, there are sure to be more. Rarely if ever do I see but one goldfinch. Nearly always a pair. Like koi in a pond, one is but a rarity.
Now is high time for them…while nearly all other songbirds have built nests, raised a brood (or two), now it’s their turn. They breed much later in the season than most other birds. A pattern that is in tune with what they eat. Consider them a pseudo-vegetarian of the bird world. Seed heads make for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and everything in between. They supplement, but seedeaters make for most of their meal plan.
Summer is still in full swing, with the added bonus of the Paris Olympics going on.
When we looked out the front door and saw a pair, dinner for two, dining on a woodland sunflower patch, I thought: “I will never get that.” Meaning, by the time I grab my camera, they will be long gone. Then I thought, “What if I never try?”
I crawled on the floor. Nope, there were branches in the way. Shooting through a window is no easy feat. Bent knee and contorted hip was the least of my problems. I had a window to defeat. Thankfully, I was in my husband’s office, and I asked: “You think you can open that, without scaring them off?”
“I can try.”
Thrilled that our sashes remained silent, I was able to sit in my Twister position and photograph the two.
It wasn’t until I saw the pictures on my computer that I realized the bird was banded. Oh! The delight of more bling in my yard. Too sweet. The bands are obviously not made of silver, but still, when I saw the pictures come through on the download, it was a golden moment that I won’t soon forget. I am starting to lose track of the banded birds I have seen, both at work and at home. Just like am beginning to lose track of all those Olympic wins of all those hard working athletes!