The goldfinches are back!

A pair of these cute little birds (Washington’s state bird, come to find out) found my feeder in the spring and I was so delighted by their vibrant yellow color and beautiful song.  But they sort of disappeared during June and July - so I was excited to see a whole family of them today.  I actually heard them before I saw them.   Listen…

I decided to explore a nearby empty field/wooded lot that backs onto a wetlands park, just to see if there was anything interesting (before someone sells and builds on it).    A few pines and maples, a couple of apple trees, lots of wild blackberries, scotchbroom, yarrow and and such…   even some wild pink roses climing over a tree.   But the pink that really caught my attention was the wild sweet peas.  They are everywhere right now.

  
As I came to a clearing near the edge of the wetlands, I a hawk started crying out. I could see him way at the top of a tall pine…. he kept up the noise - I don’t think he liked me wandering back there, because he made a big swoop around the field, circling me (staying up high) and landing back in the tree.

I tried to catch a good picture of him in flight but they were all a bit blurry. He sat there yelling at me some more, and then made another cirlce around, so I decided to leave him in peace…. and as I left his view, he was quiet again. It’s not lilke I was going to grab his lunch or anything….

So that’s what I saw today.  You?