Breakfast in the Suburbs

Steve captured this female lesser goldfinch as she waited her turn at the feeder. She's sitting in a redbud tree in the back yard, watching Steve and her little finch friends, and keeping an eye on the thistle.

Sunday Omen

Yesterday, while I was walking, a ladybug crashed into my palm. I lifted my hand and carried her a while, thinking the landing a lucky omen, a sign of the great day to come. (And it was beautiful; 88 degrees in the evening!) She stayed a while, then lifted her wings and took off, heading for a stand of willows. Later, in the backyard, a female lesser goldfinch nibbled a bit of seed, then flew to this nesting ball, hanging in our maple. The material is lamb's wool, and this is the second ball we've put out for the finches. (A ball will last two seasons, if you bring it in during wintertime.) She plucked a mouthful, and then she too was off, to build a nest somewhere. Click on the pic for a hawk's eye view. (Photo by SPT)