Friday, October 1, 2010

Finches, Gold and Purple, of the Vermilon River.


Purple Finch

Purple Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch
The purple finches were photographed early in the spring in both the woods and at my feeder, and the American Gold Finches, all in the forest. Both these birds stay here over the winter. The fascinating thing about the goldfinch is that it has a summer and winter plumage; the only bird I know that changes plumage seasonally. Both are males, and in summer plumage. I mention that they stay because we are now well aware of winter coming. In fact tonight the areas north of the watershed will receive their first snowfall. Just so you you understand "north of the watershed" refers to areas where the rivers and lakes flow into James Bay, and the Artic. Boomer and I live south of the watershed. That's probably only about 400 miles north of us as the crow flies. The Vermilon is a tributary ultimately of Lake Huron.

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