• Saturday-What'sUP April 21 - 07:57 pm

Melanie Hakala Rossi was checking out a few of our Keweenaw bird visitors recently and snapped some pictures that make it seem like she was sitting right there on the feeder or the branch with them, since they're such vivid close-ups.

Her first two shots are of two American Goldfinches, with the top one being a young male that seems all puffed up. You can see the drab brownish plumage there, amongst the bright yellow that's starting to appear. This is the time of year when they shed that dull look and "pop" out with the brilliant yellow feathers, making them quite noticeable all around. The second of the goldfinch photos, shows that change in a more completed stage. Check out the sunflower seed in that finches bill, it's almost bigger than his mouth!

Melanie's second set of photos are of a type of sparrow, I'm guessing, but I'm not certain what one. Perhaps one of our birding experts can chime in with some help on identifying it for sure. Her second photo of this set really amazes me, as the clarity is so sharp, you can distinguish the little bumps around this bird's eye and just about see right down its bill, even. Talk about getting up close and personal, Melanie sure knows how to get right in their face, so we get to see every detail.

While I've never seen a juvenile, the chick's markings look a lot like a pine siskin, which often flock with finches.

Lovely bird pictures.

Love bird pictures:)

The yellow Finches are turning yellow here I had to put out 2 more feeder's, there is a falcon nesting near by and every once in a while he decides to come and buzz the feeder's. Then it takes a while for the smaller bird's to come back. I also noticed that a humming bird came and looked for the feeders we put out, so now we have put them out and we had a male Humming bird visit the feeders. I enjoy going out in the morning's and hearing thr birds sing. Ah Spring !!!

The second two look like Pine Siskins to me; they are also a type of finch.

Beautiful....

These little birds are so cute....of all the places we've lived, the Goldfinch was the most plentiful in ND, especially when dandelions are going to seed. They would gather in flocks in our yard.

LOVE the pictures! Thank you!

The Goldfinch, Iowa's State Bird!

Great pics Melanie! I agree it looks like a Pine Siskin.

I absolutely LOVE the bird photos today!!!

I'm guessing a House Finch...considering the striped breast.

Hi. I love the photos of the small birds. :-)

The beak is much too 'dainty' for it to be a House Finch. Check out www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/pine_siskin/id

At 36000 feet heading back to San Jose, checking Pasty
posts! Had a good visit with family and friends. Now that I am
retired, I can come back when the desire strikes. Gotta love
airborne wi-fi!

Hi Roger, a little late here, but how I envy you returning to CA! San Jose is beautiful!