A Goldfinch One-winged Takeoff

Subtitle: “They went thataway”.

Looking back I’m a little surprised I don’t post American Goldfinches more often. I think they’re attractive subjects even in their winter plumage so maybe it’s because they’re so strongly associated with feeders and I don’t shoot setups. If so that’s a hang-up I need to overcome.

Three days ago I found a few of them at Bear River MBR and even though they were only marginally cooperative I did get one shot that makes me smile.

 

1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in

They were feeding on this plant (a species I don’t recognize) along the refuge auto-loop road and usually there were other stems blocking the goldfinches but I caught this one out in the open. I noticed the bird look to my left and thought it might take off in that direction so I fired off a quick burst and got a single frame as it began to lift off.

The incredible speed and reflexes of birds always amaze me. This one was perched on the stem at such an angle that it couldn’t open its left wing as it took off to our left (the wing was blocked by the stem) so it simply didn’t and used only its right wing. My timing was perfect to get that wing in a position I like a lot, the bird is looking in the same direction the wing is pointing which I believe enhances the photo and I had enough shutter speed to freeze the incredibly fast action.

I don’t think it’s a great image but I do think it’s “cute” and I always enjoy “they went thataway” poses…

Ron

PS – We finally have snow and lots of it!

It snowed all evening and during the night and it’s still coming down as I type this at 5:22 AM. There appears to be about 10″ of fresh snow on my deck and I couldn’t be happier about that. Life will be tough for our birds for a while but it’s a good thing for them in the long run. My bad back will likely pay a price when I clear snow off my driveway, patio and sidewalk but the alternative (no snow) would be much, much worse. Hallelujah!

 

 

35 Comments

  1. Marvelous shot Ron!

    Charlotte

  2. The photo and “thataway” comment made me laugh. 🙂

    The you’re “still shoveling wet snow” one? Not so much. Here’s one more vote for getting a kid and a brace! I definitely do not miss the days of shoveling or of digging out the car after an ice storm — and I was still in my 20s. I also don’t miss the amount of time spent on my derrière (thank goodness this was before camera phones and YouTube!) because my feet could find even the littlest patch of ice to slip on.

    We (selfishly) need you healthy so we can get our daily fix! 😉

    • Marty, I don’t shovel much of it. I use a snow blower on the driveway and sidewalk so I only have to shovel my front steps and part of my patio so I can get to my barbecue (I BBQ all winter, including during blizzards…).

  3. They are beautiful birds. We have a few in our yard trying to feed with the Lesser Goldfinches.

  4. Gorgeous photo! Congrats for your snow… but I’m glad it’s not me shoveling 🙂

  5. Pay a neighbor kid to shovel. I realized that I was old enough to 1. Pay someone else to move me (pizza and beer were over) and 2. Heavy lifting could be bought and paid for too. I factored in not paying for it and doing it myself then how many days/hours I lost due to being on the couch or in the bed. 😀

  6. I have been humming Let it snow, let it snow let it snow…….

    Lovely colors, I find the soft buff, tans and browns of many of our small song birds very appealing. The colors are a soft gradience.

  7. HOORAY for precipitation.
    Whatever its colour (and speaking of colour, colour me jealous – another day nudging 100 here).
    Echoing those who suggested a brace. Having crawled across the lawn before now to pull myself up on the veranda steps it isn’t fun.
    And I love your goldfinch too.

  8. Ron,

    Nice (and cute) shot. I caught a Penguin in Antarctica with the same pose. Title: “That way to the beach!”

    And isn’t it beautiful out there with all the snow?

    Stephen

  9. Adorable! Do you photograph Cardinals? We have year-round Cardinals here in Phoenix. First time I saw one it was quite a surprise!

  10. FLEASE DON’T SHOVEL! Get a teenage neighbor to do it….barter his sevices for photos….a win win situation…

  11. I don’t think it was really a one-wing take off. I think that bird was trying to tell you something. Knowing that you were a photographer it was trying to tell you. “They went thata way”…..(not sure who “they” were)….

  12. I agree about goldfinches, feeder birds, but man are they fun to watch.
    Ron, GET A BRACE!! Think of it as a way to stay comfortable shooting with your camera. If your back gets to the point of having to be on the floor on your hands and knees you will have a hard time being in your truck let alone trying to shoot out the window. I know, been there, done that!
    Great News on the snow. We are experiencing a respite here, bright blue sky, few clouds, 3-5 inches of snow on the ground, breezy and 40 degrees. Yesterday had coyote tracks in the fresh snow just outside our patio along with rabbit tracks. It’s great to be alive!!

  13. Ron, I’ve had 4 spinal procedures. Let me recommend that before you do what I do- stubbornly dig planting holes, carry large heavy objects, rake and shovel, stand at your desk, etc. – try this other thing I’ve done – get a brace and wear it. Works for me. I just turned down another epidural. They wear off.

    We don’t have American goldfinches, or snow. We have lesser goldfinches, Lawrence’s goldfinches, fog and rain. We rejoice in them all.

  14. Cute! 🙂 Appears to be “directing traffic”…….:) YES! on the snow! 🙂 Hopefully it has MUCH moisture in it and more will be coming before winters end! Need the snow pack to keep things from rapid growth/drying/fire for sure….. On another note I wonder if the refuge puts out those annual calendar reports every year?

  15. I love goldfinches .. and I photograph them quite frequently .. eating seeds off dead sunflowers .. sorry about your back.. my husband was injected with cortisone in his back and it helped him tremendously!!!!! I received one in my hip and thumb !! Works wonderful for us!!!!!

  16. Beautiful shot, Ron! Imagine my delight this morning as I was reading the December issue of the ABA’s Birding magazine- and I came across your wonderful photos of a kiting American Kestrel accompanying an article on the purpose of the alula. Then the Goldfinch appeared in my inbox- a double dose of Dudley to start the day! Glad you finally got some snow. At this point I’m thrilled for any precip…

    • “a double dose of Dudley”

      Wow, that’s a scary thought, Diane!

      I agree, precip in any form is welcome around here at this point. It’s been looking dire in my neck of the woods for a very long time.

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