Seen in the entire continent, winters in lower continent and spends summer and nesting in northern parts of continent.

Numerous in thickets, weedy fields and woodland edges. Very fond of thistle seed. Forages in flocks even when nesting. Flocks fly in a distinctive up and down roller-coaster pattern.

Male has a strikingly distinctive yellow body with a black cap, wings, and tail. The male also has a white rump and white coverts (small covering feathers) under the tail which extend to tip of tail.. Immature and male winter plumage is like the female but browner above.

Female duller with olive above and lacks the black cap.

Whilst I was camping, going about my routine, a large charm (possibly as many as thirty or forty) of American goldfinch invaded my surrounds. It was a good thing that I had my phone in my pocket, because I quickly get it out, turn it on, select the camera and snap two shots of three finches who land on a branch directly next to my campsite. I know, this photo is nothing when compared with the ones taken during previous years. Well, the camera I used for taking all those previous photos has gone the way of all things manmade, yes it has been replaced.

However, the replacement camera, my phone, must needs render sufficient for now.

Now, that was so much better, I had to cover up to sleep last night.

Arise, dress in my summer blues, and continue my drive east on SR 20, but in five miles pull out at the Washington pass viewpoint. However, the road was closed and so I did a turn around and got out to photograph some local birds.

I arrive at seven am and notice that the orange fence across the southeast corner has been torn down again and go first to restring the orange plastic across the opening. Then I walk along the new fence line picking up trash and filling the pockets in my jeans that I find on the ground, some that the fence crew had left as well as that which this project has brought to the surface.

Then, in the northwest corner I see something yellow on the ground just ahead and walk to it expecting to find more trash. Too my surprise I find a male goldfinch which is totally disheveled and take a photo of him.

Since serving as overnight security most nights during the start of this project, I have been able to noticed quite a few animals, mostly birds that have lost their homes due to this hall build. I suspect that they will survive because we are going into warmer times.

Still, not knowing of his condition, I touch him lightly with my finger and his head comes up to look at me but then pulls it back into his down sleeping bag.

I leave him alone and when I check back on him later he was able to arouse himself and be gone before the workers arrive.

2010 Journey,