Monday 27 August 2007

Charming Goldfinches



Illustration Fridays topic this week is 'visitors'
My submission is this watercolour of a pair of Goldfinches that were frequent visitors to my garden up until recently.
They always came as a pair and fed from the nut feeder together.
I assumed they were a Mr. and Mrs, hard to tell because, unusually enough in the birdy world, the female is as colourful as the male, with just a little less red around the head.
But now that I think about it, they never showed up with their brood in tow like the Blue tits and the Green finches, and if they always ate together then who was minding the chicks?
So maybe they were two Dads out shopping for their Mrs' and hungry brood back at the nests!



Anyway I haven't seen them around lately, they're probably livin' La Vida Loca in Spain 'till next spring, lucky devils!

By the way, the collective noun for a flock of goldfinches is a 'charm' of goldfinches.
Charming!

8 comments:

Valaine said...

Beautiful work, and I liked reading your post :)

Anonymous said...

I love watercolor, I just don't like to mix paints so I have't done much. You're finches are lovely and bright. I especially like the little guy staring at me. He/she's definitely has charisma. And thanks for your visit and comment. Ducks, geese. All I know is that they're big and white and aren't Ibis.

Cathy said...

They are wonderful little birds, aren't they? I haven't seen so many around this year, but there used to be loads in my garden - neat ones, scruffy ones, little fluffy ones - absolutely delightful!

bookbabie said...

Ooh, excellent watercolor, I thought it was a vivid photograph:)

Debbie said...

This is totally gorgeous! And I love the "charming" story! Great blog! Thank you for the kind comment on my blog. Seeing your incredible work I can't believe that you are afraid of backgrounds! I wish I has half as good as you!! Another Terry Pratchett fan - YAY!! If you'd like more info on the Gorey I worked off of please feel free to email me. I noticed the link is gone off my profile so it's themusewithin@verizon.net. All I can say is that you are extraordinary!

ELLA ELVIANA said...

wow, i'm amazed by your beautiful realistic watercolor...this is awesome!

Alexiev said...

That pretty birds... very to tier to us... Greetings of Buenos Aires...

http://www.alexiev.com.ar
Alexiev Store

janie said...

Thanks to everybody, it's all very encouraging and confidence inspiring.