What's the Difference Between a Lesser GoldFinch and the American GoldFinch?

When we bought the storage cabinet for my craftroom, it was in a box in the garage and it was way over 100 lbs for some reason I decided to move it and it fell and I fell with it strait back onto the cement in the garage hitting my back and butt. My back was very sore and I was on a heating pad for many many nights. It was hard to sit for long or at the computer. I did not hurt my tailbone this time as I have in the past. I always seem to fall strait back for some reason. But my back feels out of whack now. I also have very sore neck and shoulders..........

I don't remember if I got to visit many of you last week after my posting or not, I had to get off the computer after just visitng a few friends and typing my post.

Then later in the week I came online to update this blog a bit and thought my back was feeling better. So I am up to making visits and posts again. I can sit here once again. Yay!

I have been photographing these birds and have some wonderful photos of what I believe to be the Lesser Goldfinch after much reading. But I was so confused between the Lesser Goldfinch and the American Goldfinch that my head was going crazy and hurt! LOL! then I learned the birds have distinctive features and my head didn't hurt anymore.

Here is a full size photo of the Lesser Goldfinch. Click on the photo to get a close up view.
Now click this link to view the American GoldFinch. Do you see the distinctive difference between the two birds?

I have also taken photographs of the American GoldFinch but they have not turned out as well as the photographs I have taken of the Lesser GoldFinch. The easiest way to tell the two apart is the GoldFinch has a colorful orange beak and is a larger bird, the size of the American GoldFinch is 5" approximately. The Lesser GoldFinch is smaller about 3 1/2 to 4 1/2". I love these birds because they are so tiny and cute. They sing so sweetly too. The color of beak of the Lesser GoldFinch is a grey one.
Also they wear their black caps differently as well. The American GoldFinch tips his cap at an angle where as the Lesser GoldFinch pulls his halfway down over his eyes.
Also the back of a Lesser GoldFinch is olive tan where as the GoldFinch has gorgeous yellow worn both above and below. And the smaller Lesser GoldFinch yellow belly is very pronounced compared to his dark backside.
Here is a article to get to know your finches.
Here is another great website to check out All About Birds.

Another bird I have been trying to capture a better photo of is the Dark-eyed junco. I'm afraid this is not a good photo these birds are very skittish it seems and I had to zoom a long way and the photo didn't turn out that great. I need a better zoom lens on my camera even though it's a pretty great one, I can see for capturing bird photos a better lens would be wonderful. It's on the I want list!

Another bird I have been photographing is the White Crowned Sparrow. Again not the greatest photo, but it's a start.

I zoomed in an cropped the photo so it's rather small.

I have been spending a lot of time birding this year. It's so fun. I have always loved birds, but never learned their names or about them. So interesting. I love learning new things and this year I guess it will be all about birds. I have another photo of a bird, but I have not identified it yet. Well I did but forgot to right it down. I am now keeping track of what kind of birds I find in my yard this year.

Here is a complete list of birds from my area of California.

Here is a dozen common birds in Sacramento. Though I don't live in Sacramento I read this from the Sacramento Bee which is the major newspaper of our area.

1.House Finch
2.Mourning dove
3.Lesser goldfinch
4.American goldfinch
5.House sparrow
6.Western Scrub jay
7.Anna's hummingbird I seen this one yesterday, so pretty!
8.American Robin
9.Dark-eyed Junco the one I photographed is a (Oregon Junco)
10.Bushtit
11.Golden-crowned sparrow
12. Yellow-rumped warbler 

I have put a link to each bird I think? You know what's great about this site you get lots of information and sound and video too!

The biggest week for American birding is May 6 through the 16th. Click here to read more about it. 


Spring is on the way!
Here is a photo I took the day before yesterday which was so gorgeous outside that day like a spring day of yellow daffodil in my backyard.

Have a great weekend and Happy Friday! ~Kat

The Legend of St. Valentine

The story of Valentine's Day begins in the third century with an oppressive Roman emperor and a humble Christian martyr. The emperor was Claudius II. The Christian was Valentinus.
Claudius had ordered all Romans to worship twelve gods and he had made it a crime punishable by death to associate the Christians. But Valentinus was dedicated to the ideals of Christ, and not even the threat of death could keep him from practicing his beliefs. He was arrested and imprisoned.
During the last week of Valentnus' life a remarkable thing happened. Seeing that he was a man of learning, the jailer asked whether his daughter Julia, might be brought to Valntinus for lessons. She had been blind since birth.
Julia was a pretty young girl with a quick mind. Valentinus read stories of Rome's history to her. He described the world of nature to her. He taught her arithmetic and told her about God. She saw the world through his eyes, trusted in his wisdom and found comfort in his quite strength.
"Valentinus, does God really hear our prayers?" Julia asked one day.
"Do you know what I pray for every morning and every night? I pray that I might see. I want so much to see everything you've told me about!"
"God does what is best for us if we will only believe in Him," Valentnus said.
"Oh, Valentinus, I do believe," Julia said intensely. "I do."
She knelt and grasped his hand. then they prayed together.
Suddenly there was a brilliant light in the prison cell. radiant, Julia cried, "Valentinus, I can see! I can see!"
"Praise be to God!" Valentinus exclaimed. On the eve of his death, Valentinus wrote a last note to Julia, urging her to stay close to God, and he signed it "From your Valentine".
His sentence was carried out the next day, February 14, 270 A.D, near a gate that was later named Porta Valentini in his memory. He was buriedat what is now the church of Praxedes in Rome.
It is said that Julia herself planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave. Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship. On each February 14, St. Valentine's Day, messages of affection, love and devotion are exchanged around the world.

I found this on a old greeting card I had received a long time ago. I loved reading the story of Valentine's Day and I still love reading it today.


Did you see my last post? if not check out my great photos I took of the Lesser Gold Finch and my new craft room photos.

This weekend I went to get Morgan and brought up to visit me. I gave her a scrapbook album and some papers and elements and let her decorate a scrapbook using photos I had taken of her and her friends that I had developed at Target. Morgan had a lot of fun decorating the album and she made some cute bookmarks as well for her friends.

Here is some photos of Morgan and her album.

The front of Morgan's Album, it turned out darling don't you think?

I have more bird photos to share with you, but I will do that next time. It's a different bird this time. Happy Valentine's Day! ~Kat

Craft Room Update & Lesser GoldFinch Photos

Finally I feel like posting my new updated craft room. I am waiting for a Hobinal Lamp to come before it will have that final touch, and for me to finish my cross stitch to hang over the craft and sewing desk as well.

So it's been nice having my craft things all organized! I love it.

I've been photographing what I think is the Lesser Gold Finch. One that comes around is a bit chunky and looks like it's going to have babies. I can't tell if it's a female or male though.

This is a gorgeous bird! I am waiting for a blue and black one to return as well as the Robins! Wow these are gorgeous photos I took! I just looked at them again and they turned out fantastic.

I just booked us about 5 days in Oregon back to Whaleshead Beach in the cabins again, where we in September of 09. This time we are taking Morgan with us and our trip is planned for June 12. I am so excited! Morgan is really excited too!
We will also be going to Medford this time as well catching some sightseeing & photographing of covered bridges on the way home. But anyway our trip is mostly planned and the cabin is booked.

Have a great weekend! ~Kat