Gold finches

 Everyday, last week, there are a couple of goldfinches, (carduelis carduelis, distelvink, putter) having a bath in my birdbath!

I greatly enjoy them. They are so colorful with a red face and yellow feathers.
They are so beautiful!

Bullfinches together

 Today, the bullfinches came together to have a bath. Lovely nice weather and lost of splashing!

female bullfinch

Last week I have been sitting with my camera on my watch post, to be able to capture the bullfinches.

Mostly they came once a day. In the beginning it was between 10 and 11 in the morning, but later they had another schedule for bathing. 

Anyway, passion and patience did the job for me.

I also made some oil paintings. They are such inspiring beautiful birds.
 

Bullfinch/goldfinch

 

Almost every day I saw the bullfinch in the birdbath smashing around. (Here named Goldfinch)

So much orange/pink in a bird is astonishing!

Bull finch

 A few days ago, I spotted this awesome bird in my garden. I rarely see him.

He looks like a tropical bird, with all this bright pink feathers! In Dutch he is named: Goldfinch. however in  other countries they name him Bullfinch. He is definitely golden!

European Goldfinch

 In my garden a rare bird. The European Goldfinch,(Carduelis carduelis), Putter of Distelvink,

I don't see him very much, but when I see him, my heart jumps up!

Though its a very unsharp photo I don't mind so much.. he's eating the seeds of the beautiful blue wild cornflower. 

I sowed the seeds a few years ago in my garden and they do really good! He seems to love them too!

Bullfinch, goldfinch

 Finally I got a chance to get him on camera.

Before that, the images were unsharp, or I had no camera nearby when I saw him bathing.

Today I was on the right spot with my camera...and look at this beauty in his pink/orange feathers.

Stunning bird to watch!

Bull finches

 To my amazement this morning, I noticed two Bull finches feasting on the seeds of the violets...(in Dutch the are named Goldfinches). Male and female.

Such stunning birds...especially the pink breast of the male is so beautiful!

European Goldfinch

(Carduelis carduelis) European Goldfinch, Puttertje.

To my surprise there are coming almost every day, 2 goldfinches in my garden for a drink and sometimes a bath as well.

These are fantastic birds. 

Beautiful red colors in their face and a bright yellow on their wings.

They always remind me of the famous painting of Carel Fabricius, who painted a goldfinch being imprisoned. Tied with a chain on his leg. This goldfinch also had to tap water with a thimble. 

I  identified myself with this bird. not being able to fly and how awful that must be.

When I see these birds in my garden, my heart arises with a leap of joy!

No strings attached to his legs. Free to fly! and free to have a drink!

Especially in this time, being free is one of the most treasured values in my eyes.

Goldfinch young

Yesterday I went to one of my friends house, because a Goldfinch, (Carduelis carduelis), (Puttertje,) was breeding there in the golden rain.( Laburnum,),(Gouden regen).
Its an awesome bird, well known because of the famous painting of Carel Fabritius.
When I arrived, there was only one finch left in the nest, and it was almost certain he would take his wings as well that evening.
After a while waiting for mom or dad-goldfinch showing up, the finch thought it was time to find them. (They did not come because I guess were busy feeding the others who were already out.)
So the last young did some exercise with his wings...and off he was.
Awesome sight, to be just in time to see him taking his wings.
Later I saw one of the parent finches coming to him to give him a little something.