American Goldfinches in Louisville

More goldfinches!  Most of the Common Sunflowers have gone to seed and these guys are eating them up by the hundreds.  As you can see the goldfinches are molting into their winter plumage.  Little bits of yellow feathers are hanging on but before long these goldfinches will be much less gold.

Posted in: American Goldfinch,Common Sunflower

Louisville Nature: Sunlit Grasses

The sun puts off great light in the late summer and early fall evenings.  These photos were taken about a month ago at Blackacre Nature Preserve as the sun slipped lower on the horizon.  What I love about shooting at twilight is that you can shoot directly at the sun and you get these wonderful lens flares that add interest to the photographs.  Enjoy!

Posted in: Blackacre Nature Preserve,Grass,Thistle

Late Summer "Weeds" in Bloom

Many of those green weeds that fill our old fields all summer are finally bursting out in color. There are probably more species blooming now than during the coveted spring wildflower season, but late summer is usually much hotter than spring and many of the species (especially the darned asters) are difficult to identify. I guess that’s why there aren’t many late summer wildflower walks. Still, there are some great color displays happening right now. I hope you get a chance to go see some of them during this reprieve from the heat!

A field of ironweed blowing in the breeze


Bull thistle in bloom


A dandelion bloom at sunset


A trail lined with Ozark beggar's ticks in The Parklands of Floyds Fork