Goldfinch

Here's a nice photo by Tim McKenna, a photographer who lives in the area. Shows a distant storm and also the Milky Way.

Today Mac photographed a Lesser Goldfinch that I think is what Sibley calls a "bright" adult female versus the ones I usually see, which are the "pale" ones. Sibley shows Lesser Goldfinches as occurring year-round in my area, but the TOS Handbook says they're migratory and uncommon to rare here in the winter. Kelly's checklist shows them occasional in winter. I guess they're winter regulars at the oasis because of the water.