Female Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria)
One valley oak (Quercus lobata) along lower Trail 10 was full of new green leaves, and new flowers and seeds. Lesser goldfinch and chestnut-backed chickadees were busy, hopping from branch to branch, feasting on the seeds. I spent 45 minutes with them, drinking in their soft peeping and fluttering movements from branch to branch. Here is a female lesser goldfinch, alert, pausing to make sure there is no danger about. She has a strong seed-eating beak. Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, Trail 10, 2/14/2015, 8:54 am.