Much of Apex trail follows Apex Creek, and so it has lots of stream side plants growing along it. But as I was going back down the trail, I came to an open area. I looked up slope and saw a family of Lesser Goldfinches perched on top of some Canada thistle seed heads. While I watched, the female shredded a seed head. Just beneath her, a fledgling fluttered its wings for attention.

Both Lesser and American Goldfinches rely heavily on sunflowers and thistles for both food and nest material.

At first, I thought the female was gathering the fluffy seed fibers. But with the fledgling there, that made no sense — they no longer needed a nest.

If you look carefully in the male’s bill, you can see he has a mouthful of seeds.

The Lesser Goldfinches were having lunch.