Lesser Goldfinch and the Delta Sunflower

The Delta Sunflower Helianthus annuus“Delta Sunflower" is constantly visited by many kinds of creatures. And now when some of the leaves are drying up, birds are coming for the insects.

Several weeks ago a group of six or more of Lesser Goldfinches descended on the plant.

That was the first time I observed anything other than bees or butterflies attracted to the sunflower.

I took these photos of a Lesser Goldfinch as it feasted on insects on a leaf.

See how it examines the leaf for tasty insects.

Lesser Goldfinches are known to eat sunflower seeds, so this is very interesting.

They do sometimes supplement their seed, bud, flower and fruit diet with plant lice.

The sunflower is more than six feet tall.

This photo was taken as the sun was setting, and the flowers simply glowed.