Charm

A goldfinch just flew by, followed closely by another goldfinch. Following those goldfinches are three more goldfinches. They fly swiftly, and seem to bounce off the field grasses like flying fish. They are headed for a small tree, where they  evidently are nesting. From the eastern corner of the field, eight more goldfinches are approaching. I would say there's enough collected in that tree now to call them a "charm." Wherever a charm congregates, there is sure to be a lot of chattering and flashes of gold. Their late-hatching fledgelings just add to the charm. They perch and circle, making a living mist. In the neighboring trees, other charms are now gathering. Approaching the equinox, the birds are stocking up on seeds, building strength, and training for their migration south.