Such is life

I found this American goldfinch nest in July. The female was sitting on the nest incubating three eggs. I was surprised as her to find the nest! I returned today and sadly found 4 eggs, apparently attacked by a predator. A sad end for all of her effort.

The extra is a female Yellow Garden Spider which I have never seen before in Canada! She was sitting (is that the correct word?) right along the zig zag in the centre of the web — an excellent hiding place for this gorgeous creature.