We seem to get a lot of rain on weekends lately. So I quite enjoyed a recent afternoon opportunity to take the Beast into the backyard – and it was sunny out!

The House Finches were the first to show up. First the male started to sing from the top of my beautyberry bush, then I noticed the female hanging out nearby. I loved how my neighbor’s crape myrtles created a fall-lake blur of yellows and reds behind the female.

My little Orange-crowned Warblers have been very active lately. They love to hop around in the flowers, like my purple salvias and this coral porterweed. I think they drink the nectar from the flowers.

We have lots of Painted Buntings this winter. At one point I looked out and saw six males – 4 on the same feeder (!!!) and a couple more around the birdbath. But when I am out with the camera, they tend to get a little shy. This one hung out in the bushes for a while before he ventured to the feeder.

Then I noticed an unusual greenie. He had a very strong blush of red on his chest. The Cornell Lab identifies this coloring as an immature male. Maybe that’s why he was hanging out with other males.

Despite the spring-like weather, it was a quiet afternoon for birding. So when the squirrels started bounding across the yard, I started watching them. My mom nicknamed her squirrel “wingless” because he flies across the yard despite the absence of wings.

As the sun’s glow turned a golden orange, this Palm Warbler ventured out to go bug-hunting. You can see his stomach starting to turn yellow. I think the birds agree with the groundhog this year…spring is here!!

Finally the tiniest star of the backyard showed up – my little Rubby-throated Hummingbird. I had such fun photographing him as he zoomed back and forth, nectaring at the feeder and then returning to his watchpost in the crape myrtle. Look at his flash that bright red gorget!

This afternoon may have inspired me to get out some “pretty perches” and see if I can convince these birds to pose in more photogenic settings. Time will tell… :)