I got to enjoy a few minutes of photography in my own backyard a few weeks ago. The Painted Buntings have been putting on quite the show, sometimes with 4 males stacked up at the feeder at the same time. An old friend used to post “Feeder envy!!” But when I went out to take their pictures, they started playing peek-a-boo with me…

My dad’s favorite Tufted Titmouse kept calling out “Peter, Peter, Peter!” as they darted into the yard. They’d jump to the feeder, grab a seed, and carry it off to a nearby tree to carefully eat it. They are such sweet little clowns.

A Common Ground-Dove was prowling under the feeders. Then he saw me and froze. My Beast is apparently terrifying to some birds. I love the pretty brown under his feathers when he flies. Maybe this spring he’ll find a mate and bring his kids by for a family portrait.

A Northern Cardinal flew in, happy that I had refilled the feeders just for her. My dad loves cardinals too. It seems like every time I focus on a cardinal, I find another fun/rare/interesting bird nearby. It’s like magic.

“Phoebe! Phoebe!” An Eastern Phoebe made a surprise visit and posed on the bird finial at the top of my feeder. The afternoon sun was starting to wane but she was still on fly-catching duty.

She wasn’t the only one. A little Palm Warbler bounced along through the grasses, looking for his dinner. He grabbed a moth, swallowed it, and was on his way looking for the next bug. It takes a lot of energy to make his tail pump!

My hummingbird is still here but I expect her to migrate any day now. Safe travels, little ones!