Migratory Hummingbirds in the Backyard
May 7, 2021 - A Ruby-throated Hummingbird stops at my salvia bushes to nectar before continuing on her migratory travels to her breeding home
Backyard photography
A nature photographer’s images and stories of birds, butterflies, and other creatures from her backyard near Orlando, FL
Say Goodbye to our Painted Buntings
April 25, 2021 - My last photography visit with my wintering Painted Buntings, who stocked up on grass and salvia seeds before heading north on April 15
Springtime Birding in the Backyard
April 7, 2021 - Springtime birding in the backyard yielded Painted Buntings, Indigo Buntings, Gray Catbirds, and Common Ground Doves in breeding colors
Nesting Ospreys in the Neighborhood
April 5, 2021 - A pair of Ospreys eyed a dead palm tree in my neighborhood. Repeating calling and arrangement of palm fronds are early signs of nesting!
Backyard Birds in Late February
March 14, 2021 - Enjoying my winter birds before they leave...Painted Buntings, Gray Catbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, and the cardinals are nesting
Mixed Flock of Warblers at Oakland Nature Preserve
March 1, 2021 - A mixed flock at Oakland Nature Preserve yielded Pine Warblers, Eastern Bluebirds, a Blue-eyed Vireo, and a Downy Woodpecker
Whiskey’s Monarch Butterfly Garden Hatches New Generation
February 26, 2021 - Metamorphosis: Monarch caterpillars transform into chrysalides and then into fully-grown butterflies! Videos and images of the transformation
Quick Glimpses of Birds and More at Lust Road
February 13, 2021 - Birding at Lust Road: Quick glimpses of Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, and an otter swimming down the canal!
Backyard Birding: Early January 2021
February 3, 2021 - A morning of backyard birding yielded a nectar-hungry Orange-crowned Warbler, my favorite Painted Buntings, and first-of-spring Purple Martin
Birding in the Backyard
January 11, 2021 - A morning of backyard birding and photography yielded an Orange-crowned Warbler, a beautiful pair of cardinals, and my Painted Buntings
From the Birdcam: Visitors to the Birdbath
January 3, 2021 - Photos from my backyard birdcam. Surprise visitors included Eastern Bluebirds, a Prairie Warbler, and "Bow Tie" the Yellow-throated Warbler!
Metamorphosis
December 28, 2020 - Backyard photography of Monarch butterfly caterpillars transforming into chrysalides and then into butterflies
Unexpected Lifer: Yellow-headed Blackbird
November 13, 2020 - My lifer Yellow-headed Blackbird showed up quite unexpectedly in my backyard after Tropical Storm Eta passed through the state.
They’re Ba-ack! First of Fall Painted Bunting!
October 15, 2020 - It’s reassuring to know that in the midst of a crazy year, the birds are right on schedule. Our first of fall Painted Bunting showed up in the backyard on October 14. :)
Backyard Birding
August 27, 2020 - A few hours of backyard birding in mid-August yielded baby cardinals, doves, and a lifer Rock Dove for our feline ornithologists!
SpaceX launch!
May 30, 2020 - The clouds cleared and gave us a great view of the SpaceX launch this afternoon. It's so great to see Americans flying from the Space Coast once more!
Backyard Birding Corona-Style: Special Guest Post by Whiskey
May 10, 2020 - Spring 2020 backyard birding during coronavirus - a special guest post by our resident feline ornithologist, Whiskey!
The One We Missed
February 24, 2020 - Backyard photos of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird nectaring at a penta flower
Birding in my Parents’ Backyard
February 15, 2020 - An afternoon of backyard bird photography with my parents - Painted Bunting, Baltimore Oriole, and Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Shirley’s Bullock’s Oriole: Rare Bird and Great Birders
January 22, 2020 - A delightful afternoon with Shirley, who shared her rare Bullock's Oriole stakeout in exchange for sightings in her bird-friendly backyard
Hummingbird Banding with my Mom and Dad
January 19, 2020 - Fred Bassett did hummingbird banding at my parents' house. He banded a first-year male and a second-year male Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Hanging out with my Wintering Backyard Birds
January 18, 2020 - Quiet afternoon of backyard photography with Painted Buntings, "Blondie" the Palm Warbler, and House Finches who eat goldfinch food
My Turn with the Western Tanager
December 27, 2019 - I photographed my lifer Western Tanager in my parents' backyard on Christmas Day. I guess I'm not on the Naughty List after all!
An Early Christmas Present – Rare Western Tanager
December 24, 2019 - A rare Western Tanager has been showing up perodically in my parents' backyard. What a great early Christmas present for a family of birders!
First of Fall Painted Bunting – 2019
October 7, 2019 - I looked out my window this morning and saw a male Painted Bunting at my feeder. It’s definitely feeling like fall!
Cardinal Nest
June 3, 2019 - Shoving furniture aside to photograph a cardinal nest is a perfectly normal activity for this nature photographer! ;-)
The Last of the Backyard Migrants
May 23, 2019 - One morning in late April, I spent a couple of hours in the backyard with my camera, hoping to see our first-of-spring baby Cardinal and maybe a few migrants. It was a cool morning and pleasant to hear the calls of “my” birds as they woke up. We’ve been seeing the occasional Eastern Bluebird, although […]
I Miss my Painted Buntings!
May 16, 2019 - Last springtime backyard photography with my Painted Buntings. Is it October yet? I can't wait for them to return
Springtime Backyard Bird Photography
April 11, 2019 - Springtime backyard bird photography including Painted Buntings, Gray Catbirds, American Goldfinches, Northern Cardinals, and cute bunnies :)
Colorful Afternoon in the Backyard
April 3, 2019 - Backyard bird photography - Painted Buntings, Brown Thrashers, and first-time visiting White-crowned Sparrows
Surprise Lifer Pine Siskin in my Own Backyard
January 24, 2019 - A morning of backyard bird photography yielded a surprise - my lifer Pine Siskin joined the American Goldfinches at my feeder
Photographing the January 2019 Lunar Eclipse!
January 21, 2019 - Photos from the January 2019 total lunar eclipse taken from our freezing-cold backyard in Central Florida
Meet Our Newest Neighbor, the Nanday Parakeet
May 5, 2018 - Our newest neighbor is a Nanday Parakeet who makes very loud visits to our bird feeders
Addicted to my Painted Buntings
February 7, 2018 - Painted Bunting photography in my backyard - fun with flight shots! Plus a visiting Gray Catbird
An Afternoon in the Bird Blind
February 3, 2018 - An afternoon in the backyard bird blind yielded Painted Buntings, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, and my dad's favorite - a Northern Cardinal
A Morning in Backyard Birding Paradise
January 24, 2018 - Peaceful morning of backyard birding photography with my winter guests - the Painted Buntings!
Hoodies Back in the Neighborhood!
January 3, 2018 - The Hooded Mergansers are back in town and I photographed them on a cloudy December afternoon
Welcome Fall Birds!
October 22, 2017 - Our fall birds are returning to the backyard. Gray Catbirds, Palm Warblers, and Painted Buntings are here to stay. The American Redstarts are just passing through!
Harvey, Irma, Jose, and Lee
October 11, 2017 - Meet the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds who have made our backyard their home since the passage of Hurricane Irma.
Breaking News!
October 8, 2017 - Our winter backyard celebrities are coming back! First of fall Painted Bunting seen today :)
Summer Backyard Birding
August 17, 2017 - Summer backyard birding is fun with a visiting Ruby-throated Hummingbird and growing baby Northern Cardinals and House Finches
Happy Fourth of July!
July 4, 2017 - It’s our country’s birthday! To celebrate, Goldy (our resident feline ornithologist) is issuing a challenge to our blog readers. She wants you to get out and find as many red, white, and blue bird-birds as you can! Some suggestions: Red: Northern Cardinal, Summer Tanager White: White Ibis, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, juvenile Little Blue Heron, […]
Somewhere Under the Rainbow, My Birds Fly
June 30, 2017 - Backyard birding update along with a beautiful rainbow photo
Great-crested Flycatcher
May 30, 2017 - Just a quick post this morning…I’m still going through photos from a very productive long weekend! On Friday I went over to my parents’ house. We heard the call of a Great-crested Flycatcher from a neighbor’s tree, so I grabbed my camera and went to investigate. He was sitting out in the open, perched nicely […]
Northern Cardinals
May 24, 2017 - My Northern Cardinals wish a very special person a very happy birthday today!
Can You Tell?
May 11, 2017 - Rich cracked me up so hard and I just have to share the joke. Recently I finished editing this image and I took the laptop to him, asking “Can you tell?” His response was priceless. “I don’t know if there was a branch, and I don’t know if there was a bird!” Such are the […]
April Showers Bring…May Migrants!
May 7, 2017 - A cold front blew in migrant birds to Fort De Soto yesterday - lots of Bay-breasted Warblers, Indigo Buntings, tanagers, grosbeaks, and more!
Birds on Bird Finials
May 5, 2017 - I started to notice something funny in my backyard...all the birds like to pose on finials!