Windy Afternoon in the Backyard Bird Blind
January 27, 2023 - My feathered friends braved the wind and posed for my camera - Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Pine Warbler, and a very possessive Northern Cardinal!
Backyard photography
A nature photographer’s images and stories of birds, butterflies, and other creatures from her backyard near Orlando, FL
Rufous Hummingbird at my Parents’ Feeder!
January 21, 2023 - A Rufous Hummingbird showed up to nectar at my mom's hummingbird feeder! Neat video as he flashes his bright red feathers on his chest
Around the Backyard
January 20, 2023 - The backyard birds are very active right now - goldfinches, hooded mergansers, butterfly chrysalises, and hummingbird close-ups!
Winter Backyard Visitors
January 7, 2023 - Winter backyard birding - Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Tufted Titmouse, Pine Warblers, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk
Close-up Videos of my Mom’s Hummingbirds!
December 29, 2022 - This year Santa brought my mom a video camera for her bird feeder, and the verdict is in: it’s awesome! My dad set up the camera next to the busiest hummingbird feeder, which has been busier than usual with this week’s cold snap. So now my mom gets a notification every time her hummingbirds come […]
Merry Christmas Birdwatching!
December 26, 2022 - Testing a Blink Outdoor camera as a bird camera. It captured bird baths, bird feeder activity, and a few surprise visitors!
Let’s Go Artemis!
November 16, 2022 - This morning’s launch was an exciting step for our return to the moon. The Orlando sky lit up as the rocket climbed through the clouds!
Adios Ian!
October 1, 2022 - Aftermath of Ian included two early migrants - Black-throated Blue Warbler and Gray Catbird
Painted Buntings are Back to Welcome Hurricane Ian
September 27, 2022 - Our first-of-fall Painted Buntings arrived a day before Hurricane Ian is projected to pass through the area
Looking for My Mom’s Banded Hummingbirds
March 12, 2022 - Flight shots of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at my mom's feeders. Was one of them banded by Fred Bassett? Maybe!
Surprise American White Pelicans
February 6, 2022 - A surprise flock of American White Pelicans visited our neighborhood pond and swam some laps with our resident Double-crested Cormorants
Sunset on 2021
December 29, 2021 - Sunset photos from a new location within walking distance of my house
+1 for the Backyard Bird List!
October 30, 2021 - A Black-and-white Warbler was a first-time visitor to our backyard, increasing the cats' life list total to 65 birds!
**SIX** Bluebirds in my Backyard!!!
October 24, 2021 - Cue the squeals and the happy dance when a record total of six bluebirds visited the backyard!
First of Fall Painted Bunting in my Backyard! 2021
October 12, 2021 - My first of fall Painted Bunting showed up right on schedule at my feeder this morning! :)
More Fun Birds from Outback Key!
June 25, 2021 - Great photography on Outback Key - Red Knots, Reddish Egret, drunken Willet, Piping Plover, a tired Western Sandpiper, and Least Terns!
Backyard Birding in my Parents’ Backyard
June 19, 2021 - Backyard birding with my parents and their feline ornithologist. Baby Brown Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird family, and diving Purple Martins
Snowy Plover Family
May 22, 2021 - Snowy Plover family at Fort De Soto: Mom, Dad, and two adorable fuzzballs! Tiny plovers are hard to photograph as they dart along the beach
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
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