Why did the Sandhill Crane Cross the Road?
November 16, 2010 - To get to the acorns on the other side!! Then they flew off into the setting sun…
Birds
One of the reasons I started this blog was to document the birds that come and go in my backyard. The posts below detail both the rarities and the ordinary wonders with wings!
Loggerhead Shrike
November 15, 2010 - Tonight we saw this Loggerhead Shrike on our walk through the neighborhood. I don’t think I could have asked for better lighting conditions!
First Backyard Goldfinch of Fall 2010!
November 14, 2010 - Right on schedule, we had our first American Goldfinch in the backyard today. I wasn’t home (I was chasing otters at the Circle B Bar Reserve, more on that tomorrow!) … but Rich assures me that there was indeed a goldfinch on the niger feeder this morning. He stayed for several minutes at least. Yay! […]
Where are our Backyard Birds?
November 12, 2010 - We haven’t had as many backyard visitors in the past few days, and tonight I found out why. This is either a Sharp-Shinned Hawk or a Cooper’s Hawk, and he had the audacity to sit on top of my bird feeder to terrorize my poor birdies!
Stoneybrook Pied-Billed Grebes
November 10, 2010 - The Pied-Billed Grebes showed up in the Stoneybrook West ponds a few weeks ago. I finally got a decent picture — they are usually very very backlit by the sunset during our evening walks.
Proof: We have a Belted Kingfisher in the Neighborhood!
November 9, 2010 - Tonight the Belted Kingfisher made an appearance at one of the Stoneybrook West ponds, flying in circles over the pond before landing in a tree. The picture is not great, but it’s proof that our kingfisher does exist! The Yellow-Rumped Warblers were especially active tonight, and one even stopped for a few seconds on an […]
Blue-Winged Teal
November 8, 2010 - The pond that used to never have birds is turning into our “treasure pond”! Tonight there were Killdeer, Pied-Billed Grebes, a Tricolored Heron, and this Blue-Winged Teal.
Why did the duckie cross the road?
November 5, 2010 - We saw a Muscovy Duck on our walk tonight! He was hanging out on the sidewalk by the entrance to Rock Creek. At first I mistook him for a Turkey Vulture, then as I got closer, I made out the red marks on his face and realized who he was. I’ve never seen a Muscovy […]
Northern Mockingbird
November 4, 2010 - The mockingbirds are usually too busy hunting for dinner to take much notice of us on our evening walks. Tonight this one posed nicely for us.
Yellow-Rumped Warblers
November 3, 2010 - The Yellow-Rumped Warblers have definitely arrived! Like the Palm Warblers, it seems as if they arrived overnight — we went from seeing none to seeing tons of them hopping around in the evenings. Their evening call note distinguishes them from the Palm and Yellow-Throated Warblers around the neighborhood. This isn’t the greatest picture, but the […]
Blast Off!
November 1, 2010 - On our walk tonight we saw our first-of-season Yellow Rumped Warblers. They were hopping high in the trees along with the Palm Warblers. We saw a Yellow-throated Warbler also. At the pond we saw a group of Mallards. They all took off as I watched. I like the contrast of the orange feet, blue wings, […]
Days are Getting Shorter
October 28, 2010 - The days are getting shorter. We have to walk earlier and earlier each week in order to catch the good sunset light. This Great Blue Heron didn’t mind posing for us by the Pebble Ridge pond tonight.
It’s a Cardinal Bird
October 27, 2010 - We like to make fun of our bird call CDs, where the announcer starts off the cardinal sound by saying that “the cardinal is a bird…” Goldy knows all about cardinal birds. She was very happy to welcome this one to our feeder, and she sat with her tail twitching as she watched it eat.
Enjoying the Little Birds
October 22, 2010 - It’s such fun to take walks in the evenings now, with the trees full of little Palm Warblers hopping around in the twilight. Carla said she’s been seeing Bow Tie hopping around their windows, too.
First House Wren Visitor of the Season
October 16, 2010 - Goldy and I saw a House Wren in our backyard this morning. Our first of the season! Then I heard it making some interesting squeaking noises, and wondered what in the world was wrong with the bird. Nothing — the noises were coming from Pete’s garden shoes!! :)
Beautiful Sunsets
October 15, 2010 - The clear cooler days make for some beautiful sunsets. This oak tree was gorgeous with the orange sun backlight. Then I saw the neighborhood Sand Hill Cranes drinking of a pond, which was illuminated by the reflection of the sunset. I didn’t have my split neutral density filters with me, so I adjusted the picture […]
Hi From the Mallards
October 11, 2010 - The neighborhood Mallards were enjoying tonight’s sunset as much as Rich and I were.
White Ibis with Frog
October 10, 2010 - There are times when no amount of photographic skill makes up for being at the right place at the right time. This afternoon I was pulling into Stoneybrook West after birding at Circle B, and I saw a White Ibis on the sidewalk, eating a nice big frog. Luckily there was no one behind me, […]
Another New Visitor to our Backyard
October 8, 2010 - We always enjoy welcoming new visitors to our backyard. Today’s wasn’t precisely in the backyard, but he sure was circling overhead. There were two or three of these guys, circling high in the sky over the pond between Pebble Ridge and Fox Hunt. I put the camera into spot auto focus, aimed, and tried to […]
Cardinal Molting Season
October 7, 2010 - Tonight I was going out to water the new sod when I stopped short, having just seen this cardinal hopping around in the flower bed right beside the door. He didn’t mind when I came back with my camera and shot a few pictures through the window in the door. I’m not sure if this […]
Bow Tie around the Neighborhood
October 6, 2010 - Our neighborhood Yellow-Throated Warbler, affectionately called Bow Tie, isn’t appearing at our feeders regularly yet. But we see him periodically in the treetops around the neighborhood. As Mum-mum says, he’s being a “real bird,” and we likely won’t see him at the feeders while the insect population is plentiful. (With all the midge flies around […]
Cattle Egret with Lizard
October 5, 2010 - This evening we noticed a Cattle Egret climbing on a topiary. We thought it was pretty unusual, then he reached in and grabbed a lizard! I had no idea that egrets ate lizards. Squirt wants!!
Palm Warbler by the Pond
October 4, 2010 - We had a great walk this evening. We saw several Palm Warblers, a Yellow-throated Warbler, at least five Killdeer, a Loggerhead Shrike, a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, and we heard an Eastern Phoebe and a Belted Kingfisher. I really liked the bokeh in this shot of the Palm Warbler by the pond.
…and Sunday is a day of rest!
October 3, 2010 - Rich and I were happy to relax today after putting out 1 pallet of sod, 3 cubic yards of mulch, and 4 new sprinkler valves on Friday and Saturday! This evening I was outside connecting the microjets to the new valves (gotta love poly flexible pipe – it’s so easy!!) I saw Zorro, our backyard […]
Welcome back, Mr. Warbles!
September 26, 2010 - The Palm Warblers come back to Florida in September, but we don’t seem to see them in the oak trees around our house until October 1. They have been pretty consistent over the past three or four years, always arriving within a day or two. Well, Goldy is happy to announce that we saw our […]
Bow Tie is Back!
September 25, 2010 - We saw Bow Tie last week, and I’ve heard him several times since, but today was the first day he posed for the camera. He was in the oak trees at the entrance to Fox Hunt. Since the original image was pretty dark (it was after sunset), I lightened it in Photoshop using Shadows/Highlights, Levels, […]
Up, up, and away!
September 21, 2010 - The Little Blue Herons in this neighborhood sure like to fly away!
Mallard in Flight
September 20, 2010 - It’s been really windy for the past week or so, and the poor birds are having trouble flying! Check out Missy’s Diner for a picture of the hummingbird that is visiting Mum-mum and Dyeyo! How cool!! :) :) :)
A New Visitor to the Neighborhood
September 19, 2010 - Or rather, a newly identified visitor! Rich and I both had been hearing these Killdeer around the house, but it wasn’t until we saw them at the pond tonight that we felt confident in identifying them. The picture was handheld in the twilight from across the pond…maybe next time they’ll let me get closer and […]
…and a Dragonfly for Dessert
September 17, 2010 - We went pond-hopping on our walk tonight, and saw a Little Blue Heron in each. He kept flying off annoyed each time he saw me. Finally at the last pond, where we almost never see birds, we saw him eating a dragonfly. He tossed it around for a few seconds before doing the last gulp. […]
Fresh Fish for Dinner!
September 16, 2010 - The Anhinga was fishing as we walked by the pond tonight. He caught two fish within a couple of minutes. Squirt wants!!
Sand Hill Cranes
September 15, 2010 - It’s starting to feel a little like fall. The temperatures have cooled a few degrees, there’s a nice breeze in the evening, and the sun is shifting in the sky, causing the evening light to be great. Tonight we saw a total of five Sand Hill Cranes on our walk.
Time to get all your ducks in a row
September 14, 2010 - Tonight as I was pruning roses, a tiny bird hopped out onto a rose cane. He stared at me, and I stared at him, and then he flew back to the shelter of the viburnum. I only saw him for a split second, but I saw dark gray and olive. I think it was a […]
Mockingbird
September 13, 2010 - There were three mockingbirds in the backyard tonight, all foraging for their dinners. They are fun to watch when they flash their wings to try to scare up some insects. This mockingbird probably didn’t realize how he was posing in great sunset light – but he did let me walk right up to him and […]
Bow Tie is Back! Bald Eagle at the Pond!
September 12, 2010 - It was a very exciting evening for bird-watchers at Stoneybrook West. First we saw Bow Tie, our little Yellow-Throated warbler that comes to visit Goldilocks each year. First we heard his little call (almost like a cardinal, but not quite) and then we saw him flitting through the palm trees. Welcome back, little guy! Free […]
Sand Hill Crane Dance
September 10, 2010 - Tonight on our walk we came across these two Sand Hill Cranes. They were pretty close to the path and I started to photograph them. Then they moved off on the golf course, and I followed a few steps. I was glad I did, because they started to dance. I had just my 400mm prime […]
House Finch Duo
September 8, 2010 - It was rainy and gross out and Rich and I pulled up into the driveway to see these two House Finches perched on the roof. They didn’t know what to think about the camera that peeked out the window and went click, click!
Tricolored Heron
September 2, 2010 - This Tricolored Heron was posing on the Stoneybrook West clubhouse dock tonight. The evening light was great.
Sunset Flight
September 1, 2010 - There’s a tiny hint of fall in the air, as we enjoy sub-90 degree temperatures and a nice breeze in the evenings. We took our walk last night enjoying the first decent sunset light in over a week. These juvenile White Ibises were flying over Black Lake and I like the way the sun illuminates […]
Want some sushi for dinner?
August 31, 2010 - We enjoyed watching this anhinga fishing in the pond by Pebble Ridge this evening. Then he came up with a fish! I was glad I had my camera and long lens with me.
Learning to Share
August 25, 2010 - I had to laugh when I looked out at the birdfeeder in the oak tree and saw it being shared by a squirrel and a House Finch. The finch must have had good balance and a strong stomach, because that feeder was rocking and rolling with all the squirrel’s motions! I looked out last night […]
Barn Swallows
August 24, 2010 - A few nights ago I mentioned seeing lots of swallows flying over the neighborhood in the evenings. Today I took my new camera on our walk and got some pictures. I think they are Barn Swallows. They continue to fly over the neighborhood in regular patterns at dusk. Note: Gotta love ISO 12,800 on my […]
House Finches
August 23, 2010 - We’ve been seeing increased House Finch activity in the last week or so. I’ve seen juveniles flapping their wings and begging for food, and older males starting to molt (and looking extremely scruffy!) We’ve had six and eight birds at a time at the bird bath and bird feeders. It’s nice to see the activity […]
Hummingbird!!!
August 20, 2010 - Yes, that’s right, we had a hummingbird visit the yard around 9:30 this morning! First it came to the rosebushes near the porch, when I first noticed it. Then it flew off to the Mexican sunflower in the back of the yard and stayed there for a bit. Of course, as soon as I got […]
The heat is hard on the poor doves
August 18, 2010 - The Mourning Doves in our yard aren’t too thrilled about the summer heat. Each afternoon they seek shelter in the shade of the rosebushes. I never would have considered my rosebushes to be major shade sources, but I guess when you are a dove that only stands a few inches high, you don’t need much! […]
Baby C
August 17, 2010 - This little cardinal is so cute, hopping around our backyard every evening.
Meet Beaky Junior
August 9, 2010 - Or is it Beaky-etta? This juvenile cardinal has been so sweet for the last week or so, hopping around the backyard and chirping. She seems to spend a lot of time with a male cardinal, who I assumed was her dad, until I noticed him doing the “hungry baby wing flutter.” So maybe he’s her […]
Juvenile White Ibis
July 24, 2010 - The windy and cloudy weather courtesy of Tropical Storm Bonnie don’t seem to be bothering the birds around Stoneybrook West. This group of juvenile White Ibises seemed to be having very good luck hunting for lunch this afternoon!
Juvenile Cardinal Breakfast Time
July 5, 2010 - This morning we looked out to see Papa Cardinal with Baby C in the bird feeder. The baby was doing the “feed me!” wing flutter and Papa obliged him by depositing nice sunflower kernels right into his mouth. It looks like Baby C is a little boy (he is starting to molt into his adult […]
Hawk Sighting
July 4, 2010 - It’s been rainy for the past few days and the feeder activity has picked up some in the intervals without rain. This afternoon the backyard got quiet quickly, though, as this adult Cooper’s Hawk perched on top of the big bird feeder and surveyed the yard. Lucky for our birdies, he didn’t see any motion, […]