A nature photographer’s images and stories of birds, butterflies, and other creatures from her backyard near Orlando, FL
April 3, 2017 - Happiness is… …watching the American Goldfinches turn yellow and play in your flowers :) … seeing the female Indigo Bunting from last weekend – she stuck around! … finally snapping a picture of the elusive Prairie Warbler who has been mocking you for the past three mornings, and as a bonus, getting to hear him sing! […]
April 1, 2017 - Photos of a migrant hummingbird nectaring on coral honeysuckle. A beautiful Ruby-throated Hummingbird with a gorgeous red throat!
March 28, 2017 - Backyard birding paradise - Painted Buntings and goldfinches! I filled my memory card and exhausted my camera battery. Bonus Indigot Bunting!
March 21, 2017 - Recently I spent a weekend morning in my backyard – rather unusual for me, since mornings are usually when I venture beyond the backyard. It was fun to see my yard in morning light. This is the time of year that I love backyard birding the best. Flowers are blooming, the air is fresh and […]
March 19, 2017 - The joke was on me when I tried to con a bird into perching on pretty flower stalks
March 12, 2017 - Lesser Scaups didn't winter in Winter Garden this year, but a few showed up on their spring migration north
March 8, 2017 - Photographs of the hummingbirds at my mom's backyard feeder
March 4, 2017 - I had an especially good morning birding in my backyard last weekend. Painted Buntings, yellow goldfinches, and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in breeding colors!
February 24, 2017 - Goldy and I participated in last weekend's Great Backyard Bird Count. Our yard yielded Painted Buntings, American Robins, and Goldy's finches
February 5, 2017 - Meet my backyard spoilsport, also known as a Cooper's Hawk!
February 3, 2017 - American Goldfinches brighten up even the nastiest gray morning of backyard birding
November 15, 2016 - We heard our first-of-fall American Goldfinch, and more Painted Buntings showed up in the backyard
November 9, 2016 - Our visiting hummingbird let me photograph him up close one evening
October 27, 2016 - The other night I snuck into my blind for a few minutes after I mowed the grass. The little Palm Warblers were quick to hop out and enjoy the bugs that I stirred up with my mower. I think they enlisted themselves to help with the yard service… The mockingbird knows that I’ve been wanting […]
October 22, 2016 - A morning in my parents' backyard birding paradise yielded
October 9, 2016 - We welcomed back friends as our winter birds return to the yard. Recent arrivals include Gray Catbirds, House Wrens, Painted Buntings, and Palm Warblers.
October 8, 2016 - We were very fortunate that Hurricane Matthew stayed offshore. We got 4 inches of rain and a long, boring day of wind. The cats thought it was great because we brought all the patio furniture inside, giving them ample new places to hide. Gosh they look small out on the empty porch… The doves didn’t understand […]
October 1, 2016 - October 1 tends to be a good day in our backyard. Often it’s the first day that we start seeing our winter Palm Warblers. (I’ve been hearing warblers overhead for several weeks, but I’ve yet to see one.) Sometimes October 1 brings cooler weather. (Haha, not this year.) Sometimes we even see a hummingbird. This year, October 1 […]
August 28, 2016 - Summertime birds have been more active than usual this summer. Lots of birds coming in to feast at the feeders!
April 30, 2016 - Painted bunting greenie bath time: lots of splashing in the dripping water proved enjoyable for both birds and the photographer! :)
April 20, 2016 - So many colorful birds are visiting the feeders and birdbath these days! I love springtime!
April 17, 2016 - A migrant Orchard Oriole made a surprise stopover in my backyard. He was a big fan of my hummingbird plants.
March 20, 2016 - More Painted Bunting images from my backyard bird blind, including a video of their Purple Firespike snack time!
March 2, 2016 - A mixed flock of American Robins and Cedar Waxwings gorged themselves on a berry tree in my parents' backyard. A fun challenge to photograph!
February 21, 2016 - I have to make a confession. I bribed some birds today. I had a few free hours (gasp!) and I decided to do some backyard birding. I confess to waiting to refill the bird feeders until it was prime photography time – after the household chores were done, the camera was outside, and the light was […]
November 15, 2015 - My 2015 First of Fall American Goldfinch showed up a bit unexpectedly on November 15. A warm welcome to one of my favorite birds!
October 3, 2015 - I spotted my first male Painted Bunting in the backyard this morning! Let the fall birding begin! He’s about two weeks ahead of schedule. Last year I saw my first bunting on October 12, and the year before that on October 11. But this year he’s right in time for my grandfather’s 90th birthday. :) […]
August 23, 2015 - The Giant Swallowtails graced my backyard with a dance of summertime as they nectared on my Mexican Sunflower bushes
July 22, 2015 - I found a tiny cardinal fledgling in our backyard in one of my bushes. He let me take a video of him as he fussed for food!
May 6, 2015 - We had two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds visit the yard in late April. They nectared on my salvia and didn't seem to mind my camera clicks
February 4, 2015 - I processed some of my Sandhill Crane family pictures in Topaz Glow. What a fun program! I loved all the different effects.
January 16, 2015 - We've had more Painted Buntings at our feeders in the past week or so. They're also fun to photograph!
January 14, 2015 - The Lesser Scaups in my backyard retention pond posed recently for my camera. I had fun trying to catch them in mid-dive.
January 6, 2015 - When the weather is gross, it's time for backyard birding. Goldfinches and Hooded Mergansers and a head shot of a Mourning Dove!
November 26, 2014 - This week's cold fronts brought some winter visitors to my backyard: a White-crowned Sparrow and Hooded Mergansers
November 14, 2014 - They're back! We had our first of fall American Goldfinches in the yard this afternoon. Yay!
November 2, 2014 - Photos from my first afternoon in my new backyard bird blind. The House Finches, Doves, and Painted Buntings were cooperative!
October 26, 2014 - It was the most wonderful day of the year! Our cats got their first taste of pansies this fall...
October 12, 2014 - Fun with filters and effects. At least one of these made Rich go "Wow!" See if you can figure out which...
October 12, 2014 - I saw my first-of-fall Painted Bunting in the backyard this afternoon!!
July 28, 2014 - My dad helped me build my backyard bird blind this weekend. It doubles as a trellis for hummingbird vines. I can't wait to use it!
July 21, 2014 - You can imagine my surprise when I found THREE fledgling Brown Thrashers in my backyard this weekend. Two of them took a bath together. :)
July 17, 2014 - After years of gardening to attract hummingbirds, I have at least two juvenile Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in my yard this summer!
July 12, 2014 - I did a 2014 update to my Gardening for the Birds post, detailing plants that I grow to attract birds. The hummers are starting to notice!
June 29, 2014 - Our backyard cardinal pair brought us a surprise today - this year's baby cardinal! He's just out of the nest and so cute!
June 27, 2014 - Recently hatched Black Skimmer chicks are always fun to photograph, especially when they play tug-of-war over a needlefish!
June 20, 2014 - A family of Sandhill Cranes, including two juveniles, showed up to inspect our recent home construction project.
May 13, 2014 - I didn't really intend to feed the squirrels at my bird feeders...at least my cats are enjoying their new playmates at the window!