Category: Photo of the Month

Well, I don’t know when this happened, but we became home to two little Titmouses – Titmice – not sure what the plural of Titmouse is. We were surprised to see them sitting in the feeder one summer morning. 

I got a cool app for my phone. Merlin bird identifier, so if you have sounds in the yard you don’t recognize, this little app will help you figure out what birds are using your yard for their social activities. I have discovered a worm eater warbler, a Cooper hawk and a hoot owl all have been chatting amongst themselves in the morning. The hardest part has been isolating the cicada noise, so morning is the best time to listen for birds.

After wandering around in the Wildlife Preserve looking for the painted bunting and not seeing one, it was rather exciting to find out that he was sitting in my front yard feeder all along. We had a pair that spent a few months with us. There must have been something very yummy in the seed mix. 

Now, they have flown off to spend a season breeding, and hopefully, they will remember the birdfeeder when next winter rolls around. 

A trip to the Canaveral Seashore and Wildlife Preserve offered a glimpse into the swamps of Florida from the mosquito-free safety of my car. While there were bald eagles, kingfishers, egrets, alligators, wild hogs and more, my day was complete when I saw a flock of spoonbills lounging around in the muck and  mire. 

I have seen these funny pink birds flying over or gathering in drainage ditches, but I wanted to see them in the wild. Now, I have. I also saw some scrub jays – very endangered – but they were hanging out on telephone wires in the neighborhood. Not quite the same.