It’s been a while since I blogged about the backyard.  I’m loving my bird blind!  It lets me go out and photograph when I don’t have time for a longer trip.  I spent some time in it a few weeks ago, hoping that a Painted Bunting would hop out onto the pretty perch that I set out for him.  Alas, the buntings were not in a cooperative mood.  (On a side note, we’re seeing more males in the past couple of weeks.  Cool!)  But the doves were in a very good mood.  They came very close to my blind in order to eat the food that spilled under the feeders.  I’ve never had the opportunity for a Mourning Dove head shot before!

The American Goldfinches are not as numerous in my backyard this year.  We regularly have one or two at the feeder, sometimes three or four, but not the dozens we’ve had in previous years.  They probably have a natural food source in the area that they prefer.  It’s always fun to see them, and hear their cheerful little calls.  “Potato chip!  Potato chip!”

The Hooded Mergansers returned early to our retention pond this year.  I first spotted them on November 16.  Of course the Beast and I had to go and welcome them back to Florida…

Now if the weather will ever turn nice again, I should try again with the pretty perches and the Painted Buntings.  The days are starting to get longer now…only 2 months till Daylight Savings Time starts again! :)