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Some Sun at Last! More Backyard Birds

Posted Thursday, February 15, 2024Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Jess Yarnell2 CommentsPosted in Birds

We seem to get a lot of rain on weekends lately. So I quite enjoyed a recent afternoon opportunity to take the Beast into the backyard – and it was sunny out!

The House Finches were the first to show up. First the male started to sing from the top of my beautyberry bush, then I noticed the female hanging out nearby. I loved how my neighbor’s crape myrtles created a fall-lake blur of yellows and reds behind the female.

My little Orange-crowned Warblers have been very active lately. They love to hop around in the flowers, like my purple salvias and this coral porterweed. I think they drink the nectar from the flowers.

We have lots of Painted Buntings this winter. At one point I looked out and saw six males – 4 on the same feeder (!!!) and a couple more around the birdbath. But when I am out with the camera, they tend to get a little shy. This one hung out in the bushes for a while before he ventured to the feeder.

Then I noticed an unusual greenie. He had a very strong blush of red on his chest. The Cornell Lab identifies this coloring as an immature male. Maybe that’s why he was hanging out with other males.

Despite the spring-like weather, it was a quiet afternoon for birding. So when the squirrels started bounding across the yard, I started watching them. My mom nicknamed her squirrel “wingless” because he flies across the yard despite the absence of wings.

As the sun’s glow turned a golden orange, this Palm Warbler ventured out to go bug-hunting. You can see his stomach starting to turn yellow. I think the birds agree with the groundhog this year…spring is here!!

Finally the tiniest star of the backyard showed up – my little Rubby-throated Hummingbird. I had such fun photographing him as he zoomed back and forth, nectaring at the feeder and then returning to his watchpost in the crape myrtle. Look at his flash that bright red gorget!

This afternoon may have inspired me to get out some “pretty perches” and see if I can convince these birds to pose in more photogenic settings. Time will tell… :)

Sunrise Glow at Orlando Wetlands

Posted Saturday, February 10, 2024Friday, February 9, 2024 Jess Yarnell3 CommentsPosted in Orlando Wetlands

Want to know how quickly light changes at sunrise?

This image was made at 7:17am, a couple of minutes before sunrise. The sky was orange with the light that was about to explode in the wetlands. A gentle fog rose from the waters of the lake.

This image was taken at 7:22. The sun had made its appearance over the edge of the horizon. Although you can’t see it in the image, its bright light is reflected in the still waters. Look at the orange light it cast on the fog! It was gorgeous.

This was at 7:23. The giant orb was fully visible above the distant trees. This kind of light only lasts for a couple of minutes, and it’s pure magic. These images are all bracketed (5 exposures) and processed with HDR. But the colors are exactly what I saw that morning.

When it’s too bright to continue photographing the sunrise, it’s time to switch gears to the birds! The Roseate spoonbills were very active that morning. I made my way along the boardwalk, and I found a small group of spoonies hanging out at the edge of the water. Incoming!

The birds are always lively first thing in the morning. I saw them flying between trees in the foggy mist, and I hung out for a while, hoping I’d get some opportunities for flight shots with the fiery mist. I wasn’t disappointed. :)

This bird is looking his finest in breeding plumage! Last year we had some magical moments with the spoonbills along the boardwalk. The nests closest to the boardwalk were also heavily predated. The birds seem to be giving the wetlands another try for their breeding grounds, so I look forward to seeing what Spring 2024 brings us!

Cloudy Afternoon in the Backyard

Posted Monday, February 5, 2024Sunday, February 4, 2024 Jess Yarnell2 CommentsPosted in Birds

January was full of cold, rainy days. Sometimes when it’s not feasible to venture out in the mornings, I make up for it by taking the Beast to the backyard in the afternoon. The yard is full of interesting visitors at this time of year!

A Northern Mockingbird saw me setting up my tripod. He moved to the top of my tallest bush to supervise the crazy photographer. At least he didn’t chase me off like does with the birds who eat “his” berries!

My little Orange-crowned Warbler is back this winter. I find him most often on my salvias and porterweeds, where I think he drinks the nectar from the flowers. But on this particular afternoon, he was hanging out in the hummingbird bush.

So was this male Painted Bunting. We have more males than usual this winter, which makes for colorful flurries of feathers around the bird feeder. I’ve looked out to see 6 males at the feeder at a time!

This little Palm Warbler was hunting for bugs on the grass. He seemed to like that I had just mowed the lawn. One of these days I’m going to get him in mid-leap as he pulls his snack from mid-air.

We still have hummingbirds! I see this male most often, but I am seeing a female pretty consistently too. I wonder if this could be “Zippy” all grown up from last year. It’s certainly fun to think that he came back!

A perched hummer is fun, but a hummer photographed in flight is even better…look at that red gorget! A great end to my backyard photo session!