Early February in the backyard

The blooms in my hanging Christmas cactus started to disappear and I finally realized why. They are also eating my marigolds. Ugh. I know I created this problem myself with the haven for squirrels in the backyard. We have tons of them. We don’t have dogs and they love the bird bath and hang around for fallen bird seed so they also eat the flowers.

Usual visitors to the backyard in early February include palm warblers, pine warblers, chickadees, titmouse, woodpeckers and a yellow throated warbler.

This lone robin has been in the backyard for weeks now. Then one day we got some rain and he had friends show up. They were picking out bugs in the water soaked grass. The next day his friends were gone and he was still there.

I was sitting in the backyard with my camera when this short tailed hawk made a quick fly over. I only got this blurry shot before he flew over the trees but it was cool to see him while I was in the backyard.

Inspire Me Monday

Fun flying faces

Red bellied woodpecker

Carolina chickadees

Yellow crowned night heron

My favorite little titmouses.

A young mockingbird

Northern parula

Osprey flyby

Juvenile little blue heron in a sea of green and purple.

Curious baby great horned owls from high up in a pine tree.

A few birds in June at Chesnut Park.

SkyWatch Friday

Birds and beasts at Chesnut Park

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Cardinal wanting a handout.

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His mate wanted a handout as well.

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A wet brown thrasher hiding in the bushes.

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Something yellow. I’m thinking a female common yellowthroat?

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A carolina chickadee high up in the trees. I could not get a good shot of this guy.

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A male common yellowthroat high up in the trees.

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Mom alligator still guarding her nest. I thought it had been close to 2 months since I had seen the alligator nest mound she was resting on. Still no babies on this trip. The area is fenced off so I took this in between. She’s got some nice teeth.

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Turtle hanging out near the alligator’s nest.

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Buzzing around.

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 I saw this beautiful dog walking with his owner and had to take a picture.

Another quiet morning at Chesnut Park. There were a few migrating birds showing up but most stayed high up in the trees. I’m having a hard time seeing many of the fall migrating birds this season. It always rains during the week when the birds stop by for a rest and I can’t get out of work. By the sunny weekend, they all have heading on their way south for the winter.

Check out more pictures at Our World Tuesday Our World Tuesday Graphic

Also, check out more birds at Paying Ready Attention for 

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