Emma's birthday falls during the week, so we had a little early birthday celebration on Sunday, with chicken pilau and a blueberry cake (I made the cake!). I'll post about that later this week on her real birthday.
In between the BBQ and the Birthday, I spent some time sitting under the grapefruit tree with my camera. From my vantage point, I had a feeder behind me, a feeder in front of me, and a dense planting of hummer attracting shrimp plants to my right.
The following birds were all photographed in Mom and Dad's yard this weekend.
Goldfinch. There were lots of these, but this guy was the goldiest.
Mourning dove.
The actual back yard. The grapefruit tree where the bird feeders are located is just beyond the folded blue and white table umbrella. It is still laden with fruit even as it blossoms for the new crop.
Florida's drab state bird gathering fluff for her nest.
The hummers are back!
This one was at Mom's, but they have returned to PFHQ also. Our first sighting was last Friday.
A girly cardinal trying to decide what this new feature was (me), and if she should risk a trip to the feeder with me sitting so close.
22 comments:
What a peaceful place you Mom and Dad's backyard is. I enjoyed the photos ;) (as always)
thanks for the spring pictures. they cheered me up this morning , when out my window all i can see is white and more white. i've decided hell is not fire it's snow and cold that never ends.
i think i recognize the gold finch. he's in my back yard in the summer and we chat a lot.
i too lost a beloved niece last week......
Nice shots, and a great way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.
I can't believe how long our goldfinches have stayed this year. Our temps are going to dip again tonight (probably high 30's low 40's), so I guess the birds knew something that we didn't. They are almost always gone before taking on the yellow breeding plumage, but this year we actually get to see some real GOLDfinches.
Re: the shrimp plants - we never had any luck with those, and not for lack of trying. Our hummers prefer the coral honeysuckle and the firebush, every now and then giving a nod to the salvias and the jatropha.
I know you're sort of down on mockingbirds, but I positively love them. No accounting for taste, I guess.
Beautiful! Thanks...
Love the hummingbird pic Daddy! I love you!
beautiful birds, FC. glad your family had a lovely weekend.
bluebird of paradise, very sorry for your loss.
Wonderful photographs. Your parents' backyard looks lush and lovely. A perfect place for this gathering of beautiful birds. Our goldfinches are still in their winter garb.
Florida's state bird is NOT drab!
Mockinbird
LOL, it's mean and drab. ;)
And what a great variety of birds they have, here! Loved your parents back yard, what great place that must be to sit, relax and enjoy the show. ;)
But that state bird is a sweet talker!
Looks as though you were in the catbird seat for this post, FC. Great photos. I hung out my hummer feeder around all the flowers that are blooming, planted with the idea of attracting them. None yet.
It sounds as though this was a bittersweet day for the FC clan, with almost all of the perfect ingredients.
I so wish we had hummers in the UK. They are fab! Gorgeous garden and brilliant bird pictures. Thanks.
Danielle,
They love it and are always adding some plant.
Bluebird,
I am so sorry for your loss. I hope your ice and snow relents soon.
VA,
It was too easy :)
Thingfish,
My own shrimp plants are not an impenetrable wall of beauty as are my Dad's.
I'm not down on the state bird's personality, just their dull coat when FL has so many birds.
Welcome back dude.
3C,
You are welcome!
Emma,
Miss you bunches sweetie.
Kathy A,
You are a sweetheart.
Robin,
That yard and the front yard are my folks main hobby. They just love it.
Mockinbird,
Foot in mouth disease strikes me again!!
Laura,
It is and the food is pretty good too.
Vicki,
Yes, bittersweet, but happy too as we toasted Emma's approach to 19.
Jane,
They are fun to watch with their crazy flight paths. I didn't know the UK was hummerless.
It really rankles to hear the word 'drab' applied to anything in the South.
You wanna see 'drab'? My Snowdrops are buried under 6 inches of snow. OK, sorry. I'm whining.
Happy Birthday to your precious daughter!
What no Scissor-tailed-fly-catcher?
;-)
You know the Mocking Bird is the only bird that I have never seen a cat mess with! In fact it's usuallty the other way around!
Cathy,
Oops, perspective is reality.
I shall try to be more ethnocentric.
:)
ThunderD,
I knew my secret admiration of Mockers was warranted.
That back yard looks like a bird paradise. No wonder you got such good photos.
Some very nice photos there, the finch and cardinal especially. While I have no problem with mockingbirds and understand why it was chosen as our state bird, I have to agree they are certainly not the most attractive choice.
Deb,
It is that. Makes it easy on the photographer.
Alan,
Thanks.
I don't dislike them either. I love to listen to them.
The backyard is gorgeous! We lived in central FL for a couple of years in the mid 80s and I sure didn't appreciate it then, but I'd love to live in that warm climate again.
Stacy,
Sounds like it's a bit chilly where you are now.
Great shots! What camera and lens do you use?
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