While the rest of the country is in a deep freeze, we are "enjoying" temps in the high 80's today!

This rabbit is not pleased



The birds are appreciating the birdbath







Flowers like the warmer weather











Blue bee





Hummingbirds, goldfinches, and ovenbirds visit every day

We started with two goldfinches at the feeders. Within a week we have seen at least 10 and many more flying around!

They are such funny little things.







The buntings don't mind them because they eat different seed from separate feeders, so no competition.





The hummingbirds really enjoy the Wendy's Wish salvia.



It has been cooler lately and fewer bugs and reptiles. Did find a corn snake snoozing in an old plant pot.



Sulphur



Winter blooms

Wishing everyone a safe, happy holiday season!

It has been a strange fall. Got a lot to be thankful for. Walking better now and starting to spend more time in the garden again. Still not up to any long treks yet, but hopefully soon!

Good thing there are plenty of birds at home to see.

Hummingbirds galore









Funny encounters





It is starting to rain less so the birdbaths are becoming popular







Painted buntings. They prefer white millet at the birdfeeder, and also enjoy snacking on the celosia seeds.

With highs in the 80's instead of 90's, it is feeling like fall in South Florida!

Painted Buntings are here in numbers



We have a few Indigo buntings too



Other visitors include a steady stream of Swainson's Thrushes



Black throated blue warbler



Hummingbirds of course







Some unusual dragonflies



Orchids in bloom





We call this raccoon Sir Poops a Lot because he poops everywhere



It has been a strange migration because I have been recovering from foot surgery and have not been very mobile.

So I have pretty much watched this migration from my window.

Starting to get out a little bit more every day and am getting ready for winter gardening. Looking forward to nicer weather!

There are small rays of hope that the end of summer is coming. We had our first hummingbird, first painted bunting, and first warbler within the last couple of weeks.





Early morning views





Lots of toads







This Cuban tree frog expressing himself



Lots of bees and flowers







Fun with photoshop. The scene was real, but I gave it an old timey look



Lots of saturation

Southern Toad, our native toad. Not to be confused with the Marine toad, which is a toxic invader.



The imaginatively named Ringneck snake





Black swallowtail



Black-bellied whistling ducks often fly overhead and sometimes stop to say hello. It was a steamy morning and my camera fogged up immediately, so I was basically shooting blind to get a picture. Pretty happy with how they turned out!





After the storm

I've seen the little female several times and recently also found a larger male in the garden. His shell is a little deformed but otherwise he looks OK. Maybe they will meet up :)





Abundant baby rabbits



A pair of wrens seem to be investigating nesting locations



Baby cardinals growing up fast







The orchids are enjoying the hot and humid weather.

We had a late warbler, a Northern Parula, hanging out in the garden for a while. It would "leaf bathe" while we watered the plants.







Baby bluejays and cardinals growing up fast:







Meat's on the menu for the baby cardinals:



Last month we went to see a flyover salute to medical personnel performed by the US Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon jets from the 482nd Fighter Wing, The Mako’s, Air Force Reserve Command in Homestead.



Now the summer rains have started and the garden is loving it. Very prehistoric.







The box turtle made another appearance this morning, chomping on earthworms in the soggy soil. Hopefully it sticks around!

Most of the seasonal birds have gone north. We still get the occasional warbler.

Common Yellowthroat


Reggie redstart




The year round residents like cardinals and bluejays are nesting and wrangling fledglings.



Another interesting visitor was a Florida box turtle. They are surprisingly cryptic in the undergrowth.



A less welcome visitor, the Knight Anole. They are aggresive non-natives that might eat baby birds.



It has been nice having more time at home to enjoy the garden.





This orchid looks savage!



Speaking of savage plants, Rich's carnivorous collection is doing well.







I watched a dragonfly lay eggs. Never seen that before.



Lots of butterfly action! Guess there will be loads of hungry caterpillars soon!