Spring has quickly given way to summer. We have had temps in the mid- 90's and are now in the afternoon thunderstorm cycle.

We still have a couple of painted buntings hanging around.





Still getting to know my new lens. The least bitterns have been a challenge!











American Bittern, hiding



Sora



Palm Warbler



Common Yellowthroat



Nesting shots from early March







Snipe





Flyby Harrier



Phoebe



Pied billed grebe





Green heron swallows frog

Went to DeLeon Springs State Park this past week for some field training.

Hangman's Oak



Devil's walking stick



Pillbugs



5-lined skink. They lose their stripes with age.





At home, I still have a flock of female painted buntings. The males left last week, but I did see one straggler this morning. I took this picture on Sunday last week. I had a feeling that they were planning to leave soon because the males were singing and behaving very aggressively.



Still lots of other bird action in the yard. Had a Northern Parula stop by, and there are plenty of cardinals and blue jays. Have not seen any hummingbirds for about a week so I guess they are gone until the fall.

Catbird Fight





A pair of brown thrashers has been hanging around





Carolina Wren

Raccoon family







A cluster of zebra longwings





Irises in bloom



The hummingbirds might be gone. Have not seen any today. Got some shots earlier this week.





The painted buntings are still here, feeding up.







I noticed one of the males has a yellow patch on his chest. He is not one of the ones that overwintered here. I think a lot of the buntings I am seeing now are stopping off on their way north.