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“Look at those red eyes!” No, Gini was not referring to me. A handsome (that immediately disqualifies yours truly) brown and white bird ran, stopped, cocked its head, ran a few more steps, stopped, grabbed a grasshopper, gulped it down and – wash, rinse, repeat. The behavior, plumage and beautiful dark red eyes belonged to the Killdeer, a member of the Plover family. Although a “shorebird”, it is more often encountered inland,… Read More

(Click images to enlarge, click again to zoom.) Standing still, eyes closed, head tilted one way then another. I hear the distant call of a Red-shouldered Hawk, the guttural “caw-caw-cawwww” of American Crows, trumpeting Sandhill Cranes, a raucous Blue Jay, the hammering of a woodpecker on a dry limb. Gini’s superior hearing adds a calling White-eyed Vireo, the clear whistle of a Tufted Titmouse, a Carolina Wren, an upset squirrel and the… Read More

Header Image: Eastern Phoebe Eyes Bagworm Moth We seem to relish foggy days. For one, as Gini noted on this day, it just seems so quiet. The stillness of an early morning on the bank of a lake blanketed in gray with sight and sound limited heightens the senses. More importantly, we know clear skies lurk just above the mist and the natural world will soon be going about the business of… Read More

A few weeks ago we had a chance to escape to our patch before the dire weather predictions came crashing down around us. Sunny skies and warm temperatures – the way a Florida winter should be! For something a bit different, our trip began in mid-afternoon and we remained until sunset. We had a wonderful outing and saw more than we expected. We even spotted a few critters other than birds! When… Read More

Header Image: White-eyed Vireo So many things to do! The garage really needs to be sorted out, the extra bedroom looks like the aftermath of a craft warehouse explosion, bags of donation items need to be hauled away, a couple of small trees are awaiting excavation, the birding-mobile is overdue for an oil change — where, oh where, to begin? Sunrise in the forest is so quiet and peaceful. In early spring,… Read More