A Walk Around The Yard

Many different species of birds are migrating through our yards in November. A walk around the front acre of our 2.5- acre property from 8:30am to 9:00am revealed many birds and butterflies.

The painted bunting feeder had one male in it and was later joined by several females. A house wren was squawking from inside of the firebush while a hummingbird fed outside on its tubular flowers.

A cicada buzzed while being chased by a blue jay and the chips of various wood warblers could be heard up in the oaks. Further along… two catbirds and another hummingbird scolded me for interrupting their breakfasts.

While checking out the scores of insects on the flowering pineland privet, an annoyed house wren, dining on these insects, gave me his two cents worth.

Now, and in the evening, is a good time to watch for coopers, red shouldered and red tailed hawks patrolling for prey.

I have noticed that even the unwelcome green Cuban knight anole is becoming prey for some of these hawks. Here is a non-native lizard that eats other lizards, frogs and little birds only to be eaten by larger birds; fair is fair.

Butterflies included: the monarch, zebra longwing, Julia, queen, ruddy daggerwing, soldier, cassius blue, several orange sulpher species, and gulf fritillary. Standing in one spot, I could count 18 butterflies of various species, and it got better as the temperature warmed up.

Plants producing fruit or nuts included: beautyberry, wild coffee, marlberry, coontie, oaks, Spanish stopper, rouge plant, white stopper, and strangler fig.

A birdbath with a drip tube attached and a mister is just what these birds need now that the rains have stopped. In fact, water is becoming the most important item in the yard.

What a great way to start a relaxing Sunday. Take a walk with your family and enjoy the beauty within your own back yard. The more grass you replace with natives, the more interesting your walks will become.