Hope everyone is feeling merry and bright!



Christmas in South Florida isn't very Christmassy, which is one reason we went to NY last weekend. The other reason was catching Ghost in Brooklyn!

Before we did all that, we saw Generation Axe in Orlando and Hollywood. It was mind blowing!!! Even better than the first time they got together back in 2016.













Last weekend was the trip to NY. We went to Rockefeller Center and Central Park and got our fill of Christmas lights.







Then we went to Barclays center to see Ghost play their final US arena show of the tour. I'd seen them open there for Iron Maiden last year. It was an epic show.











Now we are home for a quiet Christmas and New Year to enjoy the birds!

Moving from climate to climate these past few weeks.

Miami for Ghost









St. Paul for work







A few days at home before Orlando and Hollywood for Generation Axe!







The goldfinches are increasing in number.



Generation Axe was a complete sensory overload. We are still recovering from the double dose. Front row both times!



More to come.

Been crazy with a mix of work and personal stuff going on! Catching up with photos from the last month:

Hummingbird face off



Blackpoll warblers



Busy birdbath





Wilson's Warbler



A quick stroll around Riverbend










Stuart Air Show in November































I can't believe it is December!

The musician migration continued with Yngwie Malmsteen last weekend! Ass-kicking show as always.





Plenty of warblers moving through recently.

Palm



American redstart



Black-throated blue





Magnolia





Ovenbird



Golden-winged





Back home, painted buntings and butterflies add fall color!











Dragonflies in love



I just migrated back from Canada this past week and hope to enjoy some birding this weekend! A cool front is expected in South Florida. High temps in the 80's instead of 90's! Hooray!

Getting some fall-ish color







Frisky fawn









Mama woodpecker also getting pestered





Up to 4 painted buntings so far







Brown Thrasher



Cuban treefrog



Leopard frog yoga. Downward frog.



In addition to birds, fall weather is bringing good concerts our way.

Moonspell! All the way from Portugal! 4th time seeing them.

First set of painted buntings arrived this past week, 2 males and a female.



Hanging with Mr. Cardinal





Lots of hummingbirds too.







Sunbathing



Migration has brought some northern visitors.

Wilson's Warbler



Also sunbathing



Veery



American Redstart







Ovenbird





There are hints of fall in the air, so hopefully more birds will be on the way!

Migration is getting underway. We've had hummingbirds and warblers passing through the garden.



Did you get my good side?



Brown Thrasher



Black Racer



Queen Caterpillars



Looking for painted buntings to arrive in the next few weeks!

Spent a week in the PNW hoping to cool off. Unfortunately they had a heat wave but it was still a good time!

On the ferry in Seattle



Hiking





On the ferry to Victoria, BC. We were enveloped in spooky fog for almost the entire journey. Cool, at last!



We arrived just in time for the Symphony Splash, a concert held in the harbor on a barge.





Butchart Gardens











The elusive Mossy Owl



We were marveling at the spiny Monkey Puzzle Tree when my friend said that there was no way a bird could ever nest in there.

Not 30 seconds later, cheeping was heard from the spiky thicket! Guess this house finch was determined to find a safe nesting site.







The ferry ride back to Washington was also interesting. We saw loads of whale boats grouping up and saw with the long lens that they were on some whales. We later found out that they were humpback whales!





We also noticed a strange mirage effect that appeared like a mirror image. Everyone out on deck was marveling at the upside down lighthouses. Found out later it is called Fata Morgana and is associated with the legend of the Flying Dutchman! It was pretty cool looking.





Back home, tree frogs have been reveling in the heat and rain!



Is it fall yet???

Summer is not my favorite time of year to be in Florida, but there are still some interesting wildlife sightings.

For example, I learned that swallow-tailed kites do not get along with vultures. These two had an aerial battle right over the house!





The frogs love the heat and rain.





Blue Jays and Brown Thrashers continue to hang out in the garden.





The cardinal family has fledged at least one chick. It begs to be fed even though it is perfectly capable of eating on its own.









On the plus side, the hummingbirds should be back in less than 2 months!

Last week I visited Montana for the first time for work. Pretty cool place. Got to go on a field trip to see the sagebrush. Saw some sage grouse!





Couldnt escape the mosquitoes though!



Lark Bunting



Red Wing Blackbird





Horned Lark







Ruddy Duck







Cliff Swallows







Back home, the bigger mosquitoes were waiting.



Tiny toad



Leopard Frog



Swallow-tailed Kite