One of the things I love most about my little garden is how much wildlife I can see without even leaving the yard. Some days I could happily sit out there all day with my camera and long lens.

When the weather has been nice, I’ve taken to working from the sun porch. I don’t get as much work done on those days. but I do get some wonderful pics.

Like this one of Mrs. Cardinal. The cardinals are VERY elusive here – especially the females. But this one hung out on top of the catio fence for quite a while.

And do you see that orange streak behind her????? I didn’t notice THAT until I downloaded the pics. I’ve been seeing orioles quite a bit this year – but always in flight. So I was delighted when this one stopped for a wee second on top of the squash tunnel.

And in anothe moment of “Hey – I didn’t notice that when I took the pic” – see the second bird on the right? Well – I saw him as soon as I put the camera down. Thankfully, he stuck around longer than the one on the left did!

A fledgling oriole!!! Isn’t he a cutie?

He flew off just a few minutes after the adult, but I was beyond THRILLED to have seen him, and get pictures!

Now these next pics are not quite as good, because I was shooting through the screened window of the sunporch

But I finally got a picture of the darn hummingbird. There hasn’t been as many as last year – my Honeysuckle had a bad case of aphids this spring, and it didn’t get many blooms. It’s set to bloom again though – and my neighbours trumpet vine is starting to bloom so I expect to see them a little more.

This one was making do with the Culvers Root. Though they do like the bee balm as well and I have lots of that.

Of course, it’s not just birds that come to visit.

There’s butterflies too. Other than the Red Admirals (above) and the Cabbage Whites, I haven’t seen too many other butterflies. I did see my first Monarch on July 1, but it didn’t stick around. There’s lots of Milkweed in Willow Grove now, so I expect more will be visiting.

I chased this Banded Hairstreak for days before I was finally able to get a few pictures. By the time I did, he was missing the little blue bits that are normally on the end of his hindwing. Hairstreaks are VERY tiny butterflies – the centre of that flower he’s on is only about the size of a nickel.

And speaking of those Cabbage Whites – they are the most abundant butterfly in the garden. And I do love them… but I’m struggling with that love because their caterpillars are just munching away on my poor broccoli! I think I’m staying on top of it enough that I will still get a harvest, but I’m pulling the little green guys off several times every day!

And a backyard nature post is never complete with out our other regulars – our funky red-tailed black squirrels… and…

The beautiful bluejays!

Who are the regular visitors to your yard?