Temperatures are mild, days are lengthening, and February is nearly half over. My back garden birds have increased in number and appetite as they await and anticipate Spring’s renewal.

This lovely Pine Warbler, Setophaga pinus, is a regular in the garden this winter. Austin is just barely in this warbler species’ nonbreeding range and it’s only in the past couple of years that I’ve enjoyed their company during winter’s dormancy. This year, two of these warblers hang in the garden, though I typically see just one at a time, mostly this pretty boy.

He’s easy to spot in trees and shrubs as he present himself as a dash of rich yellow, foraging busily for insects. In my garden, he favors peanuts, offered from a feeder and hopefully a decent substitute for Pine Warblers’ preference for pine seeds, which my garden lacks. Pine guy works the branches, the peanut and suet feeders, but also spends time on the ground, hopping through fall planted iris straps and December fallen oak leaves.

There’s usually a lucky piece of peanut found among the leaves, twigs, and ceramic armadillos, and this little bird is good at finding the nummies.

Downie and Red-bellied Woodpeckers are year-round daily visitors, but a new-to-my-garden bird is this Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Dryobates scalaris. Austin is clearly in the nonbreeding range for this handsome guy, but I’ve only seen him visit my garden in recent months.

I’ve noticed in walks around my neighborhood that I’ve seen him, or another of his kind, flitting around Live Oak trees, so clearly there’s probably more than one Ladder-backed bro. I don’t know if this is a new population, but I’m chuffed he’s joined the bird gang that includes my garden as their place to dine and socialize.

I like this patient Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos, who perched, surveilling his realm, while I snapped some shots. I’ve noticed territorial chasing between birds; it’s that time of year, I suppose. The Red Bud tree where he perched grows in a garden with evergreen shrubs and where Mocks have previously built nests and raised chicks. I hope this site will host another family or two of these cheeky, charming birds.

I couldn’t resist the bum shot of this cute Carolina Wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus. I’m seeing more action from the couple that lives in this area and enjoying the male’s song, always the early-bird first of each morning.

Another bum shot, but of the Carolina’s cousin, a Bewick’s Wren, Thryomanes bewickii.

Last Spring and for the first time ever, my garden hosted a darling Bewick’s couple and they fledged three equally darling chicks, which you can read about here. In recent days, the two adults are once again checking our their birdhouse and chastising me if I’m lingering too close. I look forward to more beautiful songs, some annoyed-at-me chittering from mom and dad, and observing the remarkably devoted parents as they raise a new family later in April and May.

I’m deep in winter pruning, the garden transforming from the remains of a year’s growth, full and lush, to a decidedly minimalist look. Spring wildflowers have emerged and will act as colorful, pollinator feeders until the perennials rise up again, to settle into their important roles in the garden as food sources and protection for wildlife, as well as aesthetic sustenance for the gardener.