Sometimes I try to get up early and spend a little time in the yard with the birds before starting my “real” day. Sometimes I see nothing at all, just listen to bird songs. Other times I see some pretty cool stuff be it a bird, an insect, or some type of behavior. Yesterday was a day that I was up early and I actually had time to go out on the porch with a coffee and really watch the birds for a while. There were quite a few coming to the feeding station including Momma and Poppa, quite a few tufted titmice, some Carolina chickadees, and the always present doves. I mainly get the adorable little ground doves, but there is also a pair of mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) that show up pretty frequently. Yesterday was one of those days. One of the pair was down on the ground eating with the ground doves while the other was perched in one of the oaks. The perched dove looked relaxed but alert, and it had chosen a place in a beam of sunlight. It was a cool morning (by Florida standards) and the dove appeared to be enjoying the warmth from the early morning sun. I liked the way that sunlight emphasized all the subtile colors in the feathers of what can sometimes look like just a plain brown bird.