Crows, Rooks, Pigeons, Quail, and Woodpeckers

I am charmed by The Prairie Schooler's "Sow Four Seeds".  I figured that the sentiment expressed worked really well with my September Garden stitching theme.  I might even manage to finish it up this week.   

While I haven't seen any crows or rooks (except to stitch), a small group of eight or so Band-tailed Pigeons has returned.  They are supposed to delight in eating maple seeds and acorns and we certainly are awash in those presently.

I think I counted 17 Quail the other afternoon.

The 'babies' are now big enough that it is easy to distinguish the males from the females.  In this photo the front three are females and the back right is a male - notice his darker gray chest and more upright top-knot.

I was pleased to see a male Downy Woodpecker eating mullein seeds the other evening. 

Mullein is considered to be an aggressive, invasive 'weed'; and I do battle to keep it in check. 

Still, I like to have six or eight plants as the Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers work away on it all Fall and Winter.