Monday, July 21, 2014

Coming and Going and Growing

Design - "USA"
Chart - "Land That I Love"
Designer - Bent Creek
Fabric - 32 count Summer Khaki linen
Fibers - GAST & WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads
Started - 16 July 2014
Completed - 17 July 2014

This time of year the birds are coming - back to the feeders like the Chickadees. The birds are going - like the Evening Grosbeaks and male Rufous Hummingbirds - moving on to their 'usual stomping grounds.  And the baby birds certainly are growing! 

Everyday I think, "Today's the last day I'll see the Evening Grosbeaks until next year." 

But so far they've continued to surprise me and return to the feeders the following day.

I am quite certain though that only one Evening Grosbeak family still remains in the area.

I think it is a group of five - parents and three fledglings.

In this photo two babies are peering down at Mama hoping for a handout.

And yes, sometimes begging works!

Six Quail families, or seven or eight?
I truly do not know for sure.

We have a large family 20-21 babies. A family with 4, a family with 5, this family, and a newly hatched group - the babies smaller than my thumb.

Papa Quail marching on Parade...

...followed by Baby #1 and Baby #2...

Baby Quail marching along in time!

This is my Big Family - if you look closely you can see the kids are developing top-knots like their parents.  So I'll be able to sort males from females by the top-knot shape.

And guess what!  

I now have Photographic Proof! See the bright yellow bird with the red head among the ripe hazelnuts?

Here's my male Western Tanager!
Not the best photo, but I had to share as he is one difficult bird to 'capture'!

One year ago today Mom and I explored Chichester and took in the Rare Breeds Show in Singleton.

9 comments:

  1. Nice on the tanager! I love how the baby quail are developing topknots -- so cool! You always take such great pics. Hope those grosbeaks stick around a while longer.

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  2. Cute USA finish! Loved seeing the baby Quail :)

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  3. Those birds know they have a good thing going in your yard, Beth, that's why they are reluctant to leave!!

    The quail families are so charming and I love seeing the little topknots coming out :)

    Another cute patriotic finish--you must have done about all of them now!

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  4. Well done with the new bird photos. I've been enjoying catching up with your latests entries - my time has been limited once again (my mum is back in hospital).

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  5. Just adore the marching quail! What a great flock they are! Congrats on snapping the Western Tanager!

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  6. The male Western Tanager is such a very pretty bird! It hard to imagine that some of the birds are already leaving.

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  7. Congrats on snapping a couple of pictures of the Tanager! And aren't those baby Grosbeaks cute as ever?? You sure are stitching lots of red, white and blue projects! Love them all! Hugs!

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  8. Love the quail, those babies are growing rapidly. A great patriotic finish.

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Thank you all. I appreciate that you've read my blog and are taking the time to comment.