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:

Margaret said...

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.

Angela said...

Cute USA finish! Loved seeing the baby Quail :)

cucki said...

Sweet baby quail..
Hugs x

Carol said...

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!

Ann at Beadlework. said...

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).

krayolakris said...

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

Barb said...

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

Maggee said...

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!

Andrea said...

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