Mulling Over March's Motif

I've been dithering over a stitching theme for March to no avail.  Then I hit upon a semi-brilliant idea.  I've stitched most of the BOAF Animal Sayings, but a quick riffling through my stash unearthed the fox, goose, and the lamb.  So that's what I'll have on my plate for this month. (I also have the virtue charts, "Patience", Loyalty" and "Love" - but that is on hold for the moment.  The R & R recommended fabric (3 different ones) the the animals are no longer in production, so that will be my challenge - to find acceptable replacements.  More dithering will ensue!

When I get it figured out, I think I'll begin the the fox.

On a winter's day, even a warm one, a spot of sunshine is all that is needed for a comfortable catnap.  Padma is the King of Capturing Sun-tangles. 

Warning - this is an extremely Flicker-heavy post!   

Most of the USA is home ground for the Northern Flicker. 

They don't seem to mind human interaction.

One of our early signs of spring this the loud reverberating drumming of our Flickers on the metal ducts on our roof - "Calling all ladies!"  It is our spring morning wake up call.

I was taught that west of the Rockies we have Orange-shafted Flickers, and east of the Rockies, the Flickers are Yellow-shafted. While sometimes it is hard to see the orange wing and tail feathers...

...at other times such is in flight, the orange feathers are readily apparent.

The Flickers like the suet feeders, but are also content looking for insects on the ground.

I've not had two birds at a feeder - they wait their turn. 

It's nice as they don't seem to mind me clicking away.

I have quite the Flicker Portfolio!

Here's a female - again a good example of the 'missing' orange shaft feathers.

And a male with the littlest bit of orange showing on the tail feathers.

So what's the point of all of this you might well be forgiven for asking by now?

It's that every little once in a while a Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker shows up in my yard!  And that is cause for a big YAHOO! (Cuz I'm a weird semi-obsessed birder). While I never got a good head shot, I think it is a female - I will be on the lookout to see if the bird is a 'regular.'

Several folks asked about my camera - I'll talk about that in a later post this week.  Promise!