Tulip Time and Friday Finches

Continuing on with my rabbit theme, I decided to stitch Primitivebetty's "Tulip Time". This freebie does not indicate which colors to use, so I will have to step outside my comfort zone and see what I can come up with. I'll probably be able to show off the finish by early next week. 

As the calendar turns to the last half of April, the Finch Family rules the roost (and the feeders) around here.  

The hedgerow at the edge of the backyard is green with butter yellow accents - American Goldfinches. 

The females sport quieter colors than their male counterparts.  

Are these guys dressed to kill or what?  They are strutting their stuff!

On the upper left is a male Lesser Goldfinch.

The Lesser Goldfinches have black heads and olive backs and are a bit smaller than the American Goldfinches.  

The American Goldfinches, Lesser Goldfinches, and Pine Siskins all enjoy the small black Nyjer seeds.

They also all like hulled sunflower pieces...

...as well as Black Oil sunflower seeds still in the shell.

I like to have a few smaller feeders than only the songbirds can use, so they do not get bullied by the larger birds.

The water fountains and bird baths are finch friendly too. 

Male American Goldfinches and female House Finches.

I cannot celebrate Finch Friday without a photo or two of the male House Finches.

This male was radiant in the early morning sunshine.

The Evening Grosbeaks are the largest members of the Finch family in my area.

The bright yellow line above the brow gives the males a stern appearance.

Or quizzical anyway!

The males are always the first to appear, and then the females show up.  

Here's a female Evening Grosbeak and a male House Finch.

Look at those beaks - they are made to crack the shells of sunflowers are other hard seeds. 

I've counted six birds at the feeder, but Wednesday evening counted a flock of 20 birds flying overhead to a hill just across the road.  I hope that means that yet more birds will come to the feeders in the next few days.

The last of my seasonal finches to arrive, is Black-headed Grosbeak.  

Once again, the males arrive first - I saw my first two just yesterday.

As soon as the females show up my Finch Family will be complete!