Thursday, February 18, 2016

Counting X's and Counting Birds

Design - "Pink Heart"
Designer - Heart in Hand
Fabric - 32 count Clay Belfast linen
Fibers - WDW & GAST - 2 strands over 2 threads
Started - 9 February 2016
Completed - 15 February 2016 

I'm pretty pleased with this little pink heart.  I don't think I'd ever design one with black / brown accents, but the colors work well together.

And now on to the final tally for the Great Backyard Bird Count 2016.

I began taking part in the count in 2012. Each year has had a bird or two that I've not had all years.  One year I had a large group of Evening Grosbeaks in February.  In 2013 I had a Golden-crowned Kinglet, White-crowned Sparrows, and a Varied Thrush.  In 2014 I had a very early sighting of a Band-tailed Pigeon. In 2015 I was fortunate to see a flock of Sandhill Cranes fly overhead - that was amazing! 

So this year I had 34 species - most of which I saw. Five were by ear only - the Varied Thrush, Pileated Woodpecker, Evening Grosbeak, Red-breasted Sapsucker, and Great Horned Owl. All five have very unique songs or calls, and I am confident I heard the birds, though I did not see them.

I counted Red-shafted Northern Flickers...

and a Downy Woodpecker...

and Hairy Woodpeckers.

I counted House Finches...

and Anna's Hummingbirds...

and Spotted Towhees.

The California Quail were well represented... 

as were the Steller's Jays...

and the Scrub Jays.

I was pleased to have a White-Throated Sparrow - a new bird for this year's count.

I had a nice group of Mourning Doves.

 
On a walk back from the Dahlia Garden, I was able to count several Bushtits...

and a group of several Ruby-crowned Kinglets - also new birds for this year.

Here's a recap of the 34 species with the largest number viewed over the four day period:

  • 02 Mallards
  • 38 California Quail
  • 01 Sharp-shinned Hawk
  • 01 Cooper's Hawk
  • 02 Red-tailed Hawk
  • 07 Mourning Doves
  • 01 Great Horned Owl (heard it)
  • 03 Anna's Hummingbirds
  • 02 Acorn Woodpeckers
  • 01 Red-breasted Sapsucker (heard it)
  • 01 Downy Woodpecker
  • 02 Hairy Woodpeckers
  • 02 Red-Shafted Northern Flickers
  • 01 Pileated Woodpecker (heard it)
  • 09 Steller's Jays
  • 03 Scrub Jays
  • 135 American Crows (flying overhead)
  • 04 Black-capped Chickadees
  • 02 Chestnut-backed Chickadees
  • 01 Red-breasted Nuthatch
  • 01 Varied Thrush
  • 05 American Robins
  • 08 European Starlings
  • 03 Fox Sparrows
  • 25 Dark-eyed Oregon Juncos
  • 12 Golden-crowned Sparrows
  • 01 White-throated Sparrow
  • 04 Song Sparrows
  • 08 Spotted Towhees
  • 14 House Finches
  • 35 Pine Siskins
  • 01 Evening Grosbeak (heard it)
  • 08 Bushtits
  • 05 Ruby-crowned Kinglets  

11 comments:

cucki said...

Beautiful stitch and lovely birds x

Vickie said...

I am pleased with your little pink heart as well! :)
I miss hearing the Great Horned Owls at night.

Olde Dame Penniwig said...

Wow, that is a long and varied list - how lucky to live among such birds.

Maggee said...

Cute little Valentine heart piece! I like brown and pink together... looks nice! Great tally for 2016! Having nothing to do with that, but yesterday afternoon I heard a different bird... searched around, found a male and female Eastern Towhee in the tree overhead! Had never heard them before, tho I have seen them! Thanks for sharing!

MaryO said...

Wow! Wonderful bird pics! LOVE the red heart.

Le trame della Galaverna said...

Beautiful heart
Heart is for hirds

Mouse said...

the wee heart looks lovely and well done on the bird count ... not to mention recognising some by ear too ... we have a robin that comes to visit us as well as a few pheasants, we have a nesting pair ... love mouse xxxxx

Margaret said...

So much fun! It can be dangerous, this listing. I think I could get obsessive about it. Congratulations on another successful year!

Barb said...

Wonderful results for the bird count!!!! Plus, a very pretty heart!

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Love the little heart. Your headers are always so lovely.

Christine said...

That little heart is lovely, and what an absolutely phenomenal number of birds