Monday, October 31, 2016

Happy Halloween - Another Owl

 
Chart - "Alphabet Owls"
Designer - JBW Designs
Fabric - 32 count cream linen
Fibers - GAST, WDW, & Crescent Colors - 2 strands over 2 threads
Started - 26 October 2016
Completed - 29 October 2016

Amazing design skill set to create an alphabet in the shape of an owl!


And you will have to take my word for it, there is a Great Horned Owl perched in the tree.  Last week I was outside at dawn and twice watched a Great Horned Owl as it left it's nocturnal roost and headed off at around 7:00am. I am still figuring out how to take better low light / no light photos with my camera.

Here are some Daylight Birds.

Oregon Junco

Song Sparrow

American Robin

Steller's Jays

This bird has a new name - it is now to be called a California Scrub Jay.

On Friday morning a group of around eight Bushtits came to backyard berm.  The flock also included a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.  No photo of the flitting Kinglet, but I was able to snag one photo of a Bushtit. 

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Sunday's Hummers

I now know that I have two mature male Anna's Hummingbirds.
That's why last week's post was so heavy with mature male photos.

This week I am featuring female Anna's Hummingbirds...

...and young male birds.

I think there are also at least two young males.

They have a bit of color at the throat. 

When the light is dull, the throat color appears to be a darker triangle.

Still lots of floral nectar, so pollen bits on the bird's beak.

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Saturday's Critters

The bunnies are a bit elusive now. 

This one was all about eating blackberry leaves.

This one preferred grass

As did this Big Bad Boy!

I often have four deer visiting. The foursome includes this doe and her fawn.
Notice how skinny the doe is - you can see her ribs.  She is still allowing the fawn to nurse, I'm hoping she'll fatten up once she stops feeding the fawn.
  
This doe is fat and healthy!

She says, "No worries about winter - I'm ready!"

Friday, October 28, 2016

Another Leaf

I picked up "Swainson's Thrush" yesterday and whipped out the leaf on the right.  I have some berries, the bird's name, and the bottom border to stitch.

I've had lots of American Robins in the backyard the past few days, but no other thrushes. Instead it has been a pretty good week for woodpeckers.

While I've not seen a male Downy Woodpecker in sometime, this female is a twice-daily visitor.

She is a sweet little bird.

I'm glad that she has found a feeder setup that she likes. 

The Hairy Woodpeckers also approve of my backyard set up.

They eat hulled sunflowers...

...as well as all sorts of nuts.

They also appreciate the shelter provided by the small trees and shrubs at the edge of the yard.

Here are a couple of ladies - a female Hairy Woodpecker and female Red-shafted Northern Flicker.

I've put out some 'bark butter' hoping to attract warblers, but no luck so far.

I also was fortunate enough to see a Red-breasted Sapsucker.

It was late in the afternoon, low light, so not wonderful photos.

That bright red head is very distinctive.

I literally jumped up and down when I noticed both Acorn Woodpeckers at my front feeders.  The female on the left, the male on the right.  (The pumpkins are gel stickers I put on the window to help deter bird strikes).

I've been seeing the male far more frequently than the female. 

I took down all the front feeders, gave them a through cleaning and refilled them with 'fresh' nuts.

I have to watch the peanuts carefully, since the rains have become, they are prone to mold almost over night. My solution is to put plastic domes over the feeders, only fill them about 1/3 full so the nuts are eaten in a couple of days, and frequently clean the feeders.

A female Flicker has been hanging out in the backyard.

I love all the different feather patterns. 

She enjoys eating peanuts.

Polka dots on the front...  

...and look at all the patterns on the tail feathers!

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Stitching and Birding

I'm about half way with the stitching of this "Alphabet Owl".
I should have a finish to show off next week.

Wednesday thought rainy, was mild so Parvati and Padma elected to spent time outside.

Wet weather is perfect American Robin weather.

The California Quail are impervious to the rain. 

And they pretty much ignore the deer!

Two House Finches and a Golden-crowned Sparrow.

Bush Birds!
House Finch, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Rufous Towhee, and Song Sparrow.