A Sign of Spring's Approach

Design - "Stack of Hearts" (kit)

Designer - Heart in Hand

Fabric -  32 count Natural Belfast linen

Fibers - 2 strands over 2 threads - WDW & GAST

Started - 19 February 2011

Completed - 19 February 2011

Wow! I cranked that out in one day!  Now I'm going to be lucky to finish one design in a month.

Look who's here!

A Band-tailed Pigeon, that's who. I must confess that I'm not all that excited to see this bird feeder hog.  I'm hoping that he is an early 'scout' and that I can avoid changing out my feeders to deter these guys for several weeks yet.

I'd much rather have a bevy of Bushtits!

I've seen them almost every day this past week.

And as you can see, I can't get enough of them.

Look at the long tail in comparison to the short, fat little body. 

Adorableness times two!

They are very acrobatic perching as needed to access their food.

Light eyes = two females.

Dark eyes = males!

Monday Musings

I know, I said I was going to start stitching on this, a couple of weeks ago.

It didn't happen.  On Sunday I finally got the fabric and fibers together and began to stitch.  Wahoo!

So a small start on a small stitch...and now on to small birds.  

Female Anna's Hummingbird

Female Bushtit

I'm pretty thrilled, this group of 6-8 birds is coming by every afternoon.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Size comparison

Chestnut-backed Chickadee and a Junco

Black-capped Chickadee

(It is larger than the Chestnut-backed)

Junco

White-throated Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Sunday Hummers

This female continues to hang out in the backyard often perch on the same patch of blackberry vines. 

I haven't seen any signs of nest building, but I remain hopeful.

I had two males, but sadly lost one last week.

He was perched on the feeder in the morning when I came outside. Appeared to be in torpor with his bill uplifted and no movement other than breathing. He never came out of the state.  I was bummed for several days afterward wondering if I could have / should have done more.

Thankfully, there is still one male in the area. 

And at least two females.  In a couple of months the Rufous Hummers will return and I'll have lots of humming activity.

The Usual Crew

I've seen as many as three chipmunks at the same time.

This guy is about as wide as he is tall - making through the winter weather just find I'd say.

More bunnies are showing up as well.

#1

#2

Peaceable kingdom

I am most amused by the bunny that climbs up on the woodpile to eat sunflowers.

Isn't that the sweetest face ever?

I don't generally think about bunnies as climbers...

But they do have very strong legs and some serious claws.

The group of deer have ambled by a couple of times.

This doe continues to take care of her fawn.

A mother's work is never done.

Frosty Friday

Design - "2009 Collector's Heart"

Designer - Heart in Hand

Fabric - 32 count Dirty Belfafst linen

Fibers - GAST & WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 6 February 2012

Completed - 10 February 2012

The past couple of days have been cold with snow flurries.

This morning we had a very hard frost.

I had over a dozen Steller's Jays come by for breakfast.

Am only seeing one or two Scrub Jays.

But the Bushtits were by earlier this week.

Gotta' love these sweet little birds. 

This was a group of 6-8.

Light eyes = female birds.

Foggy February

Design - "Spring Fling" (kit)

Designer - "Heart in Hand"

Fabric - 32 count Dirty Belfast linen

Fibers - GAST & WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 31 January 2011

Completed - 3 February 2011

It's been several months Since I've taken a bird walk with a group. Wednesday morning, my Mom and I went out to Delta Ponds with a small group of nine others.

We walked a path along the Willamette River.

Though a foggy morning, we saw a couple dozen different birds including this Pied-billed Grebe. 

The Canada Geese were semi-hysterical...

...here's the reason why!

A Bald Eagle. 

Here's a Bewick's Wren. We also saw Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. 

A young Nutria was having breakfast.

I got a good look at a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

There was a Kinglet flitting about too, but no photos of it.

Several Coots...

and a Cormorant.

Several Anna's Hummingbirds including this male.

Here's a female Ring-necked Duck.

And here's the male.

My mom requested a 'new bird' - and these Wood Ducks were lifers for her.

We were serenaded by Song Sparrows and Blackbirds.

It was nice to explore a new area of the Willamette River and Delta Ponds. A large shopping mall and several office buildings lurk close by, but lots of birds go about their business not bothered by the proximity of civilization.