Hummingbird Bath - January Edition

On Sunday I got to watch this hummer bathe. 

She dunked her head, thus all the water droplets.

See?  Just like that.

Wings in constant motion.

A cute little white hummingbird butt!

Backside

Front

Am I clean yet?

Readying for take-off.

Snow Finish

 

Design - "Snow"

Chart - "Winter Smalls"

Designer - Lizzie Kate

Fabric - 32 count Light Mocha Belfast linen

Fibers - WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 27 January 2018

Completed - 28 January 2018

I started this Saturday evening while attending a U of O basketball game and finished it up Sunday afternoon. "Winter Smalls" has four designs, and I think I'm going to stitch a couple of others. 

No snow, or even cold temps here. 

The Song Sparrows are singing away like it is spring already. 

Here's a Golden-crowned Sparrow.  I've yet to see a White-throated or White-crowned Sparrow this winter.

I'm afraid my Yellow-rumped Warbler has moved on.  I saw him Sunday morning, but have not caught a glimpse of him since.  Still having him around for 28 days in a row is no small gift.

My Acorn Woodpeckers were active on Sunday.

Getting Closer

I'm reasonably certain that I'll be able to share this as finished by the end of the week.  Love the periwinkle fabric and all the bright variegated floss colors.

I very much appreciate everyone who follows this blog.  And a special shout out to new Commentors: Rebecca from PA and Sonja from Germany. I do try to answer comments and questions, so if you do not hear from me it is probably because your Blogger set up is as "No-Reply". 

I've mentioned to Frances that I've had non-stop hawk activity the past few days.  Usually is is a Cooper's Hawk.

But on Saturday morning, a very small Sharp-shinned Hawk made a surprise attack on my Juncos.  He did not get any, and in fact got tangled in the wire fencing that protects one of my sister's garden patches.  This bird is so small that at first, I thought it was a robin. But no, it was a fierce little hawk.

All the Juncos got away scot-free!

And thankfully the Yellow-rumped Warble was not present.

I'd have go into a prolonged period of mourning if he'd been a victim. 

I think this is my favorite photo from the past few days.  If you enlarge it you can see the tiny rain droplets atop the Fox Sparrow's head.

Sunday's Hummers

I managed a few more photos this week.

I think I am showing two different birds...

this one...

...and this one.  It has more throat color than the other bird.

I know I have three birds as I've seen three flying at the same time.

Once again no photos of the adult male...

Saturday's Nature Watch

I counted seven deer the other day.

I think 2 or 3 of them are regulars.

Look at the delicate little hooves and the warm furry winter coat. 

I saw David and Douglas the other day.

Only one chipmunk out and about. 

There is one rabbit, but I so rarely see it, so no photos. 

Almost Instant Gratification

This Lizzie Kate chart and Heart and Hand kit have been calling my name.  So earlier this week I emailed Friendship Crossing in Corvallis and on Thursday they arrived with a gift of a Sweetheart Tree chart. Thanks Ann! I think that the snowmen will be my next stitch.

It's nice to have two kinds of cheerful chickadees.

Black-capped Chickadee

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

And I've two kinds of jays including this California Scrub Jay.

Can you see my warbler?

Here he is! Mr. Reliable.

The Red-breasted Nuthatches have been pretty reliable too.

They are crazy for peanuts.

The other afternoon I walked over to top off this feeder...

...and the bird did not fly away.

So I put a few peanuts in the palm of my hand...

...and the bird flew to my hand, grabbed a peanut, and flew off!

That was pretty exciting!

A Little Snow - Somewhere

Design - "A Little Snow" kit

Designer - Lizzie Kate

Fabric - 28 count Amber linen

Fibers - WDW 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 18 January 2018

Finished - 23 January 2018

No sign of snow here - in fact the 10 day forecast shows each day a bit warmer than the next until we end up in the mid-50's.  Very weird January weather! Now I need to come up with another stitch for the basketball game on Saturday. 

I need to do a count of the number of species I'm seeing in January.

I don't feel like there are very many - instead the same birds over and over again like this Golden-crowned Sparrow.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Hello Pine Siskin!

Have a bit to eat!

Thirty or more of these birds on Wednesday.

A break in the weather found the Acorn Woodpeckers working away at their granary tree.  Look at all those holes!

I haven't seen a female Hairy, but the male Hairy Woodpecker comes by most days.

He likes nuts of all sorts.

Lots of Flickers out and about.

I'm pleased they've found the suet cylinder in the backyard.

See how he is using his tail feathers to counter balance when his feet are at shoulder height.