Red Flower, Yellow Birds

Design - "Pink Tulip"

Designer - Stone & Thread

Fabric - 32 count Light Mocha Belfast linen

Fibers - GAST & WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 24 March 2014

Completed - 24 March 2014

I've been awash in yellow birds this week including my FOY (First of the year) sighting of a male Western Tanager - no photo. 

I did manage a couple of photos of a small male Wilson's Warbler.

Darned branches!

The second time he came by I did a bit better.

He is even brighter than the American Goldfinches which is how he manages to catch my eye.

And yes, the male American Goldfinches are very yellow now.

I am finally seeing a decent group of around 20 birds.

And my biggest yellow birds - the Evening Grosbeaks.

I have so many that I caved and bought a second feeder tray for them. 

The old tray on the left...6 birds...

The new tray on the right - 10 birds.

I probably have 30 or more at a time. 

Friday Morning's Gift

So I need to get back into cross stitching again.  I should dedicate 7-9pm to stitching - then I'd have something new to share once in a while.

And now back to birding.

Friday morning brought a wonderful gift.

A male Bullock's Oriole.

He kindly posed for me...

...as he checked out some of the feeders...

but not, of course, the oriole nectar feeder!

He is SO blazingly brightly colored.

He did find something that got his attention.

He peered down...

..and decided to have a go at this Bugs, nut, and fruit bell.

I think he was attracted to the fruit.

I've now set out some grape jelly and am hoping he will return.

Sunday's Hummers

Lots of buzzing and humming!

Here's one of the two male Rufous Hummingbirds.

If you look closely...

...you can see he has a small insect stuck to his beak.

Besides nectar, hummingbirds devour small insects.

That's what allows the Anna's to stay here in the winter when nothing is in bloom. 

But when available, nothing beats native plants.

The Rufous is carefully working a low-growing native Bleeding Heart - Dicentra formosa.

This is a hybrid flowering currant - it too is very tasty!

And now back to the feeders.

Here's an Anna's female.

I've got a couple of those.

I was surprised to have one looking at nesting material Friday morning.  I'd thought they'd all made their nests.

I do know that they can have 2-3 broods over the summer.  Thus the presence of my two male Anna's. 

Saturday's Critters

Staring off with the very small...

I found this group of baby spiders hatching.

Within 24 hours they were all gone.

Sunny weather has brought out the bumblebees. 

As always there are lots of chipmunks.

I am looking forward to seeing babies. 

My two big gray squirrels are omnipresent.

They spend a great deal of time chasing each other.

It's amazing that they can get traction on tree bark.

Edging close to my bird feeders.

A vigilant bunny.

They are often at the edge of the backyard with the quail.

They can dash for safety if needed. 

Playing with one another.

Last year's fawn...

...and her mom.

Spring Moves Forward

Design - "Fair Daffodil"

Designer - Blackbird Designs

Fabric - R & R 18th Century Rook linen

Fibers - GAST - 2 strands over 2 threads

Sentiment - 1 strand over 1 thread

Started - May 2011

Completed - 10 March 2014

Most of the daffodils have bloomed and faded.

But there are still wonderful new things happening as spring moves forward. 

I had my first sighting of a male Bullock's Oriole a couple of days ago.

I have an oriole feeder and have put it out - the question is - will anyone use it?

The Black-headed Grosbeaks have returned.

First I saw a couple of males.

They have a wonderful song. 

It has been described as a 'rollicking robin' .

They like black oil sunflower seeds...

...and also frequent my suet feeders.

The very next day a female showed up.

I'm now up to 4 males and two females.

In the Evening Grosbeak world - I've seen as many as 35 birds!

The air is filled with the high-pitched 'chirr' as they talk to one another.