Five Years Ago

Design - "Snowy Owl"

Chart - "Evergreen"

Designer - The Prairie Schooler

Fabric - 28 count Sage Jobelan

Fibers - DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 3 January 2016

Completed - 8 January 2016

Wednesday morning was a particularly productive time to watch and listen to the birds in the backyard.

I had four FOS - first of the season (autumn) birds.  I heard my first Varied Thrush, and saw a couple of Fox Sparrows.   

I was excited to find this White-throated Sparrow amongst a group of Golden-crowned Sparows.

The white throat is a distinctive marker... 

...as is the yellow lust above the eyes. 

Here he is facing off with a Golden-crowned Sparrow.

The final FOS bird was this small Ruby-crowned Kinglet.  They tend to flit around - never still - so I was pleased with this capture. 

Wednesday's Walk

From 2018

 It's cold this morning, but the sun is shining, so off we go!

Poor old Quarry Pond. The water is low and skanky.

We need some rains to fill and refresh it.

Close to the pond, I found this.

Doesn't it look like the work of beavers?

It terms of autumn color, it is tough to beat our native dogwood.  

Big Leaf Maple

Vine Maple

Ash

Oak leave and oak galls

Autumn color along the banks of the Big Creek

Big Leaf Maple

Rose hips

Cottonwood

Blackberry vine

Wild honeysuckle

Oak leaves

What's with this hole you ask...

I think a bear dug it to unearth the bees' nest and eat their honey.

See the combs on the ground?

What's Up?

Design - "Whoo's There?"

Designer - Barbara Ana Designs

Fabric - 32 count cream linen

Fibers - DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 23 October 2016

Completed - 24 October 2016

What's up you ask?

Still have LOTS of chickadee activity.

This is a Chestnut-backed Chickadee. 

On the woodpecker front it's pretty much all Hairy Woodpeckers.

This is a female. See her tongue? 

I've seen  heard a Flicker and an Acorn woodpecker, but have not been able to get photos of either.

Crow Count

Chart - "Night Watch"

Designer - Heart in Hand

Fabric - 32 count Dirty Belfast linen

Fibers - GAST & WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 6 October 2014

Completed - 7 October 2014

Not sure if I blogged about it, but about a week and half ago I watched /heard the crow family YELLING at a Red-shouldered Hawk.

This went on for over 30 minutes and was more intense than just - "Hey hawk get out of here!" IT was both angry nd panicked sounding to me.

I wasn't able to see much as the activity to place in a Douglas fir tree and a Big Leafed Maple, so my view was obscured. But I wondered if the hawk had bagged one of the young crow fledglings.

I think that well may have been the case, as my lately crow count is now three birds rather than four.

The Steller's Jays are also NOT fans of hawks.

But everyone has to eat, right?

Sunday's Hummers

 Happy Sunday!

As promised here are a couple of Anna's

This one might be an immature male.

And this is a female Anna's.

They are enjoying the autumn salvia blossoms.

And my feeders are still getting a lot of use.

Saturday's Critters

Sorry...

Just a squirrel this week.

I'll do better with the hummers, I promise!

What's For Breakfast?

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 

What's for breakfast?

A black oil sunflower seed, that's what.

And it takes work...

A lot of work...

Twisting

And pausing

Making a hole in the shell - do you see it?

Extracting a bit of sunflower seed!

Yum!