The Black-capped Chickadee Report

Design - "Chickadee"

Designer - Elizabeth Spurlock

Chart - Easy Cross Stitch Pattern a Day 2009 Calendar

Fabric - 32 count Lakeside Linen Winter Sky

Started - 16 January 2009

Completed - 29 January 2009

On Thursday June 8th I walked around the back of the shop to take a look at the east-facing nesting boxes.

Success!  This one ws once again being used by a pair of Black-capped Chickadees.

The young birds are big enough / old enough that I could hear them quietly peeping.

The parents will spend most of the day catching...

..and bring food to the young.

Young birds are overwhelmingly insectivores.  

Lots of good grub here!

The other parent had gone for the always classic small green caterpillar.

I've read that it takes between 6,000-9,000 caterpillars to feed young chickadees.

I was a respectful distance from the nesting box and I did not stay long, so as not to interfere. 

Wednesday's Walk

No rain since early May.

The world is still lush and green.

Ninebark

Hazel brush with lots of  hazel nuts.

Can you see them?

Here's a close up.

Young Douglas fir - lots of new growth this year.

Daisies

And an ode to all the mundane grasses.

A high pollen count is considered 200 - we were at 1300 the other day!

Grass #2

Grass #3

The final grass!

Sneeze!

Pretty Birds

Design - "Sewing Bees" - Needlecase

Designer - Schoolroom Samplings

Fabric - 28 count natural linen

Fibers - DMC & Needle Necessities - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 23 June 2012

Completed - 23 June 2012

Hey pretty birds - time to shine!

Male House Finch

Male Black-headed Grosbeak

Steller's Jay

Two of 'em

Four Band-tailed Pigeons

Male California Quail

Standing guard!

Monday's Woodpeckers

Design - "Sewing Bees" - Thimble Holder

Designer - Schoolroom Samplings

Fabric - 28 count natural linen

Fibers - DMC & Needle Necessities - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 23 June 2012

Completed - 23 June 2012

A decent selection of woodpeckers-  though the Acorn Woodpeckers have been AWOL lately. 

Female Downy Woodpecker

Male Downy Woodpecker

Male Hairy Woodpecker

Female Red-shafted Norther Flicker

Male Red-shafted Norther Flicker

Just when I think the Acorn Woodpeckers have abandoned me...

One briefly pops in.

This is a male.

And the Best of Show!

A male Pileated Woodpecker!

The red mustache marks the bird as a male.

He hammered away on the dead top of a Big Leaf Maple.

It made a nice hollow sounding reverberation.

And he found food - see his tongue?

 I got several good looks.

Left 

Right

And bright eyes!

May Trail Camera Photos - The Backyard

Not much to report in the backyard.

Deer

Barry the Buck

Bear

Bobcat