Birds to Stitch Birds to Watch

I have been watching with interest as Nashville Market sneak previews are posted.  I've found lots of wonderful eye candy and m Wish List is growing.  Today I stumbled on Heartstring Samplery's preview.  Could the "Bird Collection - Part One" be any more perfect for me?

We are in the midst of several mild dry days.

I think the birds are enjoying the weather.

I had to share a series of Steller's Jay photos.

These birds have more than their fair share of 'character'.

Looking smug.

Puffed up with beak held high. 

Classic pose.

On high alert.

Highly curious!

WIPping Along...or Not!

I had high hopes of finishing one of my five WIPs left over from 2015 this month.  Doesn't seem like that is going to happen after all.

Early one morning this week, I watched three hummingbirds fighting over the front feeders.

I think there were two males and one female.

The males have been flashing their feathers and acting very territorial.

It's only February, but already Anna's in this area are courting!

Personally I think it still too cold and there's not much yet in bloom.

But they don't listen to me.

The female Anna does seem plump and happy.

I do not see her often, so maybe she is on a nest. 

For five years now, our local newspaper has had an Anna's Hummingbird nesting in a rhododendron in one of their flowerbeds.  They've reported that she is nesting again - you can watch here: hummingbird camera.  (Note the time zone is United States Pacific Coast).

Good Morning!

I've started stitching the Heart. I really enjoy the color palette used for this design.

We had a cold, wet weekend, but the next few days are to be warm and dry.

"Good Morning" carols the Robin!

The House Finches are pairing up already.

The males have begun singing.

The Scrub Jays squawk - nothing melodic about them.

The Steller's Jays are equally loud and discordant. 

I see two or three Fox Sparrows most mornings. 

And I am still seeing Chestnut-backed Chickadees.

Rodent Weekend - Sunday

I see a bunny once in a while.

Note the Robin photo-bombing.

Right now they are pretty timid.

The gray squirrels are anything but timid.

They chase each other running in circles up and down fir trees.

I've seen as many as four at one time.

They are such big thugs in comparison to the chipmunks.

This squirrel is new.

He has a brown belly and a gray back.

He needs to be a guest on PBS's "Finding Your Roots"!

Rodent Weekend - Saturday

Several chippies greet me in the morning.

We've had a couple of frosty mornings, so I've tossed out a few peanuts as special treats.  

There's something so dainty about those tiny little hands.

Don't they appear to have good table manners?

Well, maybe they stuff their cheeks too full...

I've been trying to get them to eat out of my hand.

By late last summer I had a couple who would do so.

No takers yet this year - I need to be patient.

Stormy Weather

Yesterday was extremely blustery and rainy.  We lost power for a couple of hours mid-day.  You'd think with poor weather, I'd have more stitching to show than this border.

But even when it rains, I try to spend a bit of time outside.

I was reward with this V of Canada Geese.

I'm trying to improve the quality of my 'in flight' photos.

I still have a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers visiting.

This is the female.

And here's the male with the bright red 'v' on the back of his head.

I love how high up his legs are while his body rests lower down, and he uses his tail feathers as a prop.   

Early in the fall I had four or five Acorn Woodpeckers, but for the last little while, all that I've seen are this pair.

I do have female Red-Shafted Northern Flickers...

...as well as males. Once again they make use of their strong, stiff tail feathers as a prop - and look how high up their feet are as a counter-balance.