It is Wintry Weather

Design - "Hoot"

Chart - "Autumn Smalls"

Designer - Lizzie Kate

Fabric - 32 count Natural Light linen

Fibers - WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 24 October 2017

Completed - 26 October 2017

Most of the Turkey Vultures have departed, but I still see one once in a while.

We have had unseasonably cold weather - the low Wednesday morning was 22f! 

I have a hummingbird feeder heater that I used on the front porch.  The other feeders I bring in at night and take out again in the early morning.

My first sighting of a hummers was at 7:17am.

I have at least four birds - the two that I've featured today, an adult male, and another female.

The California Quail area daily pleasure.

I am so glad they grace my backyard.

What is This?

So I was sitting on the back porch looking at the Hawthorn...

...when this caught my eye.

Anyone know what it is or who created it?

  

A Rare Visitor

Design - "In All Things Give Thanks"

Designer - Lizzie Kate

Fabric - 28 count natural brown linen

Fibers - GAST - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 19 November 2016

Completed -5 December 2016

A pumpkin - kind of Thanksgivingish - but still, a pumpkin!

Coming in...

It's a Red-breasted Nuthatch.  They seem to like to perch at the very top of the Douglas fir trees.

Can you see my rare visitor?

Here he is - a member of the thrush family.

The well-named Hermit Thrush. 

What's Been Going On

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 wonderful bright colors!

Speaking of colors....

I had a small group of Red-wing Blackbirds come by.

This is the female.

There was an immature male - this guy - and a mature male that I failed to photograph before the group flew on.

I have had Downy Woodpeckers regularly - including this female. 

And here's a male.

He's pretty cute too.

The larger Hairy Woodpeckers are hanging out too.

The bright red scribble on the back of the head makes the bird bright and happy looking.

Cheer's everyone!

Morning Sentinal

The adult male Anna's was keeping watch Saturday morning.

The sunlight lit up his head.

He was very talkative - declaring his territorial rights.

Feeder Wars!

Saturday's Critters

Chipmunks and Quail

There were several chippies working to help the quail eat sunflower seeds this morning. 

Everyone appeared to eat in harmony.

Yummers!

Later, a doe came by.

A Couple of Owls and Other Birds

Design - "Hoot"

Designer - Bent Creek

Fabric - 30 count WDW Putty linen

Fibers - GAST, WDW, & DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 30 October 2016

Completed - 14 November 2016

Most backyard birders would look at this photo and see only one kind of bird - Goldfinches.

There are, in fact, at least three kinds.  On the bottom left are aare a couple of Pine Siskins, with an American Goldfinch to right right of them.  On the bottom right the yellow bird is a female Lesser Goldfinch, with a male Lesser Goldfinch partially hidden on the right of the feeder.

Here's a better look at the bright yellow male Lesser Goldfinch.

I need all my fingers and toes and more to count all the Oregon Juncos.

For many birders in this area they are a sign on the changing season as they breed at higher elevations and return to the valley in the fall.

I have them all year, but in much larger numbers this time of year.

So now you know why this bird is called the Chestnut-backed Chickadee!

Isn't that a cute little fluff-ball?

Yep!

I'm in Nuthatch Heaven this autumn.  A couple of Red-breasted Nuthatches have been frequent visitors to my feeders front and back.

And even more unusually, I've spied a couple of White-breasted Nuthatches working away on a large Douglas fir tree and eating out of the feeder I have there.

They are very attractive with their white head and breast, black head and gray body.

Any bird that walks upside down is a cool bird!

And he knows it!

Owl and Bluebirds

Design - "Little Boo"

Chart - "Playing with Jax" #328

Designer - The Cricket Collection

Fabric - 30 count Flax Field linen

Fibers - DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - October 2015

Completed - 7 October 2015

On Saturday morning, I had a most wonderful surprise.

I looked over at the deer fence to see four or five Western Bluebird, each perched atop a fence post.

Fortunately, I had my camera at hand!

Here's a male.

And a female. 

Two females.

And another.

A female and male.

A male.

They spoke quietly to one another for a couple of minutes, before taking off together and fly off to the south.  Western Bluebirds reside in the Willamette Valley all year long, but I have never seen one in October before.