Friday is Here

 

Design - "Peep" (kit)

Designer - Lizzie Kate

Fabric- 28 count Miracle Mint Lugana

Fibers - GAST, WDW, & Crescent Colours - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 5 April 2014

Completed - 6 April 2014

Here's a female American Goldfinch.

She's more quietly colored than the males of her kind.

And here's a Flicker couple.

Male on the left, female on the right.

Why's he looking up?

And why is his bill extended?

There's a Starling!  The Starling is annoying him.

The Starling left, calm has returned.

Eggs & Birds

Design - "April" (Baubles)

Designer - Sam Sarah Designs

Fabric - 28 count Zweigart Newport Natural / Cream linen

Fibers - GAST & WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 14 May 2014

Completed - 19 May 2014

Am slowly seeing more American Goldfinches.

I counted eight on Wednesday morning.

 

The bright yellow males are tough to beat.

Black-capped Chickadees can hold their own.

I'm seeing small flocks.

No one has ever used this Bluebird house. I noticed it was getting some attention the other day.

A pair of chickadees were checking in out.

I certainly encourage them to take occupancy.

I think they'd be responsible renters!

Wednesday's Walk

It's a lovely spring day.

The Douglas fir have a good crop of cones.

I wondered what the function of these tiny brown cones might be.

They are male cones.  The larger cones a female seed cones.

Here's what I discovered:

"There are two types of cones on most Pacific NW conifers: seed cones and pollen cones. These are female and male reproductive organs, respectively. Pollen (from the pollen cones / male cones) has to reach the ovules (in the seed cones / female cones) in order to fertilize them, creating seeds. Typically, seeds are tucked under the scales of seed cones. On most but not all conifers of the Pacific NW, pollen cones and seed cones grow on the same tree, in which case the tree is called "monoecious."" (Article taken from: https://www.treespnw.com/resources/2017/4/11/what-are-cones)

I think they are contributing to our tree pollen woes!

Leafing out.

New green leaves.

Hawthorn 

Big Leaf Maple

Our native iris tenax is in bloom.

Violet and green such a lovely color contrast.

Hope you enjoyed today's walk.

Green and Yellow

Design - "Alphabet Bunny"

Pamphlet - "The Bunny Collection"

Designer - JBW Designs

Fabric - 28 count Antique White Cashel

Floss - DMC

Started - 27 June 2010

Completed - 9 July 2010

While this pattern required lots of color changes - a little light green, then a small dark green letter, then more light green - it was a fun stitch.  The designer included a micro pattern of cabbages, and I added that to the bottom of my bunny. 

I had the perfect dark green Pine Mountain pillow insert at hand.

The bird and the bunny garden ornaments approved!

 

Look who's returned! The upper left is a male American Goldfinch.  The bottom right is a male Lesser Goldfinch.

First it was just a single bird.

Then two, now there are six or more.

It was also beyond exciting to see a rare visitor - a Black Phoebe.

These guys usually hang out by water - streams and ponds.  But every once in a while one briefly graces the backyard.

A Subspecies

                            

Design - "Little Eggs" (kit)

Designer - Shepherd's Bush

Fabric - unknown 32 count linen

Fibers - unknown silks - 1 strand over 2 threads

Satin stitch - 2 strands

Started - 16 April 2014

Completed - 28 April 2014

        Not seeing flocks of Bushtits any longer.

           They've paired up, so I only see one or two.

    Here's a male.

I now work with two young avid birds. One told me that there was a sub-species of White-crowned Sparrows moving through the area - Gamble's White-crowned Sparrows.

 

And low and behold that's what these guys are.  

The two main ID points are the black eye line that ends at the eye and does not reappear in the front of the eye to the beak. 

The other is the bright color of the bill.

It was kind of fun to figure this out.

 

Sunday's Hummers

Most everyone seems to be nesting. 

I'm only seeing a male Anna's regularly.

I am have two, but am only seeing one a a time.

Here's a series where he is clicking and chattering and letting everyone know he's the Boss!

Enjoy your Sunday!