This is Oregon, Right?

Earlier in the year, the National Weather Service forecast the Pacific NW to have a colder than normal Spring.  Yesterday was 83F and that is what today is supposed to be as well.  That much warmer than usual, and very un-Oregonish.

So far there have been no complaints about the sunny, warm weather from the Peanut Gallery.  

Here's the female Clownbird Acorn Woodpecker.

And here's the male Clownbird Acorn Woodpecker.

The red on their head just glows in the morning sunshine.

My Evening Grosbeak population continues to grow.  I counted four males on Saturday morning - lots of chirping and chirring.

The cats have figured out how best to spend days like these.

They bask in the early morning sunshine.

Then in the heat of the afternoon, they take shelter in the cool of the shade.  I'd advise you to do the same.

Thanks to everyone who responded re my lost key for "Botanical Sampler".  I think a solution is at hand!

The Saturday Update

Yesterday began with a bit of excitement.  It was about 7:30am, and I had been at the front of the house refilling the peanut and suet feeders.  As I came around toward the backyard between the house and the garages, I happened to see a Bobcat loping along the backyard from right to left.  A truly beautiful, healthy animal with bob-tail up.  Before I could fully process this sight, Padma-Cat took off chasing the Bobcat!  I screamed which only served to excite Tom-Cat who then also took off as part of the chase.  After more heartfelt yelling on my part both of my cats stopped before turning the corner around the garages - while Bobcat disappeared around the corner.  I truly think that Padma had no idea who he was chasing other than a "Strange Cat in Padma's Backyard".  Tom-Cat, while he willing joined the chase, appeared to have second thoughts and was a bit jumpy and skittish about the entire affair.  That was far closer to a Bobcat than I ever expect to be, and given the proximity of our domestic cats, worrisome as well. 

Here is a male Lesser Goldfinch.  I like the little puff of white feathers at the junction of his leg and body.

I miss having Barn Swallows.  For a couple a years a pair built a nest on the edge of a pillar on our back porch.  This year we do not have any, so it was nice to see several pairs at a plant nursery.  

It is nest building time.  While they prefer rafters, they can daub mud against a wall and create a nest that way.

This pair seem to feel the perfect site was over an outdoor seed display.

The nursery had an open shed structure.  A perfect home site.

I have just two pair of Evening Grosbeaks this year - far fewer than I've had in the past.  Even so, it is amazing how much noise these four birds make for their contribution to the Morning Chorus.  

We had a pretty hard frost Thursday morning - that causes Puffy Quail.

I've counted as many as fifteen male Goldfinches at the feeders in the backyard.

Here are two Goldfinches and one Lesser Goldfinch.

I'm Stuck

Arggh and other pirate curses and noises!

I've been working away on Chessie's "Botanical Garden", but now I'm at a stand-still.  I have the chart, but I've misplaced the other pieces of paper including the one that has a photo of the piece, and the one that has the key (what color each symbol stands for).  I've looked high and low and left and right and I cannot find them.

Arggh!

I've been so taken with my Acorn Woodpeckers, that I've not given the other birds much notice.  So without further adieu... 

I do have Anna's Hummingbirds at my feeders.

I don't normally blog about Starling as I think they are pests, but I was charmed by this one's bath. 

All the splashing about!

It made for one wet bird.

I'd totally forgotten about my spring visitors, the Black-headed Grosbeaks.  But they had not forgotten about me. 

Seasonal residents, they made their first appearance at the feeders on Thursday.

Road Tip

I spent a most pleasant day yesterday on a road trip with my Mom.

We headed north to Corvallis, Oregon to visit Friendship Crossing. 

I love the way Ann has put together her LNS.

Her displays are very creative.

She has lots of stitched examples.

This one continues to amaze me.

That is one BAP!

The building is cool too - see the brick walls? 

More frames...

Ann artfully displays the smaller charts in wicker baskets.

A good selection of threads.

A nice visual lesson in how the color of fabric and floss can impact the look of the finished stitch!

After shopping (yes I added to my stash), we ate lunch at New Morning Bakery.  Yum!

What a great day.

Happy May Day

A new month, a new blog header!

See if you can figure out the over-arching theme for May.

I'll post the details later this week.

It's the first of May and the world is green, green, green.

Let's take a walk. 

The Vine Maple leaves are so pretty - all crinkled as they begin to unfold.

I think this is when the Corn Lilies are at their prettiest.   When they are young plants, rather than when they bloom. 

Horsetails are old, old, old plants.  Ancient really, they could have been dinosaur food.

I like how the light plays on the under canopy of the forest.

It's easy to see why the new fronds of the Sword Ferns are called "fiddle heads". 

This is a telling picture.  All the exposed rocks so early in the year.  The Big Creek is running low - a sign of just how little rain we've had this past Winter.

This plant looks pretty with its bright shiny leaves.

Oh-oh - it's Poison Oak!

The Lupin are sending up flower stalks...

...as is the Cow's Parsley.

This delicate, lacy fern is called Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina).  It likes very moist conditions - I found  it growing along side a small rivulet.  

I'm not sure what this plant is - I just like the contrasting shapes and shades of green. 

A Columbia Lily - I hope the deer don't eat it.

More shades of green - dark green mossy rocks, bright green Vine Maple.

A large Vine Maple.

The white flowers of the Dogwood light up the forest.

A humble pea of some sort.

I wonder how many shades of green we took in during our walk today...