Saturday's Critters

We've had a couple of days where the high reached 90F.

Nonetheless, the mornings begin cool but sunny.

Perfect hunting weather!

What's to hunt?

An Oregon Garter Snake is always interesting.

As are the chippies!

Got an inch, do you?

Ready to take off.

A Dynamic Duo in the shadows.

Bunny on the left, chipmunk on the right. 

Inquisitive gray squirrel.

Placid bunny. 

Grumpy bunny.

I've not seen a fawn for a couple of weeks now.

This young buck is one of the regulars.

New Stash

I'm close to finishing up the last of the PS birds, so it's timely, almost necessary to have some new items to stitch, right?  The Heart in Hand monthly Square Dance series is currently the leading contender. 

Monday was a special day for birds.  I spied to large white pelicans slowly drifting by overhead.  


I was frustrated that this turned out to be the only photographic 'proof' of the fly-by!

But the return of the purple martins made up for it.

I think this is at least the third year that a post-fledge family has chosen to spend several days here.  See the bug in the mouth of this handsome adult male?   

My best count is that this is a group of five - two adults and three youngsters.

There's lots of chattering...

...and graceful flying.  The purple martins are fearless.  I've seen them take on band-tailed pigeons, Steller's jays, and a hawk.

Robin's Gifts

Wow!

I think that is the correct response to the wonderful gifts I received from Robin in Virginia!  She enclosed some wonderful cards, a floss organizer, a needle-minder, and a truly lovely project bag. 

Look at the fabric used for the project bag!

Could there be a more prefect choice for me?

Thank you, thank you Robin. These items will be well used and loved.

On the birding side, a couple of nuthatches came by at the same time.

A white-breasted nuthatch - no photo - and this red-breasted nuthatch. 

One winter a red-breasted nuthatch came to a peanut feeder regularly. 

Otherwise, I generally see them moving up and down a large tree eating insects as they go. 

The black-headed grosbeaks continue to bring new fledglings to the feeders.

I often have three or four mourning doves feeding on the ground.

New this summer, are a couple of young cowbirds.

The orange-crowned warbler continue to find my suet feeders attractive.

They are rather shy birds, so it is always a treat to see one.

And sometimes I even manage a pretty good look.

Speaking of looks - a not-so-good one. 

Here's a much better look at a female western tanager! 

Wednesday's Walk

Lovely sunny days with temperatures in the mid-80's!

Let's walk!

These berries are still green.

The Towhee found something to eat.

It looks delicious!

Tansy Ragwort while it looks pretty, is an invasive that is toxic to cattle.

New green Douglas fir cones.

Black-headed Grosbeak eating elderberries.

Thistle - the Goldfinches will eat the seeds.

No wonder I cannot find any Hazelnuts!

The Steller's Jays are grabbing them and caching them - I watched this bird pound a hole in the ground and then bury the nut. 

PS Bluebirds Progress

The Painter and the Gardener both put in some time!  The house is painted and the plants now sport red berries!

On to the birds. 

Now that the Juncos have nested and fledged, I am seeing them in good numbers once again.

This Balck-capped Chickadee is none to pleased to have a chipmunk eating in his seed tray!

And here's a Chestnut-backed Chickadee,

I had two male House Finches stop by and sit side by side.

#1. 

#2.

I've commented in years past that the berries on the Red Elderberry never have a chance to ripen.  Here's why! A female House Finch.

And a Black-headed Grosbeak.  The Grosbeaks are the ones who devour most of the elderberries.  

I'll sign off today with a photo of a handsome mature male Black-headed Grosbeak.