Northern Parula

Several more Northern Parula came in today or should I say I spotted them today.  They have been coming to the water fountain off and on all day.  After missing the photo op yesterday I kept the camera by the window.

We had a brief break in the weather today that will be short lived.  Tomorrow should be good with more rain on Sunday.

This and That Day

Not too much going on today however I did see my first Northern Parula of the year drinking and bathing at the bird bath this morning.  I was so busy watching it that by the time I had a V8 moment and thought of and retrieved the camera it was gone.

Ali dog was feeling a bit under the weather from the vaccinations yesterday.  Not sure if it is one specific or a combination of but she always is a little off the day after.

I made 6 dozen cookies today for a get together/pig picking Saturday and will keep a dozen.

I am still sewing out my designs and making any changes as necessary to the design or sew out sequence.  This is the latest hawk design.  I am trying to make the most of the 8x8 sewing space and hopefully the designs have visual impact without being too difficult to sew out.

Field Mouse

The string of cold temperatures continues and strong winds make it feel even cooler.  What happened to spring?????  During a brief period of sunshine today I went out for a bit to see what was out.  As I was watching some wrens I kept hearing the rustle of leaves and expected to see either a Towhee or Brown Thrasher making the noise.

A little field mouse was searching among the leaves looking for something to eat.  With the hawks screeching overhead, I would have thought the little mouse would have been still.

Vet appointment tomorrow for annual vaccinations for the dog.  It is always quite an adventure getting her there and back home.  She loves to ride a little too much and once at the vet, it is dog gone wild time.  She has never met a stranger and thinks everyone is fair game for a visit.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Below normal temperatures continue and look to continue through around the 4 April.  Saturday morning started off overcast with the sun making a brief appearance late in the afternoon.  This morning is a ditto with drizzle and rain moving in from the south west.










The late afternoon appearance of the sun was welcome and temperatures rose quickly but still below normal.  The birds took advantage of the increased period of warmth to hunt for stirring insects.













This female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker took her time exploring the holes in a pecan tree.

On The Sidelines

I have been laid up with a badly twisted ankle for the last several days so no outside time.  I can finely put some weight on it today so I hope by the weekend I can go out.  I really hate it so badly this early in the year.  After doing the same several years ago, it seems like that ankle now twists very easily.

I have taken the last several days to start trying to sew out what will be my new line of embroidery designs.  I have been working really hard on them trying to do things that are not currently available.  I  have done a series of hawks, owls, ducks and warblers so far.  The process was slow as I am trying to teach myself and after much trial and error I think I finally have digitizing designs down.  I am having to sew out each design to make sure it sews out correctly.    This one of a Harris's Hawk will be made in to a messenger style bag.  The colors look funky on the computer for some reason.  No, there is no pinkish/purple hue on the original.

                                                                                                                

Hawk Happenings

The morning started out with drizzle but the day turned beautiful by noon.  I didn't go out as I had started projects at home when the morning drizzle started and by the time it turned nice, I was deep in to spring projects.

The hawks were very active today.  With weather warm enough, the female took some time out away from the nest.  The male stayed in the area always within eyesight of the nest flying from tree to tree.  Some crows landed in the nesting tree and immediately the male flew in.    He then stayed in that tree for a while.


After about 30-40 minutes of the female being gone, I heard screeching over the pasture area beyond the trees.  To my surprise, the male took off and headed that way.  It was only a few minutes and they both came back in with the female taking her place in the nest.

 I guess dad hawk was tired of nest guarding and immediately took off.

Red-Shouldered Hawks Mating

The for last several weeks, the Red-Shouldered Hawks had been checking out trees around the house. Yesterday I finally spotted where they had built their nest.  Early this morning I watched as the female brought in additional sticks for the nest.  Rain began so I called it quits.  This afternoon I heard the screeching so I went out with camera in hand.  The male came in bringing food for the female who was on the nest.  I was not sure until I saw her rise out of the nest is she wast sitting yet.

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