Wordless Wednesday

House Finch Chicks Launch

This is an update about the House Finch family living in the Boston Fern on our front porch. We had a thunderstorm yesterday and after it passed over we heard the H. Finch parents calling and calling like they were distressed. They were also flying in and out of the fern. We became concerned thinking maybe one of the chicks fell out. My husband got the step ladder and peeked inside. We were both surprised as 2 chicks flew out instantly! NOW we understood why the adults were calling them. It seemed too soon that the chicks would be at the launch stage. They flew toward the big Maple as the parents flew on each side of them. An awesome sight. We looked back into the nest and there was 1 left...the one pictured above. She was not ready yet. We took the fern down and she flew out after a minute but, away from the rest of her family, and near the ground. That didn't look safe to me because the neighbor has cats. I went over and she allowed me to pick her up...my plan being to fling her up toward her family in the tree, but, she flew out of my hand and was clinging to a black tarp, in the neighbor's yard (the one with the cats) I tried again to capture her, but she flew under the neighbor's pick-up. I waited for awhile then decided it would be better if I backed off and let nature take it's course. The adult finches continued to call for over an hour. So, hopefully she found her way off the ground and into the tree :-)

A Chorus of Peeps

I'm enjoying a peeping chorus from right outside my front door. There are 4 sweet little House Finch chicks that are being raised by 2 diligent parents. If you look closely in each photo you can see all 4 chicks.

A Sunflower in Watercolor
by cindyzlogic

With this painting, I was working on the technique called "under painting". First came the sketch from still life. Then I applied 3 different color washes, tilting the page until all the colors ran together. Then let this dry or to speed up the process use a blow dryer. Lastly, you paint in the subject. Under painting works like the effect of glazing.

Woohoo! Our 1st Indigo Bunting to visit the backyard this Spring!

Meet Cinnamon

Cinnamon is one of my pet Society Finches. He is a lot of fun and keeps us company. In this photo, he is enjoying his vegetables. (spinach)

New Arrivals

The House Finch family that have been housed in my Boston Fern have new arrivals. I didn't want to disturb them so I can't tell how many have hatched...I think three.

This is my newest watercolor using the wet-in-wet technique. I'm enjoying this new medium and the watercolor classes.

We have a female Ruby-throated at the feeder! I saw the male again today, he's really small and about half her size. We have seen a 3rd Hummer but they are all being so cautious and allusive it is hard to get a good view.

We were thrilled and surprised that the Hummingbird feeder attracted these Baltimore Orioles. My husband went out and bought an Oriole feeder and the Orioles are a lot less frustrated trying to get to the sugar water ;-) We have seen 2 males and 3 females. It is new this year to have them in the yard and to hear their cool song.

Orioles like to play games too! "Peek - a- Boo"

We have a Wren pair nesting nearby! This is the first time I've seen Wrens at the feeder. When I got home this evening they were in the front yard in the flower bed gathering nesting materials.

Wordless Wednesday

Wonderful Spring Beginnings

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

My son captured this picture for me at the Chaplin Nature Center. This beautiful piece of earth is located just a few miles from town.

House Finch Nest

I was so pleased and excited when I took the Boston Fern down to water it and found this Finch nest with a little speckled egg in it. The nest is about 3" across and the egg a little over 1/2" long.

This is the fern I was talking about. It sat out the Winter inside and was looking like a pretty sorry plant.

Another view of the nest to give perspective.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

This little guy just arrived! He's still sort of shy.
Here is a link to post your Hummer's arrival:

http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html

"Frogs and snails and puppy dog tails"

A snail,

in the hand,

of a grandson.


"Roses are Red, Violets are Blue"


Flora & fauna at the Chaplin Nature Center.

Thoughtless Thursday

Wordless Wednesday

House Finches

House Finches arrived in the middle of March.
This is the female.



Male House Finch




I'm not sure where the House Finches Winter...probably in the SW part of the state. The KS field guide says they are a permanent resident, but we only see them in the Spring & Summer. They like to nest in hanging plants so I put my Boston Fern out hoping to get a nesting family. One year we had a Finch family that successfully raised 2 chicks :-)

Wordless Wednesday

Spring Lifers in My Backyard

Spotted Towhee

A Spring blizzard brought numerous birds to the feeder. We were so excited to get some new Spring migrants that we have never seen before. These Spotted Towhee photos were captured by my husband, Ken. I got out my Kansas Bird Guide to study up on Towhees. They nest in the Northwestern part of the state near the Nebraska border during the Summer. Migrants are seen during April and October. This guy must be an early bird ;-)
Spotted Towhee

Spotted Towhee

Eurasion Collared-Dove

Chipping Sparrow

This little guy arrived on the day of the Spring snowstorm. He makes the House Sparrows look huge. He was out there feeding today. Chipping Sparrows are Spring migrants that fly through on their way to the Northeastern part of the state where they nest. He must like it here...we've seen him the last 10 days.

Chipping Sparrow

"Oops...I lost my lunch!"

Female Red-winged Blackbird

Another Spring snowstorm arrival. It was as plump as a little partridge. It was bigger than the Harris's Sparrows. I got out the field guide, pored over it, trying to figure out what we had here. I came up with the Female Red-winged Blackbird.

Female, Red-winged Blackbird

Wordless Wednesday

Mammals on Monday

Cedar Waxwings: Buds & Birds

My first views of Cedar Waxwings in my part of the the world!

I was taking a walk around the neighborhood today...and because it's Spring...I decided to bring my camera along just in case. I was barely 3 blocks into the walk when this flock of little birds flew out of an evergreen-ish bush. I almost kept walking...but, their color caught my eye. I stopped and looked up...I could not believe my eyes!! I was so excited!! Those were Cedar Waxwings!! These are "lifers" for me! Also, it was my goal this Winter to see a Cedar Waxwing and here they were just 3 blocks away. Can you tell I'm excited ;-D

These birds are so small, I visualized them to be as large as a Cardinal. They were a little larger than a House Sparrow.

The Kansas Field Guide says they commonly nest in NE Kansas. I'm located in SC Kansas, so I'm assuming they are Spring migrants. They like to eat tree buds and there are "plenty to be had of them, I assure you".


I counted 54 Waxwings in this photo.

Eurasian Collared-Dove

This is another lifer for me :-)) There was a beautiful pair, but they flew off as I tried to get closer.

Carolina Wrens

We found out what the Wrens like...this fruit & nut seed bell. It was overcast getting ready to rain.

Female Cardinal

She was also grabbing a quick snack before the rains.

Black-capped Chickadee

He just wanted some suet, but the Starling's voracious appetites chomped the suet block down in a couple of days. Another great day of backyard birding!