January 2013 Backyard Birds

Carolina Wren

White-crowned Sparrow and Female Cardinal

White-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco

Junco, New Mexico variation

 

Dark-eyed Junco

White-crowned Sparrow

Harris's Sparrow

 This is all the snow we've gotten so far this Winter.

We got this snow on Christmas day.

Tufted Titmouse

I'm thinking this is a Ring-billed Gull.

 The Gull and this little waterfowl were located

at the fishing pond near town.

At the pond we also see Downey & Red-breasted Woodpeckers, Harris's

Sparrows and Juncos.  We saw a Spotted Towhee and many Cardinals

hanging out at the pond as well.

White-breasted Nuthatch

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

This is a photo of a 

White-breasted Nuthatch.  It's the first

time I've had one visit the feeder on a 

consistent basis...(whoo~hoo)  Once

in awhile a Red-breasted will show up, but 

I haven't been able to capture a picture of 

them together so you can see the difference 

in their sizes and coloring.  The Red-breasted

Nuthatch is about half the size of the

White-breasted.  I LOVE the coloring of the

White-breasted Nuthatch!

cindy :-)) 

Christmas Cardinal

Merry Christmas

from

my house to yours :)

 

I have been doing watercolor paintings and

watercolor pencil sketches for the past

3 years.  I have always enjoyed drawing and sketching

as far back as I can remember.  The subjects

that I enjoy interpreting the most are flowers, birds,

butterflies, and rural landscapes.  I hope you enjoy the

piece above entitled:

 "Christmas Cardinal"

 

For this piece of artwork I used

Prismacolor watercolor pencils.  The paper is CACHET

sketchbook paper by Daler & Rowney (recycled/toned).

 

cindy 

Autumn Birds in My Backyard

I am just as excited to see Fall/Winter

birds arrive as the Spring arrivals.  We have

one White-crowned Sparrow and half a

dozen Dark-eyed Juncos.  This makes me

very happy :-))

Have a great rest of the week!

Kansas Sunsets

A Kansas sunset

Images of Autumn

 My husband and I take many walks in these woods.

It is so serene and back to nature here...we love it!

We see deer, racoons, wild turkeys, Barred Owl,

and Cardinals.  There are many native trees, grasses,

and wildflowers here.  It's called the Chaplin Nature Center.

 Wild Turkeys down by the Arkansas River

It is Autumn in Kansas.

I am seeing some beautiful Fall color, birds,

and wildlife.  I had a Red-breasted Nuthatch visit 

the feeder a couple of days ago, but I haven't

seen him since.  I did capture a few shots but they are

so fuzzy.  Nuthatches dart here and there like Wrens and

are not ones to sit still to have their picture taken...arghhh!

 

I'm sorry to have neglected my blog...I'm enjoying 

catching up with all of yours :-))

 

Have a wonderful week !!

Ruby-throated & Mr. Cardinal

 Ruby-throated Hummingbird

At first, we weren't sure we were going to get any

Hummingbirds this season.  In early Spring we

had a couple Ruby-throated stop and drink at

the feeder.  But, they left and I presume headed North. 

I figured it was too hot and dry for them as week after

week I didn't see any at the feeder.  Finally, in late Summer

we were thrilled to see them return.  This little guy, which I

think is a juvenile Ruby-throated Hummingbird is staying

close to the feeder and guarding it with all his might.  

I would say he is storing up for his long trek South

to Coasta Rica.  

 

Cardinal

He looks to be molting and he behaves

like a juvenile male.  We've had lots

of Cardinal youngsters at the feeders this year.

Happy Autumn!!  Everyone :-))

Sunflowers

I thought is was high time I posted something.

 

Summer is almost over and I am glad for that...we had

a terribly HOT Summer and a drought.  A few weeks

ago we had 3" of rain...it's amazing what a little moisture can do.

It brought hope and healing to a dry and thirsty land.

I decided that I should be able to grow Sunflowers...for their

bright and cheery color and seeds for my backyard birds.  I watered them

everyday and they survived the drought :-)

Salt Plains NWR

A sweet little deer to welcome us to the wildlife refuge.

This refuge is about an hour and a half from home.  

We (my husband, Ken & I) finally marked out some

time for a visit.  It was very hot and very windy that

day so we were thankful they had auto tour roads, too.

This refuge is located in North Central Oklahoma.

The wheat harvest was going on as well and we enjoyed

viewing the vast, golden fields being harvested, too.  Kansas 

and Oklahoma are definitely the bread-basket of America!

A woodland hiking trail through the refuge

Trumpet Vines were in bloom

American Avocet  (lifer)

Wild Buttonbush

Dragonfly

Small creek running through the refuge.

The Marsh

Small inlet of the Great Salt Plains Lake

Great Salt Plains Lake

Sunset after the first day.

Wildflower:  Indian Blanket Flower

This was my most treasured find :-)

Lark Sparrow  (lifer)

I was thrilled to see several Lark Sparrows!

They make a beautiful song...this one was perched

on this post singing away.

Wildflower:  Arkansas Rose

I am guessing here.

Wildflower:  Fleabane

Wildflower: Hairy Vetch

Hedge Parsley  (another guess)

Great Salt Plains Lake

shoreline

Great Egret

There were lots of Great Egrets.

I am just guessing at this...a Skink

Gray Hairstreak Butterfly

Snowy Plover

The Snowy Plover likes to nest here. 

Also, the American Avocet and Interior Least Terns.

Salt Plains

This wide expanse of mud flats is covered with a thin layer

of salt.  You can dig for Selenite Crystals here.  It was too

hot and windy for us.  We will need to save that activity

for another day.