Backyard Birds

This year has brought in some new backyard bids for me. I think it's because the Autumn Olives Trees were taken out and opened up the yard. It's great to sit in my new sunroom space and watch their antics. I would love to have more species find my backyard as time goes on. Ive seen Northern Cardinals, House Sparrows, Common Crackles, European Starlings, Mourning Doves, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Cooper's Hawks, Brown Thrashers and in summer - Hummingbirds.    Northern Cardinal (left)

 American Goldfinch

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

House Finch

Dark-eyed Junco

More quilts

Two recent quilts made using the same center panel.  One has been claimed by my great nephew, Shamus.

Jelly Roll Quilts

I make charity quilts for an online group called Sunshine Quilters. These quilts go to Wrap A Smile sponsored by the Wells Rotary in Me.  Then they are shipped out to countries where Wrap-A-Smile is going in order to perform corrective surgery on children/infants who need cleft pallet repair.  These quilts are used as OR/recovery room blankets and given to each child to take home.  I did not meet my personal goal last year so have been working hard to make more this year.  It's my way of giving back.  At our last meeting our quild, CAMACO Quilters decided to have a quilting day in March featuring jelly roll races.  I looked up jelly roll quilts on the Net and have made 8 of my own version of the jelly roll quilt using 3.5" strips.  They are great as the help to use up my stash and are fairly quick to piece.  Here are some of them.

Avalon Jetty

Male Long-tailed Ducks

Male Long-tailed Duck

Female Long-tailed Duck

Female Long-tailed Duck caught a snack!

Male & female Black Scoter

Lake Lilly, CMP

American Wigeon

Great Blue Heron catches lunch!

Greater Scaup at Lake Lilly

Cox Hall Creek Management Area

Male and female Ring-necked Ducks

Happy 2012- Avalon birding

Hard to believe another year has gone by. I wonder what the weather for the winter will be. Today was another beautiful day to go back to the Avalon Seawall and jetty at 8th Street. Three Common Eiders are joined by a young male Surf Scoter (front right).

Surf Scoter .