Times are tough!

I love keeping an eye on our feeders early in the morning just so I can see 'who' might be visiting! Due to all the nasty weather that has come our way, finding food has been a difficult chore for all these little creatures.
I have been trying to put out a variety of foods to appease all feathered appetites..even dried meal worms (ouch $$$) and raisins as well as a mixture of other fruits, nuts and seeds. Recently we have had Northern Flickers and Robins eating our beef suet! Not your everyday sight!



..but as always, experience counts for eating this " twirling treat" and keeping one's balance at the same time! So much energy to get a few bites..but they keep coming back!
Hang in there!!

Corkscrew Swamp!! Put this one on your "must visit list!"

Corkscrew Swamp, 25 miles east of Fort Meyers Fl. is an amazing place to visit! (we actually went twice!) This swamp shares sights and vistas that will thrill everyone in your family.
The Swamp was once a part of a timber package that was to be leveled for its wonderful cypress trees. However, a group of conservationists were able to persuade the owners to lease the acreage and allow it to become an area where one could enjoy the flora and the wildlife. There's more to this story but that is the short and sweet part of it!! The boardwalk, allows one to roam selected acreage and seek out all that live, visit and nest there! The walk is about 2 1/2 miles but there is also an option of a 1 mile walk.
We were thrilled with all the species of birds we saw. Our first encounter was with the Brown-headed, White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches (all in one tree!) Eight different species of Warblers, Flycatchers, Gnatcatchers, Ibis, Herons and even this "lovely couple" of Black Vultures!


and of course, it's Florida..you have to see a gator or two or three!
but then there was this large sign to remind you to look down.. as much as you want to look up! BUT just so you know.. We visited twice in two weeks and did not see one little ole snake!
Entertainment came in many forms. We loved watching this fox squirrel...hamming it up for the cameras BUT I have to say the jewel of the whole trip was....
this little male Painted Bunting..OMGoodness he was a feast of color! The lady standing next to me whispered, "I have been waiting 6 years to see a Painted Bunting!" That made me feel pretty darn lucky!

..and then, just for her, I'm sure of it, there were two male Painted Buntings! What gorgeous birds!!
..and then when you think it couldn't get any better..the Mrs. flies in to take her place next to her gorgeous mate!! She poses as if she knows everyone has a camera.. First, a tilt of the head for a little side view.
or maybe you want this pose!! So nice!!
and not far along on the board walk we are awed by this Barred Owl! He was just waking up as we were tip-toeing past!
We were lucky to see many species of woodpeckers, many Red-Shouldered Hawks, raccoons, otters, deer, large Red-Bellied Turtles..you name it!! By mid-morning everyone was out and about and I thought this gentlemen was just pushing a toddler in this stroller... but when I looked down I had to laugh...sorry, it is a little blurry.. it was one of those walk-on-by-and-take-a-quick-pix!! I didn't want him to know I was taking a picture of his most prize possession..but I can see why you would want to push this monster and not have to carry it. Jeeze, now that's a lens!! Corkscrew is definitely a photographers dream walk. I would suggest you put it on your list to visit if you ever head to this part of Florida! You won't be disappointed!!


I also wanted to share another major find for us...A gorgeous Crested Caracara. He wasn't found at Corkscrew Swamp but on a lonely road known as Route 832 north of Corkscrew. We specifically traveled to this road to look for the Caracara and were rewarded during our second visit! We only saw one but he was close to the road and didn't seem to mind us watching him!!

Walking the Island..a few more memories!

It was a nice day for photos. The sun was out. The birds were cooperative. What more could one ask for while in Florida? This little Yellow-Crowned Night Heron was not the least bit upset that my camera was snapping away as it stalked the little fish swimming near the shore.
The Blue-Winged Teal is a shy bird and we usually see them as they are flying away..probably being spooked by the crunch of our feet on the path. This time, however, we came upon them as they were feeding and we were given a few moments to appreciate the amazing display of colors and textures..
before they became airborne. Can you see the the blue/teal color on this one's wing?? Quite a vibrant blue when you get a glimpse of it!!
Sanibel has two pairs of nesting eagles!!! That is amazing for such a small island. This immature eagle flew over us as we walked the Bailey Tract. I guess all the osprey on the island, being that they are such great fishermen...help to keep those lazy eagles supplied with food. More than once we saw an eagle pursuing an osprey for it's catch..and more than once we saw the osprey give up it's prize!
The Common Moorhen also adds a splash of color to Sanibel's lakes and ponds...


It is always a treat to see the White Pelicans fly over..


I caught this immature white ibis during one of our back water walks. I love the brown and white feathers on this young bird...soon, though, it will turn snowy white like its parents... and speaking of snowy white..the snow, here, just keeps on coming...and the number of birds at our feeders keeps increasing.

..my favorite visitor, though, has found a nice safe retreat from the snow and wind. We have two Carolina Wrens wintering in our backyard and they really keep me busy.. filling up these domed feeders with crushed peanuts and dried meal worms!

Returning to Reality..

Wow, why do vacations seem to fly by!! It seems you wait and wait for the time to arrive, organizing your plans..your thoughts, packing, driving and poof it goes by so fast! Sanibel Island, off the coast of Fort Meyers, is my favorite place to visit during those winter months! We stay in the same condos every year...this year it was the 3d floor top right corner. A beautiful view of the gulf. ..a place to fish and bird.. I think this Great Blue Heron has "been there, done that" before. The waiting game!! Who will be take home the prize?
a great place to shell...one of the two best in the world..I hear. Hawaii, I believe, is said to be the other one.
..a wonderful place to stroll, looking for the usual residents..
... brown pelicans..
the every present osprey..who were in the process of nesting while we were there.
..the Red-Shouldered Hawk..whose screaming always makes me think of a squeaking dog toy!!
..the beautiful Anhinga..who is always displaying those gorgeous feathers..
..thisLittle Blue Heron..who seems to be everywhere looking for its lunch..
..how could I tear myself away from this warm and sunny scene to return to..
this one?? Hmm you say..this is also beautiful..but oh my achy..from shoveling.. shoulders and did I mention my lower back.. ;-)

You Yellow-bellied Sapsucker...kapow!

I suppose his name could sound like an insult one might overhear on the ole toons network...but this Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, a member of the woodpecker family, really is a super neat bird. It certainly does possess a yellowish belly and tree sap constitutes a large portion of its diet. From what I've read, RB Sapsuckers have mastered the craft of creating a continuous sap flow from trees. They drill two kinds of holes.. a round deep hole to probe for sap and a rectangular shallow hole which must be maintained for continual sap flow. Researchers have tried to duplicate their drilling techniques only to find they couldn't achieve the same results of causing the tree to have a continuous sap flow and now it is believed that the Sapsucker's saliva may contain a substance that acts as an anticoagulant and prevents the tree's sap from clogging and sealing over the drilled holes! Pretty neat..huh?

This is great for other sap-loving creatures, such as bats, squirrels, warblers, hummers and nuthatches to name a few...how nice to have someone else provide an access for your sweet tooth..err..bill.


This little guy uses an incredible amount of energy drilling these little holes and his need for rest is quite demanding and so Mother Nature provided him with a wonderful camouflage. When he stops to rest he fluffs out his mottled plumage which allows him to melt into his environment...making him really hard to see.
I was very lucky to capture a few photos of this guy as he flew from tree to tree..the lighting was perfect for emphasizing that wonderful woodpecker face!!

It's those eyes!!!..

Inspired by a fellow blogger's amazing photographs of owls, I found myself wanting to create my own owl out of fabric. I know it was the eyes, in those photographs, that grabbed my attention...so intense and colorful! The great thing about fabric is that one has so many choices of colors, textures and patterns but at the same time all those choices make it difficult to decide which ones will help create the look you want. I can spend a lot of time looking at fabrics and I do..but sooner or later you've got to decide. Below is a sampling of some of the fabrics that I chose...I knew I wanted to focus on creating a full frontal look and zero in on those big yellow-orange eyes! I found a few magazine photos to help me with proportion and detail. The blue you are seeing behind the sketch is a large sheet of Styrofoam that I purchased and attached to my sewing room wall. It is about 2 inches thick and allows me to use large straight pins to hold all my fabric choices in place.


A quick sketch and I'm now into the part of the process I really can't explain...a sort of trial and error, if you will, on what works and what doesn't! I cut out a piece of a fabric, tack it onto my sketch and stand back to see if it does what I want. If it looks good it stays if not .. I try again and again!!


When I think I have every piece where I want it I then use some fabric glue to help hold the pieces together, prior to sewing.I never hesitate to purchase fabrics that have realistic pictures on them, as I find I can cut out a section and make it work within my design. Do you remember seeing the Bengal Tiger fabric peeking out at you in the first picture? I found that if I cut out the chins of the Bengal Tigers they made a wonderful ruffle around the owl's neck. You might want to click on the photo to enlarge.

I also used some of the tiger stripes to create the breast area on the owl. The white dots you are seeing are actually the round tips of the straight pins that are still holding the pieces together.


Upon completion of the body, I use clear thread to sew my owl together and then I placed it on a dark background before adding my branches and greenery. Each leaf was cut out and attached, via thread, to the background. I added some berries and aged leaves for contrasting color.

The last thing I do before I start to quilt the background is called free motion quilting. I add closely stitched colored threads to parts of the branches where I want to darken shadows. It's kind of like painting with thread. I then sew/quilt the fabrics and batting together and create my border. For now, I 've hung this little guy in our front room..a room we pass by.. but don't use very much..lol!! Why, you ask?? Well, I REALLY needed to take a break from those big round staring eyes...you know, the eyes that captured my attention in the first place and lured me to create my interpretation of an owl! My next project, I think, will be much more serene and calming....no eyes!! ;-)