Winter Creatures~Birds, Turkeys & Quail

I always love the Blue Jays and we have several pairs that frequent our feeders.
The ever present Finches along with a beautiful Purple Finch.

And Chickadee also!

I have always known that Turkeys roost in trees, but this is the first time I have seen so many high up in the trees. Just wish I had my bigger lens with me this day!

I shot this from the road. Hard to believe these big creatures can fly up this high.

Squirrel after the local Hawk flew by.

Both Squirrels are frozen on the tree as the Hawk swoops through our yard.

Finches and a female Cardinal

Feeder moments before the Cooper's Hawk landed on it. The Hawk didn't get any of the birds and my photo of it was very blurred.

The Cooper's Hawk has been hard on the Quail population also. This is the surviving female of the covey.

The surviving male Quail.

The 2 surviving Quail have been sticking close to cover. Smart move with a Hawk in the area!

Some Fall Critters

French Red Legged Partridge

Rarely seen in our area. We have a number of them this year and two have been living in the woods around our house.
In our backyard by the living room window.

Another photo of the Red Legged Partridge from our living room.

Bigger than the average Quail

This year we have a covey of Quail living in the woods surrounding our house making frequent trips to under our bird feeders. 10 in all, they have been fun to watch.

Male Quail living under our bay window to the bedroom.

Quail

Quail

Quail under our bay windows in the backyard

Quail by our front door.

A male and female Quail took a trip across our back deck. The cats about went nuts!

On the back deck

A female Quail in our front rose bed.

An ever present Squirrel on our back deck

One of my favorite photos

Secret Santa~WHOA Horse Art Group

Secret Santa Art 2009

Every year the WHOA Horse Art Group on eBay does a Secret Santa project with members who have signed up. Since some of our members are across the pond, artwork needs to be done and in the mail by December 1st so all have a chance to receive their piece before Christmas.

This year my person to send to was Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor of Gypsy Mare Studios. I'm always apprehensive about doing a piece for another artist, especially one as successful as Jen is! Jen loves Friesians, so I did a 5" x 7" charcoal using Imke' as a model. The piece did not scan as well as I would have wished, but here it is. Jen was pleased and already has it beautifully framed.