Love Them or Hate Them?

Bird Diary

The way starlings fly and travel in such large groups fascinates me although it can be a little eerie when you see a huge cloud of them descend nearby. 

 

These guys have been hanging out on our pear tree and eating their fill.

New From Dyche Designs Studio

It's been a while since I shared any new work with you so today I give you two new journals which are now available in my Etsy Store. 

 

Hand

8"x5.5" Sketchbook Journal

Crow

8"x5.5" Sketchbook Journal

 

I have also been working on a few new paintings.  I recently finished the one below and it is now on display at One Main Gallery in Milford, OH.

 

 

I have another large painting in the works and several more journals that I am working on.  Feels good to get messy with paint again, especially after taking a break from it for a while.  What creative projects have you been working on lately?

 

PS  I've been experiencing problems with Blogger lately and don't appear be receiving email notifications for some of the comments left on my posts.  If you haven't heard from me in response to a comment (and usually do) then this is why.  I will reply to comments within a post until this hopefully gets fixed.  Anyone else noticed this happening to them too?

Death Of An Angel

 

you speak the language of trees

of wind and moon and sky

winged in mysticism and secrets

as guardian, angel of death

ruler of the night, seer of souls

did you foretell your own demise

feathers failing to ward off evil

of the human kind

Linking up with Poetry Jam

Bird Diary

I'd been trying desperately to get a photo of the pileated woodpecker but whenever he came around I never seemed to have my camera nearby . . . that was until a couple of days ago.  It amazes me how big they are, much bigger than the red bellied woodpecker.

We've also had a crazy amount of starlings visiting our feeders.  They can be quite boisterous, especially as they tend to stick in groups.  I love their coloring though, so pretty when the light catches it.  Did you know a flock of starlings is called a mumuration?

 

 

There have been other visitors to our feeders too.  The downy woodpecker's always look so small and cute while the poor finches look like they are going to freeze to death.

 

 

Thankfully it's not snowing today, although there is more predicted for the weekend. 

 

Stay warm everyone, it's been a cold January for so many of us.

 

 

New Sketchbook Journals From Dyche Designs Studio

 

Silver Tree

11"x8.5" Journal

 

Copper Tree

11"x8.5" Journal

 

Raven

8"x5.5" Journal

 

Raven

8"x5.5" Journal

No More

Warning:  The images in this post may disturb some viewers.

Opening the blinds to view the bird feeders my heart broke wide open.  There lying submerged in icy water was a dead sparrow.  I'm not sure exactly how it died but my guess is that it flew into the window, was momentarily stunned, and then plunged into the water below. 

 

This may sound a little strange but in my own way I mourn each death I witness.  Whether its a dead deer at the side of the road, an animal that has been run over or an insect that's under attack.  It's often hard to witness but the more time I spend in the country the more I've seen that this is a part of life.  It will come as no surprise that I am often described as 'too emotional' (and it certainly has its downsides) but I'd rather feel that not at all.
 

 

There was a lump in my throat as I took these images and my stomach twisted but even in death I saw beauty.  My hope is that when you look at this image you don't see just a dead animal but the beauty of this bird too.

 

Happy Valentines Day

 

come wind or snow, rain or shine

will you be my valentine

Who Are You Calling A Bird?

I've been so busy trying to get the house all squared away that I haven't had time to get our bird feeders out.  I've been missing my feathered friends so was happy when I discovered these photos I took during my visit home to the UK earlier in the year.

 

Don't you just love the colors on display?

I've spied some cardinals so far but will be interested to see what other birds will be visiting during the different seasons.  What are your favorite feathered visitors where you live?