Hi everyone. Another week is flying by, isn't it? We've had some warmer weather, and now I am forced back inside because we have black flies galore. If you don't know what black flies are, they are tiny biting insects that come out en masse for about 2 weeks. 🪰Glad I got as much gardening done as it did, and maybe we'll have some more rainy days so I wouldn't be outside anyhow. (And we need the rain.) Eiher that or wind, or me being tough and just dealing with the black flies. Grin. 😉
Today I am linking up to my post to Mia's Birds Art Journal Journey. Because birds have faces, I am also linking a up to Nicole's Friday Face Off and because birds make me smile, I am linking up to Gillena's Friday Lunch Break.
Here's my page for Mia's AJJ challenge.
I used some bright green cardstock for my background. I hand painted the clouds, and outlined them with a Stabilo pencil. These pencils get lush and mushy with a wet paintbrush, so I wet the outlines to get this grungy look.
I then added some various 49 and Market punch outs. After that I took some blue watercolor paint and splattered it over the page. Finally I used a TH quote stamp from a set of quotes. And there you have it.
Lately my bird feeder has been a very busy place. Here's some of the birds that have visited. (And excuse the photos, I just snapped these with my phone, sometimes through the window.)
On the left (and one is partially cut off) are a pair of bluebirds. There have also been a ton of goldfinches (the yellow birds) and you can see the myrtle warbler too on the right.
In this next photo you can see a male (red tinted head on the right) and female (just brown and white towards the left) purple Finch, which are our New Hampshire state birds.
Below is the female purple Finch. At first I wasn't sure if it was a finch or a female rose breasted grosbeak, so I pulled out my Merlin app. Hmmm. I don't know about that app after it told me (three times) I was looking at a Great Blue Heron. 😒
Below is the male hairy woodpecker
And here is the female nearby.
And here's one of those Great Blue Herons again-ha ha! It's a female purple finch.
You can also see the Myrtle Warbler in the photo above.
And the pine warbler is still visiting too.
And of course there are also visits from the birds I didn't get photos of too. 😉 My usual birds (chickadees, nuthatches, mourning doves, titmice) are still around too.
That's all for me today. Have a super start to your weekend great Friday also.
36 comments:
Lots of colorful birds are visiting you now! Ah, the black flies. When our daughter was about 4 years old, she got bitten by a black fly in NH. Her head began swelling up! We had no idea what was causing the swelling, so we took her to the doctor, who told us that's what it was. Doc said to give her Benadryl, which we did and we were happy to see her head deflating!
...black flies are HORRIBLE, in the Adirondacks they say that there are two seasons, when the snow flies and when the black flies! Be well and have a Happy Mother's Day.
wow they are really LOVING your bird feeder. Your garden now must be so amazing, Erika. What kind of bird is it on your page?
Your AJJ page is really nice! And wow -- what a party at your feeders. I never get colorful birds except cardinals. That's like a rainbow of bird beauty!
It's always nice to watch birds! I never saw a woodpecker on a bird feeder before. On a day like this, I would love to not only watch birds on bird feeders but also in David Attenborough's - whose 100th birthday we celebrate today - seminal series Life of Birds.
"the best is yet to come"
How i luv the sound of that. Happy Friday Erika. Thanks for linking to AFFF today
Much love
Your feeder is a busy place, Erika!
The bluebirds and goldfinches must be such a joy to see.
Love how you worked those painted clouds into your journal page. Black flies are no fun.
Your photos are beautiful.
What a wonderful variety of birds! They sure love your feeder.
Erika nunca tinha ouvido falar dessas moscas-negras, que lindos os pássaros eles são encantadores, feliz sexta-feira bjs.
A lovely painting and wonderful captures of birds too.
Lovely page and spring photos
That sounds like a very real “seasonal reality check” kind of week 😄🌿🪰
Black flies can really turn a beautiful stretch of spring into an indoor retreat, even when everything outside is calling you back. Still, it’s good you managed to get the gardening done before they fully arrived — that always feels like a small victory in itself 🌱✨
And you’re right about the balance: a bit of rain, a bit of wind, or just accepting the situation and powering through when needed. Either way, it all sounds very familiar to anyone who lives close to nature 💚
Your black flies sound a but like our midges, we get them in July when they harvest the barley. Not nice though as they get everywhere. Aother lovely post, the woody looks just like our Greater Spotted.
We had lots of Goldfinches, they cleared the setting fruit from the pear trees in an hour, despite all the blossom not one piece of fruit to be seen. Never happened before but will consider netting them next year.
B x
Lots of visitors at your feeder. I have a herd of Goldfinches, a Cardinal pair, Mourning Doves, a Red-Bellied Woodpecker, but no Bluebirds. Chilly today, but at least the sun is out!
Lovely series of bird photos ~ Wow! ~ Hugs ^_^
an artist reflects
I love your bird art. Ohhh black flies. I do know what they are. We don't have them here though. So many wonderful bird photos. I love the woodpeckers. Thank you for sharing with FFO and have a lovely weekend.
Thank you very much for sharing at MosaicMonday
Greetings by Heidrun
All those colorful birds must make you smile.
Lots of beautiful birds!
I don't like the sound of those black flies!
However, I do like your page and the wonderful collection of birds at your feeder.
Stay away from the black flies and have a good weekend.
All the best Jan
What a beautiful Yellow bird. We have nothing like that here.
Good evening I loved seeing your birds-isn't it so fun watching the birds? we have always enjoyed them
What beautiful feeders!!
Generally someone who is an artistic type does a lot!!
You have a great variety of birds visiting your feeders, Erika. I am especially impressed with the Myrtle Warbler and the Pine Warbler. I have never, in all the years I have been feeding birds, had a warbler visit them. But now that I have seen your pictures, I will be vigilant for a Great Blue Heron or two. Who knew? All the best - David
Love your birds. I used to have crowds at my feeders when we lived by the lake. I really miss everything about our lake house. Now the only colorful bird I see is a pair of Purple Finch,... then there are sparrows and Robins. When we had a farm next door, we had Owls and Hawks hanging around, but the farm sold their land and now we have ugle houses being built all around us. I just can't seem to be able to keep nature close to me :(
Andrea @ From the Sol
I adore your card and bird photos Erika! What a variety you get at your feeders. How wonderful is that? Thanks for sharing them, and for explaining the process on that beautiful card.
Luv your pretty birds
Much love
Black flies are truly relentless — tiny insects with the attitude of much bigger creatures! 😄 It sounds like you made the most of the warmer weather before they took over. At least you were able to get a good amount of gardening done first. And honestly, your attitude about either waiting for rain, hoping for wind, or just toughing it out made me smile. That’s the true spirit of a dedicated gardener right there. Hope the flies disappear quickly so you can enjoy the outdoors again in peace.
It’s amazing how quickly the seasons can shift from peaceful gardening days to full-on battles with black flies! 😅 I’m glad you managed to get so much done before they arrived in full force. Those tiny pests may be small, but they certainly know how to ruin outdoor plans. Hopefully a few rainy or breezy days will help keep them away for a while — and until then, your sense of humor about it all makes the situation much easier to handle. 🌿🪰
This sounds like a really satisfying creative flow from start to finish. The combination of 49 and Market punch-outs, watercolor splattering, and a quote stamp from Tim Holtz has that layered, expressive mixed-media feel that really brings a page to life.
And I love the second part too — a busy bird feeder always feels like a little daily nature documentary right outside your window. Even quick phone photos through glass often capture the most authentic moments anyway: the activity, the movement, the spontaneity. It sounds like a lovely balance between creative work indoors and observing life unfolding outdoors.
I am really sorry to visit so late. As you probably know, I have not been well. Your bird journal page is beautiful. Lovely bird, sweet nest with eggs, and a fabulous entry. Thanks for sharing it with us at AJJ using Mia's theme.
Beautiful... especially the flight of the Myrtle Warbler.
Warm regards,
Happy Sunday!
Mother's Day... we're taking a tour today.
It was good to see your feeders and all the birds they attract, Erika. We had similar ones at our VA home so many years ago. The colorful goldfinches were always my favorite and they could sure go through a lot of thistle seed !
What a wonderful variety of birds at your feeder, Erika! Isn't it lovely to watch the birds? I love doing it, and thankfully there also is a great variety in my garden. However, the Western Bluebirds never come here, they just stop a block down from my street. It is really weird. I had to laugh about the Great Blue Heron - Merlin sometimes just gets it so wrong.
I'm really late this time - I hope you had a good weekend and have a great week. Hugs - Carola
A. great page Erika, it's lovely to see your local bird s. Our gold finch only has a band of bright yellow on its wing. HugsWendy.
This is a beautiful page, Erika.
Oh I ADORE your photos with the birds. You live in PARADISE, my friend.
Thank you for your entry in my challenge at AJJ. Hugs.
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