It's Color Challenge Time!
This month's color is Buff
and the bird is the Buff Breasted Sandpiper
For the pattern and block instructions,
head over to
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We are getting close to the end of the year and I know that many of us feel that is a really good thing. While there are some things that I am happy to see ending, participating in the Color Challenge is not one of them. I have enjoyed seeing all the wonderful quilt blocks, but have enjoyed learning about the birds even more.
This unassuming beauty is a young Buff Breasted Sandpiper.
I will admit that when I first saw that November's color was Buff, I was not overly excited. It looked kind of blah to me. It didn't take long before I changed my mind when I got a look at this bird and how my blocks were coming together.
The Buff Breasted Sandpiper is a rather small, slender bird with a short bill and round head. Their eyes look "beady" to me, but they are often described as "wide-eye expression" by ornithologists. That sounds so much better than "beady."
See what I mean by an unassuming look? This adult bird doesn't have fancy feathers or plumage. Instead it's just a wonderful, sleek-looking bird.
Well, that's the case until the males start their mating ritual.
Check out this short video in which the male erupts into a beautiful display. He spreads his wings, points his bill to the sky and puffs out his chest. He even turns for us! Be patient, he'll spread his wings starting around the 25 second mark.
You can hear a little bit of the calls in the above video, but HERE are some better examples.
These birds are usually pretty quiet, but the males make a ticking sound when courting females; and the make low trills and "chuh" call when in flight.
These birds, which were once very abundant, have declined in in numbers since the early 1900s. They are migratory birds that can be found in North America mostly on dry open grounds (prairies, pastures, airports, and plowed fields). They can be found on shores of lakes and ponds, or on coastal flats, but those areas of usually high and dry. They eat mostly insects - flies, midges, and beetles, as well as spiders and small crustaceans.
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Similar to last month's color (olive) I have discovered that I have not used buff in many quilts over the years. As a matter of fact, I can't find any pictures in which I used buff as the focus color. :-(
Since this is not a typical color for me to use and since I wasn't exactly excited about it, I did struggle choosing my fabric for this month. Once again, the wonderful staff at Once Upon a Quilt came to the rescue. Isn't this batik beautiful?
Speaking of Once Upon a Quilt, they just started Twisted Tuesday. Watch this video to see how you can participate. Sew much FUN!
Here are my pieces, cut and ready to sew.
And here are my blocks. I love them!
Check out the other bloggers who made the block this month. It's always fun to see the different fabrics used and the interpretation of the color.
Thanks to our wonderful sponsors!
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1 comment:
Your batik buff is wonderful. Thank you for sharing so much information on the sandpiper. This year has taken me back to my childhood in so many ways. Love your blocks!
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