7.8 C
New York
Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Stopping and Noticing – 10,000 Birds


Effectively, the final put up from California is right here. Though I used to be there for just one,5 months I do really feel like I had fairly the chance to go round and discover this stunning state. Apart from working with birds on the Palomarin Subject Station in Marin county I had the prospect to go to Sierra Valley, Massive Sur, Lassen NP, Humboldt county, and do loads of exploring round Level Reyes Nationwide Seashore. And naturally the drives to all these locations have been accompanied with loads of stops alongside the best way and plenty of, many stunning sights and extraordinary birds. Couldn’t have requested for extra! 140 new life birds for me on this journey… nonetheless can’t wrap my head round that:)

This text goes to be a tad totally different. Earlier than writing I used to be pondering of a manner how might I showcase all of the wonderful birds that I noticed, and eventually considered a manner. For about 4 years now I’ve been actively documenting my observations with a sketchbook in hand. I’ve discovered that by observing birds and sketching them I’m seeing extra. I’ve been taking a variety of images previously however despite the fact that that was enjoyable I’d at all times simply take a photograph of the chook say “examine” and transfer on. Nonetheless, once I’m armed with a sketchbook, pencil and a few watercolours, I’ve to cease, floor myself and actually observe the chook with a purpose to sketch it proper. I’m spending extra time simply trying on the chook and in these moments I’ve observed behaviours, colors, habitats and particulars I wouldn’t have noticed with in any other case. Though, I’ve to confess that I used to be having a bit more durable time with that in California. Simply because every little thing is new and there are new lifers flying left and proper it was laborious to maintain my head down, centered on the sketchbook. However I did handle to gather sufficient fascinating chook shapes, colors and behavior sketches and I’m content material with that.

So this put up shall be nearly purely visible as I’d prefer to put my sketches right here and hopefully you get pleasure from it and perhaps it evokes you to typically simply sit down and spend an prolonged time period observing only one chook. Belief me, you may be amazed by their fascinating lives and even if you’re the so known as “lister” (which I completely am however I handle to mix that with being an “observer”) and assume that you just already love birds, you’ll develop into obsessed.

Pelagic Cormorant off the coast of Monterey. Robust daylight made for fascinating shadows.
Buffleheads at Level Reyes. At all times diving and being chaotic makes these birds very attribute.
Horned Larks, Home Finch and Nice Blue Heron. Sierra Valley. Discover, the plumage on the lark shouldn’t be completely appropriate, however I’m sketching what I’m seeing not what I believe or know that must be there.
Pink-Winged Blackbirds and Brewer’s Blackbirds in Sierra Valley.
Blackbirds and American Wigeons in Sierra Valley. It was a chilly morning so the waterfowl was staying heat by tucking their payments.
A color banded Wrentit and Killdeer by the Palomarin station. The Wrentits look like only a brown chook however I discovered them to be probably the most fascinating birds that I encountered in California.
Western Bluebird and Western Meadowlarks on a subject by Palomarin Station. It was sooo a lot enjoyable placing within the yellow. Our European “Previous World” birds don’t typically provide a variety of significantly dazzling colors.
Nice Egret and Anna’s Hummingbird by Palomarin. Along with the stations crew we named the entire native hummers. This specific one appeared like an Anthony to us…
Say’s Phoebe and Western Bluebirds close to Lassen NP. These birds have been typically perched in open areas for an extended time and have been so known as “cooperative” for a fast sketch.
Wrentits, Western Bluebirds and Anna’s Hummingbirds by Palomarin. Bunch of those bluebirds would typically perch in a single tree within the evenings and so they have been an absolute delight to drained eyes…
Black Phoebe, California Quail and California-Scrub Jay. The jays have been going completely nuts for acorns across the station and you’d typically be woken up from a nap by the sound of an acorn plummeting and hitting the roof.
White-Tailed Kite, Cackling and Emperor Goose in Humboldt County and a Western Meadowlark close to Fort Bragg. The Emperor goose was the one chook that I “twiched” and it was completely price it.
Townsend’s Warblers, Hermit Thrush, White-Topped Sparrow, Clarks Nutcracker and a Hooded Merganser. Level Reyes and Lassen NP. The nutcracker was in all probability my most enjoyable chook and it was so fascinating to see the behaviour of this high-altitude chook.

That’s it! Apart from these sketches I took a bunch of notes in a smaller pocket book and recorded a few songs and calls of the Golden states birds. All of those sketches have been accomplished within the subject and by paying shut consideration to those avians. I hope that you just loved this little sketchbook tour and please do let me know if in case you have any feedback, questions or insights. I at all times love to speak and introduce folks to drawing birds as I’ve discovered that it’s what works the most effective for me:)



Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest Articles