OFFSHORE ROCKS

 

I saw these rocks just offshore when we were visiting Portugal. Here, I was looking almost directly into the late evening light which because of some cloud cover, is a bit subdued. The rocks appear quite dark against the much lighter sky behind but there are some highlights where the sun was catching their edges on the left but this is hard to see in the photo. I also captured a wave passing through the scene which adds just a little bit of drama to what would otherwise be a rather quiet image. This is another 8 x 10 inch painting, oil on board.

WINTER SPARROW

 

House Sparrows are common around here (as they are in many parts of the world) but I still like their bold chirpy character. In winter, the black bib is not as apparent as in summer giving the bird a slightly more subdued look which I prefer. This bird is sitting on a rather rusted spike that was part of a large rivet-like attachment holding together what must have been a boat dock or some sort. Heavy storms had have broken apart the large timbers, one part of which was still attached and I chose this prop to echo some of the colors in the birds plumage. Size is around 12 x 9 inches, watercolor on Bockingford paper.

RING-BILLED GULL STUDIES

 

I did these adult Ring-billed Gull studies mainly to contrast the different head patterns in their winter plumage. A few birds have paler marking than the two shown here, conversely some are quite a bit darker but I find these medium-sized gulls very attractive and have done many studies of them ever since I saw them for the first time over 30 years ago.

These studies of first winter birds were done for the same reasons as the adults. I am especially attracted to  them mostly because of the soft-pinkish bill and their dark brown eyes. To me they have a somewhat 'cute' look to them in this plumage and being 3 year gulls, I am still seeing some 2nd year birds around here with pinkish bills although a few are beginning to turn a darker greenish-yellow whereas the irises are getting lighter. Both studies are about 12 x 9 inches, watercolor on paper.

MAGELLANIC PENGUIN

 

Although I haven't seen Magellanic Penguins in the wild, I still wanted to do this study of a bird I saw at the zoo. When living in Cape Town, I watched the similar African Penguin on a few occasions as they were quite near to where I was staying at the time but not sure if any of my old sketches of those birds survived the many moves. Anyway, this was an enjoyable diversion from the mostly oil paintings I have been doing of late, Size is about 10 x 8 inches, watercolor on Crelando paper.

COASTAL MARSH, MID-MORNING

 

I did this small oil study while visiting a wildlife refuge in NJ some time ago. At this point, I had driven out a long way and had parked up so that i could take a better look around. Here, I am looking back towards the coast which on this morning, looked very hazy and distant. Two Black Duck in flight added a little life to the scene. As I stood painting, a Northern Harrier drifted by followed by an Osprey or two. Sparrows called nearby - I think they were the rarer Seaside Sparrows but I never got a very clear look at them. Further out were a small flock of Brant Geese and across the water to my left, Green-winged Teal slept alongside a young Great-blue Heron and two Snowy Egrets. Greater Yellowlegs called from the shallows just behind me - their calls ever clear in the quiet solitude of the day. This painting is 8 x 10 inches, oil on board.

LAUGHING GULL STUDIES

 

Up until just recently, it had been very quiet on the gull front around here. There was just the occasional bird seen from time to time and earlier in the year, there were a number of non-breeding gulls around (mostly 2nd summer individuals but also a few adults too). But during July, I began seeing more and more gulls coming through mostly following the river in from the Deleware. These were for the most part adults and when I spotted a few gulls across the river in a nearby park the other morning, I went over to take a look. Surprisingly they were mostly Laughing Gulls with a few Ring-billed Gulls also seen. The study of an adult was one of 3 that I saw and had already started its moult as can be seen by the white feathers coming in on its chin and a subtle darkening of the bill. The eye ring was still quite red but beginning its transition to dark. The plumage was faded and worn. but I noticed a new inner primary on each wing just coming in.

The bird above was a second adult that I did studies of. Very faded and worn plumage with the primaries and secondaries looking ragged. This one is obviously quite a bit further ahead of the other with its moult. The bill too is much darker and will eventually be almost completely black with usually just the tip on the upper mandible red. The eye ring has also faded and is now a dark grey. Within a month or so, the head will be almost completely white with just a smudge of black behind the eye. These studies done on Grumbacher watercolor paper, sizes about 6 x 9 inches.