WETLANDS, PART 1

 

Deciding to get out and go for a walk, I went over to the nearby wetlands which was a refreshing change from all I have been going through lately. When I entered the marsh, a small party of goldfinches were busy feeding in amongst the thistles but flew off as I got closer. I did manage a quick study of them though. Insect calls were all around me in the long grasses, and bumble bees were busy collecting nectar and pollen from wild roses next to the path. A lone Song Sparrow sang a few times as I walker deeper into the marsh. Looking down towards an open channel of water, I saw an amusing sight - a musk rat was dragging a large branch full of leaves through the water and into its burrow on the opposite bank. It was forced to swim rather slowly though as there was a lot of resistance from all the leaves through the water.

 As I stood watching, a male Mallard flew in, calling as it got closer. It splashed down near to where I was standing, quickly turned and emerged from the water onto a mudflat looking around. Close up, I could see that it was beginning to moult into its eclipse plumage – quite early in the year I would have thought. All the other male mallards I have seen around here are still in full breeding plumage. At this point, the bird still had all its flight feathers though but will soon have to choose a quiet corner of the marsh to stay while it loses then re-grows them. After undergoing a full moult, it will then somewhat resemble a female. When its flight feathers grow back in again, it will begin to moult once again, this time back into its breeding plumage. While I was studying the duck and taking some notes, I saw movement off to the side and a Killdeer came into view, amazingly close!

I spent quite a lot of time watching it and taking notes with a few quick sketches too. For the most part, it ignored me (since I wasn’t moving much) and continued to walk around the muddy area just in front of me occasionally dipping its tail (which allowed a brief flash of bright orange) and stooping to pick up small worms (probably bristle worms). At one point, it turned sideways towards me and dropped its left wing. I thought it was about to do its ‘broken-wing’ display which they (and a few other birds) do to lure predators away from their nests. But no, it then slightly turned its rump in my direction displaying the bright orange of its upper tail coverts (these are usually covered by drab tertial feathers and its primaries). After holding this pose for around 20 seconds or so, it lifted its wing back into its regular resting position then began feeding again.

Shorter-billed waders like Killdeer search for their food using sight, unlike many longer-billed waders that probe for their food. So a quick few steps forward then they stand still. If food is spotted, a quick dip to pick it up then on again for a more few steps. As it walked even closer, I saw how it would shift from foot to foot lightly pressing on the mud each time – this is supposed to help bring food to the surface. I also noted the area between its two outer toes were semi-palmated (partially webbed) but not between the two inner toes.

After a few more minutes of feeding, it stood on one leg and began to wing-stretch. Birds do this as a way of keeping their flight muscles loosened up as they often have to burst into sudden flight when a predator appears. They usually do one side first then after a while, do the other side. This involves lifting one leg and stretching it back while extending the wing and slightly spreading its tail. The whole process looks really beautiful, especially with this species because hidden under the somewhat drab plumage lies bright black, white and orange-patterned wings and tail! I felt especially fortunate to see it! Some species also lift both wings up above their backs, I expect also to keep their flight muscles limber. I have noticed that behavior in most smaller waders as well as larger ones such as Whimbrels, and even birds as large as Snow Geese! Eventually though, as enticing as this bird was, I moved on to see what else was about and left the Killdeer next to the resting mallard which now had its bill tucked into its scapular feathers.

All watercolor studies done in my Grumbacher sketchbook.

BIRD STUDIES

 

A few more bird studies that are part of a long-term project that I have mentioned before. Hopefully this project is getting closer to completion. I say that but it seem that I am always adding more to the list of things to do. Hopefully I'll be able to let you know what this is all about in a few months but this is all taking longer that I thought it would - isn't that true for most things though?

I am keeping this post rather short although I have a lot of other completed paintings that are a part of the project and could be added - perhaps I'll get to them later. The next post should be a lot longer and hopefully more interesting. The two shown here: House Finch displaying, and American Oystercatcher. Both watercolors done in my sketchbook. Sizes 6 x 9 in (15 x 23 cm).

PEREGRINE FALCON STUDIES

 

The Peregrine Falcon, what can I say about this bird that hasn't already been said? Not much I think. Obviously a favorite bird by many and it has been well documented by many over the years. An incredibly exciting bird to observe and study, not least of which is due to its stoop when hunting, seemingly to fall out of the sky it gains tremendous speed to strike at its prey - usually with its bunched talons. This often stuns its prey if not kills it outright, and I am lucky to have see this a number of times. While I feel sadness when a bird dies, it is a fact of nature that often something must die so that another can live.

This primary feather is from a juvenile. A marvel to look at and examine - from the slightly oval quill to the beautiful twist of feather barbs along its length, and how the feather slowly changes from a slightly pale brown at the base to almost black at the tip. Juveniles peregrines have an interesting mostly brown plumage during their first year of life before they mout into a bluer plumage when they mature. As an artist, I actually prefer this earlier version. Younger birds have varying dark vertical streaks on the breast and often a wonderfully patterned head, the cere, eyering and talons are usually a greyish-blue. Being around falconers in the past has allowed me close-up views of these birds and I have done quite a number of studies and paintings of them - and I'm sure there are a lot more to come! Both these watercolor studies done in my sketchbook, sizes around 7 x 8 in (18 x 20 cm) and 12 x 9 in (30 x 22 cm).

BLACKSMITH LAPWING

 

I have done a number of studies of this species. Formally known as the Blacksmith Plover (a name I grew up with and prefer), it was a relatively common bird I would see when I was out exploring places around Johannesburg. Instantly recognizable with its mostly black and white plumage coupled with a strident call, the sound of which invokes that of a blacksmith tapping his hammer on an anvil (thus giving it its name). These birds never seemed to be far from water so that is how I designed my painting - the bird standing in shallow water. Not that I looked very hard at the time, but I never found a nest or even remember seeing chicks of the species. This is probably due to the adults giving warning calls whenever one approached their territory and even using a display to draw you away from the nest area. I would have liked to had done more studies of them, especially of their chicks which I think are especially cute - to use a non-ornithological term!

For me, this bird not only harks back to my childhood but also points to the incredible diversity of fauna and flora South Africa has to offer.  Size is about 11 x 8.5 in (28 x 22 cm), watercolor on paper.

ALONG THE ALGARVE III

 

Another painting from a trip to Portugal, this time trying to capture not just the amazing rock structures commonly found along this part of the coast, but also the deep almost cobalt blue sky which gives further richness to the orangish-yellow of the rock. I deliberately painted loosely in this work wanting to capture the mood of the place without getting concerned by too many details. I think I'll probably expand on this idea of working - especially in my future landscapes. This is an 8 x 10 in, oil on board.

PEONY BUD

 

Most of the peonies around here have finished blooming now but a month or so ago, I started a series of paintings of some the flowers I found - this one is the first that I did. There are two large peony plants nearby that I could take a short walk to and observe on a day-to-day basis, one a pale vanilla color with a few deep purplish-red highlights, the other one slightly darker with more red. Others further away in plantings along the river were a solid dark red and didn't attract me like the lighter ones did. I think this goes back to the peonies we had in our old home that produced beautiful large creamy flower heads the size of my palm, some with a few deep rose-red stamens. I really do miss those and wish I could have taken them with us when we left! I kept the paintings mostly small to start with, although the completely opened flowers were done on larger panels. This one is 7 x 5 in (18 x 13 cm), oil on board.

RECENT BIRD STUDIES

 

A while ago, I posted a page from my sketchbook featuring some House sparrow studies, the bottom one still in pencil. I did plan on finishing and re-posting the page but only recently got around to completing that one. I did enjoy painting these smaller birds and whenever I wanted to get any more information from them such as leg color or how much black had come through on the breast of the males, I simply had to walk downstairs and find one of the many living around the property. At this time, there are some young sparrows around too that hatched only a few weeks ago - and looking very cute!

I saw this Great Blue Heron as it passed overhead and began flying away from me. I remember the large dark wings against the sky and how its slow but powerful wing strokes quickly took the bird out of sight. Earlier in spring, I stood outside near the river watching the sky and looking for any signs of migration. A few large flocks of Snow Geese had passed overhead earlier and then came two Great Blues. They were quite close together but didn't form up as other birds of the same species usually do. Both heading north and flew right over the city! I would have expected that they would have kept to the many waterways around here. Another day, a loose flock of 7 Great Egrets passed by along with more flocks of geese. One small group of Canada Geese had a lone cormorant attached to it!

Both these watercolor studies are about 4 x 5 in, (10 x 13 cm).