BALD EAGLE STUDIES

 

These studies done in my sketchbook are part of a continuing series that I have been working on for a few years. I'm nearing the end now and hopefully I will be closer to putting something together soon. Unfortunately the most difficult and time-consuming ones will have to be done next - just hope everything works out the way that I'm expecting it to. Sorry to be so vague but at this point, I'm not quite sure what the finished project will look like.

All watercolors painted on Grumbacher paper, sizes about 6 x 9 inches (15 x 23 cm).

WETLANDS, PART 2

 

Further along the way, I stopped to admire a patch of unusually-tall thistles growing near the path - spiked giants plumed like royalty, each with a vivid purple crown. With a sense of nostalgic recall, I remembered my childhood growing up in the UK where I would often come across them. Around me, I could feel the marsh resounding with many ‘conkaree’ calls of male Red-winged Blackbirds. There must have been at least 20 flying about calling and displaying, and was surprised that a smallish marsh like this could support so many. A few females were around too but I expect most of them would be on their nests in amongst the thicker verbiage. More distant and from opposite sides of the marsh were two Common Yellowthroat’s singing, and I could hear the twittering of Chimney Swifts from high above me. I stood for a while as the sweet scent of summer grasses drifted around me and a faint hint of flowers hung in the heavy humid air, almost like a memory. Over to my right was a large expanse of cattails and tall marsh grasses. Pickerelweed and yellow pond lilies were in and around the deeper water channels in front and to the left of me. I had often seen herons and egrets fishing here but they were absent today. The tall grass meant that it was often difficult to see into the water which teemed in places with small fish, and the swirl of what could have been a much larger one. Occasionally I have seen Ospreys overhead but they seldom seem to catch anything. In the shorter grass, I found a Red-eared Terrapin with some damage to the rear of its shell. This didn’t seem to hinder it though and as I turned it over in my hands to examine the underside, it gave out a long stream of urine (a defense mechanism I believe). After concluding that it was healthy, I put it back on the grass again and I left it to continue on its way.

Where the mud opened out a little on the right, I spied a female Wood Duck through a gap in the cattails. It stretched its neck but didn’t fly preferring to slowly slide into thicker vegetation until it was hidden. Barn Swallows were very active and were nesting under the boardwalk where I could hear excited calls coming from their young. They flitted in and around the bridge where a short water channel cut across the main walkway giving me some close views of the adults.

There are also a lot of non-breeding Canada Geese around this year, at least 25 or so were present resting further away on my left but I counted over 60 in the river last week. Having started going through their wing moult, they are all flightless now and the ones I come across near the river bank are understandably cautious, quickly heading back to water whenever one gets close. Last year there were many young ducklings and goslings in the marsh but this year, the few that did breed had only two or three chicks with them – perhaps this was due to more predators about. Later, the female Wood Duck flew in giving its mournful cries. These were answered excitedly by her 3 chicks which had been hidden amongst the vegetation and surged towards her as she landed – a touching sight. Eventually though, after discovering most of what the marsh had to offer that day, I made my way back along the boardwalk looking for the killdeer again.

I didn’t see it until I was so close that it flushed and flew a short distance away to another area of the marsh giving its usual strident ‘kildee dee dee’ calls. Returning home again in a much better frame of mind, I had plenty of new inspiring material to get on with.

All watercolor studies done in my Grumbacher sketchbook.

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).