Stopping and Noticing – 10,000 Birds


Nicely, the final submit from California is right here. Despite the fact that I used to be there for only one,5 months I do really feel like I had fairly the chance to go round and discover this lovely state. Moreover working with birds on the Palomarin Discipline Station in Marin county I had the possibility 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 lots of, many lovely 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 considering of a approach how might I showcase all of the superb birds that I noticed, and eventually considered a approach. 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 lots of photographs previously however though that was enjoyable I’d all the time simply take a photograph of the chook say “test” and transfer on. Nevertheless, once I’m armed with a sketchbook, pencil and a few watercolours, I’ve to cease, floor myself and actually observe the chook with the intention to sketch it proper. I’m spending extra time simply wanting 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 tougher time with that in California. Simply because all the pieces is new and there are new lifers flying left and proper it was exhausting to maintain my head down, centered on the sketchbook. However I did handle to gather sufficient attention-grabbing chook shapes, colors and behavior sketches and I’m content material with that.

So this submit might be virtually purely visible as I’d prefer to put my sketches right here and hopefully you get pleasure from it and possibly it evokes you to generally simply sit down and spend an prolonged time frame observing only one chook. Belief me, you can be amazed by their fascinating lives and even in case you are the so referred to as “lister” (which I completely am however I handle to mix that with being an “observer”) and suppose that you just already love birds, you’ll turn into obsessed.

Pelagic Cormorant off the coast of Monterey. Robust daylight made for attention-grabbing 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 will not be fully appropriate, however I’m sketching what I’m seeing not what I feel or know that must be there.
Purple-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 appear to be only a brown chook however I discovered them to be some of the attention-grabbing birds that I encountered in California.
Western Bluebird and Western Meadowlarks on a area by Palomarin Station. It was sooo a lot enjoyable placing within the yellow. Our European “Outdated World” birds don’t usually supply lots of significantly dazzling colors.
Nice Egret and Anna’s Hummingbird by Palomarin. Along with the stations crew we named all the native hummers. This specific one seemed like an Anthony to us…
Say’s Phoebe and Western Bluebirds close to Lassen NP. These birds have been usually perched in open areas for an extended time and have been so referred to as “cooperative” for a fast sketch.
Wrentits, Western Bluebirds and Anna’s Hummingbirds by Palomarin. Bunch of those bluebirds would usually perch in a single tree within the evenings they usually 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 usually 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 fun chook and it was so attention-grabbing to see the behaviour of this high-altitude chook.

That’s it! Moreover 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 executed within the area 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 all the time love to speak and introduce individuals to drawing birds as I’ve discovered that it’s what works the perfect for me:)



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *