11 February 13
Condors and Vultures
Doodling during a meeting when there were vultures and California condors on the screen…
31 January 13
23 January 13
15 January 13
7 January 13
Turkey Vulture
A turkey vulture perched on the phone pole and sat there for a while — enough for me to get a couple of sketches in. I love these birds.
3 January 13
A Trip to Lodi
We went to see some friends who were house-sitting near Lodi on Sunday. Ron and Joe are great birders so after some bread, cheese, olives and zinfandel jelly, we went out birding.
(Drake Common Merganser, Derwent Coloursoft on Canson) I sketched this common merganser along the Mokelumne River, not quite sure of the state/county park’s name. It had been resting on a log but took to the water as we approached.
We stopped by the Woodbridge Road sandhill crane preserve. We were a little early for the fly-in but decided to drive all the way to the end, where we found a good flock of sandhills. On the way back, several more had come in and we had four very close to the road. By then the thin winter sun was starting to set, casting a gorgeous purple/pink hue over everything, including Mount Diablo to the west. I need to get some purple/pink Canson paper, obviously.
30 November 12
Western Bluebirds
Finally got my bluebirds done for the Yolo Audubon fall drawing next week… This is pastel on Canson paper.
19 October 12
Shorebirds at the Wastewater Treatment Plant
I took a friend to Woodland today for a medical procedure. I had a couple of hours to kill so I went over to the Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant, where a Sabine’s gull has been reported. I didn’t see it but there were lots of birds and it was pleasant (if a little hot) to sit and draw them, with more leisure than I usually allow myself.
16 October 12
24 September 12
Yellow Warbler at Putah Creek
On Saturday I went down to the bathing area on Putah Creek where warblers have been seen a lot recently. None in the creek, but a few yellow warblers feasting on Oregon grapes on the bank.