Nicely, the final submit from California is right here. Though I used to be there for just one,5 months I do really feel like I had fairly the chance to go round and discover this stunning state. In addition to working with birds on the Palomarin Area Station in Marin county I had the prospect 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 had been accompanied with loads of stops alongside the best way and lots of, many stunning sights and extraordinary birds. Couldn’t have requested for extra! 140 new life birds for me on this journey… nonetheless cannot 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 loads of images up to now however despite the fact that that was enjoyable I might at all times 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 so as to sketch it proper. I’m spending extra time simply wanting on the chook and in these moments I’ve seen 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 more durable time with that in California. Simply because all the things is new and there are new lifers flying left and proper it was onerous to maintain my head down, targeted 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 will likely be nearly purely visible as I’d wish to put my sketches right here and hopefully you get pleasure from it and perhaps it evokes you to typically simply sit down and spend an prolonged time period observing only one chook. Belief me, you may 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 assume that you simply already love birds, you’ll turn out to be obsessed.
That’s it! In addition to 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 had been achieved within the discipline and by paying shut consideration to those avians. I hope that you simply loved this little sketchbook tour and please do let me know in case you have any feedback, questions or insights. I at all times love to speak and introduce folks to drawing birds as I’ve discovered that it’s what works one of the best for me:)
