Thursday, January 29, 2015

28 January 2015



Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpeckers always remind me of my dad--he loves the genus MelanerpesThis male  visits my backyard suet feeder daily, always announcing its presense with a grumpy "churrr" call.
Crystal, Hennepin County, Minnesota
28 January 2015

Friday, January 23, 2015

17-18 January 2015



Sax-Zim Bog weekend
Common Redpolls were abundant throughout the bog, in flocks along the roads and fighting at the feeders. We had to be patient for our only Boreal Chickadee, but the looks were worth the wait of this confiding fellow. The biggest flock of Evening Grosbeaks I have ever seen (about 100) frequented Mary Lou's feeders in the northwestern part of the bog.
Sax-Zim Bog, St. Louis County, Minnesota
17-18 January 2015

Friday, January 16, 2015

13 January 2015


  
Amercian Mink
We were lucky to see the work mink running along the creek bank with prey in its mouth before it vanished into the vegetation. This image was based on some quick sketches I did on sticky notes.
Eden Prairie, Hennepin County, Minnesota
13 January 2015

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

12 January 2015

 
Sumac
Sketching sumac on a sunny, not-too-cold morning. Snow falling off the trees in fluffy clumps as White-breasted Nuthatches chatter.
Walloon Lake, Charlevoix County, Michigan
12 January 2015

11 January 2015



Blue Jay
I love Corvids (crows and jays). This Blue Jay seemed to be watching me as much as I was watching him as he used his strong bill to scrape away snow from the feeder.
Walloon Lake, Charlevoix County, Michigan
10 January 2015

Thursday, January 8, 2015

6-7 January 2015

 
White-breated Nuthatch
Here's series on my process of sketching and then layering the watercolor. In this case, I sketched it from life on one day then the next day, I painted using a photo I took as a reference for color.
Eden Prairie, Hennepin County, Minnesota
6-7 January 2015

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

5 January 2015


 
American Tree Sparrow
Every morning at work, I am greeted by a musical flock of these elegant sparrows.
Eden Prairie, Hennepin County, Minnesota
5 January 2015

Monday, January 5, 2015

4 January 2015


Bald Eagle flying over frozen Lake Calhoun
The deep-freeze begins again. I nearly froze while looking for anything moving to sketch and instead decided to try and capture Downtown Minneapolis peeking over Lake Calhoun.
Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota
4 January 2015

3 January 2015

Northern Cardinal (leucistic female)
This beautiful cardinal with white patches around her eyes and cheeks has been visiting my feeder since the New Year began.
Crystal backyard, Hennepin County, Minnesota
3 January 2015

Saturday, January 3, 2015

2 Jan 215

At my work feeder: 
One Black-capped Chickadee pecks at a seed harvested from the feeder while another seems to stand guard, watching the skies for danger.
Eden Praire, Hennepin County, Minnesota.
2 January 2015

First bird of 2015

First bird of 2015: 
Sketched this male Dark-eyed Junco in my backyard as it searched for seeds below the feeder.
Crystal, Hennepin County, Minnesota
1 January 2015