Happy Hour at the Beach Today

 

California Quail!

 

Osprey!

Found!

I just found this forgotten pen & ink from high school, Screech Owl. I remember we made it into prints that I sold around the neighborhood...to buy music albums at the mall!  About 1976 or '77 (Talking Heads!)

Song Sparrows

Babies all over the beach, sort of.

Killdeer Today

 

A Dozen Nighthawks

 Finally!

Youngster

 A fledgling American Kestrel male down at the beach yesterday, learning how to perch!

Squaaawk!

 Our friendly Great Blue Heron always lets out a squawk resonating through the trees upon departure from a favorite limb.

"Hi Kate!"

 

Painting Days

The latest etching was an experiment, the moose in our back yard 11 years ago. First on buff paper, it was it was headed for the burn pile because it folded up like an accordion when I painted it. So I printed another edition on heavier white paper and painted that one. The water is acrylic paint. Then Saturday I rescued the buff one,  ironed it flat a dozen times and added colored pencils and pastels. ( I actually used that iron for clothes a few times, Good Will $4.99) It worked! Next - Pair of Bald Eagles, also in our yard.

"Our" Great Blue Heron

I could always tell our resident heron for years by her missing back toe on the right foot. Now I see it is simply tucked under for some reason, a deformity I guess. Wow.

Merlin Visitor

Down by the river this Merlin flew right to me from across the slough, 5 feet over my head and begged and begged. I thought he must be a falconry bird with that band, but turns out it's a research band from somewhere. Merlins are usually only around here in the winter (plus spring and fall) so a nice surprise. 

And still there yesterday, so unafraid, still begging and curious when I threw a little falconry lure with a quail leg attached. I love this bird, and appears to be the black subspecies (suckleyi).

Got This One Today

Osprey and a sucker (that's the fish, not me)