Hamilton High School

Hamilton High seniors science class last month, a ton of tours over the years thanks to teacher extraordinaire, Vanessa Haflich. These were the best ever, and when I asked who is a zoologist, artist, dog fan...all hands went up. Some tears when they met Billie and Portia, and all the birds. We just got the greatest thank-you card today, including "the highlight of my year." Good luck, seniors!

Bitterroot Ospreys!

 

Front Yard

 Really, eagle perched in a pine in the front yard. Thanks, guy.

Favorite Hawk

 A male Northern Harrier flew right over my head as I was watching the eagle nest, a first!

Hooded Variety

 My other favorite ducks, these Hooded Mergansers in the slough and at the river, yesterday!

And Tree Week as I dug up local Ponderosa Pines from Mike DeNeve's and planted them around the Falconhouse as there is NO shade. This was a real problem last summer and brought Sibley in every day with over 100 degrees on that side. 

Next!

Brand New One, drypoint etching, acrylic background and gouache paint birds, pastels and an experiment that almost ended up on the "burn pile." 14" x 9" and our favorite front yard ducks. I love painting these listening to Terry Conrad on MTPRadio, Jazz Sessions! 

Eagle Nest

 I think the eagles hatched yesterday, the female taking a break across the Bitterroot, male filling in. This will be fun, year 15.

Yardbirds on the Road

 

Male Northern Harrier XXOO

Slough Goose

 

Eagle Enclosure/ MPG Ranch Backdrop

 

And Lastly...

Our favorite Peregrine ledge up the Blackfoot occupied by two Canada Geese. No way the falcons would be sharing that nest spot, but hopefully some young from a few years ago will come back and kick them out. Empty for two years probably because of highly contagious avian influenza, so sad.

Firsts

My first Osprey of the year, Clark Fork river by Bonner, and first Peregrines, up the Blackfoot River at Chamberlain Creek! Cool!

Today Nest

The Bald Eagle Clark Fork River nest, topic of my book in 2013, now with a big garbage bag inhabitant.

Mischa the Peregrine

 

Regal...and Wet

 

Eagle Bath

 Flew off the nest and landed right in front of me, what a show!

GBHeron Day

Lucky shots of the Great Blue Heron at the slough yesterday and almost didn't bring my camera with the light rain. She wouldn't fly as the eagles were right overhead! Weird, the eagles are settled in the nest as if incubating, then flying around and perched in the neighbor all day. Bet we don't have offspring this year. Want to place bets?

Raven In the Yard

 Weird color in the sun, this friend was right in the yard. We counted 50+ Ravens flying over Point Six the day before, skiing at SnowBowl!

Well, It Worked!

Coming up on 3 years since the botched total knee replacement surgery and gave it a try yesterday, first time since.  I met up with pals Tyler and Kim, thanks Brad for the generosity and kindness, and off we headed...for the groomers!  Surprise and thank goodness, IT WORKED and I am now able to make right-hand turns, the left knee with problems and surgery in 1982, then tragedy with surgery in 2023. No way I was going to go through that again, and have just been dealing with the pain. Photo here by Kim Abbe Thomas in a little side trip off the top. OHHHH I am saying with Tyler in the background.

Two More Today!

 

Posers

 Back at it yesterday, nest tree, and sure wish the one on the right was incubating. We shall see...

Brand New

I had this image of Sibley and made an oil painting of her standing on a duck 16 years ago. Then got the idea to paint in acrylic and ruined the original, no can paint over oils. So this new one, started last week and 24" x 20" in acrylic on canvas. Back to etchings now.

Artistic Killdeer

 Posterized photo of our favorite shorebird in flight:

Another Yardbird

This Pileated Woodpecker seems to be pondering, "How am I going to fit in that nest?" It's the one I featured in my etching "House Wren House." 

Eagles Today!

 

Killdeer

 My favorite shorebird, and two Killdeer spent the "winter" on the river. They are starting to look a little more comfy but snow on the way.

Belted Kingfisher

 Our favorite perching bird, chasing another female kingfisher around at the slough. My new project is a big acrylic painting of Sib the Peregrine and a long story. Hopefully I will recount this saga, if the painting succeeds...we'll see, promise.

Sunday Sunset Over the Pigeon Loft

 

I Love Canada Geese, Today

 

Another Eagle

 

Sky Show Today!

 

Favorite Kingfisher

I swear it looks like she has a spider web draped from the top stick across and it's February!

Red-tail Pair

Our resident hawks put on quite a show overhead yesterday. Thanks, pals! A close look, and that's the larger female in front, male closely behind (below.)

 

Brand NEW

New drypoint etching 9" x 11" called "Yardbird" because it was a pheasant in our yard, and listening to Charlie Parker jazz when I was painting the artist's proof.

Friend

 Flew from the river to right over my head as I left the garage today, thanks!

Victor School

We had a great assembly for the kids at Victor School, k-5 and had them repeating after me, Ap-Lo-Mad-O for the star Sonora, the Aplomado Falcon. Now they all know how to say "lead-colored" in Spanish. Then a drawing class for the 4th grade. with Simon as our model, a quick sketch on the board to get them going. Fun and a bunch more programs coming up, re-visits for three libraries and Nine Mile Community Center.

Old Drawing

I was weeding out the upstairs studio today, tossing out old stuff, and had a pad of discolored paper to throw away. This pencil drawing fell to the floor, and must be from about 1980 and KITTIES! Cracks me up, and totally forgotten. 15 inches. Finding some OLD art up there every day and might have to share some more. 

Fooled Me!

Two years ago someone installed a plastic hunting decoy of a goose high up in a snag right on the road in Lee Metcalf NWRefuge (first photo.) Back at Metcalf yesterday, this Canada Goose standing on one leg remained totally motionless as I approached. The closer I got, I was convinced it was another decoy prank. Then her friend popped up behind and the "decoy" turned her head. What a laugh I had, fooled me!