Impressions of Cape Cod in Winter

I don't travel to Cape Cod all that much, even though it's one of New England's most popular summer destinations.  But last month, I found myself in Dennis, in the wintertime, in the ice and snow.  And it was a very unique experience.

I got a Lifer!  Which is to say, I got to add the Surf Scoter to my Life List, the big list of all the birds a birdwatcher has encountered and/or observed their whole life (or, really, since they started keeping track).   I love beautiful ducks and this fellow is a stunner!

Can I recommend visiting the Cape in winter?  Well, not much is open after Labor Day and won't be open again until Memorial Day.  It's eerie, but the birdwatching and beachcombing was terrific.  Common Eiders, Black Brants, gulls of all sorts, and even a wintering Common Loon were among the other birds I got to see and sketch over the weekend. 

As a bonus, here's a scan of a whole Sketchbook page! I just like to share ~*~The Process~*~ sometimes, you know?

Sketches from "Nature": "A Fistfull of Talons"

 While I'm aching for a rerun of "Raptor Force" some day, this was an outstanding episode.  Secretary Birds!  Seriemas!

 

Sketching from "Nature" - "Woodpeckers" and "The Egg"

I of course like the episodes of "Nature" that cover the big famous Charismatic Megafauna (and I happen have an episode like that coming up for you later).  But I LOVE the episodes that focus on the little guys; especially animals I think I know by heart.  The delightfully entitled "Woodpeckers, the Hole Story" is just such an episode.  Turns out our little treekeeper dinosaur friends are at least as important architects of the ecosystem as beavers and termites.

 

I'm pairing this episode with "Sir Attenborough and the Egg, Nature's Greatest Invention".  This was an incredibly good episode.

Sketching from "Nature: Season of the Ospreys"

This was a really good episode. Almost as good as "My Life as a Turkey". Almost.

Drawings of Cute Animals

At the time of writing, it's October 27.  My entire enteric nervous system feels like a clenched fist.  Not knowing what else to do, I am going to share some of my recent drawings of animals:

Yeah.

Hummingbirds!

Before they migrate to more favorable and flowery climes, I'll share my sketches of these wonderful Dinosaur Fairies:





This next drawing is based on a series of photos by Dan Ripplinger. Now, I *knew* this about Hummingbirds, but damn if it isn't jarring to see it. O_o

Young Loons and Hawks

We had a lot of young Common Loons born this year on the Lake.  I was lucky to be able to observe and sketch them going about their business:







Here are studies of an adult Loon as well as a stressed out Chipping Sparrow mom:



And finally, a real treat. We had young Broad-Winged Hawks fledging right in our backyard! We came to call them the "Hawkward Teens", and it was a wonderful thing to get to watch them grow up.

2018 Animal Kingdom Sketches

I went to Animal Kingdom for the first time since they opened Pandora: The World of Avatar Pandora Landora!  But before we talk about that, we need to dive deep into the early days of this blog and talk Moleskines and Moleskine alternatives.



The unthinkable happened; I was about to go on a trip and did not have a new Sketchbook handy to start once my current one ran out of pages.  (I draw through and entire Sketchbook and start a new one immediately.  I have heard this is unusual of me but my broken OCD brain and I just can't believe it.)  Fortunately, I was able to order the two lovelies pictured above right away from Amazon.

The one on top is the one I am currently using and that went to Florida with me, the ZenArt Supplies B6 Sketchbook.  And it's very nice for sketching, doodling, and writing with a pencil or ballpoint pen.  But the pages are almost ridiculously thin; I have to scan with a sheet of card stock in between the pages or you'd have a nice preview of the art on the next page.  Art markers bleed right through and the pages roll over and give up at the very sight of even a dry-ish watercolor brush.  It fits right in my purse, though, and so this little Sketchbook joined me on every ride, show, exhibit, and other adventure in Disney World.  (For what it's worth, yes the paper is blacklight sensitive.)

And the ZenArt went to Animal Kingdom with me.  I have to say the ZenArt is very nice for drawing quickly on the spot.  I suppose though, so would a Sketchbook with nicer paper of the same size.  Oh well, here are the studies of the animals there:

Turkey Time!

Sometimes you're just stumped for things to draw.  And then sometimes a flock of wild turkeys walks through your yard.  This handsome boy stuck around for a bit, displaying to his ladies, long enough for me to paint his portrait.

WDW Trip Report: Animal Kingdom Sketches

Oh yes, it is time!   Time to share what me and my little Moleskine Watercolor Sketchbook got up to while in Disney's Animal Kingdom:



Wild Anhinga spotted on the river, a duck (Pochard?), and a really cool plant.



More abstract studies of another Anhinga.



On the subject of birds, there is a new presentation at Dinoland USA that features live birds, is essentially a sequel to my beloved Flights of Wonder, and matter-of-factly presents birds as a kind of dinosaur.  This... okay, Dinoland still makes me drink heavily, but this is a very nice change for the better.  More like this, please.





Flights of Wonder is still awesome and I finally got to sit in the "I'm glad I am wearing a hat" seats.  Only thing is, I thought I'd heard that the show had finally received a rewrite, but it seems essentially the same.  I tell you, the Dr. Guano story is getting as taxing as Little Red back in the day.



The Komodo Dragon was surprisingly spry, and the Lion Macaques are a new addition.



A graceful Tree Monitor, a handsome Jungle Fowl, and a Mystery Bovine!  (All Ears identifies it as a Banteng, while the Cast Member I asked called it a Water Buffalo.  Either way, nice model.)



An Argus Pheasant and Crowned Pigeon...



...and some studies from my Safari photos.



Bonus: A Limpkin I met at the Boardwalk docks...



And a surprisingly graceful Manatee at the Living Seas.