Saw Whet Owl Painting

I just finished a new 'yard bird' painting, the Saw Whet Owl. This painting is in dedication to the owl that flew into my window last week. Although she was quickly taken in by a specialist she passed away a few days ago. I feel so lucky to have seen her so close, in fact it was the first time I have seen a Saw Whet in the wild.

 -Bill

Ornithological Painting

I really enjoy looking at all the different illustration styles of famous ornithological painters such as John James Audubon, David Sibley and one of my personal favorites, Roger Tory Peterson.

The thought occurred to me that it could be a lot of fun to try to come up with my own style of ornithological illustration based on primarily on photos,  yet referencing work from some of the greats.

My goal is to create paintings that not only show the important identification features, but also creating a bird that has some life and action to it. I feel like I want to be somewhere between Audubon animated style and Sibley's refined hyper accurate reference style, maybe leaning a bit more towards Sibley.

The only criteria, I am limiting myself to birds identified withing the boundaries of my property.

Here are my first two attempts, super fun and quick. I cant wait to fall into a groove and find my style. These are painted with acrylic on Gessoed Masonite, 8x10".
-Bill

Mt Katahdin Summit, Baxter State Park

We had awesome weather and declared this as the most exciting, beautiful and challenging hike we have been on. I highly suggest taking this one on if your looking for a challenge both mentally and physically.

Baxter Peak, summit of Katahdin

The Knife Edge section awaits

This image gives good scale and shows how you literally hike on the top edge, on all fours manytimes.

Zoomed further out you can see the scale of Baxter peak on the extreme right

Making our way along the Knifes Edge between Baxter and Pamola peaks. The mountain has claimed 19 lives since 1963, mostly from exposure in bad weather and falls from the Knife Edge. For about 3/10 of a mile the trail is 3 feet wide, with a drop off on either side.

Epic reflection, what you can't see are the 20+ other photographers from all over the country

This guy, trail named Highlife, just finished the entire Appalachian Trail, all 2,184 miles of it at this very moment, it took him just under 6 months.

This trail has proved fatal 19 times

Classic Roaring Brook

We even saw a moose!

-Bill

A first for me, Chuckar

On my way out of the woods in Deerfield, NH yesterday I was very surprised when I crossed paths with a Chuckar. Native to southern Eurasia, the Chukar was introduced into the US from Pakistan to be a game bird. It lives in arid, rocky terrain across the western United States and southern Canada. The habitat around these parts is not quite what these birds require. I looked up places that stock chuckar for hunting and the closest one seems to be Alton NH, still a good distance away. More impressive is that this bird, an adult male has survived since at least last fall when it was probably released for hunting.
-Bill

Dazed Hawk on sidewalk

I was walking to get my morning coffee from a local coffee shop in Dover, NH today when I could not believe my eyes. Right in front of my splayed out on the sidewalk was a coopers hawk. Certainly it was dead I thought. As I approached it I saw its eye blink. I could tell right away that it had flown into the shop window.

My first thought was to get it off the hot sun-beaten sidewalk and into some shade. I carefully swept its wings back and lifted it off the ground. I was kind of in a panic and didn't have any idea where to go beside across the street to my company's loading dock. I could feel its heart beating as I was holding it, it was a very surreal feeling to be holding this amazing bird in my hands.

I placed the hawk on the dock and it stood there for a few minutes, clearly dazed. At the same time one of my co workers came down to get a delivery and was able to grab my camera for me so I could capture a few photos.

The hawk then flew on top of the UPS truck, then off into a tree. I check on it an hour later and it was still there. It seems dazed still but then it went for it, it flew off into the trees along the river. I truly hope it was ok and that my actions helped it recover from the shocked state that it was in.
-Bill

It was puking warblers today.

So, in the snow sports world, it is common for a snowboarder or skiier to say " it was puking all day brah" which refers to heavy snow, a good thing. I would like to apply this cool/hip term to birding. So I would like to announce that today it was in fact puking warblers.

All these photos were taken within a half hour or so and I missed many species that just moved to fast.

American Redstart Female

Northern Paula

Prarie Warbler?

Blackburian Warbler

Chestnut Sided Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Black Throated Green Warbler

Black Throated Green Warbler

Fall warblers thick and feeding! ID Help Needed

 

American Redstart showing its good side. 

This morning I was out doing some scouting in Barrington, NH along some freshly cleared forest that will create early successional habitat in the next few years when I found myself buried in warblers. Very quickly I was able to count the following warblers:

Black-Throated Green
Yellow Rumped
American Red Start
Black and White
Yellow
Cheastnut Sided

also in the mix with the warblers
Chickadees
Tufted Titmouse
Catbirds
Goldfinches
Blue Jays
Crows

Most seem to be feeding on worms and insects

Not 100% sure on the species in the following 2 images, when the plumage changes from spring to Fall the birds can look VERY different. Any one have suggestiosn for the following 2 birds?

Not sure on this one, best guess is Adult Female Black-Throated Blue??

I can really use some help here on this one.

American redstart

Done and done!

Happy to say that this painting which I am calling " Christmas Morning" is finished, framed and hung! I plan to make some canvas prints for sale in time for the Holidays, hope to make frames for the prints out of rough sawn wood like I did for the original.
Cheers
Bill

Woodworking

I do not claim to know all the ins and outs of how to make quality furniture out of wood. Far from it in fact. What I have are some basic skills acquired over the years from odd projects and watching others with far more experience. The main driver for my desire to build things recently can be summed up into 3 points.
1. I finally have the room, and most of the basic tools to make stuff.
2. Its a lot easier, more fulfilling, and cheaper to make exactly what you want rather than try to find it at a store.
3. I LOVE the smell of a wood shop in use!

Here are my first 2 attempts with no outside help at making furniture. I feel like a few basic wood working classes would help a lot but its also pretty fun to figure out the issues as they arise, as long as your not wasting boards!


Project #1
Graphic design table

Project #2

TV stand

Scarlet Tangers and Chainsaws

I can tell another year has gone by when I see my second Scarlet Tanger. Without fail, every summer I have seen exactly two of them in different places, totally random. It could be that I don't pay close enough attention, or was not familiar enough with their song, but times they are a changing.

Yesterday afternoon, during the peak heat of the day, I thew on some long sleeves, heavy canvas Carhartt pants, and headed out to cut down a dead hemlock that has been bugging me for a few weeks. Not my best idea in recent memory.

About an hour into it I had to stop to tighten the chain. While doing so I caught a bright flash of red out of the corner of my eye. That was no cardinal, the jet black wings gave away what would be come my first Scarlet Tanger sighting of the year.

After finishing up in the punishing heat I was relaxing on the front porch searching some more info about the Tanger. I played its song a few times on my lap top to see if by some chance it might draw the bird in for a better look, and it did. It was almost too easy. The bird spent about 10 minutes with us , VERY confused as to what was going on. I decided to snap a few photos and let him get back to doing what ever Scarlet tangers do on a summer evening, and i got back to doing what I do, cold beer on the deck!

More Spring migrants arrive

Since my last post a few more of my favorite birds have trickled in and sang for me. Although I have been really busy still have a little timer here and there to listen and look for birds. The red eyed Vireo I photographed yesterday was very unique. I literally brought my laptop outside when I heard one singing behind my house, I played its song from my favorite bird website and with in 20 seconds a pair of vireos cam flying down to investigate. That's how I got such a fine photo of such an elusive bird.

I like to keep it simple when I'm outdoors and not bring a lot of gadgets, but this was remarkable. This might actually be a reason to finally get a smart phone...but only for this!

 American Redstart

Blackburnian Warbler (lifer)

 Northern Parula (lifer)

 Red Eyed Vireo (lifer)

Red Eyed Vireo ( lifer)