Category: wildlife art

  • A year of birds: August 2023

    While driving past Isaacson’s Bay on August 2nd, I saw a young eagle in the marsh. He turned and looked at me. I am so glad to see more eagles each year; these majestic birds have really made a comeback in our area. The next weekend, I saw a female ruby-throated hummingbird in the garden.…

    Read more: A year of birds: August 2023
  • A Year of Birds: July 2023

    July is starting out warm, and very green. The marshes are beautiful, and during a recent hike I saw a blue heron flying overhead on its way to another bay. A few days later, while  driving into town, I saw what looked like a falcon on a telephone wire. I believe it could be a…

    Read more: A Year of Birds: July 2023
  • A Year of Birds 2023: May

    May is coming in windy and cool, but with sunlight sparkling on the water when it peeks through the clouds. The egrets are back in the marshes across from Misery Bay, and I watched one as it hunted frogs and preened in between. They are beautiful with their lovely plumes of feathers this time of…

    Read more: A Year of Birds 2023: May
  • A Year of Birds: April 2023

    While still cold, with occasional flurries of snow, the days are finally getting a bit warmer, with temperatures creeping into the mid- to upper-30s at times. While snow is still on the ground, it is gradually melting, and the mornings are misty with the evaporation in the air. The ice is nearly melted on the…

    Read more: A Year of Birds: April 2023
  • The Family Complement: Acrylic Painting

    I saw some sandhill cranes with gray plumage several months ago, and decided to create a painting that highlights the complementary tones between their gray-blue plumage and the rust colors of the autumn grasses. “The Family Complement”, acrylic, 16 X 20 inches.

    Read more: The Family Complement: Acrylic Painting
  • A Year of Birds: March 2023

    March has come in cold and blustery, with several inches of snow falling, as if to make up for the warmer weather at the end of February.  Ice has formed on the bay again, and it is bitter cold. One early morning during this cold spell, I saw a group of juvenile eagles out on…

    Read more: A Year of Birds: March 2023
  • Tern Fishing on Lake Huron

    I love it when the wind raises on Lake Huron, and the waves come crashing in. This painting is of a tern fishing on a windy day in a bay off of the lake. I spent nearly an hour a couple of months ago watching him swoop into the water and fly back out, fighting…

    Read more: Tern Fishing on Lake Huron
  • A Year of Birds 2022: November

    Part 1 During my hike today at the beginning of the month, the bay is silent compared to the almost constant background chatter of small tweets, whistles and the high “kews” of the yellow legs that are heard during the summer. When I went into town, I saw one of the few birds that has…

    Read more: A Year of Birds 2022: November
  • Goldfinch in late winter

    I think that goldfinches are lovely birds. This past winter, I was house-sitting for a friend (she has three adorable dogs that require special care since they are getting older) and got an unexpected bonus: I saw this little fellow perched on a rail right outside the window. My friend is an avid birdwatcher, too,…

    Read more: Goldfinch in late winter
  • Egret Flying Over Lake Huron: Acrylic

    I am playing a bit more with color this summer, because Lake Huron is beautiful, and has constantly changing colors. This is based on a recent sunset, and I added alizarin and Hansa yellow to my usual palette, as well as a touch of orange, to capture the sunset highlight. Egrets are beautiful birds, and…

    Read more: Egret Flying Over Lake Huron: Acrylic
  • A Year of Birds: June 2022 (part 2)

    The egrets can be seen in the marshes, but are quite shy, and will fly off as soon as they see me. I will keep trying, though. I also saw a sparrow on a log enjoying the sun. I love their markings and songs, which are so cheerful. As I was driving to the store…

    Read more: A Year of Birds: June 2022 (part 2)
  • A Year of Birds: June 2022 part 1

    The days are finally getting warmer, and there was a heat wave on the first of June: the temperature went above 80 degrees (F)- a miracle! And with the warm weather has come mosquitoes, the bane of Michigan bird watchers. Whenever I go into the marshes, clouds of them appear, and they seem to be…

    Read more: A Year of Birds: June 2022 part 1