Sunday, December 9, 2012

Simpson Reef Sketches

Double-crested Cormorants
Rain and projects have been keeping me home far too much.  Today we finally took off for a long day.  Two sketches were drawn today and two on November 15.  All are field sketches from Simpson Reef on the Oregon Coast.  It's one of my favorite places to sketch.  I hope for little wind (rare) and and no rain.  Our last two trips to the coast were perfect .... mellow days.  Helen Lesher's haiku says it well:

Pewter sea and Pewter sky 
Sandwich filling 
Gull and I

Bald Eagle with California Sea Lions in the background


At Simpson Reef there always is far more wildlife than just gulls.  Today I had hundreds of California and Steller's sea lions, harbor seals, bald eagle, peregrine, oystercatchers, horned grebes, harlequin ducks, cormorants, gulls, etc.  It's a wonderful spot.
California Sea Lions
Black Oystercatchers

9 comments:

  1. I always love your sketches, Elva..they convey such a sense of place, in the tradition of the great naturalist/artists. I feel as if I'm right there with you.

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  2. Elva , I like very much your sketches!!!

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  3. Just charming. You've really captured the essence of the location. Wish I was there with you.

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  4. These are some of my favorites of your sketches Elva. I agree with Kate--you really can bring us into the sketch. I can hear the noises of the creatures and feel the salt spray on my face.

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  5. Where on the Oregon Coast is Simpson Reef?? I would love to visit there myself. Amy from Roseburg

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    1. Hi Amy ... Simpson Reef is about half a mile south of Shore Acres State Park. To get to Shore Acres find Charleston on the map (near Coos Bay) and go south. There should be signs to either the park or to Cape Argo. The Reef overlook has a large parking lot and sturdy viewing platform. Be sure to take binoculars if you have them ... and hope the fog doesn't hide everything. I think there will be volunteers with spotting scopes there on the weekends during Christmas break .... for sure during the summer months.

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