Redwings!

Each one of us has special markers of springtime, usually several:  daffodils, flocks of geese returning, apple blossoms, etc.  For me a spring wouldn't be complete without red-winged blackbirds and I hope to always be where I get to hear some sandhill cranes.

Last month Dale and I spent several mornings sitting at the edge of a little marsh savoring the antics of red-winged blackbirds.  These are all field sketches.  A more elaborate description is on my blog:

http://elvafieldnotes.blogspot.com

Note the female redwing with nesting material and a male chasing off a raven.

Red-winged Blackbirds

One of my favorite sounds of springs are red-winged blackbirds singing in a marsh.  They make my heart sing too.  The females hadn't arrived yet, but three males were busy tuning up their vocal cords getting ready for the ladies arrival.  Sketched on location at a little pond near here that the birders have named 'chevy Pond.'  A large pond, Ford's Pond, is directly across the road.  Chevy Pond seemed like a good name for the little pond.

Pond Sketching

Western Pond Turtle

Weak winter sunshine brings a western pond turtle out of marshy water and up onto a little hummock of organic matter.  He tips his shell to gather as much warmth as possible.  

Red-winged Blackbird

Blackbirds are just beginning to set up territories on the same marsh.  So far their singing is rather half-hearted, but their wings are beautiful when they fly.  

For the past many days I have either been chained to my computer .... or sitting beside one pond or another.  I love it when we find enough activity to keep us in the same spot for hours ..... I have plenty of time to sketch while Dale photographs.