Sings of Spring

04-16-26-merganser02
pastel, ink

04-17-26-woodpecker
pastel, ink, crayon

04-11-26-grackles
ink

04-06-26-robins03
ink

04-06-26-cattails
ink, pastel, crayon

 

April 3rd

 

2014: The river was over the stone walls
(04-03-14-flood)

2016: it must have been raining
(04-03-16-geese)

2017: The river was flooded again
(04-03-17-island)

2023: Returning grackles
(04-03-23-grackles)

2024: April is for grackles
(04-03-24-grackle01)

2025: An early great blue heron
(04-03-25-heron)

2026: only one mallard in a swiftly flowing river
(04-03-26-duck)

Recent Ink

03-22-26-turkeys

03-20-26-grackle

03-14-26-broadmoor01

03-04-26-geese02

03-25-26-island

03-03-26-geese02

2026: First Great Blue Heron

I was surprised to see my first great blue heron of the year at the dam this morning. I do have a sketch of one flying over from February last year but they usually arrive and settle in late March or April. I hear that they spend the winter months near the coast where the water doesn't freeze so much.

The river has opened up a lot in the last week after a few days of warm temperatures. It stalked about and poked in the usual spots. It even hopped in, belly-deep to hunt in the old cattails. My guess is that it won't stay; the water's too high and that's where the best fishing is, just below the spillway. Now if the heron would tell my tulips and daffodils that it's safe to come out!

03-13-26-heron01

03-13-26-heron03

04-19-21-heron01

04-22-21-heron01

Mallows: Then and Now

It's pretty hard to connect the summer mallows with their winter versions. In each moment, they are completely and utterly themselves. 

08-14-15-mallow

07-28-21-mallow

09-06-25-mallows

10-01-25-mallows

10-16-25-mallow01

10-20-25-mallow

02-18-26-mallow01

02-18-26-mallow03

02-18-26-mallow02

Sycamore Seeds

I am always enchanted by the pendulous seed balls of sycamore trees throughout the winter. They are Nature's Christmas ornaments. But with a big snow coming to Massachusetts later today, I wonder how many will fall to the ground weighted down by snow and ice. We shall see. Stay warm and vigilant good people!

11-23-20-sycamore

01-07-22-sycamore

11-26-22-sycamore

01-28-23-sycamore

11-29-23-sycamore

01-22-26-sycamore

Red tailed Hawk

 

01-17-26-hawk02
ink

More birds of prey here.

Look Down to See the Sky

 We've had a "January Thaw" the past few days. I wish I could say the same about other parts of the country (and the world). 

01-11-26-puddle

01-12-26-river

04-27-20-puddle

02-28-25-puddle

2026: Happy New Year

01-01-26-goose02
oil pastel, watercolor, 11 x 17"

01-01-26-hawk
charcoal, ink

01-01-26-branches
charcoal

The Island

12-21-25-island

11-30-25-island

11-22-25-island

11-04-25-island

07-08-25-island

01-01-25-island