Autumn Colors and Pesky Birds

Truman and I went out quite a bit the past week thanks to cooperative weather.  First, we visited the Montlake Fill to check out the autumn foliage there:

The next day we just strolled around the neighborhood, where I picked up some chestnut detritus and did a little watercolor illustration of it:

The next day we went out with Nicole to Magnuson Park to do some sketching.  The mountain was out!

I took Tru for a short walk there, and he posed ever so nicely against the autumn foliage:

Then I sketched some big piles'o'rocks at the park:

Back home, I practiced leaf painting with this gorgeous maple:

I couldn't quit get the red color right, but am happy with the results nonetheless.

On Friday I joined the Seattle Urban Sketchers at Swanson's Nursery, where they had scarecrow displays:

Our big day was Saturday, when Truman and I joined Nicole and Tina for a visit to the Skagit Valley.  We left at 9am and got back at 4:30pm.  I spent all Sunday recovering.

We started at Wylie Slough off Fir Island Road, where it was too foggy to see much.

We did get a few shorebirds, like these dowitchers, close enough to view.

And there were lots of yellowlegs as well.

The fog started to lift just as we headed back to the car.  I found out later that a Black Phoebe, a rare visitor to our parts, was spotted at this same place a short while after we left.  Sigh.  That would have been a Life Bird for me.

 Next we stopped at the Hayton Farms reserve to look for Snow Geese.  We found a flock sitting way out on the water (at the horizon in this photo), too far for pics.  We also had a few dozen fly overhead, again, too far for photos. 

We did get large flocks of Dunlin (a shorebird) here.

Later, I found out that a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, a rare visitor to these parts, had been spotted at this location a short while before we arrived, and then it vanished.  Sigh.  That would have been a Life Bird for me.

Next, we drove the twenty miles or so up to the tiny town of Edison for a lunch break.  Along the way, we noticed this Great Blue Heron standing sentinel:

Edison, WA is the birthplace of journalist Edward R. Murrow.  We did a little shopping here and ate our lunch.  Truman was welcomed everywhere we went.

Then we headed back south via a different road that wound around Padilla Bay.  We stopped at Bayview State Park for some sketching.

Our last stop was the town of La Conner, where we parked by a broken-down warehouse next to the marina.  We did more sketches there before heading back to Seattle.

On Sunday I had planned to go to the Montlake Fill to join Connie for the monthly bird count, but there was dense fog in my neighborhood that morning, and as it is hard to see birds in fog, I opted to stay home.  Later, I found out that an American Tree Sparrow, a rare visitor to these parts, had been seen by Connie at the Fill that morning.

What can I say...SIGH!!!!!!!  Actually, at this point, I'm feeling more like a good old  DAGNABBIT!!!!!   That would have been a Life Bird for me.

Maybe I'll go down to the Fill today.  You never know!

Mostly At The Zoo

The past week was mostly rainy and gray and uninspiring.  I read a lot.  I went on walks around the neighborhood wearing waterproof clothes.  I even did some housecleaning.  You know the weather is bad when I am reduced to cleaning stuff.

I did manage to get two watercolor paintings done during the week.  One afternoon the sunlight was trying to break through the storm clouds, and I tried to capture the trees at my neighbor's home as I sat comfortably on my sofa:

Winston was visiting that day, and the sofa was truly a very lovely place to be:

The next day I went out in the rain to find an autumn leaf to paint, using a mostly wet-in-wet process:

On the weekend I got out once with Tina -- we went to the Woodland Park Zoo.  I was amused by this sign, which conveys a message that one would think was rather obvious:

Do not touch the grizzly bear, either, especially when he's napping.

We were delighted to learn that a new snow leopard cub had recently been born -- a delightful little boy, seen here with his mama:

This Komodo Dragon did not want to be sketched and moved away from the window as soon as I arrived:

So I sketched some of the zoo grounds and buildings while we took a brief rest break:

We visited some of the primates, who were definitely moving around too quickly for sketching.

Luckily, we then checked in on the penguins, who had recently been fed and were just standing around quietly:

It is supposed to be sunny and in the low 60s today and tomorrow -- I hope to get out and about.

Last of the Outdoor Sketch Outings?

Every week I think the weather will be too cold or rainy for any more outdoor sketching this year, and every week there are at least a few days where it is above 60 and sunny.  Surely that can't last much longer, can it? 

I always take advantage of non-gloomy days, so here is a recap of last week's adventures.

Truman and I visited Twin Ponds Park in Shoreline for a quick walk'n'draw:

We had Winston and Chloe for one day, and went for a walk at Magnuson Park:

On one day last week there were showers off and on and we were stuck inside:

On Saturday we went to the Montlake Fill for the weekly shorebird survey -- it was 38 when we arrived at 8am.

We counted just one shorebird (a Killdeer).  We did have some nice waterfowl, including these Western Grebes:

Truman waited for me to finish taking photos of the grebes:

Connie was unable to come that morning, so we walked around with another survey regular, Inge:

Truman waits again while Inge goes off to check the north end of the main pond for shorebirds.  There weren't any.

I did find this lovely mushroom:

Truman found it interesting, too.

Later that same day, Tina and I went to Ballard for some sketching.  We found this Catholic church, which had all kinds of great views:

Behind the church stood a Catholic school:

In front of the school stood a Little Free Library modeled on Snoopy's doghouse:

I managed just one very sketchy sketch, as it was still a bit chilly out:

On Sunday it was warmer and sunnier.  Tina, Nicole and I ventured out again.  Our first stop was the Lake Forest Park farmer's market, the last one of the season, at which Halloween costumes were encouraged.  Here is Truman in his pumpkin outfit:

And here he is at the market:

From there we ventured up the road a ways to St. Edwards Park, site of an old seminary:

Tina's dogs Ginger and Duke joined us:

It was so warm in the cloudless sunshine that I actually took my jacket and hat off.  Lovely day.

Looking ahead, the forecast calls for rain, wind, and thunderstorms in the coming week.  There may not be a lot to post about here next Monday!