The other week, I took a walk (when that was still a less stressful activity, and still an option) and I actually spotted a kingfisher near the river of our city. It has been over 15 years since I saw a kingfisher and I was really excited to see this beautiful bird!
I heard the bird first, calling very loudly, then I saw it hop through the bushes near the river banks, before he flew away. I didn’t quite believe what I saw, it was mostly a red-blue blur making shrieking sounds, so I confirmed that it actually was a kingfisher with the help of an online database with bird calls. I love the internet for these things!
Coincidentally, I had already plans to make a kingfisher painting, so when I came back home, I had something to work with. I made my sketch from a reference photo, since the bird I saw was too far away and I didn’t manage to get a good view, and I took some notes below my painting to document what actually happened.
Here’s the video with my painting:
If you can’t see the video above, watch it here.
How are you holding up? Can you still go outside? Have you had any bird encounters recently?
If you want to keep yourself occupied and learn sketching: I’m currently offering all my sketching classes for as low as $8.
Hi Julia, I opened the new beautiful tutorial just a few minutes ago. I want to answer your question about getting outside. We have a large wooded property in a very rural area in Upstate NY, so I can go out for a walk anytime and I do. I’ve been watching the budding on bushes, the pussy willows are coming on right now, and the maple trees are budding, and new birds are showing up at my bird feeders all the time.
Have a good day.
Yours truly, Betty ( Bee Kay)
Thank you Betty! You’re so lucky to have your own part of the woods right now. It sounds beautiful!!
Enjoyed the video as always. Living on a canal boat in the Yorkshire countryside we are lucky enough to see kingfishers regularly and I have a photo of one sitting on the mooring rope just a few feet away.
On the fields below us there are Curlew, Lapwings and Oystercatchers at present. When these fields were flooded a few weeks ago I counted around 150 curlew within about a one mile walk. The Goosanders that were on the canal over Winter have now left but the swans are making a nest close by. Little hints of Spring are appearing and it’s starting to feel like Winter is nearly over, at last.
You live in a wonderful place, Steve!