🎶 "all about the birds, 'bout the birds" 🎶

While savouring a very large cup of coffee this morning, I completed all the lessons in my third bird course and then took the final quiz.  The passing grade is 70% and I passed by the skin of my teeth.  These courses cost money so thankfully you are permitted to take the tests as many times as necessary to reach a passing grade.  I did miserably on the section called "Not So Confusing Fall Warblers" and "Quick as a Flash".  In a week or so, I will take another course.  

These courses help with identifying similar species. They also help when it comes to sketching the differences. My goal in these projects was to first lay a layer of watercolour on paper and then sketch on top of the watercolour.  I am wanting to eventually include more detailed watercolour painting.  I have tried but it's a challenge and I have not been happy with the outcome.  The two male woodpeckers and the three chickadees are completed with coloured pencils.  

The major differences are: 

• the hairy is larger than the downy
• the hairy's beak is as long as its head whereas the downy's is smaller than its head
• the downy has black markings on its tail feathers

These are three chickadees that I have seen while being "out & about" yet I sketched them from tutorials. The visible differences are in the colouring and the markings.  I learned enough that I am able to identify them when presented with a quick sighting.  

Today I headed to Carburn Park for sunrise and to get a good fill of spring-like weather and scenery.  The last time I saw a Robin was the end of autumn last year.  My understanding is that some Robins winter in Alberta but most people don't spot them until spring.  I saw my first American Robin today!  There were five all together being as busy as bees or I mean birds.  

view from along the trail

just enough pink

The American Bald Eagle was hanging out in its usual location!

These are two male Buffleheads.   While I have spotted these ducks before, this was the first time I noticed the dark iridescent green or purple, or it could be the first time because today the sun shone down on them at the perfect angle.  The other times I saw them, those green and purple sections looked black. I learned all about this in my recent bird course. 

While I write this post, I can smell smoke and just learned our firefighters are battling a grass fire up on Nose Hill.  I was up there a couple of days ago and noticed how dry it was and how there were cracks in the ground on the trails I was hiking along.  More details should come out tomorrow.