Avocet at Low Tide - 16” x 8” acrylic on wood panel
I feel a sense of wonder seeing an avocet in winter plumage striding across the mudflat at low tide in the Palo Alto Baylands, California
Golden-olive Woodpecker (Colaptes rubiginosus)
A widespread, neotropical woodpecker. Its range extends from NE Mexico, through Central America and down the Andes Mountains to northern Chile. This is a female because it’s missing the red cheek band that occurs on the male of this species. I saw this one in the Monte Verde area of Costa Rica.
Lemon-throated Barbet (Eubucco richardsoni)
The barbets are truly beautiful. When I look at them, I think to myself that there is a bird with an attitude.
Toucanet Painting
Blue-banded Toucanets 8” x 8” acrylic
We saw these toucanets in the Andes in Peru
Northern Emerald-Toucanet
Seen feeding on flowers in our yard, near the Curi Cancha Preserve, Costa Rica.
Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa)
Passionfruit and Warblers
Passionfruit and Warblers 16” x 16” acrylic on wood panel
I designed this piece for a ‘Purple’ show at Viewpoints Gallery. I sketched Yellow-rumped Warblers foraging in the passionfruit vines at my daughter’s house in Torrance, CA.
Hooded Mountain Tanager (Buthraupis montana)
A large mountain tanager that occurs over a large portion of the Andes Mountains.
Black-crowned Night Herons
Night Herons and Moon 12” x 36” acrylic on canvas
Night Herons are common in the local Baylands. They make a fun subject to paint because they hang out in groups and they have a somewhat sinister look..
Military Macaws
Military Macaws 16” x 16” acrylic on wood panel
We saw six species of Macaws in Peru. My favorites were the Military Macaws which we saw perched high above the canopy.
Machu Picchu
Visiting Peru and not visting Machu Picchu would have been a tragedy. We did not see a lot of birds there, but who needs birds with scenery like this.
Honeycreepers and a Hummingbird
Honeycreepers and a Hummingbird 16” x 16” acrylic on wood panel
This piece was inspired by birds working a large hibiscus shrub outside the dining hall in La Milpa Lodge, Belize last March.
Grass-green Tanager (Chlorornis riefferii)
A striking green tanager that is found in the Andes from Colombia to Bolivia. It is the only extant member of the genus Chlorornis.
Spotted Tanager (Ixothraupis punctata)
A pretty tanager found in the Andes of Peru. It’s closely related to the Speckled Tanager also in this blog.
Golden-naped Tanager (Chalcothraupis ruficervi)
A common Tanager on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Peru.
Plumbeous Rail (Pardirallus sanguinolentus)
A rail that is common in much of the southern half of South America. This one was seen at Refugio de Vida Silvestre Los Pantanos de Villa, in southern Lima, Peru.
Peruvian Thick-knee (Hesperoburhinus superciliaris)
We were on a tour of an ancient archeological site near Lima, Peru. It is a drab, sandy area. Several of us saw a bone on the ground (shown). I did not think much of it until one of our party asked what was on the ground next to bone. It took me several seconds to see what she was referring to. This fairly large bird is a master at camouflage. They rest motionless during the day and forage at nighttime.
These photos were taken with a telephoto lens with a limited depth of field to bring out the bird. To the unaided eye, they are difficult to see. The Peruvian Thick-knee.
Lesson's Motmot
Lesson’s Motmot 12” x 12” acrylic on wood panel
It was a treat to come across this wonderful bird again in Belize last March
Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)
A colorful bird that breeds in the Western United States and winters in Western Mexico. This one was photographed in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California near Yuba Pass.
Red-capped Manakin (Ceratopipra mentalis)
This colorful bird really catches the eye. We saw several of these in forested areas in Belize. This photo shows off the yellow legging of this species. The red head with the yellow and black eye are striking. This one was seen near La Milpa, Belize.