"Iroquois Nature Refuge" 5-25-08

It's a gorgeous day! 65-70 degrees, sunny and breezy. The first journal page is done with watercolor pencils and a waterbrush...I found it hard to get the greens I wanted.
A gorgeous bird, the Black Tern; I took so many pictures of them swooping over the water, with their very elegant coloring. The other picture is a bit more sad but shows the real life of nature, it's a Red Tailed Hawk being chased by Red Winged Black-Birds because he's stolen a youngster from the nest! I saw him land into the tall grasses on the marsh, and noted the huge commotion of the Black Birds. When he took off I figured something was up, and sure enough he was carrying a chick.










I spotted this little butterfly in the field as we walked and I've narrowed it down to two butterflies-either the Pearl Crescent or Gorgone Checkerspot...anyone help me with an ID?

This painting was done with watercolors. I used my little watercolor kit that's tucked into a tiny "Altoids" tin if you can believe it! I'll have to post a picture of that soon.

Some bird photos I took, two of a male Tree Swallow that was sitting by it's nest box. A picture of a Song Sparrow on the left, and a Swamp Sparrow on the right.




















This flower was drawn with a micron pen then colored with watercolor. I had to wait till I was at the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage (more on that later!) to indentify it, showing it to some wildflower experts...they told me it's a Evening Lychnis.
Click here for the link to Iroqouis Nature Refuge.