Inspired by our lord n savior Bob Ross. Another wintery day here with nothing to do but paint along with Mr. Ross – the best thing to do during a crappy pandemic-y, drizzly, political insurrection-y day.
I hope you’re all doing well and being safe and remaining sane. I love you.
Here’s the original Bob Ross broadcast, with a two inch brush and all.
https://www.twoinchbrush.com/painting/wetlands
Photograph from Kolob Canyon in Utah. Double Arch Alcove was a very disorienting and beautiful place. These canyon walls towered 1,700 feet over the trail.
Hope your week is off to a nice start. Cheers, R.
Today, a personal favorite of small round birds: the wren. Ok, I might be biased as a quite small and increasingly round human, but these little friends rock.
Bubbly and energetic, just like their songs. Look for House Wrens hopping quickly through tangles and low branches and, in spring and summer, frequently pausing to deliver cheerful trilling songs.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
I hope you’re having an excellent day. Sending hugs your way.
Cheers, R.
Hello friends, I drew a thing again! It’s been too long! And it’s another small round bird: a warbler. He is very, very pleased to meetcha.
The male Chestnut-sided Warbler sings two song types; one is accented at the end, the other is not. The first is used before the arrival of the females and in the early nesting cycle. The second is used mostly in territory defense while the birds are raising young.
American Bird Conservancy
Males that only sing one song type appear to be less successful at attracting mates than males that sing both songs. The early-season song has a musical quality with an emphatic ending, sometimes interpreted as “very very pleased to meet cha!”
Another tiny round bird (to follow the golden-crown kinglet and junco)! Bushtits are very noisy and chattery small friends. They have a lot to talk about I guess. Like cracking jokes about their fantastic name. To protect their dignity, I guess I’ll mention that the “tit” part comes from the Old Icelandic “titr” meaning something small. They also weave fancy hanging nests.
10/10 top notch bird.
Shout out to my mom, who loves the bushtit and taught me to identify it (even if I can’t quite draw it right). Except I keep pretending that I don’t recognize what type of bird it is just to get a chuckle from my lovely, excitable mom saying “bushtit” over and over. Hi mom, I love you.
Juncos are all over here up in Seattle and have plenty of personality. Top notch bird.
Juncos are flocking birds with a distinct social hierarchy. They forage on the ground in these groups, scratching with their feet to find food. The flash of white tail feathers serve as a signal that alerts members of the flock when one is alarmed.
This fellow is the Golden-crowned Kinglet, and he is quite small and tough. I have yet to see one in person, but I hope to some day since they live around here near Seattle.
One of our tiniest birds, the Golden-crowned Kinglet is remarkable in its ability to survive in cold climates. Nesting in northern forest, wintering throughout much of the continent, it is usually in dense conifers which undoubtedly help provide shelter from the cold.
Audubon.org
Tell me about your favorite birds?
$4 Stickers! / Prints from $23
I recently spent a few days camping in Yellowstone in Wyoming. So many buffalo encounters and such alien, gorgeous scenery. It was amazing being in the park after most people had left. Being able to see Ol Faithful erupt while sitting on the porch of the lodge with one or two other people around. Being stuck behind a buffalo in my car by myself, the two of us just hanging out. It’s a surreal part of the world.
Oh and, only the healthiest snacks while living in the woods.
Rachel Admas 