My Mom took me and my girl to Greenland and it was AMAZING. I saw birds I’ve never seen before (“life birds”), including Northern Wheatears and (probably-) Meadow Pipits.

While poking about the ruins of a viking church, a bird landed on my head! (Probably a Common Redpoll, based on what other birds were also flying around.)

I drew some birds and was pleased with how it turned out. I think that bottom right one was a Lapland Longspur, but since so many of birds are molting and shifting into the nonbreeding plumage, and I’m not a super birder, I’m not totally sure. It could just be some other nifty sparrow-like bird. 

Also tried painting fungus. Um. I think I need more work there. 

I did these pages in the evening of a rainy and windy day, using photos taken by me, Mom, and my daughter to help me get stuff right, because of course live birds rarely stay still enough… 

The sketchbook is the nature journal from John Muir Laws and I love it.