Delightful Limpkin--Part II

What is it that is so captivating about this bird?

Can't explain it.  Those kind eyes?  Maybe the deliberate way they move their legs as they walk.  The coarse, matter-of-fact squawk in their voice?  Or maybe the special nature of their habitat and diet.  Who knows what really tugs the heart.  Visually, I think it is the eyes and the simple, yet stunning beauty of her feathers, white spade tips on taupe.

I think my sketch is a bit too dark.  There is a reason, however.  I kept forgetting that half of this page spread wasn't watercolor paper and the half she's on is also light blue.   When I get deep into painting, these technical details go away.  So I'm looking forward to creating another sketch on sturdy paper.

I also wanted to share a few more images and show you the reason my sketched Limpkin's head feathers are all ruffled instead of slicked back.

After all that underwater foraging, some head slinging was in order.

And some feather ruffling.

I also wanted you to see those feet and get a sense of their huge long stride, similar to that of sandhill cranes.  I didn't see the limping gait that is referenced as the source of their name.  But this Limpkin didn't do much walking.  She foraged in a small shallow area, preened and then flew.

I also didn't see a snail extraction, but I got a fun look at how a bird with a beak of this size preens.  And that's no small undertaking.  It requires an elastic neck!

To see my first post with more details on the Limpkin's lifestyle, visit The Delightful Limpkin.
And if you're interested in seeing more about the creation of the sketch, visit Sketching A Limpkin at Vickie's Sketchbook.
To view all my posts about Brevard County's Space Coast Birds and the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, click here.  The first post will be at the bottom.

The above images were taken at the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands in Brevard County, Florida, with guide, photographer and Master Naturalist, Charlie Corbeil. Click the link and visit Charlie's beautiful photography.

Also visit Space Coast Eco for informative descriptions of key natural areas and field trips for your visit to Brevard County. These excellent field trip posts are created by my Brevard County hostess, Marge Bell.
You may also enjoy visiting Space Coast Beach Buzz and FloridaBeachBasics for more visitor and wildlife information.

Visit Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival and mark the 2011 dates on your calendar.  And for fun reports on this year's festival visit David McCree's Blog the Beach.

Visit Me at Knoxville's Wild Birds Unlimited

Visit me at Knoxville's, Wild Bird's Unlimited website!  What a fun surprise to discover that I'm the feature of their home page for the month of April.  When you open their website this month the first thing you see is an introduction to me and my art!

For the past several months I've been writing monthly articles for the website focused on birds found in my yard and in other favorite places.  Right now I'm having fun watching a pair of Eastern Phoebe's nesting and have written about them in my WBU April article, Phoebe Nuptials and the Hard Work of Nesting.  Click the link and enjoy some fun images of these captivating birds!

When I get this sketchbook page finished, I'll post it and share more about this pair's activities.

Meanwhile, more fun Limpkins images coming up and I have more birds to show you from my January Florida visit--among them, Roseate Spoonbills, a funny Tri-colored Heron hunting, and Black Skimmers hanging out on the beach with Royal Terns.

I also have to mention, right here at home, I was buzzed by a hummingbird yesterday and heard chirping for several seconds after our near collision.  I couldn't find her but what a joy to know our Ruby-throated hummers are arriving!