Today I saw a Goldcrest for the first time ever, but not the way I’d like to have seen it. This beautiful and tiny little bird flew right into the patio window while I was sat just on the other side of it. I’m pretty certain this is the same bird at home we call the Golden Crowned Kinglet.
Tiny Goldcrest Studies in watercolor
Poor little thing! I picked it up carefully with a paper towel and decided I’d do studies before putting it to rest in the field. I selected a nicely curled dry leaf to lay him on, it just seemed right for such a natural little creature. I sketched it out then added more detail then the layers of watercolor. I was fascinated by the tiny, hard black beak and little whiskers around it. The yellow crest was so beautiful, surrounded by black borders as if to hold the color in.
Goldcrest studies in ink and watercolor
The top drawing was done with permanent brown ink then I added just a touch of color. It’s amazing how long the claws are on such a small foot!
I hope to see a live one when I return to England, then I can do a painting from life! Much better I’d say!
Oh Mary,
I’m so sorry about that! I HATE when that happens. We live in Arizona and the sun almost never stops shinning on our large oversized windows. We have birds smashing into them far more than I would like. In fact yesterday a small house sparrow hit it. Once, a tiny hummingbird hit our bedroom windows. 🙁 He was so light he just fluttered to the ground like a leaf and just layed there! I ran out and picked him up so gently. He was so light I could hardly feel him. Luckily he suddenly popped up and flew away in a second but sometimes we have not been so lucky.
Your beautiful paintings of him are a sweet tribute to his tiny life.
Kel
Poor little guy. Well done sketches. Good to study from! I brought a dead robin in the house to sketch from and my daughter had a fit! Ha ha oh well, we students of nature must do what we need to do!
Birds crash into windows more often then we think. You’re right, poor little guy.
Thanks Kel, lucky about the hummingbird! When I bird does hit we try not to go near it because they can become so stressed so we keep an eye on them. Occasionally we’ll gently move them to a leafy covered spot under the huge sycamore tree so it will be more protected for them. Our window is on the north side and doesn’t get direct sun, but I think it just must reflect enough of the sky and trees that the birds think they’re ok to fly there. It usually seems to be the Blackbirds for us.
Go ahead and do a study the next time you have a casualty, I think you’d like how much more you can see when you try and paint it.
well I agree, they are good to study from. Maybe because you did that, as you explain to your daughter why and how you’re ‘respecting’ the robin’s life by studying it, she will take that away with her. Maybe be more curious herself and not ‘grossed out’! haha…I did some nice studies of a dead mouse I caught in a trap once…I was afraid to even post them, but that got so many good comments!! I was surprised but glad I followed my instincts on sharing it.
Hi Andy, you’re right. I guess it can help to put the black cutout of a hawk in the window but I still haven’t tried it. I just stopped by your blog, I love your bird photos! I left a comment on your butterfly book! awesome!