"Allen's Hummingbird" watercolour in Moleskine Folio - Maree©
I've been following the progress via Live cam (http://cam.dellwo.com/) of the Allen's Hummingbird sitting on her eggs, laid on the 2nd and 4th of January 2010, respectively, and which are due to hatch within the next day or so. The link was supplied by well-known bird artist, Vickie Henderson, who also sketched the Humming bird. You can see Vickie's post and sketches on her blog, Vickie Henderson Art.
I did this sketch from screenshots taken of the live cam. Not knowing Hummingbirds very well, I Googled it and somehow think I've made the beak much too curved (although it certainly looked like that on the screenshot) - the description read, "Allen's Hummingbird: Small, compact hummingbird; male has straight black bill, glittering green crown and back, white breast, and rufous sides, belly, rump, and tail. The throat (gorget) is iridescent copper-red. Feeds on nectar, insects, spiders, and sap. Swift direct flight, hovers when feeding." It also states that it is the female that incubates the eggs for 15 to 17 days, so maybe the female's bill is a bit more curved. All wonderfully new stuff to me!
I'm keeping a close eye one the Live cam, as I really would like to see the hatching of the eggs. Pop in again for an up-date!
Oh, Maree - what have you done? Got me hooked on watching that amazing tiny bird and her offspring - one has hatched, did you see? Your sketch is excellent, you've got the colours and the curves perfectly. Isn't nature - and web technology - just incredible!
ReplyDeleteThank you Cathy, and it is utterly addictive, I know! Missed the hatching - when I went to watch it yesterday morning, it was night-time and later in the day I forgot! Will catch it today!
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