Painting and Birding 'round the Long Island Sound

Having had the worst possible view of the Greenwich Pelican last week,  I was treated today to a surprise fantastic view.  I say surprise because the reports of other observers over the weekend seemed to indicate the possibility that the bird was moving over the border into New York State, possibly heading southwards at last.  So when I did my morning reconniassance of Greenwich Point I was not too disappointed when only the usual birds turned up.  Sand Island, at the entrance to Greenwich cove, was host to a number of Brant and Ruddy Turnstones, as well as gulls. All usual suspects, but a nice grouping of Great Black-backed and Ring-billed Gulls prompted a quick sketch.  Upon completing the sketch I moved the scope to the right and wouldn't you know it there was the Brown Pelican!  I nearly fell backwards in surprise.  It must have flown in while I was sketching.  It was busily preening away and looked like it was staying for a while, so the first thing I did was grab my camera and take a few digiscoped photographs for the record:

Some of the reports over the weekend expressed concern that the bird may not be in perfect health, perhaps suffering from the cold or malnourishment.  Though I am no Pelican expert, it looked healthy to me, and not emaciated.  That's not to say that there isn't cause for concern, as the current unseasonably mild weather is certainly not going to last forever, and this bird may be too young and inexperienced to find his way south. This end of the Long Island Sound funnels southwest into the New York metropolitan area, and may seem a bit daunting to the young bird.  One can only hope the urge to move will overcome this rustics aversion to the big city!

I conveniently had my pencils and paper handy so I got started on some quick studies.  The pelican never stopped moving, and with its serpentine neck, prehistoric bill and long, jointed wings, took on such a vast array of poses that it never looked the same twice.  Under these circumstances I attempted only small simple contour drawings, barely looking at the paper except when lifting the pencil.

 This was a surprisingly effective exercise I had learned back in art school which I had forgotten about, until recently reminded by artist Barry Van Dusen.  The results may not be frame-able but the time spent looking at the subject rather than at the drawing make the whole experience more valuable.  I certainly got more from them than from the photographs above!

I was partway through a second page when the bird lifted off and flew towards me.  Just off shore it veered south and paralleled the beach, perhaps 20 yards out, till it went round a bend and out of sight.  It looked like it might be preparing to land so I drove further along, but was never able to relocate it.  Probably for the best, because I was at Greenwich Point to work, after all!