Holly 🦆 Birdy Nature Journal

Digital illustration of a Little Spotted Kiwi.

I’m back with a quick Little Spotted Kiwi! Not going to add dates anymore since I’ve not been able to keep up daily, but this was a lovely return to drawing these #birds!

Thank you!

I will post more birds soon! I was starting to get a bit burnt out since these birds take around 1-3 hrs each, so I’m going to reduce my posting frequency to keep the creativity alive 💜

Me too!

Digital illustration of a Tīeke, also known as a North Island Saddleback, standing with one foot raised in the air.

March 19: Tīeke (North Island Saddleback)

Another species that we saw only on Tiritiri Matangi. They were everywhere: flitting around the flax flowers, under the forest canopy, all while calling out with their chattery song that sounds like laughter. Very cool #birds!

Digital illustration of a Tītitipounamu, also known as a rifleman.

March 18: Tītitipounamu (Rifleman)

This little wren is truly tiny - we were lucky to spot three of them on our trip, but all buzzed around so quickly I didn’t have time to snap a photo! #birds

Agreed, it was such a wonderful experience when we visited! The forest was so rich with life 💚

Digital illustration of a Kererū, or New Zealand pigeon, perched on a branch.

March 17: Kererū (New Zealand Pigeon)

The largest and silliest pigeons I’ve ever seen. These #birds are chicken-sized and will scare the living daylights out of you when they take flight 😂

A small gray songbird called a Toutouwai, or North Island Robin, standing on the ground.

March 16: Toutouwai (North Island Robin)

These #birds have super long legs and they’re more curious than anything! We had one hop right up to and between our feet as we sat on a bench in the forest on Tiritiri Matangi, off the coast of Auckland.

Digital illustration of a pīwakawaka, or a New Zealand Fantail, perched on a small nub of a branch, with its tail spread out in a fan behind it.

March 14: Pīwakawaka (New Zealand Fantail)

This little bird is endemic to New Zealand. We delighted in seeing them when we were there- just a few hours off the plane and we got to see an adult feeding three recently fledged chicks 🥹
#birds

A field guide plate of digitally illustrated hummingbirds, with the word March at the top of the page.

Week two for March! Still succeeding with drawing one bird a day…even if they might be finished after midnight some nights 😅 #birds

Digital illustration of a Green Mango hummingbird in flight.

March 14: Green Mango

A large hummingbird endemic to Puerto Rico! Big, beautiful and green 💚 #birds

Digital illustration of a Green-throated Carib hummingbird perched on a twig.

March 13: Green-throated Carib

Another species found in Puerto Rico! I’d like another look at one someday- my one sighting was so much faster than I wanted it to be. #birds

They’re so pretty!

Digital illustration of a Rufous Hummingbird perched on a branch.

March 12: Rufous Hummingbird

Long day for me, but I still had just enough time for this little western dude #birds

Digital illustration of a Puerto Rican Emerald hummingbird in flight.

March 11: Puerto Rican Emerald

What a joy to see this tropical hummingbird species! They have such fun names, too - emerald, starthroat, mountain-gem - I think we could stand to have prettier hummingbird names up north

#birds

Digital illustration of an Anna’s Hummingbird, perched on a small bit of cactus.

March 10: Anna’s Hummingbird

Their magenta gorget is stunning in person! All my favorite reddish pinks, shining with iridescence.
#birds

Thank you!

Digital illustration of a Costa’s Hummingbird perched on the end of a twig.

March 9: Costa’s Hummingbird

The bright purples of these #birds’ gorgets are…GORGEOUS 💜
Saw my first ones in Tucson and I remember being completely wowed 🥹

A collection of seven digitally illustrated birds below the word “March.” It’s a mix of thrushes, and thrashers.

Oops, and here’s the first week of March all together!

I’ve got prints of all of the #birds I’ve drawn this year (and more!) on my Redbubble:

www.redbubble.com/people/LadyE...

Digital illustration of a ruby-throated hummingbird in flight.

March 8: Ruby-throated Hummingbird

New week, new batch of #birds! Starting with the only hummingbird native to the Northeast US 🙌

Digital illustration of a Curve-billed Thrasher standing on the ground.

March 7: Curve-billed Thrasher

A common sight in Tucson, AZ where I saw them for the first time. I love the sounds of the desert! 🌵🏜️ #birds

Digital illustration of a Townsend’s solitaire perched on an uneven post.

March 6: Townsend’s Solitaire

I’ve only ever seen one of these before, in Zion NP. Hope to see more someday!

We’re nearing the first full week of March- I’ve got one more bird for this batch, and then I’ll have to decide what my theme will be for next week!
#birds

Yesss those eyes 👀

Digital illustration of a Pearly-eyed Thrasher perched on a post.

March 5: Pearly-eyed Thrasher

Native to Puerto Rico. These thrashers are super common! I saw tons on a trip a few years ago for the AOS conference and they never failed to charm me 😊
#birds

Hello! Oh that would be lovely, thank you!

Digital illustration of a Brown Thrasher standing on flat ground.

March 4: Brown Thrasher

Another mimic! Where mockingbirds typically repeat in phrases of 3s and 5s, these thrashers repeat other birds’ song phrases in 2s and 4s!

Digital illustration of a Gray Catbird perched on a branch.

March 3: Gray Catbird

Fun fact, when I was little I was CONVINCED id come across a real live kitten stuck in a tree -just like on TV! Should I call a firefighter? Before I could decide, I saw this guy fly out 😂

How exciting! I can’t wait to hear ours singing. We do have singing blackbirds though, which I’ll take!

Digital illustration of an American Robin perched on a twig.

March 2: American Robin

These are one of my favorite songs to hear in spring. They’ve been gathering in flocks here lately, are you seeing any yet?