The little egret, Egretta garzetta, is a small, slender heron with a predominantly white plumage. It has become an increasingly frequent visitor to the Isle of Man and, as it feeds on crustaceans and small fish, can be seen in places where it can wade and hunt for food. I recently photographed one doing just that in the partly drained lake in Mooragh Park, Ramsey, and decided to use the photos as a sketching reference to gain a greater understanding of the bird.
During the breeding season, little egrets develop distinct ornamental plumes on their head, neck and back, adding an extra touch of elegance to their already beautiful profile. I couldn't see any such feathers, which was no surprise as the breeding season for these birds doesn't start until spring. I was disappointed not to see the vivid yellow feet of the bird that I was watching, as they look quite striking against the pristine white of their feathers and black of their legs and bill.
I chose to sketch the birds using graphite pencil, Diamine Earl Grey ink and coloured pencils. I was working on Bockingford cold-pressed watercolour paper as I added water to the ink to move it across the page and help the grey ink split into its blue and purple pigments.
The ripples on the otherwise still water were a challenge, but I got better with practise and found that a lighter touch was needed (the sketch on the right in the pictures below was my first attempt). The light was low and turning a warmer colour as the sun began to set, so I added the slight yellow tinge that the white feathers had on the side that faced the sun.
I was fascinated to watch these birds hunt for food. As they hunt, they walk forwards, intently looking at the area just in front of their feet and shuffling each foot to stir up the mud and disturb any creatures that may be lurking there. Apparently, little egrets can use the alternative technique of standing very still and waiting for prey to move in front of them. This is the method I've seen grey herons on Castletown Beach use to hunt for food, but this is more often used by little egrets at the edge of the water.
Sketching the little egret allowed me to observe the bird more closely and appreciate its affect on the water as it moved through it. I was also able to practise drawing the reflection of the bird, which was made challenging by the ripples on the water. I loved the effect of the concentric circles though, and as is often the case, it's the more difficult things that make the finished piece interesting.
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