It's easier than drawing in real life. I can take my time observing the bird before sketching it. The most challenging part was drawing the details on it's wings, but the overall figure, face, and beak was the easiest to draw. 

Drawing from a photo certainly is a lot easier than trying to catch a glimpse of a bird in nature. The advantage of a photo is that it objectively provides details of the bird which are so important in identification.  The photo is more accurate to some extent but that can change depending upon the lighting and angle of the bird, whether it is fluffed up to keep warm etc. Drawing made me pay more attention to the shape and details.

I was determined not to be afraid or intimidated, but to just "Jump right in!". Knowing where to start was a challenge, it was easier to get some detail once I got the main outline of the branches and the bird. I probably wouldn't have noticed all the different smooth and fluffy feathers, as well as all the details on the branches had I not been drawing. Would this make a difference when journaling? I suppose so, if the goal is really learn and observe what you are drawing. It allows time to ponder, leading to questions, then hopefully some answers!

The beak and the eye were the "easiest" for me, but the contouring of the feathers was difficult. The more I looked and drew, the more I noticed. For example, the ring around the eye and the detail of the beak, and the way the claws wrapped around the branch. The nature journaling process needs to be one where you can take your time, and relax and focus on the subject. 

Had I not been drawing I most likely would not have noticed the details of the branch that the warbler was perched on. The branch had so many details with the lichens, moss, leaves and the overall texture of the branch. This is not to take away from the beauty of the bird. The bird was definitely center stage.

I observe more when drawing. I saw colors and gradations that I would have missed

I had a hard time deciding whether to focus on textures (individual wing and covert feathers, fluffiness of breast feathers) or focus on color differences (bright yellow versus slightly more muted yellow versus black on the wings). Tried to get the shape right by starting with circles for the head and the body...definitely think I got closer than if I'd free-handed it, but still room for improvement!

My pencil drawing seemed inadequate, given the lovely colours and textures in this photo. I realised I could enlarge the photo on my screen, so I guess that is quite an advantage over drawing something in the field. Great to see the other drawings and comments, a great first exercise!

It felt a bit off, like I was missing a support structure. I felt like starting came easily, but continuing past that point was really difficult. I don't feel like I noticed anything diffrent this time around. It would probably be a major different while journalling though, as you have less time to examine what you are looking at.

Thoughts about photos vs drawings: photos are kind of static, whereas a drawing is always a work in progress because is represents so many decisions, changes, alterations, and hints and so many that could still be made. A photo, and reality of course, contain myriad details that a drawing could infinitely explore.

Some really good illustrations submitted, I was not going to paint it however having looked at some of the other I will have a go. not confident with water colours, give it a try.  

Since the subject is still, I can pay more attention to details.

I felt pretty good about my first attempt, tried to get to scale right on the bird

For me, two things about sketching from a photograph stand out. First, with the picture right there I keep seeing things I want to fix, I had to give myself a timer or else I'd spend hours trying to get it "perfect". Secondly, no songbird I've seen would stay still for 15 minutes!

It was definitely difficult especially since I was trying to do it fairly quickly as if I were drawing a real warbler in the field and it might fly away at any moment.

I was very critical of my work - but it was wonderful to have time to think about proportions and angles.  I also paid quite a bit of attention to the markings, even if those didn't necessarily translate to my sketch. I haven't done much drawing from life - it's usually been from photographs, but I was thinking all the while how this might be quite different if the bird were moving about. Or if it just alit, then flew away!

1. I almost feel like drawing from a photo is more annoying because I feel like I have to get everything down. If I were drawing this bird from life I wouldn't have the time to think about exactly what angle each part is at, I would just have to get something down as best I could. There also might be behavioral activity that would make watching them way more interesting. 2. Because I was drawing from the photo, I did notice how the leg connects to the body in that you can see and infer where the joints go based on how their body is positioned.

I was surprised that the more I drew the more details I started to notice in the bird photo that I hadn't really paid attention to when I first looked at it. Trying to figure out where everything would be in the drawing made me notice more details of different feather groups, the little scaly legs and how the beak was shaped.

Drawing from a photo is technally easier because nothing moves.  Plenty of time to look, draw, erase, redraw.