First I must say that the technique used for the hair is fabulous. It conveys the feeling of flowing water and it goes right along with the background which immediately reminds me of the ocean. The shading technique employed is also very well done, as the woman really does appear to be submerged in the ocean.
At first glance my eye moves from the face to the Black Swan's head in a counterclockwise fashion. The longer I view the piece I then notice that my eye moves from the Black Swan to the Mute Swan, down to the Western Tanager in a sort of figure eight pattern. Overall, the movement of this piece is very much brought alive by the figure's pose, the birds, and the kelp.
The colour palette is appealing to me personally, the use of warmer colours to complement the blues is not overwhelming which adds to the movement of the piece. The woman's eyes match perfectly with the bills of the swans and the tanager, and seem to draw you into the painting.
This piece is also very symbolic as the woman seems to represent a Siren, known for her melodious voice and luring sailors to their doom. The birds also represent the Siren as they are icons of unparalleled beauty that can very well be deceiving, whether through sound or appearance. The Swan is very well known for its graceful posture, yet is amongst the most dangerous of creatures if aggravated. The Hummingbird who is known as the living jewel would not be if it weren't for light diffraction. Most of us look down upon the humble city Pigeon, also known as the Rock Dove. Take a closer look, for the original wild ancestor of the common city pigeon sports a lovely sea green and violet red iridescence around the neck and red-orange eyes. Their sense of direction is admirable, and they are highly intelligent creatures. The Tanager in all its tropical splendor is amongst the most beautiful of the New World birds, yet it is the very appearance of its richly coloured plumage that attracts the most attention whereas its voice is a mere imitation of the American Robin.
Then there is the Waxwing, who is known for the bright wax-coloured tips on the ends of the secondary flight feathers and tail. They add a certain beauty to a wintry landscape that is unique amongst birds as they appear almost like an illusion, deceiving the eyes with their bright yellow tipped tails and red tipped wings, their soft chattering soothing to the ear. Yet once they ascend en mass this unique experience is vanquished, leaving the observer with a sense of awe that can only come from these birds.

Again, a very stunning piece with lovely use of watercolour and rich in symbolism.

I think the major thing that's improved in your artwork is that it looks as if you're using references and working hard at keeping things accurate. Now, whether you are or not is besides the point really, the point is more that the figure and the birds look more believable, better drawn and you still keep your style intact.

I absolutely love the background too, though I don't know if it would benefit from adding subtle shades from the skin into it, to balance the image as a whole. I'm not sure how I feel about the solid boundaries from sort of realistic skin tone to very bold, stylised hair. I think I'd be tempted to use some soft shading techniques sparingly in the hair to echo the way you've done the skin.

It is definitely a fantastic piece, and the progress you've made in such a short time is astounding. I think possibly that wonderful new paper and those watersoluble crayons are inspiring you