Birds from my Walk

For the first time since I was 17, I don’t have a car. Next week I collect a hastily-arranged replacement following the premature demise of mine, but being without transport is proving rather restful. I don’t have to be anywhere until I furnish myself with said car, and I can get a lift with my dad or the bus if necessary so I am enjoying not having the responsibility for anything vehicular, especially after the money-pit my little Audi had become.

I’ve been on some longer walks with the dog, and even remembered my binoculars occasionally. Spring is tentatively showing her face in spite of the frosty mornings, and the powdery yellow of the hazel catkins is gently colouring the Cuckoo Trail.

I have seen a great variety of birds, and over two days I saw the following species:

• Wren
• Robin
• Great Tit
• Blue Tit
• Mistle Thrush
• Song Thrush
• Redwing
• Blackbird
• Kestrel
• Buzzard
• Raven
• Carrion Crow
• Goldcrest
• Bullfinch
• Jackdaw
• GS Woodpecker
• Wood Pigeon
• Heron
• Jay
• Nuthatch
• Treecreeper
• Dunnock
• House Sparrow
• Starling

I have done some sketches, but I wanted to paint, and I hop around with my sketchbooks which seems a good idea until I see people leafing through coherent journals and sketchbooks and mine is dotted around in 5 different places depending on my mood.

I chose my favourite: my Clairefontaine linen-bound sketchbook which is the perfect size and opens flat so can be used as a double page spread. I have also realised that my daylight lamp can be fixed to my little bookcase, thus bathing my table in good light without giving me a headache.