My bird book has increased to a 36 page flatplan, a template for which I couldn't seem to find online so drew one myself, and have decided to definitely go with the Centre Page Spread (CPS). Discussions on what to do in this expanse of two pages - which now my book is only 90 … Continue reading Centre Page Spread
Big Ideas and Flatplans
My bird book plans are starting to take shape. What I am wanting to create is a logbook x Spotter's Guide x old-school I-Spy book (ageing myself here...) in a fairly small format using the scans of my paintings as the main identification guide. Nothing complicated or fancy, just the basic shape and plumage to … Continue reading Big Ideas and Flatplans
New Project
I taught myself to paint with gouache when my son gave me a Windsor & Newton starter set for my birthday in 2017. I was kindly given a large roll of paper offcuts when I visited Jealous Gallery in Shoreditch, and because it was the cut end of their screen printing paper 29cm wide, I … Continue reading New Project
Ringed Plover
I have painted two Ringed plovers but my first attempt got smudged (always a hazard with me...) so although it has been cleaned up in a scan so useable for digital items such as stickers and mini cards, the original original is stuck in my drawer waiting for me to decide what to do with … Continue reading Ringed Plover
Bird of the Day: Long-tailed Tit
Long-tailed tits have surprisingly large personalities for such tiny birds. I see them frequently at this time of year in flocks of ten or more, twittering through the hedgerows looking for food. They eat small invertebrates, and eggs and caterpillars of moths and butterflies, so benefit from relaxed management. Many species of butterfly lay their … Continue reading Bird of the Day: Long-tailed Tit
Bird of the Day: Wheatear
I remember showing my children this bird when we lived down by the harbour in Eastbourne, as they would flit around on the shoreline during autumn on their way back to Africa. They have a distinctive white and black eye stripe combination, and diagnostic white rump. One of the books I used a lot when … Continue reading Bird of the Day: Wheatear
Bird of the Day: Stonechat
The stonechat decribes its call, in that it sounds like two pebbles being struck together, and is heard most frequently from conspicuous posts and perches. Consequently it is quite an easy bird to spot and identify, as the colouring with the call and characteristic behaviour add up to nothing other than a stonechat; often bird … Continue reading Bird of the Day: Stonechat
Bird of the Day: Grey Wagtail
At the moment, there is a large flock of pied wagtails enjoying the insects on the arable field behind my house, and I've had 4 or 5 of them flitting around on my roof. Often in the summer, grey wagtails visit the river by the watermill down the lane. They are a really beautiful bird … Continue reading Bird of the Day: Grey Wagtail
Bird of the Day: Shelduck
Firstly, can we all take a moment to appreciate the gorgeous mint humbugness that is a Shelduck duckling: This photo was taken at Arundel WWT, which as I have mentioned before, has been formative in shaping my love of birds and birdwatching. Male shelducks are incredibly handsome, and like the eider, are seaducks so mainly … Continue reading Bird of the Day: Shelduck
