The humble Wood Pigeon

Well it might not be a great rarity but it's still a stunning bird and never fails to make a good subject to paint, alive or dead.  I found this dead one next to where I park my car - it's unclear how it died; it was under a roost tree, so perhaps of natural causes?  It seems unlikely to be cold weather as it's been relatively mild, and this bird is quite fat.  It hadn't been predated either - no signs of blood, and nor was it a road traffic victim.  A window collision isn't possible either.  I've just been so busy all week I've not had time to paint it until this morning.  I quite enjoyed doing it.  And then I wanted to paint it again but I was running out of time so I just did a few quick sketches instead.  Once you get started there's no limit to getting on with painting.

Grey Phal!

I just about managed to connect with this Grey Phalarope at Livermere - a superb record and a great find by Pete Wilson!  All the tracks at Livermere have been churned up by vehicles carrying wildfowlers.  The ducks were all very wary.  I was doubtful of seeing the phalarope - there was already a c.10,000 strong roost of mainly Black-headed Gulls.  I'd already scanned the lake three times with my scope, when suddenly I spotted it in the far NE corner at 4.23pm.  It was spinning like crazy and did a couple of short sallying flights over the surface.  I watched it a short while then headed to the NE corner trying to beat the fading light.  The light had faded further by the time I was closer, so I wasn't able to see all the plumage details.  It flew out of my scope view at 4.37pm by which time it was rather dark, and I could not pick it up again.  I wasn't sure how far it had gone, just a few feet, or further.  Unfortunately it was not seen the next norning, so it looks like it's gone.  Ah well, I did well to see it.

Mon 26th Nov, Dipper again

Just as I arrived the Dipper was back at the Bridge, I'd not expected to see it.  I watched it for maybe 5 minutes and then it suddenly flew strongly downstream and disappeared around the bend in the river.  I suspect that will be it for a while.  I immediately set to and got on with filling in the sketch below.  There was also an Otter which I had a brief view of.  Always nice to see, but I worry for them, they are so vulnerable to persecution.

Mon 19th: Waxwings again

I could probably re-name this blog 'I love Waxwings' or something tacky like that but I don't think it'd get me any extra hits, and I'd be a bit stuck the rest of the year when there aren't any around.  I've gone a bit overboard in filling in these shapes just so I've got a more "finished" image.  It shows the importance of getting those crucial basic lines down in the field.  Once you've got them, then "filling it in" is the easy bit.  I've spent enough time looking at Waxwings, I can now draw them in my sleep.  Yet there is always something new to say about them, a new angle, a slightly different pose.  I'll never run out!  And these are just in black-and-white (Bic biro), there's the whole unspoken world of colour yet to be explored...
I should say again that I hadn't planned to do these sketches and I only had my bins with me - it was too much hassle to have taken my scope on my bike which is what I really needed to do.  But if I'd done that I'd have seen none I expect - it's sod's law that if I'm armed with my scope, that'll be sufficient to deter them from showing.  I'd already been cycling the streets this morning looking for a flock of 27 reported by Lee Gregory from a wooded hill top by Ladies Estate  earlier in the day.  They'd already long gone, it seems they were just pausing en route to pastures new.  Birds never hang around long, you just have to be opportunistic in making the most of those times when you do connect with them.
These four birds will have been the same group that I saw the other day, separate from the 27.

 I did a bit more to one of the Dipper sketches from the other day:

And also to the one of Greenfinches dropping out of the sky from Scilly (from a previous posting):

Fri 16th Nov: finally, Dipper in Thetford

Finally after four attempts, I have seen the Black-bellied Dipper on the River Thet by The Bridge pub.  I hadn't planned to spend time drawing it so I didn't bother taking my 'scope with me, it would have been a lot of hassle to cycle with it.  But the views of the Dipper were so good that I was almost regretting not having it with me, nor my watercolour pad.  But I just accepted what I had, which was my A6 notebook and Bic biro.  I ended up spending three hours there!  Quite a few other birders there including what can only be described as a gang of photographers armed with 500 and 600 mm lenses who seemed not to understand the concept of field skills; talking really loudly, running up to the bird, at dire risk of flushing it, and unbelieveably running along a busy road expecting traffic to slow down for them!  They can't be described as birders, well they don't carry bins.  Even a couple of well-known photographers I saw there were appalled at their behaviour.  Just imagine what it's going to be like when  there is a twitchable Hawk Owl.  I might wait until the fuss dies down...
Anyway it was good to get good views, and once people drifted away I had even closer views on my own.  I met several kind birders there who invited me to have a look at the Dipper through their scopes - Swarovski ATS85 HD - and what amazing scopes they are, giving sublime views of the bird.  I've heard they are heavy, but I think one day I'll have to upgrade from my trusty Kowa TSN-603, if I can save the money up.

Wed 14th Nov: BXC again

I went back to The Flood; no Teal this time but a mass of Canada and Greylag Geese.  So late in the day for painting but I decided to try to paint a Greylag as the light was amazing, even if running out.

Sunday 11th Nov: BXC

Evening walk on Barnham Cross Common - nice views of drake Teal on the Flood, but wished I had my scope.  Later saw a Barn owl...