Wednesday 4 June 2014

I've been working on a series of linocuts for a little book on the birds of the Colne estuary. "Coastal Birds" is arriving back from the printers any day now, and the launch is in a couple of weeks at the Nottage Maritime Institute, Wivenhoe, Essex 21st June 12-2pm.

Tuesday 11 March 2014

10th March Trundle Mere Lookout near Holme, disappointingly cold and grey after yesterdays glorious spring sunshine, although I was rewarded with ecellent views of this Great Grey Shrike. It perched on wires, bracing itself against the brisk wind, looking around and occassionally dropping down to seize an angry bumble bee which was soon dispatched and swallowed.
Also from the hide, a male Hen Harrier, Red Kites and Buzzards a a fly by Hooded Crow, while in the birches a mobile flock of c100 Redpoll.

Tuesday 4 March 2014

Spent an excellent day sketching the endangered Vietnamese Giant Magnolia Snail and the Fregate Island Beetle, the snails being surprisingly nimble, positively zipping around the tank in search of a tasty mushroom. The beetles were more sedentary and clustered together under the logs, they look very prehistoric.