A photo shoot with a Goldcrest in the garden yesterday morning. It fed for such a long time in this session, but they move SO quickly! It's nice to get shots from lots of different angles.

I hope I get the same lengthy opportunity with the Firecrest soon.

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Smew...
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I just knew today was going to be difficult somewhere down the line! I did as I said I would and purchased £17.48 worth of pencils, white cartridge paper, a putty smudger and some charcoal thrown in for good measure! Only problem was that I had a family party to attend this afternoon. I did enjoy it, as I don't see much of my family and I got the opportunity to take some nice pictures of the Springtime lambs!

The male Smew was my choice for this evening, as I thought "how difficult can it be to draw a black and white bird in black and white?"

I have looked at many pictures (48 to be exact) and they are all very different to what you will see in the Collins' field guide! I nearly gave up, but determination kept me going and the need to practice so here he is (looking very unfinished, but he is, I can assure you!). The practice will have done some good I suppose!
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Springtime fun and frolics at Lanteglos...

Less time this evening, as I had committee work that NEEDED to be done, but I was determined to pick up that pencil again. GC Grebe was still top of the list. Maybe a Redwing or Songthrush next! I have to say I am finding this much more enjoyable than my failed attempts at meditation in the past. With drawing you have to concentrate, but not like when you are working; it is much, much more theraputic! The difficulty is, with modern technology you can be tempted to tamper, and I did have a dark pencil line that needed to be removed.

I feel like a cake at the moment! Everyone has a portion of me! I'm snowed under at work; there's a lot to do on the membership (which I enjoy of course), My friend Molly, who I am trying to help and it's no fun being 88 years old, with no family so I can't complain can I?
With the need to de-stress; memories of having time on my hands (a long time ago!) and some inspirational words from a friend who unleashed a passion inside me, I decided to take time out and be spontaneous this evening. Out of practice with Staedtler 120-HB, a rubber and one of my GC Grebe shots for company... ! It has been nearly 20 years since I did anything like this...

More from the weekend...

I really do like to see birds from different angles; with different expressions and going about the daily business that being a bird entails. This Songthrush kept me amused for a good while!


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It was a pleasure to spend time watching Oystercatchers preening and enjoying a little sunshine..

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Berry heaven at Par

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We stayed local this morning. I wanted to walk to Spit Beach, but I didn’t think I would manage it, as my feet are not good again so we started off at Manoa and then to Par BP. I ended up walking all the way around the pool so I suppose I could have managed Spit! I am suffering for it now mind you. The highlights of PBP had to be close up views of Snipe in flight and male and female Bullfinch together. Yes, it really is that time of year again; love is in the air and the sound of the spring chorus is incredible. We had a quick look in the bay too, before heading up to Menabilly Barton and on to St Andrews Pool. This afternoon we went over to Colliford to look for the Black Duck. Located a Black Duck look-alike sleeping in some reeds. Only problem is it never woke! I watched and watched, but there was no movement. It appeared to be facing us, with its head tucked over its body and facing left. I convinced myself I could see the bill and the outline of the eye. I drew a sketch for a guy from Devon who was watching it with me. He then drew a sketch, which was completely the opposite of mine. (Later he rescinded and decided mine was more like it – he’s obviously well trained by his wife who was sitting in the car patiently waiting to get home!) It’s no good though… I just cannot tick it because it didn’t move. It could have been anything!

The day list was a very confident 68, including the Firecrest in the garden first thing, which gave me hope that it would be a good day. I took so many pictures, it was a struggle to decide which ones to put up!

Marsh Tit at St Andrews - Thanks to a nice lady for feeding them :-)

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Springtime blooms...

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Redwing (behind PBP)...

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Dunnock - PBP...

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Songthrush - PBP...

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Oystercatcher enjoying the sunshine at PBP...

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Wren at Manoa - I really struggled to get this shot!

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Trouble at PBP... I was watching the Adult Lesser Black-Backed Gull and the Juv. H Gull came from no-where... I have no idea what the LBB did to deserve what ensued. They were some distance away, so the images are not good, but I had to put them up - I don't get action shots very often!

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Victory!

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If looks could kill...

Blackbird...

Never underestimate the female... I love watching House Sparrows and in my opinion, the females RULE. Sorry guys!

Blue Tit

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My highest count of Blue Tits in the garden after last year's breeding season was 8. This slowly reduced to 2. I suspect, amongst other things, the local Sparrowhawk may have had a little to do with the decline. This is one of the lucky ones I suppose. I love the way they hold the sunflower seeds on a branch to strip them.
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Spring is in the air... My favourite time...
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Little Gems at Powderham Castle...

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Taken at Saltash. I think the one on the right is the female and quite young, as she still has juv. feathers on her wings...

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Dunnock at Dawlish Warren...

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Distant Avocets on the Tamar - 14th February 2010...


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