Summer Song Thrush

As usual far too long between posts.

This lovely bird was perched in our damson tree for quite a while in this pose, which made him a pleasure to draw. It was only when I'd finished this watercolour that I realised just how cleverly he is camouflaged. Actually, I don't know if it's a male or a female but, from the slightly yellow lower mandible, I think it may be a young bird any way.

This watercolour is for sale from my website Click here

Blackcaps

Female Blackcap

Male Blackcap

I have been astounded by the numbers of blackcaps this year, even in suburban gardens and hedgerows; every scrap of woodland seems to have at least one male belting out his cheery warble. They often quite bold and approachable and, in good light, their beautiful silvery plumage and glossy black caps make them unmistakable. If you can only hear the singing bird they're easily confused with the closely related garden warbler whose song is similar but more continuous, faster, quieter and, to me, slightly more raspy. I was lucky enough to hear both species singing in a wood at the same time a few days ago so could compare them.

Cock Pheasant

Cock pheasants are as beautiful as they are dumb. I am always watchful when I see one ahead on the road-side when I'm driving. They seem pre-programmed to hurl themselves under the wheels at the last second. The problem is that they're virtually all as tame as chickens, having been raised for the gun.

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Beautiful Sunbird

Sunbirds are exqusite jewels of birds that flit around all over The Gambia.

Blue Bellied Roller

Another Gambia watercolour.

Blue Bellied Kingfisher

Well, another over-lengthy delay between posts, but a lot has happened! Christmas for one thing, which was very busy this year both at the gallery and at home. Also we've been to the Gambia for a two week bird watching break. It is an astounding place to bird watch and this is the first of several watercolours I'll be posting here.

We saw over 150 species without putting ourselves out much. To be honest I get tired with just ticking off endless different birds. On a shortish trip it's much better to have a good look at those nearby, and there are many in The Gambia wherever you are.

The Blue Bellied was one of four species of Kingfisher we saw, including the world's largest, the Jackdaw-sized Giant Kingfisher, which makes quite a splash when it crashes into a pond. The Blue Bellied is about the size of a Starling and our superb guide Morro could attract them to him with just a whistle!

Bullfinch

Bullfinches are high on my list of favourite creatures. They are shy, yet sometimes tolerate human presence, as did the pair that nested in our beech hedge no more than 3 or 4 yards from our kitchen window. Both the male and the female are exquisitely beautiful but she, instead having a rose-coloured breast, is tinted like a plum.

Where you see one Bully you'll nearly always see their mate, who stays in touch with a soft whistle. Often all you'll see is a white rump disappearing into the shade.