Wildlife Drawing Journal

2012-02-19T08:26:00.000-08:00

Bennerley Marsh. Flock of Wigeon grazing on the river bank. Also present: Herons, Lapwings, Teal, Stock Dove pair and Woodpigeon. Heard a Redshank calling.

2012-02-12T05:50:00.000-08:00

Teal on ice, Attenborough,

Shelduck pair resting on the ice. Attenborough, Clifton Pit.

Chaffinch calling from the Hawthorns as I sketched waterfowl.

Blackbird from my window.

2012-02-10T07:14:00.000-08:00

Hungry Fieldfares in a Rowan on my street.

Fieldfare and Redwing

2012-02-10T03:05:00.000-08:00

A hungry looking Pied Wagtail. I feel for the birds in this weather.

2012-02-05T08:18:00.000-08:00

The view from my window this morning with resident Magpie on aerial.

Coots on the ice. Wollaton lake

Black headed Gulls on the lookout for food

Blue Tit from window. They are rarities round here!

2012-02-04T10:10:00.000-08:00

Lesser Black backed Gulls. One Gull would land on this favourite perch then another one would fly up behind and push it off. This manouvre was repeated a few times before it got dark.

2012-02-04T05:22:00.000-08:00

Redwing drawn from my front room window. Quite a few Redwings and Fieldfares flying over the house in this frosty weather.

.....and in colour.

2012-02-01T14:24:00.000-08:00

A doodle from memory of Tufted Duck I saw a few days ago. An idea for a painting.

2012-01-29T08:37:00.000-08:00

Finally managed to get a look at the long staying Female Scaup at Attenborough Church Pond. The whitish face patch was quite striking at a distance.

Moving on from Church pond I followed the path round to the (very muddy) Wet Marsh area and stopped to look at the reeds opposite. Loud calling from the trees gave away a male Great Spotted Woodpecker. Another called from the trees behind me. Also seen but not sketched - Cettis Warbler (I think) Water rail (heard) Goosander, Teal, Goldeneye, Wigeon and a very tame Robin which takes food from your hand!

2012-01-15T05:45:00.000-08:00

Goldeneye display on Clifton pit, Attenborough. The view from the path showing the reed beds on Clifton Pit and the Branshill Wood in the distance.

Shoveller drakes asleep by one of the spits on Clifton Pit

Frosty morning. This Heron sat in waterside trees preening. I observed it stretching up its neck, pointing its beak skyward as another heron flew over - threat? Display?..

2012-01-14T10:39:00.001-08:00

Pochard on the main pit, Attenborough. The female/redhead Smew was also present along with Goosander, Goldeneye, Tufted ducks etc

2012-01-08T09:59:00.000-08:00

I visited my old sketching haunt today - Nutbrook trail, near Kirk Hallam. On a horse paddock fence post sat a Buzzard. It watched the ground intently before gliding leisurely down, presumably after worms. I have seen some great wildlife here in the past but I heard today that the local council plan to put 500 houses here soon. Makes my heart sink.

2012-01-07T10:37:00.000-08:00

Rooks perched at the top of a tree in strong winds at dusk. Wollaton Park. Huge Corvid roost with Crows, Rooks, jackdaws all streaming in to roost.

2012-01-03T10:06:00.000-08:00

After hearing about waxwings in Kirk hallam I didnt waste any time in looking for them. They were perched at the top of a Birch tree, bodies held horizontal in the strong, gusty wind. They seemed to be waiting to fly to a nearby Rowan which was being guarded by the local Mistle Thrush. A dark cloud came sweeping in behind the sunlit birds (producing a rainbow briefly) the prelude to rain. Suddenly the Waxwings took off and a female Sparrowhawk swooped in, missing its chance it sat there for a few moments looking about. The Waxwings didnt return.

2011-12-27T09:06:00.000-08:00

A belated Christmas Robin sketched at Attenborough. Very obliging it sat still in a Hawthorn bush for some minutes (possibly waiting for us to throw it some food). On the water were a good selection of birds including Goosander, Teal, Wigeon and a few pairs of smart Goldeneyes.

2011-12-26T10:55:00.000-08:00

Boxing Day walk round Bennerley. Two Bullfinches munching the buds of a Hawthorn and a large flock of Redwings; this one perched at the top of a tree buffetted by the wind.

2011-11-27T07:50:00.001-08:00

2011-11-13T10:07:00.000-08:00

Pintail (again) at Lound. Lots of ducks here! This single male fed on the scrape relatively close to the hide.

Great White Egret. Lound

2011-11-12T12:32:00.000-08:00

A quick visit to Netherfield lagoons and this time managed to find the Pintail feeding in a quiet corner with Mallards, upending in a patch of waterweed.

Walking back, I flushed a Male Goldeneye from the near side of the deep pit. It settled on the opposite side of the pit and immediately started diving.

(memory drawing)

2011-11-06T11:12:00.000-08:00

A visit to Netherfield to see if the Pintail were still there. They weren't but 2 Goldeneye gave distant views. I settled for the large Gull flock on the slurry lagoon, which contained many Black-headed Gulls, some Common Gulls and a few pairs of Herring, Lesser and Great Black-backed Gulls.

Lesser Black backed Gull sketched from the kitchen window. It was tinged salmon pink by the setting sun.

2011-11-05T13:36:00.000-07:00

Smew on the Main pond, Attenborough. While I watched it kept to the edge of the water diving near a patch of flattened and decaying rushes then concealing itself under overhanging shrubs. As I moved closer it swam off and was noticeably smaller than the local Mallards.

Winter Grebe on the Works pond.

2011-10-31T10:50:00.000-07:00

Third time lucky! Good views of the Squacco Heron after two other fruitless visits when the bird had been flushed. Hope it finds its way home.

2011-10-28T05:27:00.000-07:00

A view of Wollaton Hall from the Lake. As I sketched a Jay flew into the Oak tree doing a very good impression of a Buzzard (which made me look up at the sky expecting to see a Buzzard circling!)

Gadwall at Wollaton. Subtle colour scheme; almost the antithesis of a Mandarin Drake.

2011-10-27T09:59:00.000-07:00

Shoveller resting under trees on submerged branches as it rained at Wollaton Lake.

Because of the wet weather there were fewer people about and less disturbance. This Shoveller was feeding at the edge of the lake near the path.

2011-10-26T12:11:00.000-07:00

Wollaton Autumn scene with Red Deer.

Red Deer stag with his harem of females. They all sat down as he patrolled, roaring at other stags waiting in the wings.

2011-10-24T14:27:00.000-07:00

Wollaton Park. Loads of Grey Squirrels running around the golf course gathering acorns. Saw one bury an acorn in a sand pit, another ran across the putting green while a golfer was trying to put.

Further down the Golf course 2 Red Deer stags battled. Turf was ripped up as they dug their hooves into the ground trying to push each other off balance. Another stag watched from the sidelines and began 'roaring' when the fight had finished.

2011-10-14T09:04:00.001-07:00

Wollaton. Jay burying acorns in a grass bank.

2011-10-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

Kestrel side view

2011-10-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

This unfortunate adult male Kestrel was picked up by my brother near Chesterfield. It had been hit by a car, its neck broken. Its outer 2 primary feathers were still growing and sheaths were visible at their base.

2011-10-07T12:45:00.001-07:00

Snipe. Attenborough.

2011-10-02T11:09:00.000-07:00

Another opportunity to visit Kedleston Hall and sketch the Mandarins which were perched in their favourite overhanging Willows. With Mallard, Shoveller, Gadwall, Tufted Ducks, Coots and Morrhens.

2011-10-01T12:04:00.000-07:00

The hottest start to October since records began! The waterfowl of Kedleston Hall sought shade in the overhanging trees and bushes. Mandarin Ducks were well hidden. Some were in full winter plumage, others were in different stages of moult.

A few Shoveller swam under the overhanging trees, all were still in eclipse plumage with a bit of white coming through on breast.

Heron catching some rays.

Young Mute Swans resting beneath an overhanging Horse chestnut tree. There were 4 young in this group. The adults were on the main lake busy defending their territory against another pair.

2011-09-28T12:19:00.000-07:00

Heard about this obliging Nightjar perched on a couples backgarden fence in Codnor!! Couldnt wait to finish work to get over to see if it was still there. Right at the end of the garden it sat very still (even when people were no more than 10feet away from it). A juvenile bird, it only made the smallest movements and was in many respects the perfect model - if not for its amazingly intricate, complicated plumage pattern! I have had distant murky views of Nightjars in the past so this was a great opportunity to study one. Primitive looking bird that seemed to me to be a cross between a frog and a moth! The lady who's garden it was perched said it would be off migrating South on any clear night.....then again it could stay around for a few days yet.
On getting this sketch home I tried to repeat it in colour though i feel i havent quite got the colours right. i may have to go back for another look.

2011-09-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

2 Black-tailed Godwits behind a screen of Weld. Attenborough Tween pond.

While the Godwit were in hiding I had a go at this group of Black-headed Gulls asleep.

Quick movement sketches.

2011-09-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

Silver Y moth that was attracted to the kitchen light. I released it into the back garden.

2011-09-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

Crows enjoying the strong winds around Wollaton Hall's turrets. They seemed to be drawn to the lightning conducter and would grab hold in their beaks before attempting to grip with feet. Jackdaws would perch on the stone ball pinnacles occasionally. Their aerobatics were great to watch and gave the impression they were just having fun in the wind.

2011-09-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

Netherfield Nature reserve. Bullfinches in transition from Juvenile to Adult. They haven't quite grown their black caps yet.

Impression from memory. The white rumps really glowed as they flashed into cover.

It was great to see 2 Immature Pintail (I think) on the lagoon with a good selection of Ducks, Lapwings, Gulls and numerous Herons.

The Pintail looked overall a biscuit brown colour with dark sepia back. Its bill was most distinctive showing steel-blue and black.

Heron preening, Pintail upending.

2011-09-12T14:18:00.001-07:00

Buzzard over. South Derbyshire.

Windy at Willington. Heron standing head down in the strong blasts. Dunlin looked tiny in comparison next to the Heron.

At Staunton Harold Reservoir this Greenshank gave close(ish) views as it waded in the mud of the receding waterline. Strong gusts of wind blew leaves as well as feathers.

2011-09-11T10:12:00.000-07:00

Called in at Willington Gravel Pits this afternoon. I haven't been for a few years, things have changed. No longer able to walk right around the place (which was an interesting walk through various habitats) but observe the pits from platforms by the track. Birds quite distant but plentiful. 2 Black-tailed Godwits were on the far edge in company with Snipe and Coot. 5 Greenshank rested in lea of islet. Curlew Sandpiper far out on scrapes with Lapwing. Very strong winds.

2011-09-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

Colour version and original pencil sketch done in about 3 minutes before the Wigeon decided to swim off! Beautiful day, lovely evening light.

2011-08-30T12:12:00.000-07:00

Barton-in-Fabis (opposite Attenborough across the Trent) In a patch of Dock fenced off by barbed wire were a flock of Yellow Wagtails. They restlessly fed, perching on Docks and wire fence where young Swallows waited to be fed by their parents. Suddenly a Juvenile Sparrowhawk shot out from the trees and chased a Yellow Wagtail, almost catching it, but was evaded and the hawk gave up followed by an irate flock of Swallows.

2011-08-29T12:14:00.000-07:00

Mapperley Reservoir. At the inlet end the pool was more mud than water. Just before a shower of fine rain a Heron stalked the mud and had obviously been up to its 'knees' in the mud judging by its black legs.

Mapperley reservoir is another good place for Kingfishers. This one looked almost spherical as it sat fluffed up against the cooler temperature of the evening.

2011-08-28T09:04:00.000-07:00

Egyptian Geese at rest. Attenborough. Their strange rasping call seems out of place here.

2 Foxes in playful mood on the large island on Clifton Pit. They must have crossed along the stoney spit as the water level is very low. They were objects of intense curiosity by the local wildfowl.

Looking across the Trent, one hedgerow was alive with birds and Rabbits. 2 Little Owls sat on fence posts in the sun while further along a Red-legged Partridge appeared with a brood of young chicks as Swallows skimmed and Yellow Wagtails flitted.

Returning to the car I noticed movement in some Elders and found it alive with Warblers : Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats, Sedge and Reed Warblers, Chiff-chaffs and other passerines. They were on the move and soon flew out of sight.

2011-08-27T08:18:00.000-07:00

Adult and Juvenile Lapwings on the spit. Attenborough.

2011-08-26T14:22:00.000-07:00

Attenborough. Teal in the rain. Hideous drawing conditions.

Common Sandpiper bobbing about the mud beneath reeds on the far side. Also present a Green Sandpiper.

2011-08-24T15:06:00.000-07:00

Attenborough this evening and a crowd of Coot gathered on Tween pond scrapes. All having a good preen before bedtime. Of interest were a Green sandpiper keeping its distance, a Curlew that flew over at Dusk calling and a dramatic, fiery sunset.

2011-08-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

Quick visit to Attenborough this evening. Lovely light. Teal and Juvenile Common Tern on shingle islet. Of note were the large, clamorous flocks of Greylag Geese making an incredible noise as they were spooked into flight.

2011-08-22T13:58:00.000-07:00

Looking carefully among the cattle on the opposite shore of the Trent at Attenborough there were lots of small bird movement, which turned out to be Pied and Yellow Wagtails. Some distance away so quite tricky to draw. As the cows got to their feet and moved off the Yellows kept in little packs, catching insects disturbed beneath hooves. Strange to think that in a few months time they could be catching insects from beneath herds of Zebra and Wildebeest! Further along the Trent pairs of Egyptian geese rested or grazed on the bank, sometimes making a strange hissing warning call as I passed.

2011-08-21T08:45:00.000-07:00

Canal towpath at Great Wilne, South derbyshire. I visited this place some years ago as it is a good place to see migrants. I was shocked to find a good part of the habitat next to the hedge destroyed by a track made for diggers. All was not lost as I soon located a few migrants further back in the hedges. An immaculate Lesser Whitethroat and Common Whitethroats, a Redstart flitted about the hedge, ever restless. Bullfinches and many other small birds could be briefly glimpsed. I hope they dont destroy the rest of this valuable habitat.

2011-08-19T13:24:00.000-07:00

Carsington Water from the Southern end. Water level very low. From the Sheepwash hide a Juvenile Heron stalked a pool left by receding waterline. It caught and swallowed numerous small fish before flying further up the reservoir.

2011-08-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

Cooler temperatures today gave a reminder that Autumn's just round the corner. The Red Deer (Stags) at Wollaton were grazing at the top end. Closer inspection found they were beginning to shed the velvet off their antlers as some looked raw and bloodied. A younger stag sparred with an older male. Magpies perched on the deers backs after the insects i suspect.

2011-08-16T13:25:00.000-07:00

Walking the path that leads to the Wet Marsh, Attenborough, Matt noticed small birds perched on top of the Blackberry bushes. These were Linnets - Cock, hen and Juveniles. The hen hung around calling all the time which attracted a Juvenile Whitethroat to the twig next to her and watched her with intense curiosity for a moment before both took fright and flew off.

2011-08-16T13:14:00.000-07:00

Attenborough this evening. A family group of Great crested grebes. Chicks kept up an incessant cheeping, begging for food. Adults preened and rested, ignoring the chicks.

2011-08-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

Found 3 Grey wagtails further up the lake near the first weir. A family group that flitted between weir and trees.

2011-08-15T14:08:00.000-07:00

At the end of the lake at Kedleston is a weir that forms a splash pool before running off into the brook. In this pool were 2 half-grown Tufted ducklings that had possibly gone over the edge and now couldnt get back to the main lake (I think their mother was in the lake above with the rest of the brood) They both seemed healthy and were very active diving under and dabbling the surface for food. The falling water produced lots of froth which turned into fat bubbles among which the young birds splashed and dived.

2011-08-15T12:48:00.000-07:00

A trip to Kedleston Hall never fails to produce a Kingfisher (or 2) This one sat for at least 10 minutes in the sun and was easily the most obliging Kingfisher I've ever watched! Ive posted the 'before' sketch and with a bit of colour added, the 'after' sketch.

2011-08-15T04:35:00.000-07:00

A small rough idea for a painting based on Egrets preening observed at Lound.

2011-08-14T07:23:00.000-07:00

A distant view of a Juvenile Black-necked grebe as it swam and dived in a bay of Neatholme Pit, Lound. I think I need a more powerful scope for this place!

2011-08-14T06:45:00.000-07:00

An early visit to Lound in North Nottingham produced this Wood sandpiper. It hung around with 4 Green Sands. Very distant views of this bird and my sketches werent enough for a colour sketch so I used photos to get the details right and incorporated these into how I saw the bird at the time.

2011-08-13T02:26:00.000-07:00

Black headed Gull drawn from kitchen window. Lovely strong light on its back set against a dark sky.

2011-08-12T13:08:00.000-07:00

A life size drawing of a Juvenile Pied Wagtail that had flown into a window yesterday. Whenever I find a dead creature thats in fairly good condition, I'll take the opportunity to do a reference study. I will bury this poor bird in the back garden.

2011-08-12T07:21:00.000-07:00

There are some very rampant Pumpkin plants growing in my garden and couldnt resist a quick sketch of one. The flowers almost close up before your eyes.

2011-08-11T13:57:00.000-07:00

An urge to visit Collingham and the surrounding Gravel pits saw me heading to Langford Lowfields at lunchtime. Very windy I was drenched by a passing shower. Quite disappointed at not seeing much birdlife at this place (wrong time of year?) Lots of Yellowhammers and other small Passerines in the hedges. This was done from memory as it flew off before I could get the scope out.

2011-08-10T10:25:00.000-07:00

Cormorant. Wollaton Lake.

2011-08-10T10:20:00.001-07:00

Wollaton Lake. Black-headed Gull.

2011-08-09T10:07:00.000-07:00

Lapwings from the Tween hide, Attenborough. Small group of Lapwing resting in shallow water by spits of earth. With them were 2 Greenshank and numerous Gadwall and teal. Moulted feathers formed white, fluffy edges to the spits.

2011-08-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

Another 'memory drawing' of the dramatic light effects and cloud, as I waited at the level crossing - there seems to be more trains now than ever before!

2011-08-07T14:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, just when youve packed up and ready to go home, you see something that interests you. In these cases I try and memorise as much as possible and do a rough sketch as soon as possible, before memory fades. This was the case on seeing this group of Coot swimming below me as I crossed the wooden bridge back to the car.

2011-08-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

Little Egrets towards the back of the scrapes. At one point the Greenshanks fed in the company of the Egrets but were soon chased away.

2011-08-07T13:51:00.001-07:00

Two Greenshanks (this years birds) on the scrapes at Attenborough

2011-08-06T12:10:00.000-07:00

Quick sketch of Fallow Bucks as they rested on the golf course. Heads dropped as they dozed off.

2011-08-05T14:44:00.000-07:00

Wollaton Park's 5 minutes away from me so its a good place to sketch when going further isn't an option. Red Deer sat in a group chewing the cud, I focussed on one at the edge of the herd. Then a walk over to the lake to watch Moorhen antics. Well grown chicks scampering across the lily leaves.

Aug 5th

2011-08-05T14:34:00.000-07:00

Moorhen brooding chicks at Wollaton Park

Aug 3rd

2011-08-05T05:50:00.000-07:00

Sketch of Newstead Abbey. Not many birds about but lovely gardens.

2011-08-05T05:36:00.000-07:00

While watching the Egrets I noticed a small, dark Imm. Black Tern sitting amongst the noisy Common Terns. It was facing me for most of the time with the setting sun on its back. A passing Sparrowhawk caused all the birds to take off which gave opportunity to watch its distinctive, elegant flight. An unexpected bonus of the evening.

August 4th, Attenborough Coneries Lake.

2011-08-05T05:31:00.000-07:00

I had heard about these roosting Little Egrets and wanted to try and sketch them. They were quite far off and the light wasn't so good but never-the-less great birds to sketch!