Angarn; 28th April 2008

Slavonian Grebes

Detail

Detail

Detail

Male Ruff


Sketches done at Angarn yesterday, mostly Slavonian Grebes. Male ruff in summer plumage also here. Black and white certainly does not do these justice and will work these into colour work in the near future...

Hawfinches; Tantolunden, 11th april 2008

An active species right now, have been able to locate two pairs of Hawfinch in nesting habitat within five minutes of the apartment. No leaves on the trees yet, so decided to take advantage of some lovely weather and nipped down today with the scope and the sketchbook. The birds did not dissapoint and I enjoyed my best ever views of the species over 90 minutes or so, really enjoying it in the process. Best of the pencil sketches above....

Ural owl Watercolour; 31st March 2008

Ural Owl Watercolour; 24x16 inches.

30 M Kärret, 5th March 2008

Green Woodpecker

White Tailed Eagles

Twite

The latest fieldsketches. Migrating White Tailed Eagles are a feature now and pass over in small numbers as they relocate to their breeding territories, whilst the non breeders move north as the ice retreats. These were two of several seen. The species is doing really well here in Stockholm and several birds can occasionally be seen at the right sites at the correct time of year, individuals are regularily seen in the city, often high over the waterfront, a really spectacular sight.

The Twite have been in the area for some time, but are hard to find at times as they feed rather quietly over a large area. This small finch is found over much of northern europe, foften moving to the coast in winter to escape the more severe weather. A close relative of the Linnet, they can be picked out by their yellow bill, buff throats and pinkish toned rumps among other features.

Green Woodpecker was nice, dont often get good views of these. Often a difficult bird to see, they are shy and retiring and tend to move around a lot over their extensive territories. The laughing call is a familiar sound in the broadleaved woodland around the city. This one froze against the tree when it became aware of my presence, before slipping away some minutes later, a lovely male bird...

Three Toed Woodpecker

Three Toed Woodpecker, Finished Piece.

Three Toed Woodpecker Collage. A rather time consuming process, started on this around the 21st Febuary. Acrylic paint over newspaper on a background of collage made from an old skiing magazine. A1 Sized Card...

Raptors; Angarn; 15th Febuary 2008

Rough Legged Buzzard

Goshawk

White Tailed Eagle

Raptors becoming rather active as the breeding season approaches and Angarn is a great site for them. A perched White Tailed Eagle sat for me, a huge bird even at 750 metres. Goshawk female perched on the fence posts gave great oppurtunity also as did Rough legged Buzzard, one of two bird that have wintered at the site and should be moving away to the north soon...

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker; Bogs Gård; 5th January 2008

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (male)

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (male)

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (male)

Went out in search of the Three Toed Woodpecker again today with a view to photographing it and eneded up walking miles without a sighting. Eventually did come across this male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker feeding in a damp, waterlogged area on fallen branches. The bird was showing really well, atypical of the species, so I took the oppurtunity to sketch it in pencil. Immediatly upon getting home I added the black ink in the form of fine ballpoint biro...