I’ve had in mind to sketch a Goldfinch looking face on for a while. I selected a recent photo I took on one and after the pencil sketch I decided to have a go at oils. I’m pretty pleased with the result.
Goldfinch on seed head
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Singing Blackcap
During the last week, males of the summer migrant Blackcap population have been arriving at their territories. I heard my first one in the cemetery near home. Today, at my patch, four males were singing. They have a musical song, with a typical cadence. Occasionally a male will emerge from the thickets they prefer and sing in the open, from an exposed branch. Watercolour and pencil in my Wacom tablet.
Blue Tit
A Blue tit sketch for today, a familiar bird I haven’t drawn much. Mainly pencil with some watercolour on Wacom tablet,
Stonechat Stance
I love when Stonechats stand straight, chest up, legs stretched. I recently came across a photo by @edinbirder on Twitter that reflected this beautifully. Watercolour and pencil on Wacom tablet.
Long-tailed tit face on
A sketch to unwind after a very long week, I’ve had in mind to draw a face-on Long-tail Tit for a while. Watercolour and pencil on Wacom Tablet.
Alarmed Redshank
Redshanks remind me of Blackbirds, in which, when they are disturbed, often even before you notice they are there, they fly off calling loudly, often making you start. Watercolour and pencil on my Wacom Tablet.
Alert Blackbird
A backlit Blackbird, standing alert, flicking its wings, tail cocked, quietly uttering a ‘chock’ call repeatedly, in response to one of the multiple perceived threats that Blackbirds alarm to.
Chest display in Great Tits
Today I sketched a Great Tit performing a chest or head up display. A threatening behaviour that can be observed between birds competing for food in bird feeders. Watercolour and pencil in Wacom tablet.
Long-tailed Duck
I realised today I’ve never drawn a long-tailed duck, and that needed to be remedied. The reason is probably that my first sighting, of three individuals off South Landing at Flamborough, was a double lifer, as I had Little Auks for the first time. Since then I have come across them at several places. They are arctic ducks that are occasional winter visitors in our area.
Lesser Redpoll on Birch
I saw a lone Lesser Redpoll feeding on a birch tree. It used its foot deftly to hold a birch catkin in place while it fed, like Goldfinches do. Redpolls have beautiful faces, their bills are tiny and their eyes are framed on a dark mask giving them a slant-eyes expression. Watercolour and pencil on wacom tablet.
