'to jump about'

A Eurasian Hobby chasing a Common Swift at Spurn

'Hobby' comes from the Old French hobe, meaning 'to jump about' stemming from its aerial agility whilst chasing insects and birds on the wing.

I've recently got back from the east coast of Yorkshire having spent a small stint at Spurn Bird Obs (my second home) where i was literally jumping about myself after seeing a Pallid Harrier! One of my dream birds to see ....WHAT A PLACE AND WHAT A BIRD!

 At the minute I'm working on a few illustrations and paintings for people as well as some illustrations to hopefully be included in a paper about Steppe Buzzards drawn up by Martin Garner and friends. I am over the moon to be asked to contribute towards a paper on Steppe Buzzard Identification and its really nice to revisit my notes and images from when I spent a lot of time studying these stunning Buteos in Israel back in 2006 with some of my close friends who share my enthusiasm for Raptors and raptor ID.

Photo Copyright of Stephen Wilson

A couple of recent completions:


Hume's Leaf Warbler at South Gare

Blue Fulmar under the Humber Bridge

SEEING THE LIGHT!

I thought I would post another drawing that will be shortly be featured in the upcoming Yorkshire Naturalist Union (YNU) report. I have be playing a lot with the illumination of birds recently, especially with back lit subjects. This very quick sketch of a Dotterel is a good example of what I have been playing about with.

If you get the chance, take the time to look at the Eurasian Jay plate in the 2nd edition of Collins Bird Guide and check out the outstanding inset of the roosting Tawny Owl being harassed by the Jay painted by the incredible DAN ZETTERSTROM........'TRIP THE LIGHT FANTASTIC'..WOW

Also i would like to take this opportunity to bring you the good news that I am looking into becoming freelance and pushing my bird illustration forward and making my art my number one focus. I look forward to bringing you loads of work shortly and am extremely excited about whats to come.

Little Bunting

Stephen Menzie Falsterbo Blog

If you haven't already you should most certainly check out Ste's blog. One of my ultimate ambitions is to spend a stint working on Falsterbo and therefore absolutely love reading his blog. His blog brings the daily events of observatory life to your door...AWESOME STUFF and what a place Sweden is!

http://www.stephenmenzie.com/

Reed Warbler

Digital Bird Artists

Recently I have been toying with the idea of giving digital artwork a shot but after a small trial with my brothers digital drawing pad I thought I would stick with my usual organic method of work. That's not to say I didn't enjoy using the drawing pad or think that it isn't an amazing breakthrough in terms of the evolution of illustration.

Its more that I prefer the individuality of a pen and pencil and how they lend themselves to the work I enjoy doing.

Also it is sometimes best to leave it to those whose fingers dance around the digital tablet (please see below)

I have been following Marti Rodriguez Franch for a while now and love his work as well as another artist from the continent whose name now escapes me who I added to my favourites and then accidentally deleted the list.......anyway his work was beautiful but you will have to take my word for it I'm afraid, If only I could find his blog again!

An artist I have recently discovered who produces some very interesting and technically cracking work as well as some amazing avian art considering she doesn't concentrate solely on birds is Lindsay Althea. I just hope she continues to play around with birds as the work I have seen using birds as/in the subject matter are wonderful. I hope she doesn't mind me posting two of her pieces but they are most definitely worth sharing.

Cedar Waxwing by Lindsay Althea



Long-tailed Duck by Lindsay Althea



A LARGE AMOUNT OF RESPECT GOES OUT TO THESE GUYS! BIRD ART IS AWESOME

Robin on Nest and Robin Nestling! HAPPY EASTER

As its Easter I thought I would upload some watercolours of one of my favourite things in the world: The ROBIN...I know its a stupidly common species but they are outrageously stunning in all respects. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing rare birds but would much rather have a fall of robins on the east coast any day than anything else.



One of my other major passions is the nest of birds and their nestlings so thought I would combine the two in my art. I find them as equally as beautiful and mesmerising than the birds that build them and loved every minute of painting a hen robin incubating her eggs and a robin chick I ringed a couple of years ago at Spurn.





I can remember speaking to a good friend of mine about compiling a field/reference guide for finding nests for ringers the purposes of ringing the nestlings so If anyone is planning on publishing one or would love to in the future I would be more than happy to illustrate the plates and decorate the pages regarding such a fascinating part of the natural history of birds. It would be amazing!

Please note that the Adult bird was painted from a web cam video and the chick was removed from the nest whilst i was ringing it having received the appropriate licence to do so.

All birds, their nests and eggs are protected by law and it is thus an offence, with certain exceptions to intentionally:


Kill, injure or take any wild bird.
Take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. Take or destroy the egg of any wild bird.
Have in one's possession or control any wild bird (dead or alive) or any part of a wild bird which has been taken in contravention of the Act or the Protection of Birds Act 1954.
Have in one's possession or control any egg or part of an egg which has been taken in contravention to the Act. This includes items taken or killed before the passing of the Act.
Disturb any wild bird listed on Schedule 1 while it is nest building, or at a nest containing eggs or young, or disturb the dependent young of such a bird!!!!!