Wildlife
Hailstorms, Sunshine and Birds
Hailstones batter the workshop roof, the wind gusting them in swirls. Moments later the sun shines. It is the cycle of this morning. Between each stormy bout the birds appear and resume their activity, some brave the hail battering anyway to forage and feed. And sing. And court and pair. And flit and wag. […]
In the Workshop today – Lapwing sculpture
I can hear Lapwings calling as I carve. A couple of weeks ago I saw a sole bird and rejoiced its return to my little area of the North York Moors – Lapwings nest in the fields above my workshop. The wind was high, and the Lapwing was buffeted in the sky, and I […]
Bird Sculpture – a pair of Quails
Quails are distinctive due to the combination of their stocky bodies and long, pointed wings. Their upperparts are brown, streaked and barred with buff, while their underparts are a warm, buffy orange. In the UK they are a migrant bird and can be found in low-lying parts of northern England as a summer visitor. […]
Frog sculpture carved in Yorkstone
On all the occasions I’ve held a frog in my hand, usually rescuing one from the road, or taking one outside that has hopped into the house, I’ve been astonished by the feel of its skin and the squishiness of its body. Also surprising has been its strength in trying to get away […]
Whimbrel Sculpture
The Whimbrel is a large brown wading bird with a long down-curved bill which it uses to probe into wet sand for invertebrates such as crabs, walking slowly through areas where the water is very shallow. It is also partial to ground insects, slugs and snails. They are significantly vocal birds having a rippling […]
In the Workshop today – Fancy Birds
Perhaps it is the powerful twisty gusts of wind that has ruffled the tail feathers of these two. It has certainly brought me into the workshop to finish them, I’m sanding their surfaces smooth and the dust keeps blowing up in my eyes and I’m buffeted off-balance. Fancy Birds – for their resplendent showy-offy […]
Lean Bird
Sometimes I can’t say where my bird sculpture shapes come from, except they’re fashioned by an impulse, a sort of drive I let take charge. Lean Bird has these undefined origins … well, perhaps not quite. When I look at it now I recall at the beginning of January I saw a Heron fly […]
Colourful Little Birds
More Little Birds. This time the Little Bird sculptures are full of colour, courtesy minerals deposited in the sediment which formed the stone, namely iron oxide. These bands of rich, rust colouring really add some special character to these small sculptures. As I was carving these two I began to wonder who carved the […]
Yellow Bird
During the Big Garden Birdwatch 2020 I was reminded of Lines Written in Early Spring by William Wordsworth. I couldn’t remember it all, but do recall The birds around me hopped and played, Their thoughts I cannot measure:- But the least motion which they made It seemed a thrill of pleasure. And so it […]
In the Workshop today – Little Bird
Around the workshop a restless Wren is busy darting about, and when the door is open comes in to check for lacewings and spiders to feed on. Although they’re highly territorial birds, during winter months, and especially when it is bitterly cold, they roost together, several dozen huddled together for warmth. It’s lovely to […]