Wildlife
Partridge Sculpture
Partridges are forever connected to the Pear Tree, from the Twelve Days of Christmas carol but really they’re ground birds. I watch them often here at the workshop as they visit regularly and do like to find a vantage point as a ‘look-out’ post, usually a block of stone, or the workshop roof (where […]
Tall Owl
Tall Owl is tall and slender, appearing to be stretched up as if standing on tip-toe, and wearing I think a rather surprised expression. This sandstone owl sculpture is part of a collection just delivered to Watermark Gallery in Harrogate for their Christmas showing. They’ve opened early, to make the most of the last […]
In the Workshop today – Partridges
There’s a growing bevy of partridges at the workshop – stone carved ones, and also the wild birds themselves, that seem to like to gather around my sheds. Other collective names for Partridge are bew, covey, jugging, and warren. I seem to be working in multiples, indeed in flocks, at the moment. It is […]
The Unspotted Crake
For this sculpture, I chose a typical Crake pose – here’s how the RSPB describes this bird. ‘Spotted Crakes tend to skulk in thick cover and walk with their body close to the ground and tail flicking. They swim with a jerky action, like that of the Moorhen. If surprised in the open […]
Playful Otter
Otters seem to love bounding about in a boisterous and playful way – this ‘play’ is usually between otter cubs. The act of play is beneficial in learning physical and social skills at a time when the mother still provides protection and food. Play-fighting is frequently seen in otter cubs, who often take it […]
Mountain Hare sculpture
The Mountain Hare lives in the Scottish Highlands and the north of England in upland areas. It is most common on heathland, where it nibbles on vegetation, grazing heather, rush, sedge, and the bark of young trees and bushes. It is also known as the White Hare, Tundra Hare, Alpine Hare, or Snow Hare […]
Curlew Sculpture
The heather on the moorland here is beginning to look magnificent, patches of vibrant purple as bushels burst into flower. The air fragrant. I followed a narrow, sheep-trodden, winding path until I was surrounded by the springy cushions of ling and cross-leaved heath. Day flying moths rose up, disturbed by my walking, silvery for […]
A Bird in the Bombweed
There are long stems of Rosebay Willowherb growing just now, the best colour here at the workshop by far. Most everything else is going golden, or brown, or gone over completely. The tall pink flower spikes of Willowherb can often be seen grouped together in bunched stands in open spaces, such as woodland clearings, […]
Missing the Meadow
All around the hay fields are being cut and the smell of drying grass is heavenly. The mowing and baling happen so quickly it is taking me a little while to adjust to the new landscape. To the east of the workshop, one meadow remains, I’m not sure why it has been left to […]
I believe in birds
Along the honeysuckled lane, I ran to where the little bird pairing began, and there I understood at last why I had come so far, so fast. On every branch of every tree a fledgling perched, ready to fly for me. I’m still watching my birds closely, especially the young taking their first […]