Break time from here I feel - not really enjoying it, swamped by stuff/followers I’m not interested in, missing things/people I am interested in, my postings ghosted out…hopefully back if/when things improve. Take care all 🙏

A lovely walk up by Darden lough yesterday, couldn’t help noticing (sorry I know I’m a prophet of doom !) the lack of insects and hence bird no’s down?😖I couldn’t have walked there T- shirted a decade ago .. A nice stonechat though, watercolour sketch. Have a great evening all👍

Spotted Flycatcher x 2 c3’s Co Durham

Female Red-backed Shrike study, Watercolour, 500 x 200mm. With this weather it seems to be raining Red-backed Shrikes as well as water at the moment on the East Coast of the UK, for me the original 'Butcher Bird' and one I would marvel at as I leafed through beloved books.

Another one jumps the sinking ship..Michael Gove (cartoon from way back when he stitched Boris up ) - couldn’t even leave a legacy for nature with a simple swift brick ! Good riddance…

Plenty of Starlings around here, never tire of trying to paint their fantastic mosaics of colour, watercolour sketc. Have a great weekend all 🙏👍

It’s been a good day !😊Things can only get better! 🍻😀😎👍

It’s that chaotic few weeks again.. the new starlings have arrived..adults working tirelessly in hot sun to feed the noisy, quarrelsome and boisterous young, their wheezy begging calls everywhere! 😄pencil sketch. Have a good night all, many thanks for any feedback 👍

The @Barnsleybsg Little Don Valley and Cliff Wood - the former a jewel in God's Own County. 3 singing male Redstarts the highlight of a stunning morning with Peregrine, three Cuckoos, a Spotted Flycatcher and a pair of Pied Fly's with @marklinnet10

Quite a few Redstarts up near Bolam lake, busy with nesting activity, never noticed as many in previous years, watercolour sketch. Have a good evening all 👍

Some weekend sightings, my first swifts of the year (2) over Newcastle & a lovely Wheatear in bright sunshine near Elsdon, watercolour sketches. Have a good night all 👍

A beautiful morning on @Barnsleybsg Wharncliffe Chase with the sketchbook. 😎🌞 Sketches of Tree Pipits and Stonechat. The former not as showy as last week but a male of the latter was a real poser! Stonking! Cheers all.

Early morning and a skylark rises to sing, especially nice in the blue skies of the last few days, watercolour sketch Have a great weekend all 🙏👍

First cuckoo of the year amongst prime cuckoo habitat at Shaftoe crags this week, heard but not seen, a watercolour sketch from imagination. Have a good evening all 👍🙏

Redstart framed, looks like an arty day as this wet spring continues! Have a good day all 🙏

Quite a few redstarts up past Bolam lakes yesterday, in the unmanaged small wooded areas they love, watercolour sketch. Have a good evening all 🙏👍

Blackwits amongst the Cowslips. Field sketches done recently @Barnsleybsg @RSPB_OldMoor on a dreary morning. A lovely combination of Buttercup yellow and Terracotta. I'm better with the pencil than I am a poet! 😊 @waderquest Cheers

A celebration of #SkyDancerDay2024 with a watercolour sketch 🙏🍻😎 Have a great evening all

Morning all, another ink sketch attempt at the lovely singing blackcap seen this week, and also along the nuns moor a long tailed tits nest in a medusa-like thorn bush😄Have a great weekend 🙏👍