09/09

So I've been at Tophill the past two days! Yesterday I went for the usual volunteering, and got off to a great start with 52 Yellow Wagtails, and a Wheatear and Whinchat on the way in alone! (Unfortunately, I'm slightly sceptical as to whether I did see it before it flew away, but Richard got a great pic anyway!) During volunteering the usual suspects were present with Kestrels and Sparrowhawks, along with the Curlew Sands and Ruff, which I saw for the third time. Sadly, we missed an Osprey flying overhead whilst volunteering, but I suppose I've been pretty lucky to have already seen four in the past month! However, I did have a first, with 5 Goldeneye on D-Res. Now I've seen them, I can see just how different from Tufties they are; definitely unmistakable (Something which I hadn't really been able to see from looking in a book). 


And today, I had another lifer (Which isn't exactly difficult right now); Sedge Warblers. The bird ringing was fascinating again, and although we didn't exactly have a great deal of success quantity wise, there was certainly a variety with Wren, Treecreeper, Whitethroat (my second), Blackcaps, Willow Warbler, and Robin. A couple of images here, thanks James for letting me use the Whitethroat pic (biro doodle to come tomorrow). Along with this were more Kestrels (this time, not in the net). And since seeing the Kestrel last week, up close, It's only now I really appreciate how brilliant they are; and their plumage is incredible. Definitely one of my favourite birds.

Biro Bird of the Day: Oystercatcher

Today I opted for The Oystercatcher. Unfortunately, the large amounts of biro it took, made it really crinkly, and so quite hard to take a decent picture.

Biro Kestrel

I was so surprised to see a Kestrel be one of the captured birds at Bird Ringing on Sunday! But it was a great character, and their plumage is one of the best close up! (although that might not be all that clear from this picture as a) it's only part of it, and b) it's only a biro sketch.

It feels even nicer to draw what you have actually seen, and this is copied from the great image on the Ringing at Tophill Low Blog!

Biro Blackwit

I shaded this a little on the neck and (what I could fit in of) the tail with what I thought was a bronze crayon that actually turned out to be purple...

If I did it again, I'd alter the proportion of black on the beak, and make the eye a bit smaller.

04/09

So today was a packed day at Tophill. I was up really early to go to the bird ringing station, and although I'd been briefly before, I absolutely loved it, and I can't wait to go back another Sunday! I learnt so much in such a short space of time, and it was truly fascinating! Catching a Kestrel was a great added bonus!


After the excitement (I'm not being sarcastic) of the Bird Ringing, A quick stop off at South Marsh east provided a 3 Curlew Sands, 2 Ruff, and a sole Black Tailed Godwit. If only they had been closer, but still really good to see, especially the Curlew Sandpipers which were a first for me!


Anywho, next we went to do some 'work' but actually just ended up going on a wild boat ride (not exactly) through the undergrowth, the highlight being a Grass Snake coming up for a quick look at the boat before swimming away! I had no idea how amazing they look until today, having never seen one properly! (Picture to come, courtesy of Richard If he doesn't mind).


After Lunch, another interesting activity was emptying the Moth Trap, but I forgot the name of my fave catch! I do remember some other stuff though like the Square Spot Rustic, and their varying colours, and Green Carpet Moths. The Sexton beetles, also made a very colourful addition!


And that's about it... 

Biro Wheatear

I saw my first Wheatear yesterday afternoon at Tophill. This is drawn from David Ware's picture of what I'm guessing was the same one!

                                              I hope it does it some justice!

Biro BoP

I saw at least one Osprey today, and since I also saw one on Sunday I thought it would fitting to try and draw one. It was not easy so it's no masterpiece. Having said that, I did spend about 10 minutes or less on it.

The beginnings of the Osprey

The finished thing.