Autumn Field Sketches

I spent the end of August and most of September studying birds along the coast. This period is good for seeing migrating waders, but also gulls, and I got the opportunity to paint several species in the field. Not far from where I live is a beach where birds are always present. Good numbers of gulls, ducks and waders rest in the bay, and I use to go there with my telescope and sketchbook just to see what the morning brings. Being on such a location is very productive for me, as there are always inspiring motifs around. It can be anything form a “normal” Herring Gull to a more unusual Caspian Gull or an interesting wader. Regular visits to this location also gives me a better understanding about how the birds move around, since after painting a particular individual, I can often recognize it the next day. It is fascinating to see how some birds stay on the location for several days, while most are only seen once. “There is the one-eyed Caspian Gull from yesterday, he seems to have an injury on the left leg. Maybe that’s why he has not moved further?” or “That must be a new adult Kentish Plover, the one I painted yesterday had not moulted its lesser coverts…”

Here are some studies from my sketchbooks

Study of an adult Dunlin moulting from summer to winter plumage.

Sketchbook with studies of Dunlins

Young Herring Gull

Adult Yellow-legged Gull, a surprise to find!

Young Caspian Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Sketchbook with study of Curlew and Redshank, the subspecies robusta

Young Ringed Plover

Young Little Ringed Plover

Adult Kentish Plover

Sketchbook with studies of Lapwing

Adult Greenshank

Sandwich Tern

Pintail