Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Fingers crossed


Lapwings
Originally uploaded by wherethewolvesare.
I remember the first time I ever saw a lapwing I thought I must have found something really rare. With a bottle green back, tan undercarriage and that bizarre tuft, you can see my point. They're quite common here (although not quite as common as they were) and no less spectacular for it.

There's at least one pair regularly displaying near the Parlington Estate, lolloping about the sky the same way I imagine I would if I learnt to fly - until I got good at it. With a bit of luck, they'll attempt to breed. It's been a long winter by UK standards leading to them starting a bit late and they might get caught out if the farmer cuts back the weeds too early. But we live in hope, so fingers crossed.

By the way, in my sketch the lapwings legs are the wrong colour, they should be dark pinky red. Don't know what I was thinking, I must have been having a yellow day.

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Bargain Bay


bay tree
Originally uploaded by wherethewolvesare.
This sketch is the product of a few quiet moments sat by the back door. The bay tree (or seedling!), came from the bargain bin at the supermarket because it looked done for. He looks a lot happier now.

Friday, April 14, 2006

Rare breeds

We went to Temple Newsam farm earlier in the week (I believe Lord Darnley, Mary Queen of Scots' husband was born at the nearby stately home, end of history lesson). It's a rare breeds farm. The sketches are of some of the animals on show. The top two are sketches of white-faced woodland sheep (a lamb and a ewe), third one down is a kerry hill lamb - I had a Henry Moore kind of day, and bottom is a silver sebright.

As far as I can gather, a silver sebright is some sort of chicken but with the most amazing plumage. All of it's feathers were white with a black edge, very smart.


Friday, April 07, 2006

A bunch of grapes


muscari
Originally uploaded by wherethewolvesare.
The muscari or grape hyacinths are out. They love it in our garden, they grow everywhere. They even grow through cracks in the drive. A definite case of thriving on neglect.

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Rainy days


hickson's
Originally uploaded by wherethewolvesare.
After checking my nature journal, I see that it's rained here on nine consecutive days, and no forseeable end to the wet weather yet. A while to go before we reach Noah proportions but it's no surprise to see bits of minor flooding in the surrounding areas, like this bit at Fairburn Ings RSPB Reserve. The sketch shows the south-western edge of the reserve, a pool known locally as just Hickson's. The water's edge is normally well before the hedgerow shown.

I daresay that, annoyingly, the rain will have been heavy enough to wash out some early wetland nesters along the Aire Valley but nowhere near enough to stave off water shortages in the summer.

On a more positive note, Fairburn Ings is a great example of the nature's powers of recovery, given the chance. The Ings are the result of mining subsidence and slag heaps, with the flora and fauna allowed to colonise the area after the cessation of mining operations.