New paintings and regular art updates.
June, before all the leaves had grown on the trees. View out the kitchen window over the main garden. Usually there is a cat in the way but not on this day. The bird feeder on the window didn’t get used. I guess being stared at by an interested looking cat isn’t a good thing when all you want to do is peacefully eat some sunflower seed kernels. This view showed the ripening cherries on the tree, gone and eaten a month later. X
We had a lovely chart in the ‘i’ paper with ots of bird a you can expect to see in your garden. Of the thirty or so species illustrated, I think we get about half visiting our garden. They are Blackbirds, Blue tits, Robins, Song Thrushes, Great tits, Coal tits, a Jay, House sparrows, Woodpigeon, Collared doves, Feral pigeons, Wrens and Magpies. We probably have other species but sometimes it’s hard to identify them. Hubby told me he saw a Nightjar a couple of weeks ago but there has been no sign of it since. The best thing is seeing chick’s being raised. Baby Wrens and Robins, we also have nesting Blue tits and Blackbirds. It means we don’t cut the hedge till late in the year. But I’d rather have a scruffy hedge and happy birds.
X
The blackbirds sing,
The thrushes too
The robins nest,
Their fledglings new.
A magpie there
And pigeons too?
They congregate
And feed on seed.
Blue tits
and house sparrows,
All had their nests.
Feeding them all
Is our happy chore.
Yes eat your fill,
Of cherries ripe.
We’ve had ours now
The rest, enjoy.
Finally finished in June.
After a long hiatus, I’ve finally started painting again. Mostly because there is a socially distanced craft fair on next weekend and I need to earn some money.
This is a kingfisher taken from a shutterstock photo I think. I’ve had the photo on my phone for months.
I love the blue/orange contrasting colours. I’m going to do a few tiny canvases and then one or two nature paintings and flowers from the garden… Plus lots of college work, so it will be a busy week for me… Wish me luck.
X
We just picked all these from the lower branches of our cherry tree. Had to use steps to get at some of them. We go for the lower hanging fruit but try and leave the unripe ones. The birds are getting ready to feast. Some of the fruit has already been pecked. Blackbirds and wood pigeons are particularly partial to them.
Hubby used a broom to hook the branches while I climbed up a couple of steps ( I’m too wobbly to go right up). Then he climbed to strip a well laden branch. Luckily they are bendy so it does no damage to pull on them. We’ve got a bowl full of cherries ready to ripen. Saves them blowing off in the wind which is whipping the branches about. The forecast is for big thunder storms later. It got to 33.3°C in places yesterday. Hot!
A few months ago we were regularly going out for walks. Now I stay in as much as I can. My health problems mean that I have to be very careful.
As people have stopped visiting places there have been less disturbances for nature. Apparently there have been less casualties of baby birds like ducklings. Boats are not travelling up and down rivers and washing out birds nests. There may be more Grebes and Moorhens this year than for the recent past.
I don’t begrudge my walk if it means nature gets its turn!
The blue tit babies have fledged and were on the bird feeders today. My hubby saw eight of them in a row on the fence this morning. Unlike previous days it’s been quite cold, but at least there has been rainwater about for them to drink and we provide fat balls and seed and mealworms for all the birds in the garden. There are blackbirds and robins, green finches and house sparrows in the garden, plus wood pigeons as well as the blue tits and also coal tits. We also see wrens. In fact I think we have done really well for bird life this year. I just hope the cats keep away from the birds.
X
I tried to zoom in on this goldfinch but the colours are really bad. It’s got a bright red head and yellow flashes on its wings. I tried to enhance the colour and exposure but didn’t get very far. If I try and enhance the red the whole picture goes red. So I can only post these images.
There were also blue tits, house sparrows and blackbirds feeding this morning.
I misidentified it as a zebra finch. It is actually a goldfinch
X
Ariel birds! These were visiting our bird feeder today. I only got a glimpse so I added the flying one from a photo. Can’t tell you what these are they are all I could draw, but the one on the feeder was a bluetit. But I couldn’t get the details quick enough….. This is the last of this challenge. This was day 38. The last of the current challenge. We may be moving on to a list of prompts every other day to keep going….
I have to say this has made me look at things differently and made me realise I can draw a lot of things, although my straight lines are a bit wobbly!
Robin painting from November.
I was reading about Robins on Facebook today where I read this that a friend had posted:
She I looked up ‘what does it mean if a Robin visits?’
Meaning found: If a robin keeps visiting you in indicates good luck. According to myths and legends, Robins appear once a loved one has died, Allegedly, it’s a simple message from heaven; that this loved one is watching over you. Robins also appear spiritually, to remind you to uncover the happiness.
Robins are also associated with the end of an old phase and the entering of a new one. To see Robin means you need to let go of what no longer serves you and find something else to bring you joy and happiness. The Robin bird is encouraging you to be brave again.
I don’t set much store in old wives tales, but this is sweet. In such a difficult world its good to remember the nice things. We have at least one Robin in the garden, bustling around, finding food. He’s very welcome along with blackbirds and blue tits. I must make an effort and try and get some photos….
