A grand day out.

A day away from the studio today, off to Royal Deeside for a hike up Lochnagar. The wildlife count was pretty good. Here's what we saw in order of appearance: 1 jay ,6 red deer stags,several grouse, heard ptarmigan (not seen), mountain hare, fish rising in the loch, several grouse, 3 ravens, mountain hare (probably the same one), red squirrel, 2 red deer stags, 2 short eared owls having an aerial sparring match (see photo below, not one of mine unfortunately), kestrel, 4 roe deer and all the usual bird life you see on a long drive and walk in the Highlands. Watching the owls was the highlight- lots of acrobatics and talon to talon at times. They are spectacular looking birds.

Short eared owls ( from getty images, royalty free) 

Something new

A new drawing , specimen birds under glass domes. I've started to work on deconstructed book covers, I love all the stains and marks on them and now I've add a few of my own. I think I'll keep this one on my studio wall for a while, sometimes a simple drawing gives me ideas for a whole new line of work.

Milder.

I met this sleepy fellow yesterday. It's too early for them to be out and about but the recent mild weather has woken them up from slumber. I hope he finds a cosy rock to crawl under when it turns cold again. I saw lots of interesting things on the walk, a flock of long tailed tits, a flock of bullfinches, a red squirrel, a crested tit and a puff of feathers ( unfortunate pheasant I think), some of which I will draw for Imogen's Attic. I spent more time looking up at the trees than on the path, lucky for toad I spotted him in time or it could have been messy.