From the sketchbook... (5 Viewers)

[buzzard12]

Back from the depths of page three.....

Protaras, Cyprus, a lovely place which turned up some really brilliant birds for me...

A few sketches here, though there are more on the blog along with photos and a full account of the birding there...

The best of some great birds here, Cyprus Warbler, Cyprus Wheatear, Long Legged Buzzard and Masked Shrike. The last two were a real surprise...

 

[nickderry]

fantastic stuff - I love the sketches of the spectacled warblers - really captured the jizz.

 

[buzzard12]

fantastic stuff - I love the sketches of the spectacled warblers - really captured the jizz.

Cheers Nick. Can throw the full pages of Specs on here...


Ive just been over to your thread my boy and damn near had a violent movement of the bowels...

 

[Drellas]

Indeed, very nice fieldwork O

Ulrike

 

[Strandman]

what a nice surprise- that last Masked Shrike is super-formed, sculpted in crown and chin

its an under-rated birding location, that Protaras and Cape Greko- I once left Mrs K to book a family holiday without any special pleading from me at all on the birding front and ended up there by complete accident one spring, with Collared Flycatchers and all, so I was very content with the outturn

 

[buzzard12]

what a nice surprise- that last Masked Shrike is super-formed, sculpted in crown and chin

its an under-rated birding location, that Protaras and Cape Greko- I once left Mrs K to book a family holiday without any special pleading from me at all on the birding front and ended up there by complete accident one spring, with Collared Flycatchers and all, so I was very content with the outturn

I reckon so too Ed. The whole time I was there I was thinking about its potential in spring and more especially autumn. Its got it all. The location in the south east of the island, jutting out into the sea with just the right amount of cover. I was very impressed to say the least and might make an effort to get back there in Sept 2012.

 

[colleenc]

beautiful accurate sketches, love the shrike!

 

[timwootton]

Meant to comment last night but these are all a bit overwhelming - wonderfully creative documentation of some spanking birds; the mask portrait is a piece of genius - as are the sylvias. Particularly taken with the jizzy sheet - lovely.

 

[RussB]

Great stuff, Alan. I fully remember my first masked shrike in Eilat and was blown away by it. These fine studies evoke such memories. I love the speccys, too - loads of life in those few essential lines. This lot have got my birdy trip juices flowing!

Cheers


Russ

 

[ARTHUR BISHOP]

Just superb sketching Alan

 

[solitaryVSong]

Just superb sketching Alan

Have to agree. And along with all the favorites that others have chosen, and I agree with, I have to mention that first Cyprus Warbler. What rich tones you've gotten in it. A singing little sketch.

 

[buzzard12]

Returning wader passage starting already here and though the numbers are not great the stopovers are all adult. Doesn't get much better than summer adult Curlew Sandpipers and made the trip to see eight birds at Sandemar early this morning, well worth the trip as they are one of my favourite birds to sketch.

 

[buzzard12]

And the last few. All done on A3 pad today, very nice to draw on the bigger pages...

 

[Woody]

I was about to comment on how long the gaps between your excellent postings were when I got confronted with the curlew sands! Just a weekend between the last two. It's easy to see you had a good trip and brought back a heap of Cypriot treasures. The sands are spot on, the last sheet is certainly a painting waiting to happen.

Mike

 

[buzzard12]

I was about to comment on how long the gaps between your excellent postings were when I got confronted with the curlew sands! Just a weekend between the last two. It's easy to see you had a good trip and brought back a heap of Cypriot treasures. The sands are spot on, the last sheet is certainly a painting waiting to happen.

Mike

Worked like a dog in June Mike, covering staff on holidays. The extra money wil go towards a two week trip to Cape Clear in October, so its not all bad

 

[Woody]

Woohooo, another trip means more sketches...bring 'em on!

Mike

 

[JTMB]

Great work, Alan! The shrike is a treat to see, and the sandpiper sketches are just exquisitely done!

 

[timwootton]

Agree with the two together - colourwork screaming to be done. Excellent all round and as much joy to see the drawings as you had with the sighting.

 

[colleenc]

excellent curlews...for some reason that one head study really strikes me every stroke defines but not one stroke to many and all so sure...great work

 

[solitaryVSong]

I love every one of those Curlew Sandpiper sketches!