A couple of oils...

At the moment I'm taking a break from leading workshops and being at Crafts of the North. This is so that I can travel more and also focus on doing what I want to do as far as artwork is concerned, rather than worrying about what sells. This first oil painting though was a pleasure to do as a commission, as I like snow, found it challenging to paint and I know the place well...

Skiddaw from Powter Howe.

And the painting below, was the first one I have done just for me, for many years - literally! It's from our visit to Shetland and the wild, wet and windy day at Hermaness on Unst, crawling to the cliff edge to watch the Gannets and admire their flying skills, before the next squall arrived! 

Hermaness, Unst.

Holme Wood - Loweswater

A new wood for us and it was a gorgeous mixed woodland, with great views of Grasmoor and up the Buttermere Valley.

The mighty lump that is Grasmoor.

The native Yellow Water Lily.

Great Crested Grebe.

Lovely mixed woodland.

Cow-wheat growing at the base of the tree's trunk.

Chimney Sweeper Moth.

Golden-ringed Dragonfly.

White Water Lily.

Terns galore

A day trip down the west coast pf Cumbria to Hodbarrow RSPB reserve to see the tern colony...lots and lots of terns - just a couple of Bee Orchids were out and  the Pyramidal Orchids were just coming ...and a first for us: a Lesser Whitethroat singing - quite a distinctive song. 

The lagoon and island - the predator fence protects the tern colony.

Sandwich Terns with their characteristic black cap and yellow tipped bill.

Little Terns - farther away and very well camouflaged. 

The above picture with terns circled. 

Bee Orchid.

Centaury.

Great-crested Grebes - always nice to see as we don't get many near us. 

Treble-bar Moth.

A very pale Bloody Crane's-bill.

Northern Marsh-orchid and Pyramidal Orchid.

Dramatic skies!

Little Egret.

Wedholme Flow

 A 'between the showers' walk around Wedholme Flow. The Cotton Grass is beautiful at the moment! 

Drinker Moth Caterpillar 

Common Blue Damselfly

While sheltering from a rain shower, we noticed this Lace Wing. 

The return walk through the woodland to try and escape the worst of the rain...

Maryport check up

Earlier in the week we took a quick meander around the grass banks behind the marina at Maryport, to see how the orchids were doing. As it's a strange year for the timing of things, we weren't quite sure what we'd find. Despite it being periodically sunny there was a lack of Small Blue Butterflies, but then again it was breezy - we did see one, but no photographs. The Northern Marsh-orchids were burnt up - wind/droughted? The Pyramidals were just, and very much just, begining to open and  the Bee Orchids were in bud still. Hopefully this damper weather will have arrived in time to ensure a good display of Bee Orchids though. We found one of each of the Broomrapes, which again are just coming into flower. The Bloody Crane's-bill was at its best. 

The grassland behind the marina, with Criffel (Scotland) in the distance.

Bloody Crane's-bill....

Large Skipper.

Small Heath - hiding!

Common and Purple Broomrape.

Northern Marsh-orchid x Common Spotted-orchid.

Northern Marsh-orchid.

Bee Orchid and Pyramidal Orchids - yet to come out.

 

Back to Cumbria

Well it's back home and the weather is rubbish, so a few half day trips this week. The first being to a favourite Solway Moss to see the orchids. 

Yellow-tail moth caterpillar.

Speckled Wood Butterfly.

Ragged Robin.

A tiny Ruby-tailed Jewel Wasp.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Butterfly - top...

..and the beautiful underwing.

Adder.

Some vigorous Heath Spotted-orchids...and 

ds or some hybridisation? 

Northern Marsh-orchid X Heath Spotted-orchid hybrids.

Shetland Sketches

I did also manage to do a few sketches and keep a diary whilst away. Most were done from the back of the camera in the evenings, as the weather wasn't condusive to field sketching and there wasn't time. So here's a selection...

On the way to Fetlar.

Keen of Hamar.

St Ninian's tombolo.

Sumburgh Head.

Jarlshof in the rain.

Being followed by Gannets on the Noss boat trip.