Kes' Brood

This gorgeous trio is half of my resident kestrel's brood. I've been feeding Kes and his mate for years from my bird table and after years of encouragement I've finally persuaded them to nest in my garden.

I made a nest box out of a fallen tree stump which already had a natural hole in it. It makes the perfect backdrop for a future painting.

There are a total of six chicks in the brood and it has been such fun watching them grow.

Well done Kes!

Rock up for Gannets

I went all the way to the Bass Rock in the Scottish Borders to watch gannets for a painting but was unable to land due to poor weather!

This uninhabited volcanic rock island is about 1.5 miles offshore from North Berwick and is very difficult to land on unless it is absolutely calm. So I had to make do with a few shots of gannets taken from the boat as we circled round it!

But all was not lost because I saw plenty at RSPB Bempton.

 As an artist, I love their graphic faces, which look as though they have been drawn on with a fine black pencil.

Read all about my gannet watch in my column in the Ryedale Gazette and Herald this month by clicking here.