August 2001 Sketchbook from Scotland
By Richard Allen
Richard Allen started as a freelance illustrator in advertising, publishing and newspapers. Work has gradually drifted towards his main interest of birds and wildlife, especially after winning "British Birds", Bird Illustrator of the Year 1993. A keen birder from an early age, a move to the Essex coast and the bird rich estuaries and marshes has refueled a passion for field-sketching. Recent travels to China, USA, S.E.Asia, Senegal and many parts of Europe have continued this interest and filled numerous sketchbooks.
Richard lives in the village of Fingringhoe with views across country to the estuaries to constantly tempt him away from the drawing board.
Scotland August 2001
August this year found me in the highlands and islands of Scotland, enjoying some glorious weather, excellent birds and spectacular flowers
Oystercatchers and Hooded Crow, Skye
At low tide on the sea lochs an expanse of glowing orange seaweed is exposed, providing rich pickings for waders, especially Oystercatchers. Probing for mussels amongst the rocks and weeds they are constantly attended by Hooded Crows waiting for scraps, or the chance to steal once the hard work has been done.
Rubha Hunish, Skye
A beautiful sunny day at the northern tip of the Trotternish peninsula on Skye, with views across to the Outer Hebrides and a constant parade of seabirds. Gannets going one way, Kittiwakes streaming past the other way, and the sea dotted with Guillemots and Razorbills accompanied by their half-grown young.
Divers
One of the joys of Scotland in summer is finding divers in their breeding plumage. This Red-throated Diver flew down onto a sea loch on Harris one evening, looking dark against the sea’s reflection the light would occasionally catch the glowing red throat. On the other side of the headland I found a Great Northern Diver, a winter bird lingering in it’s first-summer plumage
Black Guillemot
These dapper little auks could be watched fishing in Portree harbour, Skye from our B&B on the harbour front, they would often sit up in the water and flap their wings vigorously.
Surf Scoter, Taransay Sound, Harris
A perfectly calm day and the midges where out in force, but it did allow good viewing of the ducks and seabirds, ( and a huge Basking Shark! ), in the sound between Taransay and Harris. In amongst the Eider and Common Scoter this superb male Surf Scoter flew past close in shore, the bill glowing in the sun.
