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September 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.


Red-backed Shrike, 22nd September 2001, Landguard Point

This bird provided some compensation for dipping on the Isabelline Wheatear which had been found the day before. A foggy early morning found many shadowy figures starring through the murk searching for the wheatear, me amongst them, without any luck, but the sun eventually shone through and the shrike entertained the crowd catching bees from it’s bramble perch.

Red-backed Shrike

Dotterel, 29th September 2001, Holkham Gap

Well camouflaged against the saltmarsh and with nobody else around at first, this Dotterel took alittle finding, but eventually gave very good views. A juvenile moulting into first-winter, it had new chestnut edged lower scapulars. Walking back to the car along the beach skeins of Pink-footed Geese called overhead as they flighted out to their roost.

Dotterel

See more sketchbooks in the Surfbirds archives