Autumn Sketchbook by Richard Allen

Red-flanked Bluetail

Thorpeness, Suffolk, 20^th October 2006

Unable to get away until the Friday, (the bird appearing on the Monday), there was an anxious, but fortunately brief wait before this delightful little bird showed. It was extremely active, flitting around the under-storey of sycamores and hawthorns, often flicking it’s wings and tail. It would shimmer it’s tail rather like a Redstart, and the pale throat shone out in the gloom under the leaves. In my early years birding this was a near mythical bird, only to be viewed in awe on the pages of field guides along side that other unobtainable jewel, Siberian Rubythroat. I never thought I’d see one a half hour drive from home.

Little Auks

The Naze, Essex, 2^nd November 2006

Early November, North winds, equals Little Auks. Casual watching over an hour produced 11 north close inshore and  one on the sea just off the beach. They really are tiny and look very vunerable.

Avocets

Colne Estuary, Wivenhoe, Essex, Nov/Dec 06

Up to 300 Avocets winter on this estuary and they are a constant source of inspiration. Their colour is always changing with the light and state of tide. Sometimes the low winter sun makes them glow, the next they turn blue in the shade, or the estuary mud reflects the light onto their underparts. These sketches are of the same stretch of mud at different times of day and weather.