Birds, birds and more birds

Anyone who's a regular reader of this blog will know that I love birds, both watching them, learning about them and painting them - and I always enjoy finding out about 'new' birds - ones I've not heard of before which is one of the reasons I enjoy taking part in the 'Paint Colorful Birds for Fun' weekly challenge on facebook.  Last week's challenge was of a bird I did know and one of my favourites - the lilac breasted roller - I always try and pay him a visit when Gary and I go to Chester Zoo so I was very happy when he was 'the bird to paint' last week

I had a new visitor to the garden a couple of weeks ago as well - a male blackcap - so of course I had to honour him by doing a painting!  I was in a splashy mood for this one!.......

and here's the photo of him in my garden.................

Mr sparrowhawk has been back as well - what a specimen he is too - Gary was there this time and had his camera handy...............

and finally, remember the last post with Monty the Osprey - anyone watching the shenanigans on the nest at the Dyfi Osprey Project is sure to be riveted - it's like an Osprey Soap Opera there with Monty trying to get himself a female after his usual partner failed to arrive back to the nest this year (assumed dead sadly).  The Dyfi Osprey Project  rely heavily on donations so when I had a message from someone asking if I would sell the painting of Monty I donated the proceeds to the project - I'll soon be painting another of Monty and his new mate which will also be sold in aid of the project (if anyone wants it that is!)

I've been browsing through your wondeful blogs this morning - I don't always have time to leave comments - especially when there's the captcha thing to work out!  It drives me nutty that thing!  But I do visit and take inspiration from your postings whether they be beautiful works of art, photography or a good anecdote.  Thank you all of you out there in blogland for sharing your world!

love Sharon