NORTH AMERICAN FALCONS

Above is a quick pencil sketch of the Merlin (Falco columbarius), the American Kestrel (F. sparveruis), and the Peregrine Falcon (F. peregrinus). All three are used in falconry there, where the Kestrel is a bit larger than its European cousin.

TAKING A SNAKE FROM THE GRASS

This bird, the Red-legged Seriema (Seriema cristata) has just bagged his lunch, a Smooth Machete Savane (Chironius scurrulus). The snake's genus is endemic to South America, as is the bird's; however, one might note some similarities to the Houbara (Chlamydotis undulata) and other bustards. That is because they are in fact in the same order, the Gruiformes, along with rails. Speaking of Houbara, I am working on a painting of one meeting a Saker, so there may be an opportunity to compare these two Gruiformes. The individual feather patterning and facial feathering are strikingly similar. Diet and other factors are also shared, so it may be said that the seriemas are a New World equivalent of the bustards.

A FALCON IN THE FIELD

This is a pencil study of a Peregrine Falcon hunting a Mallard, whose presence is only depicted by the feathers strewn about. Ex unge leonis, or ex plume aves, if my Latin is correct in tranposing the allegory showing the lion by its claw into an ornithological equivalent. It is not generally observed, but this duck has some of the most finely vermiculated feathers in the bird kingdom, and I liked using them for effect, which may not show up in low res imagery.

A HAWK FOR THE BUSH

This is the painting which appears opposite p.1 in Musings of an Afghan Falconer by Sirdar Mohamed Osman. It is an immature European Sparrow-hawk, used to epitomise Gulab Chashim, the yellow-eyed birds of prey, or what we in the West call short-wings. It was painted in 2004.

RARA AVIS

The California Condor is well on the way to extinction, it is one of the 50 rarest birds of the world. Presently it can only be found in the wild in California, and much of that due only to conservation efforts by the San Diego Zoo. An interesting phenomenon that has been taking place recently is that they join hanggliders in the sky. This was painted several years ago, and has suffered from being a bit too rolled up, but hopefully that can be undone.

COURTSHIP

As today is Valentine's Day, it was thought it might be good to add this image, even if it is only a study and does not show the idea of the painting, which is love. This is a male quetzal, whose long breeding season tail will dominate the picture. I wanted him to look composed and patient, but in reality, there will be more tension than in any of the life and death scenes depicted in most of my work. There is to be a female quetzal, looking away from the viewer, and the amorous male. She is wary, non-decisive, as are so many courted females of the species, who are at that delicate stage of a relationship where they are not anwering their suitor's emails or phone calls. But this suitor is not annoyed or put off, he is patient, knowing his beloved is the one. The one and only on whom he must wait with masculine gentleness, overcoming her natural wariness. She will pretend for some time not to notice, but he is more persevering than she is hard to get.

GAME FOR A SAKER

This stork is making his exit, thanks to the as yet unpainted Saker (top left). It may have a stay of execution though, as other projects are more in hand, and so it may remain in limbo. Storks are not a Saker's usual prey, they do take large birds, but in the wild usually only up to ducks.