A hare ran into me
The very first journal I created was deep in the bottom of Horsely Woods. Among the Dogs Mercury … Jess sat … a perfect picture and a perfect start to what became a constant project.
Jess setting serenely amongst the Dogs Mercury in the dapple of the leaves.
In truth she was looking up the tree for squirrels and she sat very still as Collies do when concentrating. My had my first Moleskine Concertina journal with me along with fineliners. The first few shaky lines lacked direction and confidence and I nearly discarded the sketch later. However, I decided to add colour and more sketches until a narrative starts to emerge.
The sun appears and so do the sandmartin.
I noted that the last year the sandmartins nested in the holes in mortar on the retaining wall along the railway line. Over the winter these holes were filled in and I wondered if that would deter the birds form nesting.
It didn’t - they seemed to find new cracks and crevices and formed joyous and playful groups flying over and above my head as I watched.
A kingfisher flashed by. Blue streak for a moment.
Morel looking like a brain on a stick.
Later on in April I spotted a strange fungi - looking like a brain on a stick - Morel - hadn’t seen one before and I haven’t seen in it since. And at this part of the river east of Wylam there is a river bank that is undermined by holes that the sandmartins have made. One day this bank is going to crash. And a lizard ran across my feet … I have never seen one here before and I haven’t seen one since - but I still look.
A hare ran into me.
I was walking with Jess and a hare ran down the hill and almost skidded to a halt in front of me. It looked up at me, blinked, turned tail and ran. heart stopping. Jess was too surprised to do anything but look at me as if to say wha … what?
I know its a sparrow! But a tree sparrow … !
In Garstang today there were little gangs … or I should say more accurately colonies of Tree Sparrows. They are so handsome - and so different from House Sparrows.
A baby bird died in my hand.
When journalling it can be really helpful to have a conversation with yourself. It allows you to let things percolate that would perhaps fester. Just by drawing and writing about experiences can help you through a situation. When I found a baby bird on the road, I couldn’t leave it there. I picked it up with the intention to move it into a hedge or garden. But it just closed its eyes and went to sleep … forever … in my hands.
Later that day I saw a duck with 12 chicks hanging onto her dress.
Red kite
I love it when the sandpiper arrive down by the river. As this journal passes through to May and past half way in the book my style is starting to emerge. Still using fineliners and watercolour, I am starting to worry less about the drawing and concentrate more on the recording of what I see. I often do the drawings after the event - at home sometimes … sitting quiet at the kitchen table remembering what I have seen that day or that week.
Jess and Sweet Wood “RUFF”.
The thing I like most about journalling is not necessary the drawing but the noticing. today I met a St Marks fly - a female - as she wasn’t flying in that showy way the males do. You know those lazy flies that float and drop with dangly legs? The females are just checking the males actions out to see what takes their fancy.
St Marks fly is so called because it emerges around St Mark's Day, April 25th. Also called the Hawthorn fly.
What is there not to like in nature?
I truly believe that my role is to be a witness, to notice and make notes of things I see, hear, experience and think. Only I can do this in my way … everyone does it in their own way … which is why journalling is so unique … it is unique to the person who creates it. Every day you can see things and treasure the experience. Henry David Thoreau said:
I omit the unusual, the hurricane and earthquakes - and describe the common.
