Updated 30 January 2014
I see pheasants on the salt marsh regularly . . . an interesting backdrop for a pheasant!
A cock fight in December
There was much parallel walking as these two cock pheasants strutted and postured on the salt marsh . . .
. . . and then a flurry of feathers. In the background the cargo vessel Danica Sunrise edges her way into Portbury Docks on low water.
This territorial dispute went on for ages and so engrossed were they that my presence remained unnoticed.
Colours in the cockfighting sketches : indian red, cadmium red, burnt sienna, alizarin crimson, raw umber and cobalt turquoise light plus the addition of raw sienna in the sketch above.
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On a previous visit . . .
. . . a sudden flurry and that lovely staccato purr of wings of a cock pheasant bursting from the flooding marsh just ahead of me. It is such a pleasure to see and hear them on the marsh . . . and the navigation buoys, docks and Denny Island make for an unusual view.
The buoy is the middle one of three marking the right hand (starboard) edge of the shipping channel into Royal Portbury dock.
A June pheasant conspicuous amongst the seasonally lush green salt marsh grasses . . .
. . . but more difficult to spot in March when the marsh is still ochre coloured.
March grasses drawn with ochre crayon plus burnt and raw sienna watercolours.
June grasses drawn with spring and light green crayons.
Bottom of hull under painted in raw umber topped with indian red and permanent rose.
Pheasant body of raw and burnt siennas, head cadmium red with winsor violet and ultramarine – very showy!
. . . and last but not least a view of a pheasant amongst the trailing stems of frosted orache in October.
Some years there are large swathes of orache giving spectacular autumn colours ranging from pale greens and yellows to vivid pinks but in 2013 it was confined to small patches. Orache (Atriplex) is also known as saltbush because the leaves retain salt so it is at home on a tidal marsh. There are up to 300 species and although I am sure this is one of the frosted varieties I cannot be any more specific.
Hi Hilary,
I love the pheasant sketches. The salt marsh is so vibrant and lush at the moment. It is great to see how it changes with the season reflected in your work
Hi Ian, thanks very much, it’s great to hear from you and yes it is very vibrant.
I love the seasonal changes on the marsh and my colour palette reflects the cycle of the plants and the effects of sunlight (or lack of it!) . . . so infinite variety and certainly never boring.
On this overcast afternoon there were less vivid greens and more soft ochres from the mass of flowering salt marsh grasses.
Best wishes,
Hilary
Hi Hilary, I wondered who you were/what you were doing, as I see you from Royal Portbury Dock, on the salmarsh. I birdwatch in the dock, and occasionaly also at Portbury wharf. I have only just found your site, and recognise some of the views in your scetches. Will keep an eye on your site in the future. Chris Stone