"The flying of falcons"

Some months ago I wrote a post about my involvement in an exciting new book- "The flying of falcons" by Ed Pitcher and Ricardo Velarde, with illustrations by myself, Bernd Poppelmann and Daryl Peterson. Well the book is all done now, and those who have bought it already have given us some great feedback.
I thought I'd share these photos taken by Robert Bagley...Ricardo signing Robert's copy of the eagerly awaited book.
Ed and Daryl opening up one of the first boxes of books to inspect them.Some of my paintings that have been used in the book.
One of the paintings "My girl " is proving to be a popular giclee print on our site- with over a third of the run already sold.Click here to buy yours.We are considering producing one or 2 more of the images as prints and will keep you informed of any developments with that.
Some of my sketches have also been reproduced - a nice feature to punctuate the text.

You can find out more about the book , including how to order your copy, at www.theflyingoffalcons.com
Or join the facebook page to see video clips about the book.

"Fire and Ice" (fox in snow print) now online

This is the latest limited edition canvas print from Andrew Ellis.It is a run of 70 prints, each one is signed and numbered by the artist.We chose to put this stunning image into print as it has proved so popular as a greetings card.
Click on image below to see a larger version.

Andrew Ellis calendar for 2011

I realise that it is only March but following the success of the 2010 Andrew Ellis calendar, we have been getting ready for 2011. Here's a sneak preview of some of the images that will feature in the calendar.As with last year the calendars will be produced in a limited quantity and you will be able to pay a deposit to pre-order yours. -More details of this to follow. The calendars will be ready for collection at the Falconry fair in May, and of course we will happily post them worldwide ( at the appropriate cost) for any one not attending the fair.
Remember to return to the blog again soon( or visit our website) to find details of how to pre-order your Andrew Ellis 2011 calendar.

New prints now available

The blog unfortunately has been somewhat neglected of late due to work, but here's what's new...


We've just added 2 new limited edition signed prints to the website, one canvas giclee, and one paper giclee , both partridge images,
and also coming soon "fire and ice" - fox in snow, as a canvas giclee.

To view and order go to
www.andrewellispaintings.com

We've also been working on choosing images for a new calendar for 2011, and will be posting more information about that soon , including how you can pre-order yours online.

Leon sky trials

I will be attending the Leon Sky trials in Spain from the 8th of October until the 12th . I will have a selection of prints and greetings cards for sale. So if you are attending yourself come say hello.

I am looking forward to seeing some Spanish falcons fly.

Carl Cheshire from GAMEHAWKER will also be there ,so if you need a new hawkbox or
dogbox he will be able to help you out.

Wonderful Migrants part 2

September:

September for me is one of the highlights of the calendar year. With my spare time starting to be devoted to the readying of falcons for the season and the feeding of game on the various pieces of ground that I fly on . But also the birding side of things takes on a different hue, with migrants starting to leave and the countryside looking heavily to autumn and winter. I visited South down farm on one such day and could really feel that pace of change on the wind. Watching the swallows hawking insects on the wing, fattening themselves for the journeys that await them. Because of bad weather the harvest seemed even later than last year .As I drove around the farm, there seemed a hint of melancholy and a wistful lament at the passing of summer. However this was a beautiful day bright, clear and warm. September can be a wonderfully mild month at times and brings certain clarity to the wonder of autumn. I noticed a cock Cirl Bunting singing from one of the many gorse lined hedges near the old quarry, His “Zorro” like markings giving him the feel of a bandit Yellowhammer!! I often hear the Cirls before I see them. They have a dry “zeehhh” or “Zit Zit” calls. A lot of Colin’s farming is aimed at helping the Cirl population here. Ravens croncked over head And Cock pheasants proclaimed their locations around the farm by their chorusing. I watched as the resident pair of kestrels systematically worked the area of wild bird mix that I had seen the Hobby at. The female at one point stooped down and caught something. I watched her return to a nearby post and start to eat what appeared to be bright green lizard. I later identified it as being a male sand lizard. This was a little sad as I found out that they are rather scarce and protected. Obviously not from Kestrels!! Later though I did see a Sparrow hawk actively chase one of the kestrels and it looked like a pretty serious attack as intended on a prey item. The Sparrow hawk did pull off after about 50 yards. Which shows that nature does not favour anyone when it comes to survival?

Further to the North West along the coast is the river Yealm. Every year without fail one particular Osprey makes this his stop off point to and from Africa. Known as Mr Green to some of us he always gives me and a few more serious birdwatchers a wonderful few days each April and September. I do not always catch him every year, but when I do it is always worth it. Some of my friends have been recording his movements for what must be around ten years at least. This year he was joined by a young female for a day or two and they hunted together on the river. She moved on a week ago now. He does not always give us close views but he always seems to have his regular trees that he frequents and he’s a good model when perched in the right place. Soon, as he departs our shores for the warm climate of Africa we will see the local birdlife change in complexity as again more migrants come to our area from the north and so everything shifts again to the pulse and rhythm of the seasons.

Wonderful Migrants

August:
Driving along the tracks of the farm, I watched as a kestrel worked one of the old hedgerows of the farm and its ample grassed margin running out to the track. I stopped the truck and sketched her as she worked towards the vehicle. Swallows whizzed by on flashing purple wings. She was harassed by two Magpies like two troublesome boys picking on the local swat on her way home from school. She ignored their machinegun clatter and peeled back over to resume her work. I drove on towards an area of wild bird mix planted this year by Colin the farmer .It will give cover and food through the harder months that will follow. Skylarks sang around me and I stopped to draw them and the Charms of Goldfinches foraging amongst the thistles at the edge of the crop. The Field known as Decca had been in Oilseed rape this year and now had been cut ,the tall stalks giving perches to the flocks of linnets wheeling then dropping down to feed in amongst its stalks. The flocks did seem restless and soon the reason revealed herself in spectacular fashion. A female Hobby came dashing in from nowhere scattering the feeding Goldfinches which bailed into the cover nearby whilst others scattered like rice being thrown at a wedding. She missed in her attempt and just carried on as if she were just playing tag. What a wonderful bird one of our most spectacular migrants that always brings a bit of excitement to a day in the field.