Daffodil time in Dunsford Woods

This year after an amazingly long spell of warm dry weather the annual spectacle of wild daffodils in Dunsford woods is better than ever. Here is a picture from the start of the walk Steps Bridge. The walk follows the beautiful river Teign for several glorious daffy lined miles!

St Michaels Church, Chagford

St Michaels Church in Chagford is just a stones throw from my gallery, in fact I have two lovely views of it from my windows. At the moment it is looking really lovely with all the paths leading to it lined with daffodils & spring flowers. Here is a picture taken this week during this spell of glorious warm weather.

Spring is in the air!

Yesterday evening as I walked along the river Iwas amazed to see a couple of people diving from one of the fishing stands into the salmon pool in the river Teign here in Chagford, the water must be absolutely freezing as it comes straight from the moors & we are still getting overnight frosts!

They both looked as if they were enjoying it though.........spring madness!

BUTLEY BARN OWL

Every day while we were staying in the beautiful old water mill at Butley in Suffolk we were delighted to watch a pair of beautiful Barn Owls hunting over the fields & marshes, I don't know when they slept for they always seemed to be there flying about swooping down frequently for mice or sitting watching from various tree stumps.

Here is one of the many photo's I took of them & I hope if I get the time to do some paintings of them.

If you would like to follow my painting website here is a link

www.devonsnatureinart.com

BUTLEY MILLS, SUFFOLK.

We have been staying at Butley Mills near Orford in Suffolk. It is a really beautiful place, overlooking the river & marshes with the mill pond behind. It is absolutely teaming with wildlife & from the mill you can see many Deer & Hares. Barn Owls & Kingfishers are constantly around also flocks of Curlews & Lapwings plus much, much more..... loads of inspiration for new paintings!

For anyone wanting to stay at Butley here is their website http://www.butleymills.co.uk/

My First Yellowhammer this Spring

The male Yellowhammer is back in its usual spot on the hillside below Castle Drogo, its brilliant citrus yellow head shining brightly in the late afternoon sunshine while it sang a rather plaintive call of "a little bit of bread & no cheeeese!" I do hope it finds a mate this year as for the past three summers it always seems to be alone.

I did not manage to get a photo of it, so here is one of my watercolours instead.