A bit of a summer catchup...

So I got a shock yesterday when I realised a whole two months have passed since I last blogged, shocking behaviour! But then to tell the truth, it really has not felt in the least like two months have passed, the Summer Solstice has been and gone and the newt survey season was over in the blink of an eye . . . However, the time has not been wasted, plenty of sunshine and a few frolics in the sea, spot of camping, a botany course, bird ringing, a wedding (huge congrats to Mr & Mrs Curran!), dog walks, snippets of photography here and there and a even a couple of commissions thrown in the mix. I suppose that might explain where the time went!

Now where to begin. Well being an ecologist has many many pros at this time of year, generally surveying in good weather and stumbling across unexpected wildlife shenanigans, travelling a bit and getting lots of quality time spent in the car racking up those miles - good old Stella! Makes you think, this time last year I was still racking up the miles but all on two wheels with multiple outfit changes a day (think the most was 8 in one day) whilst bringing home far too much of the wrong sort of nature when the weather was good . . .

Many ex-bugs . . . :/

I still have my beloved Thump, she is just about to get re-insured for another year and I have every intention of making the most of her! An inspirational photo to get me back into the saddle asap . . .

My Suzuki SV650 at Bealach na Ba last year

Reptile surveys, breeding bird surveys, newt and bat surveys (bats and reptiles still ongoing), it's been a great couple of months. A couple of lizards kindly hung about long enough for me to get the camera out and ready, look at these beauties, common, or viviparous, lizards.

We also found a whole hoard of tiny toads, never tire of these critters!

And a frog!

Up bright an early for a breeding bird survey last month, I and a colleague came across a pair of young fox cubs playing with a bit of old meat. We saw them from a fair distance and as we were downwind tried to keep out of sight, while recording birds, until we could get closer. Bold as brass they were until a sudden movement sent them scampering into the hedgerow. Such a memorable moment! On that same survey I almost trod on a very large adult grass snake basking in a field margin, it took a few seconds to fully slither off it was so long, and my first proper sighting of a fully grown snake in the UK. Stunning! Obviously I didn't have my camera on me for either of these spots but then I think there's always the danger that you can spend too long taking the time to get the right shot and not drinking in the moment of the subject in question, so I didn't mind on this occasion!

And while we're on the subject of birds, my ringing sessions are not as frequent as to be expected with the workload at this time of year but getting in the odd bit of bling here and there . . .

A juvenile Rook, rugby tackled . . .albeit very gently . . .

A female Goosander found in a barn owl box

And this beautiful lady Tawny owl, my first :)

Whilst walking the dog last week I came across what I thought at first was an orchid, on closer inspection I realised it wasn't an orchid but I still hadn't a clue what it actually was. Turns out, after asking more knowledgeable folk, it was Thistle Broomrape, a parasitic plant on creeping thistles which doesn't photosynthesise and appears to be almost entirely endemic to Yorkshire. These particular specimens were on a reserve designated purely for it's flora, pretty lucky really. And actually rather rare, a nice find indeed.

 In other news, I can show you my latest commission now it has been received by its new owner. A pair of gorgeous dogs, a Border and a Bearded Collie. Owen the Border unfortunately passed over Rainbow Bridge while I was on with this drawing which is so sad but I hope this piece of work is a special momento and brings a few happy memories every time it's looked at. It's not the first time the subject of a portrait has met his/her time whilst I was in the middle of the drawing process and it can be quite upsetting but having them captured in pencil can hopefully give a lot of pleasure and help fill that void every four-legged companion leaves in our hearts. Rest well Owen pup. 

Owen and Ellie

And then there is of course Toby, our lovable liondog. He's had his first full dunk in a river, his first day at the seaside and a night in a tent whilst camping in the gorgeous Yorkshire Dales. All of these experiences are linked with water . . .something Toby enjoys immensely, despite his not knowing how to swim! You, along with many others, may be surprised to hear that but swimming doesn't come naturally to some dogs. Labradors and other retrieving breeds are like fish in the wet stuff but our Toby, with his masses of fluffiness gets a tad bogged down when he's fully wet..much to our amusement when he got his first dunking, after we realised he could get out of the water and we weren't going to have to rescue him! This pic was taken after his first couple of shakes out the water...a shadow of his former self . . .!

Bedraggled

He clearly wasn't put off by his shrinkage as he proceeded to bounce around in a mad 15 minutes fetching sticks and careering about like a lunatic, didn't much help our helpless giggling :D

A couple more pics . . .

First taste of salt-water . . .YICK

Black Beauty theme toon anyone?

Sandy grins

 And when he's not getting clean in the water . . .he's just as happy as a pig in . . .

. . .black peaty puddles!

Much laughs with good friends, four legged or otherwise, happy days :)

Until next time, 
Ciao!

M x

2014: A look back on a very busy but fun-filled year!

'Ello ello!

So I thought I'd do a reflection type of post, if anything it should be a good way to collect together all the cracking memories created from last year! Looking back I'm amazed how much has been fitted in, it's been a good 'un :)

First up, ART HIGHLIGHTS:
 My pencil drawing of a mother and baby Mountain Gorilla, entitled "Primaternal Love", was shortlisted for the David Sheperd Wildlife Artist of the Year Competition where it then went on to sell on the Preview night before the exhibition was properly open to the public, SUCH an amazing feeling and definitely the highlight of my arty career so far. To have a piece of my artwork framed up and hung just down the road from Buckingham Palace with many staggeringly beautiful artworks was a huge privilege and certainly one I will never forget. I hope to enter again this year, the deadline is drawing closer (haha see what I did there!) but I have my entry piece in mind and hope to get cracking on with it very soon once the dreaded tax return has been filed!!
You can read more about my time at WAY here http://megghyll.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/what-weekend.html

My other main art highlight was getting the opportunity to visit internationally famous animal artist Pollyanna Pickering in her home at Matlock for a very special event to celebrate 30 years of the Born Free Foundation. A really lovely day out and the chance to meet one of my all time favourite actresses and founder of the BFF, Virginia McKenna. Read more here! http://megghyll.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/born-free-foundation-30th-anniversary.html

I'd like to also take the time to say a massive thankyou to my lovely customers who have either commissioned my work, bought products from my shop or just taken the time to like and share my work and posts online, it truly means SUCH a lot and keeps me thinking all of the time spent at my drawing board isn't in vain. You're all superstars! :) Here are a few of the commissions I've undertaken this year....




ECOLOGY HIGHLIGHTS
I've been very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work as an ecologist since April which has meant most of my spring and summer season has been spent outdoors, my favourite place of all :) Great crested newt surveys and translocations, bat surveys and building inspections, otter, badger and water vole surveys, it's all been going on and I've loved every minute of it, even the antisocial hours...!

Having spent the entire season putting hundreds of miles on my motorbike and numerous outfit changes every day (bike kit off and into wellies and waterproofs, back into bike kit, back into wellies...!) it was somewhat of a relief to pass my driving test (first time yippee!) back in October and the acquiring of my little Stella Skoda - yes she has a name, I know... :/ - who has naturally done many more miles since she arrived in my care! Thump, my SV650 has earned her right to stay warm and dry in the garage after serving me without fault for close to 7000 miles in a season and 4 years of being effectively run into the ground! Who knows, if I'm feeling VERY generous I may even give her a spring clean, though she'll probably fall apart then in shock....


Read more about my ecological exploits in a few posts, check the drop downs on the left hand side of this page :)

RINGING HIGHLIGHTS
2014 was crazy busy with ecology work and my bird ringing training took a bit of a back seat as I found being available AND getting suitable ringing weather was a tall order throughout the year. However, 2015 looks set to have much in store on the ringing front, I hope to get plenty done and maybe that C licence is not so far away! I've already been out once this year and managed a busy morning of almost 90 new birds in my trainer's back garden, hopefully a sign of good and productive things to come so will keep you posted.

FUN HIGHLIGHTS

I've had the chance to enjoy some beautiful walks over the year, including the Forest of Bowland and mostly the Yorkshire Dales. We often have a furry companion with us too, Maya the Malamute :) I've made visits to the RSPB reserves St Aidan's, Fairburn Ings and Leighton Moss as well as a weekend at the Rutland Birdfair which was a lot of fun!  Weekend breaks in Wales, Kent and France too and jollies to the Scottish Highlands and Italy. It's easily been one of the best years of all my 26 and I think 2015 is looking set to be a grand one too. I'm blessed with great friends and supporting family, not forgetting my chap who is my rock and best mate. Here's to making many more happy memories.

Remember, you only have one life so LIVE IT :)

Ascending Mt. Snowdon

Tour de France

Coire Lagan, Isle of Skye

Madame Maya Malamute

Gaping Gill

Leighton Moss

Manorola, one of the Cinque Terra, Tuscany

 So although it's been a year filled with positive experiences, it's also been a year with losses too, in particular, a very good friend of ours who left us too young. Never to be forgotten.

But not to leave on a sad note, here's a little Blue Tit, the first visitor to my window feeder :) Hope all of you enjoyed the festive period and wishing you a very Happy New Year!

Speak soon,
Meg x

My latest commission

I finished this drawing a couple of days ago, she's a stunning looking dog. A "British Utonagan", she's a Malamute, Husky and German Shepherd cross. The name Utonagan means "Spirit of the Wolf" and it's a very apt name indeed as these dogs are bred for their wolf-like characteristics "without the wolf!". The Utonagan is yet to be accepted as an official breed by any of the major kennel clubs but founders of the British Utonagan Society are working on getting the breed officially recognized.

Ellie Mae, British Utonagan
Commission, A4.
Meg Ghyll © 2014

This portrait is a birthday gift. A commission is a very special one-off drawing and a unique way of capturing the character of a beloved family friend in pencil. I take on commissions all year round so if you're struggling for a birthday, anniversary or graduation gift then do get in touch. I usually like to allow four weeks for a portrait completion so the more notice you can give me before the big day the better. But if you think you've left it too late then don't despair, get in touch anyway as depending on my current workload I might still be able to squeeze you in :) There's more information on the "Commissions" link to the left of this blog, if you have any more questions I'll be more than happy to answer them!


Also, I'm now a member of the Association of Animal Artists (AAA)
(I finally got round to applying!) so a bit of a serious move for me! Onwards and upward as they say, I hope anyway :)

Guess what?! It's the weekend! Yussss :D Hope you all enjoy yours x