Category: Isle of Man

Several species of geese can be found in the wild in the Isle of Man. Some are migratory visitors, whereas others are present year round. The picture is often confused by feral, previously domesticated, birds being seen alongside those that are genuinely wild. I’m going to take a look at the main species that can…

I was recently looking at the Manx Wildlife Trust website and noticed that they have a reserve in the centre of Onchan. I thought I’d take a look on my way home from Douglas and was amazed to find a mini wetland reserve tucked between the Onchan streets. I took a few photos while I…

Dodging showers has become a well-practised art form this spring and summer. Mark and I took the opportunity to get out for a walk during a dry spell to investigate the wildflowers that are currently blooming in the hedgerows just on the outskirts of Ramsey. I’m working on some ink-drawing tutorials and thought wildflowers would…

It’s Tynwald Day, the National Day of the Isle of Man! Across the Island, celebrations are taking place and people are enjoying the Bank Holiday. Many people wear bollan bane (mugwort) as part of the celebrations but I thought I’d take a look at what I used to think was the official flower of the…

A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be invited by Pat Kelly to visit her beautiful forest garden for a look around and a sketching session. It was such a delight to explore the many species which call this garden home, and Pat was so knowledgeable that I could have stayed all…

Fuchsias are gorgeous with their striking and colourful blossoms, just coming into flower at this time of the year in all their magenta glory. Originating primarily from Central and South America, these plants have become popular worldwide for their ornamental beauty and have naturalised into several areas of the British Isles, including the Isle of…

One of the benefits of having an extremely untidy garden is the biodiversity that develops within it. At this time of year, it can seem that there’s not much of interest out there, but take a closer look and it’s amazing just how much variety and inspiration is present. This week, I set myself the…

The little egret, Egretta garzetta, is a small, slender heron with a predominantly white plumage. It has become an increasingly frequent visitor to the Isle of Man and, as it feeds on crustaceans and small fish, can be seen in places where it can wade and hunt for food. I recently photographed one doing just…

It’s hard not to be impressed by the striking beauty of kingfishers. The kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), with its orange, cyan and blue plumage, is easy to recognise and hard to forget. Seen each year on the Isle of Man, I decided to draw this beautiful bird and then looked into the reason it has such…

Drawing trees has been a love of mine since my mum first showed me how to represent their dividing branches. There’s something in the ever decreasing, repeating pattern of their boughs that comforts me as I draw. Add to that, the colours of the leaves and the beautiful textures of the bark, moss and lichen…

There’s nothing better than heading to a woodland in the autumn. The warm hues and crunch of leaves underfoot are a joy for the senses. The glen at Tholt-y-Will is a particularly good destination at this time of year, as the River Sulby cuts through the woodland and provides a number of waterfalls to contrast…

With Hop tu Naa just around the corner and the spookiness of Halloween soon to be celebrated in many parts of the world, join me in taking a look at how the raven has gained a reputation as being supernatural and its links with Manx culture. The Raven Ravens (Corvus corax) are birds that nest…