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Finished Bird of the Fortnight: Blackcap

Blackcap bird watercolour and ink illustration (c) Ella Johnston

Here’s my finished bird for this fortnight. A worked-up watercolour and ink illustration of the blackcap – a beautiful little grey warbler. Earlier this week when I showed off my black and white sketches, I said I loved the blackcap song. Well according to the RSPB website its “delightful fluting song has earned it the name ‘northern nightingale'”. The one I saw certainly was very tuneful.

Folk names for the blackcap often refer to its plumage; black-headed peggy, King Harry black cap and, my favourite, coal hoodie. Other old names are based on its choice of nesting material (Jack Straw, hay bird, hay chat and hay Jack).

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Bird of the Fortnight: Blackcap

Bird of the fortnight. Blackcap bird illustration (c) Ella Johnston ellasplace.co.uk

This fortnight I thought I’d do some black and white drawings of the blackcap bird.

I first saw one of these close up during a favourite walk of ours from Manningtree Station to Dedham (with the ultimate destination being the fabulous Sun Inn). It’s a lovely stroll through Constable country – the colours are magical at any point in the year and the area is rich with birdlife and nature. As the blackcap song resonated through the landscape it made a great walk even better. I love the sound this creature makes.

Bird of the fortnight. Blackcap bird illustration (c) Ella Johnston ellasplace.co.uk

You can see the final watercolour illustration this Friday.
Bird of the fortnight. Blackcap bird illustration (c) Ella Johnston ellasplace.co.uk