Fine Art Prints

Highland Cows

Ok, so these are domestic rather than wild animals, but no trip to Scotland would be complete without spotting at least one Highland Cow. People travel from all over the world to visit Scotland, and bumping into one of these gentle giants is often on their to-do list.

I offer a range of Highland Cow prints, all photographed around my family home in Argyll.

Mink

The American Mink is an invasive species in the UK. Initially brought to the UK to farm their fur, and then released into the wild by well-meaning but badly informed animal rights activists.

They are such efficient hunters that they have caused significant ecological damage, with some species of native mammal and birds being put at risk from extinction. As a result they also cause anger when they are seen. At the end of the day though, it’s not their fault they are here, and they are impressive mammals. I have watched American Mink hunt with deadly precision; like the one pictured here, which was photographed in our gardens in Argyll.

Eurasian Otter

The Eurasian Otter is in the same family of animals as the American Mink. Unlike the Mink though, the Otter is native to the British Isles.

Eurasian Otters have a dense double-coated fur coat. Their fur is dark brown on top and a lighter brown underbody. Though, they can appear almost black in the water. They are a typical mustelid shape with short legs and a muscular body. Their nose and eyes are either brown or black, and they have small rounded eyes and webbed feet. Another one of their prominent features is their long whiskers. In summary, they are perfectly evolved to live and hunt in their natural habitat.

I offer an extensive range of Eurasian Otter Prints, all photographed in Argyll in their natural environment.

Pine Marten

The Pine Marten is also in the same family as Otters and Mink. They are one of the most elusive animals to spot in the wild. They have dark-brown hair with a very distinctive yellow or white throat patch. They are about the size of a small domestic cat and sport a long bushy tail.

Pine Martens are predominantly nocturnal, hunting a night, and resting in the day. They have an acute vision as well as a sense of smell, which enables them to find and hunt prey. A carnivorous animal, they favor small mammals such as mice, rabbits, voles, etc. They will also eat birds as well as amphibians.

Red Deer

The Red Deer is the largest terrestrial mammal in the United Kingdom. They are instantly recognizable, particularly in the summer and autumn because of their red-brown fur, and mature stags sport impressive-looking antlers, which can span up to 1m in width.

Because the Red Deer is so widespread in the UK, they are one of the easier mammals to get photographs of. However, for wild photographic backdrops, you cannot beat the Scottish Highlands. You will also find them in large numbers in Cumbria, the Peak District, and the Southwest of England.

Red Squirrels

Whilst they are named Red Squirrels, their fur color varies between bright ginger, brown, red, and even grey during the winter, During the winter months their ear tufts are more prevalent. 

The Red Squirrel is an iconic mammal in the United Kingdom, and this is a great thing as they have historically been persecuted by humans, as well as their populations being drastically impacted by the non-native Grey Squirrel. 

Scotland is your best bet to find and observe the Red Squirrel, although there are small populations in England & Wales.

Weasel

Many of the mammals in this list are elusive, but the Weasel has to be one of the most elusive of them all. The Weasel is also related to the other Mustelids in this line up along with the Otter and Mink.

I’ve been lucky enough to spot just one of these animals in the wild. As you can see from the shot they are barely bigger than their prey. Weasels are the smallest carnivore in the British Isles. They hunt voles, mice and small birds, and like their cousins, they are extremely effective hunters.

The Weasel is a rusty brown color with a white throat and belly. They are similar in appearance to a stoat, but have a shorter tail with no black tip.

Wild Goat

Goats were thought to have been domesticated in the U.K. some 5000 years ago by Neolithic farmers. The Wild Goat is native to the Middle East. Many likely escaped, and this was certainly the case during the Highland Clearances.

They are now somewhat of a naturalized species and are held in high esteem by some communities in Scotland. They also provide opportunities for wildlife spotting; albeit they can be difficult to spot as they tend to blend in well with the environment. Not to mention that they spend a lot of their time in difficult-to-get locations such as rocky crags and high ground.

Marine

You may be surprised by the diversity of marine mammals around the British Isles. They are perhaps some of the most difficult animals to photograph in the wild, as with the exception of Seals, they spend the majority of their lives underwater in our vast oceans. I have a small selection of Seal and Dolphin prints available in my store.

Buzzards

The Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) is one of the most common birds of prey in the British Isles. With mature birds having a wingspan of over 1 meter, they are often misidentified as eagles. However, they are easily distinguished due to their distinctive underwing and body pattern. Albeit younger birds don’t develop this until they mature, which can add to the confusion of identity. They are normally brown with white patches of color. In rare cases, they can be the opposite, i.e., mostly white with brown. They sport yellow talons and legs and have relatively blunt/rounded wingtips.

Eagles

Scotland is home to two types of Eagle. the Golden Eagle and the White-tailed Eagle. Golden Eagles are slightly smaller than the White-tailed Eagle. They glide on air currents with their wings held straight in a shallow ‘V’ pattern.

White-tailed Eagles have brown body plumage and a paler head and neck, which can gradually fade to white as the birds get older. The tail feathers of adults are white. They have massive wings with finger-like feathers at the ends and a wedge-shaped tail.

Falcons

The U.K is home to three types of Falcon; Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, & Merlin. I currently offer images of Peregrine Falcons and Kestrel in my online store. The Peregrine Falcon is a muscular bird. They have a bluish-grey back, a black head, with a distinctive moustache and barred white chest and tummy. They are highly effective hunters, and it is trait that despite their legally protected status, has resulted in their continued persecuted by landowners in the hunting and shooting industry.

The Kestrel is a small bird with a red-brown flecked back, and pale underside. The wings are dark tipped and its tail is grey, with grey highlights on its head. They are frequently seen hovering skillfully in search of prey.

Hawk

The U.K. is home to two native species of Hawk. The Sparrowhawk, and the Goshawk. I presently offer a very small selection of shots of the Goshawk, but am constantly on the lookout to be able to photograph these fantastic animals in the wild.

The Goshawk is a large powerfully built bird. Not often seen, as they inhabit woodland environments and blend very will into their habitat.

It was thought that the Goshawk became extinct in the British Isles during the 19th Century. However, during the last 60 years or so, numbers have been increasing. It’s thought that this is attributable to birds which have either escaped or been released from captivity, and are now breeding again in the wild.

Goshawks and Sparrowhawks look very similar in terms of their markings. Goshawks though are significantly larger than their cousins, and tend to have beautiful amber eyes, although they do sometimes have yellow eyes like their cousin the Sparrowhawk.

Kite

The British Isles is home to the Red Kite, and if you are fortunate, you may spot the Black Kite also, as it’s a rare & brief visitor to the shores.

Of all the raptors in the British Isles, the Red Kite is instantly recognizable due to its striking rich-red and brown coloring with flashes of white on its wings. They have a very distinctive forked tail and an angular wing stance. Red Kites have predominantly yellow beaks, and yellow legs and talons.

They perform death-defying dives reaching speeds of up to 113 mph, coming to a full stop just above the ground as they snatch their prey using their talons, and then rapidly climb back into the sky.

Owl

Our native nocturnal raptors come in all shapes and sizes, and officially consists of 5 species, though you may be lucky enough to spot 6 as the Eagle Owl is present in small numbers with captive birds having been released and now breeding in the wild. The official 5 are Tawny Owl, Barn Owl, Short-eared Owl, Long-eared owl, and Little-Owl.

Some might consider it hypocritical of humankind given our potted history with nature and the environment, but there are ornithologists and naturalists that dislike the presence of owls in the UK, and some of the other resident raptors for that matter, as they prey on other birds and mammals.

Accentors

At first, the designation Accentor might sound a curious name for this group of birds. But it’s literally an old English word meaning “small brown birds”.

The bird which most epitomizes this group of birds has to be the Dunnock or to quote its correct name European Hedge Accentor as pictured here. Accentors are ground feeders, and pretty shy ones at that. Combine this with their color and they can be quite difficult to spot. It’s worth the effort though, as they are very pretty little birds.

Corvids

There are a total of eight different Corvids in the British Isles. Four of these are relatively common, and a familiar sight for many people. Namely Carrion Crown, Rooks, Jackdaws and Magpies.

I currently have a collection of two of the rarer Corvids. The Eurasian Jay, which is definitely best dressed of the group and the Hooded Crow. Corvid are amongst the most intelligent of birds, being able to solve simple puzzles and use tools.

Finches

The number of resident Finch species in the British Isles is hotly debated. This is because there is disagreement amongst ornithologists about the validity of the various species. Consequently, splitting of birds into sub-species, and declassification and lumping together of sub-species has occurred over the years. The current number though sits around 14 species, probably!

Despite all this, the Finches are some of our most diverse family of birds, with striking patterns and colors, and with some very niche requirements, like the Crossbills whose bills are shaped to be able to extract seeds from conifer cones.

Flycatchers

The most recognized member of this group of birds is undoubtedly the European Robin due to its close relationship with gardeners, and that it has been immortalized on greetings cards.

The Old World Flycatchers or simply Flycatcher group is a diverse group of birds consisting of over 300 species distributed over Europe, Asia and Africa. From a UK viewpoint, many of the resident species can be tricky to spot, as numbers have declined significantly ever since the 1960s with loss of habitat and loss of associated food sources.

Nuthatches

There’s something very satisfying about watching Nuthatches going about their business. They are like little torpedoes shooting through the forest. Their long bills are accentuated by their face markings, and they move powerfully and skillfully between the trees keeping their wings closed between beats.

They are also skillful climbers, able to climb vertically up and down trees in search of their food. The British Isles are home to just one Nuthatch species, namely the Eurasian Nuthatch.

Pheasant

The Pheasant isn’t classed as a native species in the British Isles, as it was actually introduced to Europe by the Romans.

They originate from Asia, and continue to be popular as a game-bird. Pheasant often fall prey to some of our resident raptors, and it is for this reason that some of the gaming industries continue to illegally persecute our birds of prey.

Sparrows

The House Sparrow pictured here used to be a common site in the British Isles. However it is estimated that their numbers have declined by over 71% since the 1970s; thats a whopping 30 million birds lost, just in this one species! The cause is the reduction in the availability of suitable nesting sites.

The other resident Sparrow in the British Isles is the Tree Sparrow, their numbers have decreased by a massive 93%. Loss of habitat is also the reason. Needless to say, they are rarely seen anymore.

Thrushes

According to folktales, the Blackbird (pictured above) has evil and supernatural powers! You may also have heard the nursery rhyme of four and twenty blackbirds being baked in a pie, and one flying out when the pie was cut and pecking off the king’s nose. If nothing else, these folktales demonstrate that Blackbirds have been resident in the U.K. for a long time.

Blackbirds are part of the Thrush family, and contains some very striking characters. The thrush family also contains some of the most mellow singers, kind of like the crooners of the bird world.

Tits

A question that is often raised amongst bird enthusiasts is how many members of the Tit family are resident within the British Isles. Interestingly, answers differ usually between 6 and 9. The British Ornithologists ‘ Union, state that there are 9.

The Tit family are quite a diverse group, many are quite small, and therefore get pushed around a lot by other larger birds. So you will tend to see them either darting about singly to snatch food and make a getaway, or alternatively in large groups, enabling them to overwhelm other birds.

Treecreepers

Treecreepers are rarely seen by people. They are shy little birds, and whilst active during the day, spend their lives scuttling around the trunk and branches of trees looking for food. They are therefore most often seen during the autumn and winter when deciduous trees have no leaves.

They will often make their way to the top of a tree trunk, and then dive skillfully back down, before making their way back to the top again.

Wagtails Pipits & Longclaws

Wagtails and pipits are slender, small birds commonly found in open areas. They have an elongated body, long legs, and extended hindclaws.

These birds mainly search for small insects on the ground. To mark their territories and attract mates, all species use a song-flight. Male pipits, in particular, climb to heights of 100m or more before gracefully descending to the ground while singing loudly.

Woodpeckers & Relatives

You can find 4 species of Woodpecker in the UK. Three of these are true Woodpeckers in the sense that they peck deep into the bark of trees to gain access to food, and/or use their beaks to dig into standing deadwood to build their nests.

My collection of Woodpecker prints currently only includes the Great Spotted Woodpecker pictured above.

Wrens

One of the smallest birds in the UK, the Eurasian Wren is predominantly chestnut brown with a rather rotund appearance. They have slender bills and round wings. You will often see them taking a similar stance as a Robin with their narrow tail sticking up vertically. Wrens are extremely active birds, constantly darting from one place to another in search of food.

Auk

The British Isles has five species of Auk, puffins, razorbills, guillemots, black guillemots and little auks. Spending most of their time at sea, and returning to their breeding colonies on cliffs and rocky outcrops during the spring and summer.

Cormorant

One of the most impressive sea-birds in terms of its physical stature, and an almost prehistoric appearance. Cormorants are large black birds most associated with coastal areas, but also have established populations inland. You will often spot them standing with their wings outstretched.

Gull

Gulls are not on everyone’s list of favorite birds. People consider them to be messy, noisy, aggressive, & greedy. We should maybe give them a bit more leeway, they are resourceful creatures. They can be aggressive, but generally this is when they think their nest sites are under threat. They have also learned that humans have good food, so you cant really blame them for trying to exploit that!

Loon

The Common Loon, or Great Northern Diver is a regular winter visitor to the shores of the British Isles. They can be difficult to spot given there are only an estimated 4000, with the largest numbers is the West of Scotland & Ireland.

Shag

Shags are birds that resemble Cormorants but are smaller and slimmer, with long necks. They have a distinctive steep forehead. In the UK, they primarily breed on coastal sites, particularly in the north and west. Interestingly, over half of the Shag population can be found at fewer than 10 sites.

Dippers

The White-throated Dipper is a medium sized, short-tailed, and rather plump looking bird. They can be found across the UK, hut the highest densities are in Scotland, Northern England & Southern Wales.

Dippers can often be seen standing on stones in fast-flowing rivers and streams and then diving into the water to search for food. They tend to have favorite stones and fly low over the water’s surface between them. 

Duck

Out of the 22 species of ducks found in the UK, three are only present during the winter season, while another 15 are much more abundant in winter compared to summer. Winter provides an excellent opportunity to observe these birds in their prime, with the male ducks showcasing their vibrant and stunning plumage.

Geese

The British Isles are host to nine different species of geese. Of these, only three actually breed here. Namely the Canada goose, the Greylag goose and Barnacle geese.

Godwits & Curlew

There are two species of Curlew to be found in the UK. These are the Eurasian Curlew and the Whimbrel. The UK is also host to two Godwit species, the Black-tailed Godwit and the Bar-tailed godwit. All are characterized by their long legs and bills so that they can wade through shallow water in search of food.

Grebe

The Grebe species are a diverse group ranging from the rather drab Little Grebe pictured here, to the flamboyant Great Crested Grebe. There are 8 species in total in this group including the Great Northern Diver which is highlighted in the Sea & Coastal Section as that is where it spends the majority of its time.

Heron

There are 3 Heron species resident in the British Isles. The Grey Heron, the Little Egret and the rare Bittern. The number of Heron species is bolstered in the Summer with numerous visitors.

Herons are characterized Herons as tall, long-legged, long-billed wading birds. Although there are some exceptions to this within the group.

Oystercatcher

The Oystercatcher is quite a large bird with a stocky appearance. They have orange-red bills and pink legs. They predominantly eat cockles, and as such the population is vulnerable to human over-fishing. Oystercatchers are a noisy bird with distinctive ‘peep-peep-peep’ call.

Sandpiper & Shank

The UK has several species of Sandpipers & Shank. A diverse group with birds of various shapes and sizes.

At first glance, you might think they are just speckled wading birds. Take a closer look though, and you will see that that there are some subtle adaptations in each of the species.

Swan

The British Isles are home to three species of swan. Namely the Mute Swan, Bewick’s Swan and the Whooper Swan. The Bewick and Whooper swans however only visit during the UK winter, spending the summer months in their breeding grounds near the Arctic.