Stewart Sexton Sketchbook of UK Rarities

Stewart has been birding since the age of nine ( 32 years and counting ) mostly in his home county of Northumberland with occasional sorties after ‘fancied ‘ rarities. Some of his drawings have been published in ‘Where to watch birds in North East England’ and he regularly contributes to the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club annual report, Birds in Northumbria. "This is a selection of my field notes taken from 2004. They are ‘rough and ready’ as all were drawn on site with either ballpoint pen or pencil. Colour is added later on at home with water colour or pencil. In todays ‘high tec’ birding environment, a field notebook is becoming almost as rare as the birds depicted!" emailto: stewartsexton _AT_ btinternet.com 6th Jan 2004 American Robin, Pyewipe, Grimsby A lifer for me, and probably my bird of the year. 6th Jan 2004. Sardinian Warbler, Skegness. Second lifer of the day, it took a lot more effort to see than the Robin. 6th April 2004. Long billed Dowitcher, Bothal Pond An excellent bird, my second in Northumberland. 3rd Oct 2004. Squacco Heron, East Chevington The first twitchable in Northumberland. 31st Oct 2004. Masked Shrike, Kilrenny A first for Britain. 12th Dec 2004. Rough Legged Buzzard, Whitley Bay Tremendous views of this bird. 29th Dec 2004. Sora, Attenborough Pits What a way to end the year, another yank lifer.