It’s name comes from it’s distinctive call which is described so well in the poem I added below by Norman MacCaig. It is said to sound like flint on flint, two stones being struck together. It is a small bird, a bit smaller than a Robin with a bold black head, white collar, rosy breast with an assertive call. It has a big head and a short tail. They prefer coastal farmland habitats for breeding and nesting low to the ground where they dine on insects. They like to perch out in the open sitting upright, often in the gorse. When resting they can be seen fluttering their wings.

Brave and beautiful.

‘Stonechat on Cul Beg’

A flint-on-flint ticking – and there he is,

Trim and dandy – in square miles of bracken

And bogs and boulders a tiny work of art,

Bright as an illumination on a monkish parchment.

I queue up to watch him. He makes me a group

of solemn connoisseurs trying to see the brushstrokes.

I want to thumb the air in their knowing way.

I murmur Chinese black, I murmur alizarin.

But the little picture with four flirts and a delicate

Up-swinging’s landed on another boulder.

He gives me a stained-glass look and keeps

Chick-chacking at me. I suppose he’s swearing.

You’d expect something like oboes or piccolos

(Though other birds, too, have pebbles in their throats –

And of them I love best the airy skylark

Twittering like marbles squeezed in your fist).

Cul Beg looks away – his show’s been stolen.

And the up-staged loch would yawn if it could.

Only the benign sun in his fatherly way

Beams on his bright child throwing a tantrum.

by Norman MacCaig

an Unexpected opportunitiy.

A few weeks ago, I visited mum’s friends and neighbours asking for help. I needed someone with a good enough scanner to scan my ‘Caribbean Woodpecker’, so I could then get it to print.

Earlier that day, I’d been bold enough to pop in to a local Art Gallery and Shop to see if my work was up to par and if they’d be interested in selling some of my prints. It was a bold step for me.

So, with a spring in my step, and hoping that mum’s friends would be able to help me, knowing that they are deeply involved with ‘The Filey Bird Observatory and Group’. I hopped round with my art work and knocked on their door.

I didn’t expect what happened next.

It turned out that they thought my ‘Caribbean Woodpecker’ was quite good and I was invited to draw or paint some birds, from some of their own photos, to contribute to the The Filey Bird Observatory & Group (FBOG) Annual Bird Report - how exciting!

I awaited eagerly for the photos to arrive by email. I was sent 12 to choose from and to do as many as I liked and with a 4 week deadline.

I liked so many, but I decided on this little bird - the Stonechat. Because he is so small and so brave and I felt like him a bit after I’d had such an eventful week breaking through insecurity, ‘What if I’m not good enough?’, lack of confidence and self discipline!

You can see the Stonechat, which I drew from an incredibly beautiful photo mum’s neighbour had taken, next to the poem by Norman MacCaig above. He was so pleased with it - I think he is secretly hoping I’ll do another. I’ll try my best.

He said that for their annual bird report, which is really beautiful and there is more information below, they like their photos and artwork to help people to be able to identify birds, so there is a need for accuracy and that I had got it’s posture right. He said that my ink drawing is good enough for people to be able to identify the Stonechat, and even without colour.

I will find out in the next few weeks if my Stonechat will be used in their next edition.

Later, I may decide to add colour to my ink drawing. We will see.

The Filey Bird Observatory & Group (FBOG)

‘The Filey Bird Observatory & Group (FBOG) aims include the recording and studying of Filey’s birds, and protecting and enhancing local habitats for wildlife (including ownership and management of several nature reserves). Our work is entirely voluntary and reliant on our membership and their generosity. Members receive a range of benefits, as well as regular newsletters, the annual report, and the satisfaction of helping the study and protection of local wildlife.’

‘Membership now stands at over 150, our reserves are in fine fettle, dedicated bird study and wildlife recording are at the forefront of our work, the bird report is going from strength to strength, and FBOG is flourishing in a challenging era.’ - Filey Bird Observatory and Group.
History – Filey Bird Observatory and Group (fbog.org.uk)