Brown Hooded Kingfishers are fairly common residents across much of southern Africa. They are usually associated with water although they tend to be more successful as insect eaters rather than fishermen! They prey upon a wide variety of insects but will also hunt frogs, chameleons, lizards and even small rodents. They are monogamous and fiercely territorial, chasing other birds, snakes and lizards away from their nests.

Acknowledgement to photographer Chris Gouws  for the reference photograph.

On a recent visit to the Kruger National Park, I found myself becoming more and more captivated by sightings of birds. Despite the fact that it was during the dry winter months when the migratory birds are far away in the northern hemisphere, it felt as though I was seeing a greater diversity than on many previous occasions; rollers and sunbirds, orioles and kingfishers, barbets, owls and coucals – suddenly it felt as though there were birds everywhere. Looking back at the photographs from the trip, I have become absorbed by the structure of birds, the detail of the feathers, the shape of the bills, the configuration of the tails. As a result of these observations, I’ve now embarked on a series of bird studies – both pencil drawings and watercolours. Given the incredible variety of species in southern Africa, this could be a long journey!

Signed Limited Edition Print on 300 GSM Fine Art Cotton Paper from an original watercolour painting. This print is delivered rolled into a tube, ready for framing. Free worldwide shipping.

Limited Edition of 25 Fine Art Prints.

Size: 420mm x 300mm