No Ducks Today

Sorry folks, no birds today. However, regular readers will know of my liking for art. As the saying goes, “Can't draw for toffee but I know a good picture when I see one.” 

A week or two ago and on my FB feed courtesy of Mr Zuckerberg's algorithms appeared an unfamiliar Northern Artist by the name of Dale Traskowski. I was immediately struck by the vibrant colours, clean lines and strength of the paintings, but also the sense of familiarity that Dale's work aroused. Many of the scenes homed in on Lancashire and an era almost gone; nostalgic, almost wistful in their portrayal of streets, vehicles, people, scenes and landscapes gone by. 

Dale's pictures feature inland Lancashire towns and villages like Brinscall, Chorley, Wheelton, Wigan and White Coppice. I thought there was an influence of the late LS Lowry, Lancashire's most famous artist and I soon christened Dale's images “Lowry on steroids”, paintings with a sense of fun that is rarely found in a Lowry.  

I ordered a print that especially took my eye. “Playing for the Les Pass Trophy, White Coppice cricket pitch”, a signed and numbered limited edition, framed and delivered for the incredible bargain price of £70.  The Internet version of the print brought memories of lazy summer days spent watching cricket with a pint of Boddingtons to hand. I couldn't wait to see the print for real. 

Cricket has history in our family. When the kids were younger we travelled to Old Trafford many times to watch Lancashire County Cricket Club play and also to Stanley Park and Lytham cricket grounds when Lancashire played home games at their “out” grounds. 

Middle son Carl played for Fylde Cricket Club for a number of years where he was a more than useful player. This theme is now taken up by grandson Theo, aged 15, who has a regular place in the Fylde CC second team and where he is challenging for promotion to the first team. 

Fast forward a few weeks and a message from Dale that he would deliver my picture and use the opportunity to visit Knott End on Sea, a mile or two from here in Stalmine.  Knott End just happens to be a regular haunt of LS Lowry in the mid 1900s.  Maybe my suspicions were justified?

Knott End Jetty, Wyre Estuary/Fleetwood Town by LS Lowry 

 

Knott End, Wyre Estuary/Fleetwood Town

A Lowry statue at Knott End slipway was unveiled in September 2015. The Fleetwood to Knott End ferry features in several of Lowry’s drawings and paintings. He had a long association with the Fylde region, the statue a landmark to celebrate his association with the area. Lowry visited Knott End frequently in the 1940s and 1950s. He stayed at boarding houses on the sea front and became a familiar figure to local people. They would observe him making sketches on whatever he had to hand. Hotel note paper, old receipts, napkins, envelopes and even toilet paper would be put to good use as he drew the landscapes and the people within them. 

Sue and I drove to Knott End with Dale, his wife, also Sue, and their two beautiful and lively sheep dogs, Mist and Bertie. Here's Dale and Bertie with Mr Lowry who's striding out to catch the Knott End ferry that crosses the Wyre Estuary to Fleetwood.  Bertie didn't much like the camera.

Dale Traskowski, LS Lowry and Bertie

 

The modern day Knott End to Fleetwood Ferry

We left Dale and Sue to explore Knott End. I later learnt they had found Knott End Chippy, probably the best chippy in the area. 

Back home my print of White Coppice cricket hangs in the hallway where visitors and family alike can admire it at their leisure. 

Playing for the Les Pass Trophy, White Coppice cricket pitch - Dale Traskowski

 

We felt privileged to meet Dale and family in person. For sure his recent venture of a web site will showcase his art and lead to a talent becoming more widely recognised. 

I urge readers to visit Dale's web site Dale's Art from where I predict they will find it difficult to resist a purchase from the many pictures destined to catch their eye. 

Dale will also take orders for one-offs and commissions.  Give him a bell and place the order. 

Stick In The Mud

This is a short post, mainly because there's not much to include by way of news from my quick visits to the Knott End and then Pilling patches before babysitting duties took precedence. 

I started off at Knott End where although the tide was well out and three hours to go, there were birds to see at the far-off but approaching tideline: 2000+ Oystercatchers, 55 Bar-tailed Godwits, 18 Sanderling, 22 Turnstone, 45 Redshank, 190 Lapwing, 4000 Knot and 5 Eider. 

Redshank

Judging the height and bore of tide here on the Wyre Estuary is a bit tricky, even for experienced sailors. From today’s local Blackpool Gazette: 

“Seventeen people were stranded on the Fleetwood to Knott End vessel for more than three hours on Saturday when it hit a sandbank. The Wyre Rose got into difficulty at 1.45pm during a journey to Knott End and was unable to move until the tide came in at 5pm. 

Knott End coastguard was called out to the scene to ensure the people on board, including three crew, were safe and well – and to determine any damage to the ferry. The skipper of the Wyre Rose, said high pressure weather patterns had affected the tide. He said: “The tide would normally have been over three metres but it was less than two metres. I even left Fleetwood early before it got any lower but we still got stuck.” 

However, the skipper said he kept up the spirits of the passengers by serving them tea and coffee, Quality Street chocolates and having a sing-a-long to songs on Smooth FM radio. He said: “The passengers understood and some of them said it would give them something to tell their friends and relatives about.” 

Wyre Estuary, Knott End

Despite outward appearances life is never dull at Knott End or Pilling 

Stopping at Wheel Lane/Fluke Hall junction I checked over the flooded stubble hoping to see a Curlew Sandpiper for my December list but none showed. There were the usual Black-tailed Godwits only 30 today, a solitary Whooper Swan, 1 Snipe, 22 Redshank, 1 Oystercatcher and 4 Stock Dove. From a distance and in certain landscapes a Stock Dove can look surprisingly blue always standing out from any accompanying grey Woodpigeons, although the two species don’t always mix company. Thirty plus Woodpigeons was a slight increase on recent counts. 

Stock Dove

The pools and maize crop produced 18 Wigeon, 14 Teal and 18 Shelduck, all suitably wild and keen to flee from my approach. I have discounted the 150+ reluctant-to-fly, obese and overfed Mallards whose date with destiny will arrive soon via the local sportsmen. Also 2 Reed Bunting, 3 Meadow Pipit, 40+ Linnets and 14 Skylark. 

Along the shore I counted a minimum of 12 Little Egrets, keeping an eye out for any stray Great White Egrets, a species I missed by minutes at Conder Green on Sunday. 

That Kingfisher looks like it was watching the Great White Egret sailing effortlessly above as I stuck to the task in hand, eye glued to the viewfinder hoping the sun might come out. That Kingfisher is a little like me, never trying anywhere different, hitting the same old spots, hoping something might turn up but it rarely does.

Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Well you never know, maybe one day?

Linking today to Stewart's World Bird Wednesday Gallery , Anni's Blog and Eileen's Saturday Critters .