Wood shed haven

I photographed this robin nesting in my friend Nick Coates' wood shed. Birds like his shed despite the fact that it is very busy and noisy.

In fact his workshop is a haven for all sorts of nesting birds, including this blackbird which chose to raise her brood on top of a strimmer and this mistle thrush pair nesting in the guttering.

Nick is a keen birdwatcher and these birds will put up with any amount of noisy machinery knowing they are safe from predators if they stay close to him.
Click here to read my latest column in the Yorkshire Post on the unusual nesting spots in Nick's workshop.

Summer exhibition opens

My exhibition opens today and runs until 10th June - so hope to see you at the gallery. See all the latest originals at http://www.robertefuller.com/acatalog/Originals.html

Badger Trust Award

I am very proud to have received this glass badger from the Badger Trust - but somewhat humbled to have been presented it by Jean Thorpe, the Badger Trust's Ryedale representative, who does more anyone I know to protect badgers.

I was awarded it for providing evidence in court last year that helped to convict a gang of badger baiters.But my actions pale in significance compared to the work that Jean Thorpe does every day to protect these shy wild creatures.

My new studio is just about finished. There are still workmen stomping through but I've begun painting in it already -  even if the banging about sometimes jogs my paintbrush!

It's taken a year to complete but it's really taking shape now. Underneath there will be new offices.
The very best thing about it is the amount of light that now comes into the studio.

And the view!!!!!

House hunting for little owls

When I spotted a pair of little owls inspecting rabbit holes for their nesting potential in Thixendale, I decided to show them some other potential properties.

Little owls only use rabbit holes when there are no other available sites. But the valley they had chosen to nest in was once a popular haunt for little owls and there is a hole in an ash tree that is just small enough for them to fit in but not big enough for any predatory birds to follow.

When I saw them begin preening and crooning above the rabbit hole they had seemed to have plumped for I couldn't help getting a ladder to see why they had rejected the ash.

It turned out that the hole in the ash was completely blocked up with old leaves so I set about giving it a spring clean and then sat back to see if they could be persuaded to change their minds about the rabbit hole, which was very exposed.

It wasn't long before the male spotted the newly cleaned out hole and called the female over to take a look for herself. She appeared to like it too because shortly afterwards they began to mate.

I spent the rest of that day watching and photographing this charming pair.

 I caught this one on camera just as he coughed up a pellet.

Up it comes!
Clike here to read my column in the Malton Gazette & Herald this month for the full story.

Gannets at Bempton

The gannets have arrived at Bempton RSPB reserve in huge numbers.

The reserve near Flamborough is always a great place to visit and at this time of year it is at its busiest. I visited to see if I could spot puffins, but there were none about that day. The sheer numbers of gannets made up for the lack of puffins though.

This stretch of coastline is home to the only mainland gannet colony in the UK and these elegant birds are among thousands of sea birds that come to breed on the spectacular chalk cliffs here.

It is mesmerising to watch them as they jostle for nesting sites.

The sites are just a pecking position apart - which makes it also a very noisy place!

Olympic Art Show- May 26th-June 10th

I'm staging an art show of Olympian proportions next month. I'll be showcasing my latest paintings of some of Britain's greatest wildlife athletes at this free exhibition.

And there are plenty of nature events for you to book on to too, including bird watching, wildlife safaris, flower-arranging and cookery demonstrations.  Below is a list of all that is on offer:

Badgers by Owlight.
Friday 1st & 8th June 7.30pm-10pm Tickets £15
Let myself and professional birdwatcher Michael Flowers guide you across the Yorkshire Wolds at twilight. Click here to book

Birds of Millington Pastures
Sat 2nd June 10.30am-12 noon and Sun 10th June 1.30pm-3pm
Tickets £10A walk across this Wolds valley led by professional birdwatcher Michael Flowers
Click here to book

Wildlife of Wharram Percy
Sat 2nd June 1.30pm-3pm Tickets £10.00 and Sun June 10th 10.30am-12 noon. Tickets £10.
See hares, abundant birdlife and deer in this abandoned medieval village. Walk led by Michael Flowers
Click here to book







Italian Cookery
Sun June 3rd 7.30pm-9pm Tickets £10.00
Former intensive care nurse Sara Danesin-Medio shows how she wowed TV’s MasterChef judges with delicious Italian dishes in a cookery demonstration.
Click here to book

Landscapes of the Wolds
Sat May 26th 7.30pm-9pm Tickets £10
Superb photography of the Yorkshire Wolds sideshow by Paul Moon.
Click here to book

Fabulous Summer Flowers
Sat June 9th 7.30pm-9pm Tickets £10Flower arranging by Fiona Hogg To book visit Click here to book









And whilst you enjoy the paintings, let the children join an art workshop, take lessons in bush craft skills or join a mini mammal safari. Choose from the kids events below; all kid's tickets £6.50:

Essential Bushcraft May 27th 3-7yrs 10am-12 noon, 8yrs+ 1pm-3.30pm
June 10th 10am-12 noon 3-7yrs 1pm-3.30pm 8yrs+ Teach the kids to light fires, forage for dinner and build shelters at these lessons in survival skills.

Mini Mammal Safaris 3+ years May 26th & June 9th 10am-12pm
Catch voles and shrews in animal friendly traps and learn the differences between the species.

Art workshops
Branch weaving May 26th 11am-12noon 8yrs+
Nature gardenMay 26th 1pm-2pm 3-7yrs
Clay sculpturesMay 27th 11am-12 noon 8yrs+

Leaf printingMay 27th 1pm-2pm 3-7yrs
Nature Collage June 9th 11am-12 noon 8yrs+ and 1pm-2pm 3-7yrs

Nature in the FrameJune 10th 11am-12 noon 8yrs+
& 1pm-2pm 3-7yrs
There is disabled access to the gallery/ Please wear appropriate footwear for all outdoor events.
Please click on the invitation below to download your own personal invitation to the exhibition.