26th June
2008
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Welcome
to our third newsletter for 2008. |
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Next Exhibiting Event
Scottish Game Fair, Scone Palace, Scone, by Perth
4th, 5th & 6th July
www.scottishgamefair.com
Stand
number: Osprey 7 (O7)
Once again I shall be exhibiting at the Scottish Game Fair. Take this opportunity to meet me and see what I've been up to recently.
Many
of you on the postal mailing list will already have received notification, but here is a final reminder for
those in touch by email. To be included on the postal mailing
list in future just email your postal address.
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"Druim
Fada Ridge"
Oil painting
24 x 48 inches
For
Sale
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WEBSITE
REDESIGN
The www.martinridley.com
website has now been redesigned to make the most of modern
internet browsers. I hope that you like the improvements.
Please
note*
If
you are running an old version of an internet browser you
might benefit from upgrading it. Version 6 or earlier of Internet
Explorer cannot display the site correctly. I may have slightly
jumped the gun with my upgrade, but the technology that I
have employed has now
been around for six years.
For Windows XP upgrade Internet Explorer to version 7 or try
the widely recommended Firefox Browser (I use it!)
http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/products/firefox/
If you cannot access the www.martinridley.com
pages, but wish to continue browsing my work please visit
my other site.
www.wildlife-art-paintings.co.uk
I
apologize for any inconvenience
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"Amongst
the Crags"
Oil painting
24 x 48 inches
For
Sale
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Those of you who have followed our newsletter for a while will
know about our attempts to attract swifts to nest
in our building. Nestboxes were designed into the fabric of our
home as part of an extension. If you wish to catch up on the story
so far...
Nestbox
News |
Two
swift eggs (4th June 2008)
More
clips are being added as the single hatched chick grows.
http://www.martinridley.com/wildlife-projects/swifts.html
Surprised
Guests
Its
not every day you see a "head torched", bread knife
wielding, balaclava clad, trousers tucked into socks wildlife
artist carrying the remnants of a wasps' nest in a dog's bowl.
This is the sight which greeted our B&B guests last weekend.
For
the past few weeks I have intermittently been playing a CD of
swift calls in an attempt to attract a pair
of
birds to the second swift nesting chamber. Birds had prospected
by flying up to the hole but none had entered. On Saturday I
discovered why, a stream of wasps were spotted flying in and
out.
Removal
of the wasps with any kind of chemical was out of the question
as the residues could put off any swifts in future.
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Long
hours up a ladder
Most of that afternoon was spent up a ladder using a homemade
contraption of one-way tubes and a bottle containing syrupy
liquid to catch as many wasps as possible. Wasps could return
to the nest but met a sticky end on the way out. Eventually
as it got dark with about thirty in the liquid the trap was
wedged in place so that any wasps coming out in the early morning
would also be captured.
Next
day with implements gathered; head torch, dog's bowl full
of water and a trusty bread
knife
together with protective clothing I
accessed the loft above our bedroom to reach the nestbox to
remove the now sizable wasp nest with some seriously angry
inhabitants.
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Its
amazing how quickly you can "work" a bread knife ....
when pressed!
I have now rubbed an odourless soap all over the roof of the
chamber which will apparently discourage wasps from choosing
it as a nest site in future. The CD of swift calls is playing
again this morning !
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Adult
swift incubating the three day old chick (25th June 2008)
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External
links to learn more about swifts
London's
Swifts
Concern
for Swifts (Scotland)
www.commonswift.org
PRINTING SERVICE
There
is a continual stream of new prints. Please follow the links
at the foot of the newsletter to view them. We are now able
to prints of many of my images upon request. Printing is done
to order and takes about two weeks to deliver. Please feel free
to contact us if there are any paintings not already featured
on the prints pages that you would like to order in this way.
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PAINTINGS
FOR SALE
If
you've seen an original that you are interested in purchasing call
or email to confirm availability. We'll note your interest on
a first refusal basis whilst providing a quote for the cost of
delivery.
To
aid your decision making we will gladly provide you with a better
quality enlargement, a photo of the current frame or any other
information. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
If feasible you might like to arrange an appointment to view the
original by visiting the studio.
As
soon as you confirm that you would like to proceed we'll mark
your painting(s) as sold.
To
avoid disappointment call or email as soon as possible. We can
take care of the payment and other arrangements once your chosen
artwork has been reserved.. |
Martin Ridley, Rossal, The Ross, Comrie, Crieff
Perthshire, Scotland PH6 2JU
If you and are unable to see the blue link below
copy down my email address from the image.
Telephone: International +44 1764 670 695
UK 01764 670 695
Try the new www.martinridley.com website
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If
you are interested in purchasing a painting I can send a larger
and better quality image. |
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