Photographed at Watatunga Wildlife Reserve in Norfolk. Ed Pope converted 170 acres of Norfolk farmland to create ‘as wild a habitat as possible for captive breeding program of declining or threatened deer, antelope and birds for possible release back into the wild. A Norfolk Serengeti.’

'My initial observation in the autumn revealed the character of this mighty bird; I was bowled over by his energetic character, full of humour and his jaunty gait; his strong, long neck; crazed patterning; enormous, glowering almost prehistoric looking eye and fabulous, long, floaty cheek whiskers, reminding me of an Edwardian gentleman. Plenty to explore in charcoal.

And there was more…Something I could never have imagined:his extraordinary sound, a sort of mixture of unique honk, followed by a raspy, throaty tongue trilling… finishing with a heavy sigh; extraordinary! and completely unpredictable…
Utterly captivating, hugely entertaining… I was hooked by this unforgettable feathered dandy. I left with the promise of even more to behold in the Spring.

Returning in March, I was not disappointed, and in fact witnessed one of the most profound encounters with an animal I’ve ever experienced. A 2 hour photography session with him began with me setting off in a golf buggy to locate him in his free ranging expansive lands. After half an hour or so of regarding each other, alternating follow my leader around the parked buggy, exchanging pecks with appreciative encouraging words, Dave the bustard (named after the chairman and creator of the Great Bustard Group, David Waters) suddenly sunk his long neck into his chest and a quick turn of events suddenly unfolded before my very eyes, nearly making me drop my camera in awe:

The neck disappeared and was replaced by a bulging pronouncement of bulbous chest feather, wafting in the soft Norfolk spring air, from which his cheeky and by now gigantic eye peered with a triumphant gaze; his wings appeared to flip inside out and spin underneath, creating an intricate cartwheel of white under feather unfolding from head to ground; the brown black zigzagzing feather of the back hoisted up suddenly and converted into a towering mass of fluffy white bottom which jerked insistently, provocatively and hazardously into the air, fluttering on the breeze whilst he slowly and triumphantly turned in circles before me.' - Lucy Boydell

Back in the studio Lucy selected the frame with no difficulty: she wanted to draw him at his peak moment, appreciating the magic that this bird felt and displayed to his utmost atom. Lucy celebrates the intricate construction of layers, feathering, pattern and texture, combined with the mechanism of unfolding. This charcoal was drawn over 4 weeks to a scale celebrating the detail. 

There were moments she became caught up in the drawing, mostly the wing, imagining Vivienne Westwood-like headdresses/brooches adorning outfits made of layers and layers of voluminous material and feathers, echoing the flamboyant and exotic feel of the bird.

A true celebration, behold ‘The Great Bustard Spectacular’!

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