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| Eastern Screech Owl and Northern Saw-Whet Owl, neither native British species, are included in the sale |
TO take birds - dead or alive - is today mostly illegal, except with a few species and only in special circumstances.
But before the 1939-4 war, trapping songbirds and shooting larger ones, such as birds of prey, was common and accepted as a legitimate form of recreation.
Some stuffed and mounted victims of the 'hobby' are up for auction next week to be held by John Taylors of Louth in Lincolnshire.
In total there are six separate Lots, with species including Sparrowhawk, Barn Owl, Little Owl, Long-eared Owl, Kingfisher and Blue Tit.
What sort of a person buys the products of taxidermy?
Says James Laverack, of John Taylors: "They are bought and collected for any number of reasons - for study, for education, for display or even acquired as a decorative art form - a quirky form of decoration for the sitting room, perhaps, but then quirky sells."
Bids of up to £50, maybe more, are expected when they go under the hammer on March 10.
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| Handsome male Snow Bunting in breeding plumage |
DURING his lifetime (1920-1992), Gloucestershire artist Oliver Heywood was perhaps somewhat under-appreciated.
As a result, his landscape paintings command firm - but not spectacular - prices when they come up for sale.
The Lot is expected to fetch between £300 and £400.
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| Herring Gulls in dancing flight over rock where Cormorants are perched |
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| Oman is a favourite destination for British birders at this time of year |
THE flare-up in the Middle East has created a worry for the many birders currently on holiday in Oman and other parts of the region during for the spring migration.
There are already deadly missiles in the sky, and the situation will only get more dangerous if Iran decides to expand the conflict.
Among tour companies currently running holidays in Oman is Naturetrek whose customers are believed to be midway through a 13-day break in pursuit of desert specialities (including sandgrouse and Greater Hoopoe-Lark), seabirds (such as Persian Shearwater, Jouanin’s Petrel and Red-billed Tropicbird) and numerous waders, plus exciting residents including Arabian Eagle-Owl, Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak and Arabian and Hume’s Wheatears.
Oman is not in the front line of conflict apart from one incident at the commercial port, Duqm, which was targeted by two drones, one of which struck a mobile workers' housing unit, injuring an expatriate worker
Debris from the second drone landed in an area adjacent to fuel storage tanks, with no resultant loss of life or material damage.
However, Foreign Office advice to nationals is not to travel to the southern city of Salalah (or within 100km) where the last four days of the birding holiday are due to be spent before the flight back to Heathrow.
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| Extinct but definitely not forgotten - Chris captured this unique photograph of the world's last-known Slender-billed Curlew |
"For each print sold I will make a donation of £10 to Curlew Action (registered charity no. 1187172)."
Prospective purchasers can email Chris at chris@chrisgomersall.co.uk with contact details, including postal address, and he will reply with information on how to pay securely.
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| Was a Snow Goose among these Whooper Swans? Too far away to tell |
Date: February 22, 2026
Time: 3.55pm - 4.55pm
Weather: Sunny but blustery
Target species: Snow Goose (one had been reported here earlier in the week)
Star species seen: Crane
Other species seen included:
* Long-tailed Tit
* Blue Tit
* Marsh Harrier
* Red Kite
* Little Egret
* Whooper Swan
* Shoveler
* Barn Owl
* Wigeon
* Mallard
* Cormorant
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| The copse at Pode Hall provides habitat for Long-tailed Tits and other passerines |
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| This group of birders' quest for an elusive Snow Goose proved in vain |
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As many as 11 Marsh Harriers were counted at the two sites   |
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