Bid of up to £300 - maybe more - are expected when the Lots above and below go up for auction later this month. Each contains several titles which are likely to be of interest to book-reading birders. The sale, which also includes several antiquarian ornithological titles, is being conducted by auction house Dominic Winter at their saleroom in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, on Wednesday May 13.
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| The Gannet was able to waddle from the saltmarsh to a footpath where it would have been vulnerable to off-the-lead dogs had not Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue come to its aid |
THERE are hopes of a full recovery for a Gannet that made a crash-landing near the leisure centre in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, yesterday morning.
Gannets, which breed on cliffs in Yorkshire and elsewhere around the British coast, are marine birds which find lifting off from dry land a challenge.
One fanciful theory is that it mistook the leisure centre for a cliff, then, confusing it for sea, landed on shallow saltmarsh water during high tide and became stranded when the water receded.
After its discovery, the team at the National Coastwatch Institution look-out cabin maintained a watching brief until Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue could come to the bird's aid.
CWR takes up the story thus: "Gannets are among the UK’s largest seabirds.
"When they are not plunge-diving into the sea at speeds of up to 60mph, they are usually found nesting and resting along steep cliff edges.
"If they land on flat beaches like Cleethorpes - or are washed ashore after rough seas - they can struggle to become airborne again.
"We suspect this bird was attempting to continue its journey north towards the cliffs further up the coast."
The statement continues: "Ads a high-risk species on a high-risk coastline for avian influenza, this bird underwent three separate assessments before entering rescue: the first at the scene before collection, the second outside the rescue centre and the third within our isolation bay.
"We are pleased to report that, aside from a fairly typical ectoparasite burden and being slightly underweight, the bird is in good overall health.
"Our fantastic veterinary partners at Eastfields have since carried out a full health-check and given the all-clear for rehabilitation to continue.
"A huge thank you to local photographer Rob for providing clear images that allowed us to assess the bird safely from a distance, and to Cleethorpes Coastwatch for their monitoring and observations throughout."
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| Cliff-like? Cleethorpes Leisure Centre sits next to saltmarsh |
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| Making progress - there are hopes that the bird will soon be fit enough for release (photo: Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue) |
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| Is that a Wren or is it a Heron? Birders try out the optical gear at a previous Birdfair |
WITH the big weekend little more than two months away, the organisers of Global Birdfair have unveiled a taster of some of the talks that will feature.
Among the speakers on the opening day, Friday July 10, will be old favourites Keith Betton and Martin Kelsey, while the RSPB's Jenny Weston is due to describe the organisation's collaborative efforts to save the Steppe Eagle, an endangered migratory species.
Also likely to be of interest will be a presentation in which Lloyd Scott will discuss the Campaign Against Bird Slaughter's ongoing efforts to halt bird-poaching at bird migration hotspots in the Mediterranean.
Below is a list of some of what has, provisionally, been arranged for the Avocet lecture theatre on Day 1, but much fuller information is on Global Birdfair's own website: Global BirdFair.
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| Worrying time for those on board the MV Hondius and their families at home (photo: Oceanwide Expeditions) |
HOW once-in-a-lifetime wildlife-watching holiday in the Antarctic turned to tragedy remains the subject of intense investigation.
As is being widely reported in international media, three MV Hondius passengers - a Dutch couple and one German - have lost their lives, reportedly after having contracted a rare virus that is sometimes carried in the droppings or urine of rodents or deer.
Meanwhile, a poorly British passenger has been evacuated and is being treated in the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Johannesburg.
Two of the 70 crew members are also said to be extremely ill with breathing difficulties.
The MV Hondius is operated by Dutch company Oceanwide Expeditions which specialises in birding and wildlife-watching holidays in the Antarctic and the Arctic.
It currently has on board a total of 149 passengers and crew of 23 nationalities
Since leaving Ushuaia in Argentina about three weeks ago, the ship has stopped in mainland Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan, St. Helena, Ascension and Cape Verde while en route to the Canary Islands.
Because of concerns about transmission of the virus, the ship has not been allowed to dock in any port, and has been anchored off the coast of Cape Verde.
In a statement issued earlier today, Oceanwide Expeditions, said: "Local health authorities have visited the vessel and assessed the situation.
"Oceanwide Expeditions is working closely with local and international authorities, including the World Health Organisation, relevant embassies and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"At the same time, preparations are being made for possible medical repatriation and next steps.
"The option of sailing on to Las Palmas or Tenerife are being considered to be the gateway for disembarkation, where further medical screening and handling could take place.
"Strict precautionary measures are in process on board, including isolation measures, hygiene protocols and medical monitoring.
"Oceanwide Expeditions is in close contact with those directly involved and their families, and is providing support where possible.
"We understand the considerable interest and concern and will share new information as soon as it has been verified. "
Below is a list of the nationalities of those on board the ship
Has Yorkshire-based auction house Tennants been slightly cautious in estimating a selling price of between just £100 and £150 for this stunning pastel study of a Peregrine Falcon signed by the Wensleydale-based artist Robert Nicholls? We thinks bids will go higher before the hammer falls at the sale on Friday May 8. More of the artist's work can be seen at Yorkshire Landscape and Wildlife Artists - Robert Nicholls
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| Scenic - the island enjoys an extraordinarily beautiful backdrop |
A 103-acre island home to nesting Ospreys and visiting White-tailed Eagles has been put on the market with a price tag of £3-million.
Former Desert Island Discs presenter Kirsty Young and her businessman husband, Nick Jones, have decided to sell the richly-wooded Inchconnachan Island in Loch Lomond.
It is believed they paid about £1-million for it and its three-bedroom house about five years ago.
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The island used to be home to Capercaillies, but, according to the RSPB, they have long since departed - a consequence of predation of eggs and chicks by pine martens, foxes and crows, plus human disturbance.
The Capercaillies - known as 'kings of the forest' - will also have been disadvantaged by the presence of fallow deer and by the introduction, in 1940, of non-native Red-necked Wallabies which may have provided grazing competition and crushed chicks and eggs by their mode of movement.
What birds are there now on Inchconnachan Island, one of about 10 islands in Loch Lomond?
Surveys, the last two of which were carried out on two dates in August 2023, have revealed the presence of the following species:
* Blackbird
* Blue tit
* Carrion crow
* Jackdaw
* Raven
* Chaffinch
* Cormorant
* Dipper
* Dunnock
* Fieldfare
* Goldcrest
* Goosander
* Jay
* Little grebe
* Long-tailed tit
* Mistle thrush
* Redwing
* Robin
* Treecreeper
* Woodcock
* Woodpigeon
* Wren
* Grey wagtail
* Chaffinch
* Goldcrest
* Nuthatch
* Willow warbler
* Siskin
* Osprey
Since last year, there has been planning consent to extend the living accommodation on condition that, prior to the start of development, "a breeding birds protection plan shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by the planning authority" which is Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
The consent also insists on a detailed "protection plan" for nesting Ospreys.
The joint selling agents are Knight Frank (0131 222 9600) in Edinburgh and Savills (0141 222 5864) in Glasgow.
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| The trees consist mostly of bird-attracting species such as oak and birch plus Scots Pine |
