Remembering Keith Shackleton - bird artist's fine work will catch the eye at forthcoming Salisbury auction

                                                        

EXPLORER and artist Keith Shackleton MBE (1923-2015) established a reputation for his superb studies of birdlife in Antarctica.

Prior to committing himself full-time to art, he spent five years in the RAF before joining the family aviation business as a salesman and pilot.

In childhood, Shackleton attended Oundle School - the same as Sir Peter Scott with whom he was to share travels and whom he helped set up the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust  of which he became vice-president.

Like Sir Peter, he also became a TV presenter, co-presenting Animal Magic with Johnny Morris in the 1960s before hosting his own series, Animals in Action, in the late 1970s.

On June 2, a copy of his book, Keith Shackleton - An Autobiography in Paintings is due to go under the hammer at an auction to be held by Woolley and Wallis at their saleroom in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Included in the same Lot (and likely to be its  main attraction) is one of his non-polar works - his handsome oil on canvas board study, A Rural Landscape with Geese.

The pre-sale guide price for the Lot - the two items - is £400-£600. 

                                                            

Anyone care to identify the species of the geese?

Set back for Orkney stoat eradication campaign as species spreads to outlying island

                                                                  

The campaign to eliminate Orkney's stoats has faltered

THERE has been a setback in the campaign to eradicate stoats from The Orkneys.

It emerged last week that  one has been sighted on the island Rousay whereas previously they had been confined to the Orkney mainland and linked isles.

A statement issued by Orkney Native Wildlife Project reads:  "We have some bad news to share.

"Evidence of the Rousay individual came from one of the trail cameras we have on the island.

"This is really concerning news for the community, nature and the whole of Orkney. 

"Even by Orkney’s high standards, Rousay is an important place for nature - from breeding seabirds to birds of moorland, peatland and lochans such as  Curlews, Red-throated Divers, Hen Harriers and Short-eared Owls.

"It is also one of the nine islands in Orkney that is home to the Orkney vole, found nowhere else on earth."

The statement continues: "As part of the response, we have additional traps, cameras including AI cameras and dog searches happening as we work to remove the stoat and get a better understanding of the situation.

"We were able to act quickly thanks to the diligence of visitors, who reported they may have seen a stoat, and because of the landowners that had already granted access as part of biosecurity measures. 

"We are also incredibly fortunate to have trained incursion volunteers on the island who are now part of the response.

"We are now asking all visitors and residents to be extra vigilant and report any potential stoat sightings on Rousay immediately."

Because stoats are strong swimmers, it is thought the Rousay individual may have made its incursion under its own steam.

The invasive Rousay stoat - as captured on trail camera

                               

Natural England duo expect Exmoor's re-introduced White-tailed Eagles to feed on "fish and coastal birds"

                                                  

Soon to be soaring over Exmoor - White-tailed Eagles

UP to 20 White-tailed Eagles are to be re-introduced  over the next three years to Exmoor in Devon despite opposition from farmers fearful that young livestock could fall victim to the huge birds of prey

Go-ahead for the initiative was today announced by Natural England and the Forestry Commission who have been working on the project with the Roy Dennis Foundation which has extensive experience of raptor re-introduction programmes in Scotland and the Isle of Wight.  

In a statement issued today, Roxannne Gardiner and Olivia Beatty, both of Natural England, say:

"We are aware that some  have raised concerns about the project, especially around livestock predation. 

"Our team have joined meetings with farming sector representatives and read the local consultation responses. 

"These concerns have been fully considered.

"We understand that there are genuine fears but have also reflected on evidence from six years of monitoring the 45 birds released by the Isle of Wight project, and their offspring, which shows no recorded feeding on lambs or other livestock."

So what do re-introduced White-tailed Eagles eat? 

The statement continues: "The Isle of Wight birds have only been observed to take natural prey, preferring fish and coastal birds, which is in line with comparable areas in Europe."

Natural England says there will be a project steering group that includes farming sector representatives.

There will also be a commitment to long‑term monitoring of the eagles’ activities, both through GPS tracking and through activity reporting forms.

The licence duration is for 11 years, by which time the project team reckon released birds should have "settled and begun breeding".

Newspaper columnist claims introduced Egyptian Geese may be 'stealing' nest sites from Barn Owls

                                                             

A family of Egyptian Geese - these birds were snapped in the grounds of the Sandringham estate where they used to be watched by the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip 

A COLUMNIST in The Daily Telegraph newspaper has claimed fast-spreading Egyptian Geese, an 'alien' species,  may be  "stealing" nests from Barn Owls.

Matt Ridley writes: "Egyptian Geese can be territorial and like to nest in holes in trees, so they steal owl boxes from barn owls."

In his article, the writer reflects on other introduced species such as Ruddy Ducks and Ring-necked Parakeets, suggesting that the latter have been detected attacking noctule bats in Spain.

Mr Ridley also makes an interesting - and perhaps arguable - comment about competition between native Greylag Geese and Canada Geese.  

"Where I live, the Canada Geese population has collapsed under competitive pressure from native Greylag Geese," he writes. "The Greylag retreated to the Hebrides in the mid-20th Century but has come back strong, driving Canada Geese away from favoured nest sites and is now a pest eating the grass intended for sheep."

Returning to the Egyptian Goose, the author concludes: "I am told Egyptian Geese make for an excellent game bird and are widely hunted in their native native environs."  

Matt Ridley's lively (and contentious) article in The Daily Telegraph

Blame bug on the birdwatchers! Tabloid newspaper points accusatory finger at gull-watching birders

 

A reader of The Wryneck  has submitted this headline from a recent edition of The Sun newspaper in its coverage of the virus infection on board a cruise ship in the Atlantic. The report indicates that the bug came from rats which were scuttling about a landfill site where birders were on the look-out for rare gulls which frequently scavenge such habitats. But the headline seems to be a 'downer' on birders, implicating them, as much as  the rodents,  for the infection.

RSPB courts controversy with decision to pull out of important Rye Meads wetland reserve in Hertfordshire

                                          

The reserve is important for birds such as Kingfishers, Bearded Tits, Little Ringed Plovers and migrating waders (photo: RSPB)

THE RSPB today announced that it intends to "withdraw" from its long-held wetland reserve at Rye Meads in Hertfordshire.

The society is exploring opportunities for radical cuts in expenditure, and it seems this reserve is to be an early casualty.

In a statement issued today, it says: "The RSPB exists to deliver the greatest possible impact for nature. 

"To ensure we can continue doing this sustainably, we reviewed our operations across the UK to focus our resources where they can achieve the most for wildlife.

"We know that many people who enjoy visiting and supporting RSPB Rye Meads have been keen for an update on the reserve’s long-term future. 

"Over the past 18 months we have explored a range of options for the site and have worked closely with our landlords, as well as other organisations, to consider the best way forward.

"We can now confirm that the RSPB will be withdrawing from Rye Meads in November. 

"At that time, management of the site will be handed back to the landowner. The reserve will be closed from Monday November 2 to allow transition to new management." 

The statement continues: "We will continue to work collaboratively with partners and the landowner to secure the best possible outcome for the future of the site and the wildlife that depends on it, and we will share further updates when we are able to.

"We are extremely proud of everything that has been achieved at Rye Meads during our tenure, including the important conservation designations that will help protect the site and its wildlife for the long term. 

"Until our withdrawal in November 2026, Rye Meads will remain open and operating as normal, including throughout the coming summer and early autumn months. 

"We encourage visitors to continue enjoying the reserve and to check our Facebook page or our web page for events and updates on the future of the site.

"We would like to thank our dedicated staff and volunteers who have contributed so much to Rye Meads over the years and to the many visitors whose enthusiasm and support have helped make the reserve such a special place."

The landowners are believed to be Thames Water.

* The RSPB is currently recruiting for fundraisers in Middlesbrough, Leeds, Bangor, Manchester, Bristol and Croydon/ South London.

Research project yielding valuable information about breeding grounds of Britain's overwintering Snipe

                                                           

Snipe - a declining marshland species  

VALUABLE information about the migration of Snipe is being revealed by ongoing research.

In March this year, seven birds were tagged - one in Fife and six in Cornwall with a view to establishing where they breed.

Data from the GPS tags suggests that two of the birds have remained in situ, but the latest whereabouts of the other five records have been at sites in  Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Germany.

Bleddyn Thomas, who captured the birds and tagged them at both sites, comments: "It is  not possible yet to say with certainty whether these are where our tagged Snipe will breed, as they could continue to travel further. 

"Nevertheless, the differences in the directions taken by these individuals highlights the geographic variation in the breeding locations of the UK's overwintering snipe. 

"We will now wait and see where they remain over summer."

According to the Game and Wildlife Cnservation  Trust, which is undertaking the research, the tags being used are some of the smallest available for bird migration studies and weigh only two grammes, but when the leg harnesses and foam bases are added to the tags, the weight increases to three grammes. 

It is a requirement that the weight of the tag should not be over three per cent of the body weight of the bird to ensure that the tag does not impede its natural behaviour. 

Once a familiar sight in our wetlands, breeding numbers of Snipe have notably declined across the UK lowlands and in many parts of Europe, and this has affected the British  wintering population.

Historical changes in land use have been the main driver of the decline, with wet meadows being drained and wetland habitats being lost or degraded. 

Climate change may also be affecting  breeding and migration patterns.

Researchers hope that the study will indicate how best to support conservation of the species.

Tagged and ready for release - one of the Snipe