Auction surprise as Sir Peter Scott's oil-on-canvas of Cuckoo in flight over sand dunes fails to find buyer

                                                                 

THERE was a surprise at an auction in Knightsbridge last week when a striking painting by Sir Peter Scott was withdrawn from the sale after bidding failed to reach the reserve price.

Sir Peter (1909-1989) is well known for his studies of wild swans, geese and ducks, often in flight.

At the same sale, conducted by Bonhams, Sir Peter's painting of Geese in Flight (below) fetched £6,400  - well above the pre-sale estimate of £3,000 to £5,000.

There was an expectation that his oil-on-canvas (above) of a Cuckoo  over Sand Dunes might sell for an even higher price given that this is a species not often depicted by this artist.

But even the cautious pre-sale guide price of between £2,500 and £3,500 proved to be over-ambitious.

The minimum acceptable bid has not been revealed, but, whatever, it was, the figure was not reached.

It is understood that the would-be vendor is now willing to consider post-auction bids.

More information from Catherine.King@bonhams.com or  tel 020 7393 3884. 

                                                                   

There's no greater Guillemot enthusiast than Tim Birkhead - but Bullfinches aren't so far behind

                                              

Tim Birkhead - man of many talents

GUEST speaker at this week's annual meeting of the Lincolnshire Bird Club will be Prof Tim Birkhead who has long taught  animal behaviour and the history of science at the University of Sheffield.

His particular interest in birds has taken him all over the world in his quest better to understand what motivates every aspect of their behaviour from feeding to breeding.

Tim (75) is also an author whose authoritative and entertaining  books  include The Red Canary,  The Wisdom of Birds: An Illustrated History of Ornithology,  Sperm Competition in Birds, The Magpies and Bird Sense: What It Is Like To Be A Bird.

However, his most recent work is The Great Auk: Its  Extraordinary Life, Hideous Death and Mysterious Afterlife. 

Published by Bloomsbury last year, it is a highly readable study of a bird that has captured the imagination of birders since it became extinct in the mid-19th Century.

Tim was born and brought up in Leeds where he went to school before attending the University of Newcastle where Zoology was his degree subject.

After graduating, he continued in the academic world, completing  a doctorate  on the ecology and behaviour of Guillemots on Skomer Island, off the Welsh Coast. This is probably his favourite species, along with, at home,  the Eurasian Bullfinch and, overseas, the Long-tailed Sylph - one of the South American hummingbirds.   

Aged 26, he was offered a position at Sheffield University where he has been ever since.

The father-of-three  attributes his interest in birds largely to his father who was a birdwatcher and who built him an aviary in the garden of the family home in Leeds

Among its occupants were Zebra Finches which, many years later, were kept in an aviary at Sheffield University to serve as main study species for a project to establish how birds' eggs are fertilised and how embryos develop. 

Had Tim's work as a scientist and author not kept him busy and fulfilled, he reckons he might like to have pursued a career as an artist, possibly specialising in the depiction of birds.

He includes painting among his recreational interests along with walking in the Peak District and playing the guitar, sometimes with colleagues.

Among professional guitarists he admires are  Eric Clapton, J. J. Cale, Rye Cooder and Paul Kossoff (of the band, Free).

Tim will be speaking at the education centre at Whisby Nature Reserve, near Lincoln, at 2pm on Saturday March 21.

Admission  is free.

                            

Sadly, the Great Auk is long gone - but the legend lives on 

Sad demise in intensive care for what was probably one of the most twitched birds in history

                                                                       

This Spectacled Eider, one of the most twitched birds in history, has died. Back in December, it was caught, because of its weak condition, and taken into care at  Vogelopvang De Wulp Centre at Den Haag in The Netherlands. At first, it seemed to be recovering, based on the appearance of its plumage and its demeanour. But then it relapsed, ceased eating and sadly died. Far away from its Alaskan home, the bird had been a huge tourist attract off the shores of the Wadden Sea, attracting birders from all over Europe and beyond. It is not known what might happen to the corpse of the much-admired visitor.                                                   

Bird have starring role in powerful film - but for their music, not for their plumage or behaviour

                                                  

Anyone interested in American bird calls and song will enjoy detecting  the species - from Whimbrel to Cuckoo - that form much of the soundtrack of Train Dreams which is screening on Netflix and, this month, in some British cinemas. Curiously enough, none of the birds - except two domestic hens - are shown close enough for them to be identifiable. But this omission in no way reduces the impact of this acclaimed tear-jerker of a movie, starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones. Set in remote rural North America, it explores the themes of happiness, then sadness, grief and the extraordinary power of dreams. 

Let's celebrate the Lapwing! Broadcaster Chris Packham calls for meadowland bird to be featured on banknote

 Celebrity naturalist Chris Packham has called for the Lapwing to be included among the various images  when the Bank of  England introduces its forthcoming  series of wildlife-themed banknotes. He would prefer a declining bird such  as this one to be preferred to other 'cute and cuddly' species such as Robin, Barn Owl and Puffin  which are more likely to be the popular choice when a poll is held later this year.

Headline birds - the three species making a splash on front covers of this month's ornithological mags

                                                                             

Cirl Bunting, Great Crested Grebe and Great Spotted Woodpecker - the three species featured on covers of  the February 2026 editions of three frontline birding titles.  

                                                   

Life among the penguins! Opportunity beckons to work (and observe wildlife) in Antarctica

                                                     

Port Lockroy - Antarctic HQ of the heritage trust

APPLICANTS have until midnight tomorrow Sunday March 15 to apply for a post that involves living for five months among peguins and the other wildlife in Antarctica.

The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust describes the work thus: "It will include welcoming up to 10,000 cruise ship visitors to the island, running the charity gift shop, a British Antarctic Territory Post Office, fundraising, creating media content, annual maintenance and upkeep of the historic buildings and artefacts, wildlife observations and many other varied and challenging tasks. 

"We are looking for committed individuals to make up a team that will spend up to five months (from November this year to March next year) living and working at Port Lockroy in Antarctica."

Candidates must be aged over 18 and fit.

More details from: UK Antarctic Heritage Trust | UKAHT