'What we have lost in our well-plumbed world is a reverence for water,' says birder-author Stephen Rutt

                                                 

Enchantment - and anger! Stephen Rutt's new book 

AWARD-winning author and birder Stephen Rutt certainly has a vivid imagination and a poet's evocative way with words.

Of  a murky  morning on a RSPB reserve at Forsinain Hill in Scotland's Flow Country, he writes: "The mist makes birds invisible but sharpens their calls. 

"I can hear the shrill eruptions of a singing Dunlin, the Hammer Horror hauntings of Curlew, the vocal cords of Golden Plover like an aeolian harp, whispering the wind through taut strings.

"Unerringly, there is a sense that they know I am here."

This vividness of description characterises much of the narrative in Stephen's latest book, The Waterlands, which reads beautifully- for the most part meandering along gracefully like a slow-moving river or chalk stream.  

But in many of the places he visits, he finds the serenity of watery places has long been  despoiled by what humankind has  done to them, be they ponds, lakes, bogs, estuaries or oceans.

When he reflects on scenes of pollution, for instance on the River Clyde not far from his home in Scotland, the author's mostly sunny mood  turns to dismay, even of anger.

"What we have lost in our  well-plumbed world is a reverence for water," he writes. "Our rivers die through a thousand cuts.

"It is a thing deserving of rights and a voice to be heard, but, too often, a river pays the bill for our actions with its life."

The author chronicles some of the industrial and other practices which do the damage, but, for the most part, he does so in a way that is matter-of-fact rather than particularly strident or judgemental.

But he makes an exception when it comes to the privatisation of the water industry which he describes as "a disaster in slow motion".

He adds: "The money in the system is skimmed off as profit and goestowards paying corporate debt instead of fixing leaks."

Subtitled Follow a raindrop from source to sea, The Waterlands is published today (March 26) at £16.99 in hardback by Elliott & Thompson.

                                

Stephen Rutt  - a poet's way with words

Nature minister: "It is our job to protect declining waterbirds for future generations to cherish"

 

Drake Pintail - sometimes a target for wildfowlers

BETTER protection could beckon for Pintail in England if a Government proposal passes into law.

In future, wildfowlers may face a ban on shooting this species -  along with Pochard, Goldeneye and White-fronted Goose.

This is because of the apparent decline of these birds in recent years.

For the same reason, there could also be restrictions - by means of an extended close season - on the  hunting of Woodcock and Snipe.

Says Nature Minister Mary Creagh: "The Woodcock, Pochard, Goldeneye and Pintail are all iconic national birds.

"Their decline is  concerning, and it is our job to ensure they are properly protected for future generations to cherish.

"This government is committed to protecting wildlife."

Different arrangements prevail for Scotland, Wales and Northern Island where decisions  have been devolved to their own respective parliaments.

However, the Golden Plover has been deemed sufficiently common for it not to require additional safeguards within the UK.

The proposals are currently out for consultation with conservation bodies, shooting organisations and anyone who wishes to express a view.

                                                       

Golden Plover - no additional safeguards proposed

Snipe - the close season for hunting may be extended

Will eradication of ferret population on Raithlin Island lead to increase in breeding Corncrakes?

                                                        

All eyes - and ears - will be on 2026 fortunes of the elusive Corncrake

THERE are hopes that Corncrakes will be among the beneficiaries of the purge of predatory mammals on Raithlin Island in Northern Ireland.

Based on RSPB publicity earlier this week, the population of non-native ferrets has now been eradicated entirely.

Rats could face the same fate if a project involving some 7,000 bait stations pays off.

Since both these mammals prey on the eggs and young - and sometimes adults - of ground-nesting birds, Corncrakes could see a brighter breeding future along with Choughs, plus  Puffins, Kittiwakes and other seabirds.

The baseline for Corncrakes is that  six male birds were recorded during last year's breeding season. Will it increase in 2026?

The RSPB and partners are also hopeful of the breeding return of Manx Shearwater and re-colonisation by the Storm Petrel, a species suspected but not known to have bred on the island in the  past.

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.