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| Osprey - species with a long history of being persecuted |
Note on The Occurrence of The Osprey and Other Birds in The Neighbourhood of the River Swale, Yorkshire
A fine specimen of the osprey visited this river in the month of
May last, its favourite localities being between the villages of Catterick and Langton where it was easily distinguished by its large size and peculiar habits.
When first observed, it was flying with an eel in its claws, and was afterwards frequently seen to hover over the water like a kestrel, sometimes hanging down its legs, then dropping into it like a stone.
It seldom failed to secure a fish which it bore in its talons to land.
It was first shot at while sitting in a tall ash tree, but, not being much the worse, the bird flew off, dropping however a barbel of about half-a-pound weight.
On another occasion, it was shot at while on the wing and let fall the tail part of a large trout.
While walking under a tree from which it had been disturbed, I found a perch with the back and head torn as if by the claws of the bird.
These observations tend to show that the osprey is no unskilful fisherman.
The one in question, after remaining in the neighbourhood for above a month, and being constantly fired at, was killed by a
gamekeeper on the 20th of June.
Another bird of the same species was observed about five years ago but not obtained.
A fine cormorant was shot at the Red hills, under which the river flows, on the 18th of October, and is now in my possession.
It is very rarely met with so far inland, this place being about thirty miles from the sea.
Two little stints were seen in August, and one of them was shot; also three or four greenshanks.
The latter are very regular visitors, generally arriving, together with the green sandpiper, about the end of July.
Mark Booth
Killerby
Yorkshire
December 22, 1843
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| Greenshank on the look-out for something to eat |
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