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| John would have been pleased and proud at how the book turned out |
THERE is something heart-warmingly poignant about a new book compiled by two Lincolnshire-based birding pals.
Birds of Louth is the work of John Clarkson, a former teacher, and Phil Espin who used to be a tax consultant.
But sadly John learned he was terminally ill before the book could be published, so he never saw the completed publication.
One of his last contributions to the title, which is rich with his superb photographs, is the preface in which he wrote: "It is a great sadness that I will not be there to see the book published."
In a touching tribute, Phil, who was responsible for most of the text, says: "John and I had been dedicated, possibly obsessed birders since 1976, travelling together throughout Britain, the world and the seven seas (literally) in pursuit of birds.
"However, we were both equally keen on birding our local 'patch', Louth."
He continues: "We were prepared for the task ahead and began pulling our Louth bird records together.
"We thought we had plenty of time until John suddenly fell ill with a brain tumour in August 2022.
"He approached his surgery and treatment stoically and seemed to respond well.
"We both got stuck into the project in early 2023, but, tragically, John's tumour returned in May 2023, and sadly he passed away last August."
However, Phil remained determined to complete the book in order to honour both his friend's memory and his last wish that it should be published.
Precious support came from John's wife, Nicky, who edited the text, and from his brother-in-law, Geoff Mullett, who prepared the lay-out for the printer.
Published by Lincolnshire Bird Club, of which Phil is long-time chairman, it is a delightful book - authoritative but full of colourful and often amusing detail and commentary.
Of the declining grey partridge, Phil writes: "They are nervous birds and flush with noisy drama when approached incautiously."
Meanwhile, of the great spotted woodpecker, he observes "With its striking black, white and red plumage, this popular bird recalls the colours of Grimsby Town Football Club.
"Sadly it has a sinister side with a penchant for using its woodpecker bill to winkle out the nestlings of other hole-nesting birds for its lunch.
"It is implicated in the decline of two of our rarest Red-listed birds - lesser spotted woodpecker and willow tit - but the scientific verdict so far is 'not proven'."
But for all its light touch, the book's tone sometimes turns sterner
On the absence of nightingales on the 'patch', Phil says their favoured habitat - dense scrub - is considered waste and has often been grubbed up due to 'excessive tidiness syndrome'.
Of the decline in House Martins, Phil writes: "Many people would be proud to have them nesting under the eaves of their houses, but not all.
"Certain householders find the temporary inconvenience of defecating birds such an imposition that they deliberately discourage them by scraping down their nest, sometimes even while they are being built."
But there are other reasons, not least a shortage of the flying insects on which they feed, for the decline.
Continues Phil: "It seems there is something broken in our world when we can lose these birds without fully understanding why.
"Those who still have them should consider themselves fortunate."
Among the avian rarities of which there are historical records is a roller that spent four weeks on the edge of town one September - but that was in 1901 since when there have been no recurrences.
One bird that, perhaps surprisingly, fails to feature either in the records of yesteryear or those of John and Phil is the firecrest. Surely one has been spotted somewhere in the town over the past 150 years?
Birds of Louth is on sale, price £12, in the shop at St James' Church, Louth and Louth Museum or online via www.lincsbirdclub/sales.
Once the printing costs have been met, it has been agreed by Phil and by John’s family that all profits should go towards funding brain tumour research.
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