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| This captivating painting of two Marsh Harriers in a watery habitat exceeded expectations when it went under the hammer at an auction held yesterday in Leyburn, North Yorkshire. Before the sale, auction house Tennants estimated that the study, by John Harrison (1898-1985), would achieve a price of between £300 and £500, but the bidding reached £1,300 before the hammer fell. The identity of the successful bidder has not been revealed, but his good taste is to be commended. |
This study of Crossbills and conifers is likely to be a prestigious and welcome addition to the bookshelf of many a birder. Author Craig Benkman is a distinguished ornithologist and an academic at the University of Wyoming. The book, is published in hardback at £65 by Pelagic Publishing. It is due out on Tuesday July 15.
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Painted in 1991, this mixed media study of Red Grouse over a burn by Richard Robjent (born 1937) is expected to fetch between £200 and £300 when it goes under the hammer at a sale of British, European and Sporting Art on Saturday, July 12. In the same sale,, to be conducted by auction house Tennants at their premises in Leyburn, North Yorkshire is a study (below) of a Spoonbill by Raymond Watson (1935-1994) where the pre-sale guide price is £300-£500.  |
Any chance to demonise Herring Gulls and Britain's seldom fails to jump to the bait. Above and below are two items - on a photograph and one a news report - that appeared last week in The Daily Telegraph newspaper.
A NORFOLK-based company which, over the years, has printed many annual county bird resorts has folded.
Swallowtail Print ran into difficulties during the Covid pandemic and has never managed to recover fully.
Attempts to find a buyer for the company, which is based in Drayton, near Norwich, proved unsuccessful and it entered administration on June 24.
One of the last contracts it fulfilled was the printing last month of the 2022 Lincolnshire Bird Report.
The administrators are Norwich-based McTear Williams & Wood.
Some 44 staff have been made redundant, but it is understood several have found work with another Norfolk-based printing company.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is not noted for being much of an advocate for birds and wildlife, so it was a pleasant surprise to see the pattern on the dress she was wearing when she deputised for Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions in the 'Commons on Wednesday. The creature appears to be a Sunbird or a Hummingbird, but can anyone come up with the exact species? Or is it a make-believe bird?
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| Spur-winged Plover - also known as Spur-winged Lapwing |
BECAUSE it is not on the British list, interest may be limited when a study of a Spur-winged Plover goes under the hammer at auction tomorrow June 4.
It is the work of Suffolk-based female artist Tory Lawrence who died, aged 86, last year.
It is not known under what circumstances she was inspired to carry out the work (in 1995) given that the nearest the species occurs in Britain is marshland habitats in the eastern Mediterranean.
A bird found dead in Hailsham, Sussex, in 1910, is thought to have been an escapee from a privately-owned ornamental collection.
The painting, a watercolour, is Lot 644 in the sale of Modern British and 20th Century Art to be held by Salisbury-based Woolley and Wallis.
The pre-sale estimate is that it will fetch between £150 and £250.
Earlier in the auction, an enchanting watercolour, heightened with gouache, of a singing Wren by Lancashire-based Roger McPhail (71) - Lot 606 - is expected to fetch between £250 and £350.
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| The thorns on a blackberry bush hold no fears for Rodger McPhail's autumn Wren |
THE RSPB has announced forthcoming closure of its community website.
The site has provided a forum for members (and non-members) to contribute comments, reports, photographs and reviews of new books.
However, the society has decided to pull the plug on July 1.
In a statement, it says: "Use of the community site has been in decline for some time now and only around 12 per cent of registered users have logged in over the last year.
"It is hosted by an external company and needs considerable investment to bring it into line with new legislation and requirements.
"Our contract ends in July 2025 and we have therefore taken the decision to close the site on July 1.
"This means we can then use your generous donations as effectively as we can for direct conservation delivery and focus on providing the communications, channels, and events more of our members and supporters prefer. "
The decision will disappoint regular contributors, but the bird charity insists it remains committed to engaging members and supporters through other channels such as its quarterly magazine and social media.
Until the end of this month, the community website can be viewed at:
https://community.rspb.org.uk/
The statement concludes: "We should like to express our thanks and appreciation to all users of the RSPB community website over the years."
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| Did BBC TV show really 'ruin' the countryside? Report in The Daily Telegraph newspaper |
THE BBC has responded to allegations that broadcasting of TV programme Springwatch was damaging to the countryside and hence to wildlife on National Trust land in the Peak District.
According to a report in The Daily Telegraph newspaper (May 30), a nearby resident complained that the broadcasting unit built temporary roads for lorries over a meadow where wildflowers were about to blossom.
Another claim that one of the fields taken over by the film crew was potentially a breeding site for Curlews.
In a statement, the BBC said: "The Springwatch team worked in cooperation with the National Trust.
"The field location was confirmed as appropriate for temporary use by local land managers, and no wildlife has been displaced.
"All of the surfaces installed and modifications were temporary, and the National Trust will undertake any works that may be needed to reinstate the site following the departure of the Springwatch team.
"This restoration will include reseeding fields, restoring ditches and reverting any landscape changes."
The statement continued: "Minimising our environmental impact is a top priority.
"While on location, our main power source is a green hydrogen fuel cell, dramatically reducing our CO₂ emission."
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| The successful candidate will be expected to report to the society's HQ in Bedfordshire (above) once a month |
A SIX-FIGURE salary is up for grabs in a job being advertised by the RSPB.
The bird charity is seeking a new director of finance on pay of between £86,059 - £109,346 per annum plus other benefits.
Says the job description: "This is an opportunity for the successful candidate to:
* Drive the finance department across all areas, including financial operations and budgeting and forecasting.
* Provide advice and support to the wider finance, governance and strategy directorate, the board and other senior leaders on finance-related matters with a focus on strategy implementation.
* Engage with the finance committee and audit and risk committee, leading on all financial matters.
Applicants need to be fully qualified accountants who can demonstrate:
* A successful track record of inspiring, managing, and delivering large scale organisation-wide projects
* A track track record in the successful leadership and management of a finance team in a multi-faceted and geographically dispersed organisation
* A successful track record in developing excellent working relationships between internal directorates and external stakeholders
* Experience of both internal and external financial reporting and the related regulatory environment in the charity sector
* Experience of control systems that manage risk effectively and provide assurance on the efficiency and effectiveness of financial processes and compliance with relevant regulatory frameworks
* Knowledge of the main direct and indirect tax frameworks related to the charity sector
* Experience in creating and communicating a compelling vision for directing and motivating the Finance team
The RSPB's current finance chief is Russell Powell who took over in January 23, having previously worked at the National Trust where he was director of planning and insight.
The successful applicant will be permitted to work for home though he or she will be expected to report to the society's HQ in Sandy, Bedfordshire, every month.
The deadline for applications for the post is midnight on Wednesday June 4.
More details from: julia.mackay@rspb.org.uk
The hammer came down at £900 when this painting of Ballochbuie, near Balmoral, by King Charles came up for auction at a sale held earlier this month by Gloucestershire firm Dominic Winter. This seems a respectable price given that it is not the original but one of 20 prints. The scene was painted in April, 2002, long before Charles became King. Might it have been enhanced if it had included a passing raptor such as an Osprey or a Golden Eagle?
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| Stonechat country - moorland on the fringe of Padley Gorge |
Date: May 29, 2025
Time: 10am - 1pm
Weather: Mostly overcast and raining
Target species: Dipper
Star species seen: Pied Flycatcher
Other species seen/ heard:
* Wood pigeon
* Carrion crow
* Pied Wagtail
* Wren
* Nuthatch
* Great Spotted Woodpecker
* Robin
* Tree Pipit
* Stonechat
* Willow Warbler
* Chiffchaff
* Wood Warbler
* Blue Tit
* Great Tit
* Grey Wagtail
* Red Kite
* Cuckoo
* Song Thrush
* Blackbird
* Mistle Thrush
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| Tree Pipit |
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| Wood Warbler |
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| Pied Flycatcher |
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| Study of Spotted Flycatchers from Meyer's Illustrations of British Birds (1835-50) |
The Spotted Flycatcher is readily distinguished from other little birds by its peculiar manners, and, when once pointed out, cannot be again mistaken.
It sits, when on the watch for food, in the outer spray of a tree or, more commonly, on a wall or on the top of the palings of a park, and every now and then descends from its station upon a passing insect, and then regains its former place.
If followed, it flits along before its pursuer, alighting again and again on the wall or palings a little way in advance of him, and often admitting of a very near approach.
It is one of the least shy of our summer birds and builds commonly in gardens in situations similar to those chosen by the redbreast, and on the walls of houses where fruit-trees, or other climbing shrubs, are trained, placing its mossy nest in an angle formed by the branches.
Flycatchers are said to rear but one brood in the year which is very probably the truth as their arrival in England is later than that of most summer migrants.
However, we have known an instance, where the first nest and eggs having been taken away, of a second and a third being placed in the same locality where a brick had been displaced in an old wall.
They are believed, also, to return to the same spot for incubation year after year, provided the locality is a permanent one such as the place just mentioned.
The Spotted Flycatcher, although the most silent of our summer visitors, is not one of the least interesting.
It makes its appearance in England the middle or latter part of May, and young broods are fledged about the middle of the succeeding month.
Three young Flycatchers were brought us, which had been taken from a nest in an adjoining garden.
We placed them in a large cage in which were several other little birds of different species.
Their entrance was immediately hailed with great delight by a Robin, who, with many lively attitudes and gestures, uttered frequently his note of surprise, crackrrrack!
The little Flycatchers, which were still in the plumage of young nestlings, namely, mottled with grey, white, and brown and tailless, mounted themselves on one of the uppermost perches, where they sat quietly side by side.
After they had been some time in the cage, a sudden stir was observed among them, and a bird hastily entered the window near which the cage was placed, alighted upon it, and as hastily retreated.
In the course of a few minutes this was repeated, and it proved to be one of the parent birds whose affection had traced the little ones to their place of imprisonment and who was now supplying them with food.
We were highly delighted at this circumstance as it promised a supply of proper food for the nestlings such as we could not ourselves have provided.
We had now only to take the precaution of having the window constantly open during the day to admit the visits of this interesting little creature who continued, day after day, to supply the young ones with food, notwithstanding the interruptions that might be supposed to be caused by a large family passing continually in and out, as the cage stood in the drawing-room.
Apparently, the task of feeding the nestlings was performed by one alone, probably the female, as only one bird entered the room, while her mate, who accompanied her constantly in her flight, always waited for her outside the window, either upon the roof of the house or on a neighbouring tree.
The young ones usually appeared aware of the approach of the parent, and were on the alert, and eager to receive the expected food, some seconds before the appearance of the bird, although we could perceive no sound that acquainted us of her approach.
As before mentioned, the little nestlings sat upon an upper perch, but were not always near enough to the wires of the cage to be within reach of the parent when she appeared with food, which circumstance afforded an opportunity for a display of sagacity on the part of the Robin before mentioned, which we could not have credited if we had not seen it.
This little creature, who had for some time been an inhabitant of the cage, where he lived in perfect harmony with all his associates, had from the first shown great interest in the little Flycatchers, and now, perceiving that the nestlings could not reach the offered food, but sat with their wings fluttering, and their mouths open, anxious to obtain it, flew to the wires, received the insects from the mother bird, and put them into the open mouths of the nestlings.
This curious action was witnessed by ourselves and several friends, and occurred not once only, but was repeated every succeeding day as often as his services were required.
He seemed as watchful for the return of the parent Flycatcher as the little ones themselves, and always ready to act the part of carrier when necessary, but, when he saw that his assistance was not wanted, he quietly looked on.
The food brought by the Flycatcher consisted generally, as far as we could judge, of honey-bees, living, struggling bees.
Sometimes two or three were brought at once and transferred, still alive and struggling, to the mouths of the little ones by whom they were eagerly swallowed.
On two or three occasions, the Robin was observed, on receiving the bee from the Flycatcher, to pause with it in his beak, as if in a fit of absence, and then to swallow it himself, but, to his honour be it spoken, this was not observed to take place more than two or three times, whereas his transfer of the insect from the parent to the little ones was witnessed hundreds of times.
The young Flycatchers were never seen to make any attempt at feeding themselves, nor did the Robin give them any of his own food, namely, the German paste or worms with which the cage was constantly supplied.
Neither do we remember that the little birds were ever seen to drink from the water fountain.
They usually remained upon a perch, side by side, and at night nestled close together, with the Robin beside them. |
For more than six weeks, the parent Flycatchers continued to attend the little ones, from four or five o’clock in the morning, at which time the window was purposely opened until nearly dark in the evening.
The redbreast also remained unremitting in his attention to them, until the accidental death of one of the little brood induced us to give the two others their liberty, fearing that, if we kept them longer, they would not become sufficiently able to provide for themselves before the period of their migration, and so be left to perish.
It is a question of some curiosity whether the bees with which this little family was fed were really honey-bees, as they appeared to be, and we afterwards regretted that we had not ascertained the fact by intercepting one of them and examining it.
That they were alive and entire there is no doubt, and that they were swallowed also in that state is certain.
Our belief that they were really honey-bees is strengthened by the animosity of cottagers towards this little bird which has universally the credit of visiting their bee stalls and purloining the bees from the door of the hive.
Another corroborating circumstance in favour of their being honey-bees is that Flycatchers abound in places where lime trees are numerous which trees are much visited by those insects as we have observed, in some of the most wooded parts of Surrey where the lime and the Flycatcher are equally abundant.
In Surrey, also, the name of 'Bee-bird' is commonly applied to this species.
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| Above and below, it seems this Flycatcher, photographed in September, has caught not a bee but a wasp |
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| The new book - full of insights about a remarkable birder, artist and writer |
THERE is a very good reason why the paintings of Donald Watson are appreciated by birders - invariably with a sense of wonder and delight.
In his work, the habitat is almost always as important as the bird itself, so you feel you are actually with the artist on the moors or wherever the setting.
Some of the studies represented in Donald Watson - Bird Artist and Writer, compiled and edited by Roger Crofts, illustrate this point.
The views of, for instance, Hen Harriers, Curlew and Dotterel are not close-up, but the birds are vibrant because they are depicted in a landscape - often windswept - which is ever changing according to the levels of light and vagaries of the weather.
In this overview of his life and art, Crofts quotes Watson (1918-2005) thus: "I try to capture the effects of colour and wildlife and landscape.
"Season, weather, a sense of place and atmosphere mean a lot to me
"In my kind of painting, I am happiest relating birds to their environment."
Although born in Cranleigh, Surrey, Watson spent most of his life in Scotland, specifically Galloway, which provided the inspiration for many of his studies, many of them painted while he was high in the hills (and sometimes near the tops of mountains).
Two of the chapters in this enchanting book are by Crofts, but there are others by, for example, Watson's daughter-in-law, Vanessa, and a couple of his birding buddies, Des Thompson and Colin Galbraith.
Between them they provide not so much a celebration of Watson's life but a gentle deeply-felt appreciation of a dedicated family man who also happened to be a brilliant artist, a diligent author of several important books and an effective campaigner for birdlife, especially in places where it has been (and remains) most under threat.
Donald Watson - Bird Artist and Writer is published, with support from the Scottish Ornithologists' Club, by Whittles Publishing at £17.99 in softback.
https://www.whittlespublishing.com/
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| The bird charity has asked a recruitment agency to help fill new appointmenmts |
THE RSPB has pulled its recruitment ads for a highly-paid new position but it is still taking applications.
The vacancy is for a work-from-home Chief People Officer on an annual salary of between £86,059 - £109,346.
But rather than sift through applications itself, the society has engaged the services of an agency, the London-based Diversifying Group.
This describes itself as a "black-owned, female-led diversity and inclusion services business employing a talented intersectional team."
It was previously known as BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) Recruitment.
Despite vigorous attempts to recruit more non-white staff, the RSPB has only achieved 3.7 per cent - partly, perhaps, because those of black, Asian and ethnic minority groups resent the patronising attitude of the bird charity's predominantly white hierarchy.
However, the society aims to turn the corner with this new appointment.
The job description states: "The role requires someone who can lead in implementing equity, diversity and inclusion principles, serve as a positive role model for staff, manage workplace and societal changes and offer fresh ideas for the organisation's people strategy.
"The RSPB is looking for someone with substantive leadership skills, a solid background in HR, and a genuine interest in the charitable sector and environmental causes.
"The ideal candidate will have an understanding of organisational change, be aware of emerging employment legislation and be comfortable navigating workplace challenges.
"The Chief People Officer will act as an innovative, solution-focused leader, capable of motivating the People Team to achieve the best possible outcomes for the organisation.
"The appointee will proactively engage with colleagues across all directorates of the organisation so that they work collaboratively to determine and address current and future people needs.
"The Chief People Officer will ensure that the organisation is working at its optimum structurally with the right people in the right place at the right time with the right skills through a process of workforce planning.
"Diversifying Group is acting an as employment agency advisor to the RSPB on this appointment."
RSPB chief executive Beccy Speight is known to be keen on bolstering the organisation's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives.
She says: "We are implementing the interventions needed to widen opportunities for people of colour to access and have a meaningful say in the future of conservation."
The deadline for applications is Sunday May 25 at 23:59. all comprehension, especially when it is cutting back on its reserves. The RSPB’ members, its volunteers and probably most of its frontline staff will be flummoxed (and possibly dismayed) by such an appointment - understandably so.
The Wryneck says: Time was when the RSPB’s only focus was on protecting birds, but those days are long gone. Now the greater intent seems to be on creating a lumbering bureaucracy of work-from-home executives, many of them doing jobs which are unlikely to protect a single bird. The society already has a highly paid chief operating officer and an even more highly paid chief executive, plus umpteen other lucratively-remunerated managers. Why the charity feels it necessary to splash out a further £100,000 per annum on a 'Chief People Officer' - plus fees to a recruitment agency - is beyond all comprehension, especially when it is cutting back on its reserves. The RSPB’ members, its volunteers and probably most of its frontline staff will be flummoxed (and possibly dismayed) by such an appointment - understandably so.
Such is the current strength of silver as a hedge against inflation that the pair of Woodcock and the pair of Red Grouse are expected to sell for upwards of £250 when they go under the hammer in two separate lots at an auction to be conducted by John Taylors at their saleroom in Louth, Lincolnshire, this Tuesday May 20.
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| Boston and Skegness MP Richard Tice |
THE deputy leader of Reform UK, Richard Tice, is one of 35 MPs who have signed a petition calling for Swift bricks to be installed in new domestic buildings.
The petition states: This House notes with concern the dramatic decline in the breeding population of swifts whose numbers have dropped by 60 per cent since 1995; recognises that the loss of natural nesting habitat for swifts and other cavity nesting birds has meant that four species of these birds are now on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species; welcomes the fact that Barratt Homes, Vistry and other members of the Home Builders Federation have stated they have no objection to legislation that would require the incorporation into all new domestic buildings of swift bricks, which are universal bricks that would provide nesting habitat for eight species of small bird, and that these would not delay or increase the costs of the Government's house-building plans; and therefore urges the Government to introduce such regulations at the earliest opportunity so as to prevent the extinction of one of our most loved species.
The petition is being sponsored by the following Members:
* Barry Gardiner (Labour)
* Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour)
* Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party)
* Shokat Adam (Independent)
* Simon Opher (Labour)
* Jon Trickett (Labour)
Other signatories to date are:
* Rachel Maskell (Labour)
* Ian Lavery (Labour)
* Ellie Chowns (Green)
* Brian Mathew (Liberal Democrat)
* Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour)
* Cat Smith (Labour)
* Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist)
* Martin Rhodes (Labour)
* Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat)
* Chris Hinchliff (Labour)
* Mary Kelly Foy (Labour)
* Sir Bernard Jenkin (Conservative)
* Richard Tice (Reform UK)
* Graham Stringer (Labour)
* Catherine Fookes (Labour)
* Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru)
* Claire Hannan (Social Democratic & Labour)
* Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat)
* Olivia Blake (Labour)
* Chris Kane (Labour)
* Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat)
* Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat)
* Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat)
* Siân Berry (Green)
* Adrian Ramsay (Green)
* John Whitby (Labour)
*Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru)
* Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru)
* Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru)
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| Saintly - Chris Packham, Richard Ansett and the portrait |
THERE is a new opportunity to see an unusual portrait depicting celebrity naturalist Chris Packham as a modern-day St Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals.
In photographer-artist Richard Ansett's study, the BBC broadcaster is kneeling in prayer surrounded by such endangered British bird species as Lapwing, Housemartin, Yellow Wagtail, Hawfinch, Turtle Dove, Bittern, Ring Ouzel, Stone Curlew, Yellowhammer and Wood Warbler.
The image was originally commissioned by the Radio Times magazine last year, but now - in illuminated form - is on public display until May 21 in the Fitzrovia Chapel in London.
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| The washing-up liquid is widely used in UK kitchens |
THE new book by Swift campaigner Hannah Bourne-Taylor will not best please multinational consumer goods group Procter and Gamble
In her reflections on the threat to insects and other biodiversity from chemical products, she highlights the wording on the packaging of one of the company's best-known products, Fairy Liquid.
Writes Ms Bourne-Taylor: "In plain sight, it tells anyone who cares out of the 13 million British households who buy 150 million bottles of it a year to stop using it.
"Its own label states that it is 'harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects'."
Continues the author: "Does our government challenge the product-makers?
"Have I been alone in thinking the that politicians will do everything they can do to keep us all fundamentally safe and healthy?
"I felt like I had been sleepwalking through my whole life. I had been naive to the existence of lobby groups."
Nature Needs You - The Fight To Save Our Swifts is published by Elliott and Thompson at £16.99 in hardback.
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| 'Harmful to aquatic life' says the small print |
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| Nature in peril - the controversial new book |
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| Should we be concerned? Foaming water gushes into a canal from a sewage treatment works in Lincolnshire |
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| Spot the Housemartins - The Lady of Shalott (1888) |
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| John Waterhouse (1849-1917) |
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| Above and below: the Housemartins reappear in his study of Ophelia (1889) |
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| The remote cottage with view to Skye (pic: cottagescom) |
FORMER prime minister Boris Johnson came close to losing his life during what should have been a stress-free holiday in a remote location on the north-west coast of Scotland.
Leaving wife Carrie, five-month-old son Wilfred and pet Jack Russell terrier Dilyn on land, he took to a borrowed inflatable kayak and paddled out to sea in a quest to catch sight of seals, White tailed Eagles and Red-throated Divers.
But the offshore wind and outgoing tide took him further and further away from land.
After 500 yards of unsuccessful paddling to get back to shore, he decided to quit the kayak and swim.
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| Boris Johnson is believed to have been paddling in a Kayak loaned to him by a Downing Street staffer who had purchased it for just over £100 from Argos |
It was later reported that he had to be rescued by a security officer, but this was denied by Mr Johnson who insisted that no assistance had been required.
The alarming incident brought an end to a mid-August holiday at Lonbain-by-Applecross that proved less enjoyable than the family had wanted.
One of the reasons the former PM took to the kayak was to get away from the famed Scottish midges - millions of them - that had been nibbling away at him remorselessly from the moment the family arrived.
In addition, their getaway from Downing Street location had been leaked to the media, prompting concerns about safety and security.
The episode is recounted by Mr Johnson in Unleashed, his memoirs about his time at Number 10.
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| The former PM describes the incident in his latest book |
What happened to the kayak?
Possibly it was washed up on the island of Skye, but it was never recovered and may have ended up deep out in the Atlantic.
Did the family ever get a close-up encounter with a White-tailed Eagle? Alas no.
But maybe that was just as well. Given their luck on that holiday, maybe a eagle might snatched their pet dog as prey!
Unleashed is published by HarperCollins.
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| Bedroom at the Scottish hideaway (pic: cottagescom) |
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| Sitting room in the cottage - with a bird book on the coffee table |
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| Carrie Johnson posted this snap, believed to have been taken by one of the security team, on her Instagram account |
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| The Johnsons did not even get a distant glimpse of a White-tailed Eagle |
