Wryneck sighted with three Cuckoos in North Yorkshire town - alas, in a taxidermist's display case

Three Cuckoos and a Wryneck

                                                             

SPARE a thought for the ignominious fate of four  migrant birds that ended up - stuffed in a taxidermist's display case.

The three Cuckoos and their mate, a Wryneck, came up for auction on Wednesday at a sale conducted by Tennants of Leyland, North Yorkshire.

The hammer fell at £500 - well above the pre-sale estimate of  between £150 and £200.

The display is believed to date back to between 1880 and 1890 when shooting of birds of all species was commonplace.

The same sale included  other stuffed  birds, many of which sold at above estimate, reflecting the firm market for this aspect of ornithology which many birders probably find sad and distasteful.

A case display of Yellowhammers at their nest  realised a hammer price of £480 which was well above the £150-£250 estimate. 

Yellowhammers at their nest