Comments on: Birds Of Spitalfields

By: Paul Sillis

Paul Sillis — Sun, 17 May 2020 18:34:12 +0000

Sorry to hear that the Gentle Author went down with the COVID-19 virus, but glad to hear of your recovery.

I was also surprised to see the picture of the parrakeet in Thomas Bewick’s History of British Birds. I live in the borough of Ealing where there are many parakeets frequenting the parks and gardens. But I have seen various references to the parakeets having escaped from captivity many years later than 1832.

Does the book indicate that parakeets lived outside captivity in parts of Britain in 1832?

Thanks

By: David Green

David Green — Wed, 06 May 2020 14:07:04 +0000

“The Great Tit”…doesn’t look like me at all…

By: Martin Palmer

Martin Palmer — Wed, 06 May 2020 03:07:32 +0000

In response to Jonathon: I knew of the Redstarts too! But searching for them in the 60’s, I was never fortunate enough to see one, although there were still plenty of bomb sites at that time.

By: ian harper

ian harper — Mon, 04 May 2020 10:44:48 +0000

Answering Peter in Zimbabwe : yes it was a Red Kite , that was a first in London for me , but I have seen them a few times since then , over Primrose Hill most recently.
Very good to see these again , Swifts arrived over the St Peter’s Church in De Beauvoir Hackney yesterday.. just up the road from the authors stamping ground ..
clear skies and low pollution might help this year..

By: Bailey Jones

Bailey Jones — Mon, 04 May 2020 08:35:02 +0000

Brilliant thst you have spotted all these birds in Spitalfields Interesting to see The Collard Dove, which, according to my guides, did not arrive in the UK till 1958. However, on closer inspection the drawing looks more like a Wood Pigeon, which also has a collar. Perhaps that was a common name for the Wood Pigeon in the C19th?

(Not sure if my earlier post came through or not.. Please use this one as I added a little more info . Thanks)

By: Jonathan van Halbert

Jonathan van Halbert — Mon, 04 May 2020 02:24:20 +0000

I am the only one old enough with the knowledge of the Redstarts that were

once a very common site, nesting in the bombed out ruins of London……?

Jonathan van Halbert.

By: Peter Mundy (Zimbabwe)

Peter Mundy (Zimbabwe) — Sun, 03 May 2020 12:48:26 +0000

Funny, I was reading about Bewick today. A master of wood-engraving to get his prints. Admired by among others Audubon and Charlotte Bronte.
That pellet surely comes from an owl (a Barn Owl in London?), hawks don’t vomit up pellets.
I am assuming that the Kite is a Red Kite, now safely back in England.

By: Derek Stride

Derek Stride — Sun, 03 May 2020 08:49:55 +0000

In the last few years, I have seen over 23 species in Spitalfields, around my garden. That includes the sparrowhawk who continues to decimate my blue tit and gold finch population. I recently found a pellet on the roof of Christ Church, which I assume came from a sparrowhawk (the last owl I saw locally was 30 years ago, a Tawny owl), full of small bones from its diet. I have a collection of small round, white stones, again from the roof of Christ Church, which I believe are taken up there by crows and magpies, believing them to be eggs of other birds.

By: Pamela Traves

Pamela Traves — Sun, 03 May 2020 07:06:40 +0000

Thank You for the Lovely Paintings of these Birds.????????

By: Jonathan van halbert

Jonathan van halbert — Sun, 03 May 2020 00:21:16 +0000

I have a first edition of this Book and whilst it is a great recording on this subject.
It is not the first or best on Ornithology.. However he did inspire later Artists.

Jonathan van Halbert.