This isn't current news, but I found it fascinating! On a recent trip to a charity shop, I discovered a programme for an exhibition of Charles Tunnicliffe's paintings in 1983. Inside the programme was this photo of Tunnicliffe examining a dead Snowy Owl which had been given to him to compose one of his 'measured drawings'. The story behind this photo is a bit sketchy too! According to Birds in Wales (Lovegrove et al. 1994) a "female was found dead at Mynachdy, Anglesey in May 1972"(near Carmel Head). This is undoubtedly the impressive bird that is pictured here. However according to the programme I found, the bird was "shot and mutilated", and Tunnicliffe was extremely angry at its treatment, as it went against all his principles as a countryman and naturalist. I was completely unaware of this record, and just cant believe that such a magnificent bird could have been shot. And this was only about 40 years ago! Obviously I'm not aware of the whole story, but wouldn't it be great to see a bird like this on the island nowadays? Makes those hikes around Cemlyn and Carmel Head seem a little more tempting. Anyone know any other details about this picture or story?
Was there not a grey phase Gyr falcon also shot on the island about this time?
ReplyDeleteKelvin
Cambrian Bird Report 1972.
ReplyDeleteGYRFALCON - 31 March a female of the white Greeland race candicans was found shot but alive at Penlon by C. Rudd who passed it to R. W. Arthur and K. Williams: despite every effort to save it's life the falcon died on 3 April: the specimen (preserved by R. Reid Llanrwst) is on display at the Penrhos Nature Reserve(KW)
Record accepted by the rarities committee of British Birds
Snowy Owl
Mynachdy, 3 May an adult female found shot by Master F Roberts and bought to me :the bird was preserved by R Reid of Llanrwst and is now on display at the Penrhos Nature Reserve: a freshly eaten leveret was in its crop (KW)
Record accepted by the rarities committee of British Birds.
Kelvin
I have the complete set of Cambrian reports up to the formation of Gwynedd Birders scanned as PDF's. If the committee of the Cambrian are happy I will make them available on receipt of a blank disc and a stamp addressed envelope, or call at the BTO Cymru office with a thumb drive.
ReplyDeleteKelvin
Thanks Kelvin. Makes you realise things were a bit different back in those days! I guess those shooting estates and landowners saw these birds of prey as 'vermin' and needed to be controlled. Very sad.
ReplyDeleteA 'bit' different......but not that much really! Hen harriers... Golden Eagles....
ReplyDeleteMymachdy is a shooting estate.
F Roberts is now manager of Bodior Estate which has a long history of highly 'successful' Woodcock shoots with shooting 'toffs'