The wildlife of Bourne in past times

BIRDS, ANIMALS AND INSECTS THAT HAVE MOSTLY DISAPPEARED

A flight of curlews lately penetrated as far as the parish of Bourne and four were shot by a groundkeeper belonging to Mr J W Hardwicke, of Dyke. One has fallen into the hands of Mr John Evans, naturalist and taxidermist, of West Street, for preserving. They are beautiful birds and, very rarely leave the boundary of the sea. A beautiful specimen of the nightjar, or "Goat-sucker", was shot in the parish of Witham a short time ago and is now in the hands of Mr John Evans of Bourne for preservation. It is a rare bird in this neighbourhood, although found in our northern counties, and is migratory, arriving in England in May and leaving in September. It derives its name of Goat-sucker from a superstition of universal prevalence, that it fastens upon the teats of goats and cows, which afterwards become dry and diseased. - 23rd August 1850.

An influx of sparrows was so numerous at Horbling, near Bourne, in 1850, that they became a nuisance in the village and the perplexed parish overseers sought help in getting rid of them from their friends at nearby Billingborough asking them “to take into consideration the destruction of sparrows which of late have so accumulated”. Parish officers at Billingborough advised their Horbling neighbours “to offer the populace a one penny reward as an inducement to the avaricious inhabitants for the capture of four full grown sparrows, six young sparrows or twelve eggs fresh from the marauders’ nests”. The entry proposing this destruction was duly made in the Vestry Book at Billingborough where domestic issues great and small were recorded although we are not told whether the advice was followed and if indeed it proved to be effective.

A beautiful bird, the hoopoe, was shot at Langtoft, near Bourne, last week and is now in the possession of Mr John Evans for preservation. A very long account of it may be seen in Knight's Animated Nature with a plate. It is considered a very rare visitor to our shores although common in Germany, Holland, France and Spain: its habits are migratory and it is capable of becoming a pleasing domestic. M Von Schauroth, who bred a pair of them, states that they would follow him anywhere and would, immediately on his being seated, climb up on his head and caress him affectionately; notwithstanding which he had only to speak to rid himself of them: they would observe his eye to ascertain temper, and act accordingly. The plumage of the male is described as beautiful - head crested; two parallel rows of long feathers form an arched crest extending from the base of the beak to the occiput (those feathers are of a ruddy buff colour, terminated with black); head, neck and breast, vinous buff; upper part of the back vinous grey; on the back of a large transversal band; wings and tail black; on the wings are five transversal bands of yellowish white, and on the tail a very large white band: abdomen white, with longitudinal spots on the thighs; bill flesh-colour at its base, and black towards the point; feet and iris brown: 12½ inches long; tail feathers 10 only in number. The specimen above alluded to is a male bird and exactly corresponds with this description of the plumage. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 8th August 1851.

The Northern Diver: One of these birds was picked up alive the other day in front of Lord Willoughby's seat at Grimsthorpe, near the ponds. It is rarely found inland but frequents our northern coast in the winter, attracted by the shoals of herrings on which it principally feeds. It is very seldom seen on land, its limbs being ill-fitted for walking, though admirably adapted to its aquatic habits. It can swim to a great distance under the water and when it comes to the surface seldom exposes more than the neck. It takes wing with difficulty, flies heavily though swiftly and frequently in a circle round those who intrude on its haunts. Its loud and melancholy cry, like the howling of the wolf and at times like the distant screaming of a man in distress, is said to portend rain. The bird taken at Grimsthorpe is now in the hands of Mr Evans for preservation. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 19th December 1851.

A shooting party, assembled at Irnham Hall, near Bourne, the seat of Captain Woodhouse, killed on Tuesday last 225 pheasants, 135 hares, 84 rabbits and one woodcock. - 17th December 1858.

During the late severe weather, the following rare birds, among others, have been forwarded to Mr John Evans, of Bourne, for preservation, viz. the hoopoe (Upupa epops), shot at Essendine, three eared-grebes (Podiceps auritus), five tufted ducks, a northern diver (Colyurbus glacialis), red grouse shot near Bourne, a fine specimen of the common buzzard (Buteo vulgaria), one lesser spotted woodpecker (Picus minor), four green woodpeckers, starved to death through not being able to procure ants and other insects to subsist on, one hawfinch (the latter, Cocothraustes vulgaria, although very common in the south is the only specimen received by Mr Evans during the 22 years  he has been a bird preserver), and also a splendid specimen of the bittern (Botanrus stellaris), an account of which may be of interest to naturalists. The bittern, also known in some localities as a butter bump, mire drum, bull of the bog &c., is found in Europe, Asia and Africa, and was once common in England, when in the balmy days of falconry it afforded one of the "great flights" and was protected by severe penalties, but is now exceedingly scarce though a few are said to breed in the fenny countries. Its flesh, rank as we should deem it, was accounted a great delicacy. When wounded, it defends itself with great determination. In size, the bittern is rather less than the heron. The plumage is beautifully varied with spots, bars and dashes of black, on a fine reddish yellow ground. The feathers on the head and neck are long and loose and capable of being thrown forward, bill brown above, greenish below, iris yellow, legs pale green, middle claw pectinated [formed like a comb]. Frogs, field mice, newts and fish, with the buds of the water lily and other aquatic plants, constitute the food of the bittern. A young woodcock was picked up in Bourne Wood during last summer and two others were seen at the same time. This is the only instance remembered of the woodcock breeding in this neighbourhood. - 1st February 1861.

A milk white swallow was shot at Haconby, near Bourne, on Monday last by Mr John Rawlinson.
- 10th October 1862.

A fine specimen of the bittern (Botaurus stellaris) was shot in the old Car Dyke near Bourne on the 16th inst. It has been preserved by Mr John Evans and added to his collection where it may be seen by the curious. - 29th January 1864.

A fine specimen of the red-backed shrike, or butcher bird, was shot at Bourne on the 10th inst. The bird, though common in some counties, is exceedingly rare in Lincolnshire, this being the only one which has fallen into the hands of Mr John Evans of Bourne in the course of his 25 years' experience as an ornithologist. - 20th May 1864.

During the past week, a wasps' nest under glass has been exhibited in the window of Mr John Evans, bird stuffer, of West Street, where it may still be seen. The glass case, at the bottom, is slightly raised from the piece of board upon which it stands and a quantity of sugar is placed upon the board at this opening, thus enabling the wasps to obtain food and air. During the early part of their imprisonment, they were seen briefly engaged repairing some portions of the nest which had been damaged in its removal from the earth. The number of wasps' nests in this neighbourhood is very much larger this season than usual and as many as 14 nests have been found in one field. - 2nd September 1864.

The following rare and curiously marked birds have been forwarded to Mr John Evans, of Bourne, for preservation and are in his window [in West Street] for inspection for a few days previous to their being sent home; namely, two skylarks (A arvensis), one a cream colour and the other white with pink eyes; a brown and white linnet (L cannabina); a splendid specimen of a black and white blackbird (M vulgaris); and a cream-coloured house sparrow. Our correspondent says, a question for naturalists is, has the mildness of the season had anything to do with the change of colour of the birds, the whole of which were in good condition but with the skin unusually thin? - 23rd December 1864.

An unusual quantity of larvae of the death's head moth (Acherontia atropos) has been recently brought to Mr John Evans, taxidermist, where they may be seen by the curious in their different stages of transformation. The caterpillar is yellowish-green with seven oblique stripes on the sides meeting on the back, the last of which extends to the tail; these stripes are blue anteriorly and white posteriorly, with a purple tint in the centre; length, full grown, five and a half inches. It chiefly feeds on the flowers and leaves of the potato and jasmine but is seasonally found on other plants. It is rarely seen, as it feeds by night, concealing itself in the day under the leaves or in the earth. The large size of the perfect insect, its singularly marked thorax, a skull and crossbones, and the peculiar noise it emits, have rendered it an object of terror with the vulgar, by whom it has been regarded with dread, as the harbinger of pestilence and forerunner of death. Piere Latreille [French entomologist 1762-1833] tells us that it appeared one year in Brittany in great numbers and at this time, epidemic malady was raging with much violence, the mortality being attributed to this harmless moth. François Huber [Swiss naturalist 1750-1831] says another peculiarity connected with the history of this month consists in its attacking beehives, ravaging the honey and dispersing the inhabitants. Many instances are recorded of the insect having been captured on board ship at a considerable distance from land. In the year 1858, several specimens came into Mr Evans' hands and since that period it has been rarely met with till the present season. - 18th August 1865.

Amongst the rare birds forwarded to Mr John Evans, taxidermist of this town, for preservation during the past summer and late severe weather, are the following, viz., two peregrine falcons, one hen harrier, one honey buzzard, eight hobbys, one merlin, three young woodcocks, one hawfinch, one red-backed shrike or lesser butcher bird, one grey shrike (Lanius excubitor) shot at Castle Bytham, two Bohemian waxwings shot at Ryhall, one fine variety of the missel thrush nearly all white, 13 kingfishers, a perfect white wild duck; two Canada geese (Anser canadensis), measuring four feet long from bill to tail and six feet two inches expanse of wings, weighing 12 lb. each; one fine specimen of the bittern shot in Bourne Fen, an adult male bird in splendid plumage measuring three feet seven inches from toe to bill and four feet across the wings; this bird was at once purchased by Mr Evans and may, with several of the above, be seen by the curious previous to their being sent home. - 15th February 1867.

Mr John Evans, taxidermist of Bourne, has just received from India a second consignment of animals' skins from Lieutenant Cheaps of the 11th Hussars, who passed through Bourne on the 7th April 1866 en route to Colchester, thence to Mhow, India. The package weighed upwards of three cwt. containing 12 tigers, 2 panther, 5 bear and 4 antelope skins; also one skin of the gibbon. The animals were killed in the province of Nagpoor by Lieut Cheaps and party and the skins are to be mounted for carriage and other rugs. Some of them are of immense size and very beautiful. -  27th September 1867.

The following rare birds have lately been entrusted to Mr John Evans, taxidermist, of Bourne, for preservation: viz. a beautiful pair of peregrine falcons killed near Bourne; two albino birds - a skylark and greenfinch; three specimens of the chough, or red-legged crow; a very fine bittern; the manks shearwater, or shearwater petrel; two stormy petrels, or better known by the name of Mother Carey's chickens. - 6th March 1868.

A male badger weighing 20 lb. was caught on the 16th April by one of Lord Willoughby de Eresby's under-keepers at Grimsthorpe and on the following Thursday, the female was caught. The latter has been forwarded to the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park. The male was unfortunately killed. It is now nearly 20 years since one was seen on the same estate. - 7th May 1869.

RARA AVIS: On Friday last, a fine specimen of the cormorant was shot at Grimsthorpe Lake and is now being preserved by Mr J Evans, taxidermist, of Bourne, where it may be seen by the curious. As the cormorant is designated a bird of ill omen, a few remarks may not be out of place here. This remarkable bird seldom leaves the sea only in heavy gales, and once away from its native element is almost sure to meet the keen eye of the sportsman or gamekeeper.  - 2nd October 1869.

The following rare birds, &c., have recently been forwarded to Mr John Evans for preservation, and may now be seen by the curious:- A puffin or coulterneb, picked up alive in an exhausted state by a gentleman about a mile from Bourne; stormy petrel, forktail petrel; as well as others of less importance; and also a fifth consignment from India, belonging to Lieutenant Cheaps, 11th Hussars, consisting of tiger, black bear, brown or cashmere bear, jackal, fox, and other animal skins; heads of the antelope and nylghau, together with a lot of bird skins. Amongst them are specimens of the hawk, owl, roller, black partridge, pintail and other grouse, jacana, bittern, &c. - 7th July 1870.

During the past week, one of those rare and beautiful birds, the hoopoe, was shot in Bourne Fen and is now being preserved by Mr John Evans, taxidermist, who says that this is the third species he has known to be killed in this neighbourhood. One was shot at Langtoft Fen in the year 1849 and in his own collection; and another was shot at Essendine in 1851 by Mr Mason and was shown at Stamford by the late W Hopkinson Esq, who saw it fall, and a full description of it appeared at that time in this newspaper. - 20th September 1872.

RARA AVIS: During the past week the following rare birds have been shot in the neighbourhood of Bourne and forwarded to Mr John Evans, taxidermist, of that town, for preservation: an excellent specimen of the Waxwing, or Bohemian Chatterer, shot by the Rev C Clarke at Little Bytham; a beautifully plumaged Hawfinch, shot by Mr Richardson, of Castle Bytham; a fawn-coloured Starling, showing the usual white spots, shot at Haconby; and a blue Titmouse, with a curved bill one inch in length, shot at Holywell. - 15th February 1873.

A very rare bird was shot at Grimsthorpe, near Bourne, last week. Notice was first drawn to it by the fowls betaking themselves to the fowl house, the bird alighting at some flesh near a dog kennel. By the time the head keeper's attention had been called to it and his getting there, it had flown away; but in a very little time, it was again seen being followed by a large number of crows and was brought to the ground by a shot from the head keeper's gun. It proved to be an arctic skua gull, one of which species we believe has never been found in this neighbourhood before. It is being preserved by Mr John Evans, of Bourne. - 7th November 1873.

A beautiful specimen of the red-breasted merganser (Mergus serratus) has been sent to Mr John Evans, naturalist, of Bourne, for preservation. The habitat of these birds is the northern region, occasionally breeding in Scotland and the islands adjacent. The above was shot near Boston and is in very good plumage. - 19th March 1875.

A pair of buzzards (Buleo vulgaris) have been caught in the neighbourhood of Bourne. They are male and female, in the adult plumage, and good specimens. They have been forwarded to Mr John Evans, taxidermist, to be preserved. - 2nd April 1875.

A fine specimen of the hoopoe (Upupa epops) has been shot at Graby by Mr Scales and sent to John Evans, naturalist, of Bourne, for preservation. This beautiful migratory bird so seldom visits us that the most enthusiastic naturalist scarcely ever dreams of seeing it in his peregrinations; and when it does come, how soon it falls to the sportsman. The present specimen is a female in full plumage, the crest feathers being perfect and the various markings good. - 14th May 1875.

A very beautiful specimen of the great snipe (Scolopax major) was sent a few days since to Mr John Evans, naturalist, Bourne., for preservation. It is a female bird, in mature plumage, the markings being very distinct. These birds are rare, very few specimens having been obtained in this neighbourhood. It is considered excellent for the table, the flesh being most delicious. - 1st October 1875.

A white sparrow was shot at Baston last week and sent to Mr John Evans, bird preserver, of Bourne, to be mounted. This specimen is exceptional, being completely white and destitute of the faintest trace of the usual markings. - 15th October 1875.

Mr John Evans of Bourne has received for preservation during the last few days, the following rare and beautiful birds: Two peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus), killed on the estate of the Baroness Willoughby de Eresby; a common buzzard (Buteo vulgaris), killed on the estate of Lord Aveland at Bulby; a merlin (Falco arsolon), killed near Boston; a great grey shrike (Lanius excubiter), shot in Bourne Fen; and the little auk (Mergulus melanoleucus), picked up on the bank of the River Witham, near Boston, and which was killed by flying against a telegraph wire. - 26th November 1875.

The following rare birds have been sent within the last few days to Mr Evans of Bourne for preservation: A shoveller (Spathulla clybeata) from Peterborough; a fork-tailed petrel (Thalasardroma leachii) caught near Boston; an eared grebe (Pediceps auritus) killed at Deeping St James; and a fine specimen of the bittern (Botaurus stellaris) from Boston. - 14th January 1876.

Our quiet town has very little to boast of but we can lay claim to having one of the most noted taxidermists in the county, Mr John Evans. During the last few days, he has been exhibiting a remarkably fine wild boar's head from East India, and also a stuffed young donkey which has been set up in a very life-like manner for the museum of that noted watering place, Skegness. Parties viewing the last named animal jointly ask: "Whatever shall you have next, John?" when he replies, in a joking way: "I have had several promises of a pig's chine to stuff; it may be one of them for ought I know, I wish it may." - 29th September 1883.

An eagle, three feet in length and measuring seven feet from tip to tip of the wing, was shot near Bourne Wood on Friday. - 9th November 1883.

A splendid specimen  of the osprey (Pandion haliætus) is now to be seen at the establishment of Mr John Evans, taxidermist, West-street, Bourne, to whom it has been entrusted for the purpose of preservation. It was shot by Mr Ward on the 21st of September in Deeping Fen, near Tongue End, and measures 23 inches from end of the bill to tail end and 5 feet 3 inches from tip to tip of wings. - Friday 19th October 1883.

The following rare birds have been killed in Lincolnshire and sent to Mr John Evans, taxidermist, of Bourne, for preservation, since the first of November last:-  Nov 2nd, a while-tailed eagle (Halioetus albicilla), killed at Edenham, near Bourne; Nov 5, rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus), killed at Grimsthorpe; Nov 10, two storm petrels (Thalassidroma Pelegica), picked up near Bourne; Nov 15, storm petrel from the east coast; Nov 23, Sclavonian grebe (Podiceps auritus), from Eresby, near Spilsby; great crested grebe (Podiceps Cristatus), killed near Bourne; Dec 1, Merlin (Falco œsalon), from Pointon; Dec 10, storm petrol, found dead on east coast; Dec 11, great crested grebe, killed on east coast. All the above may now be seen at Mr Evans' establishment at West-street, for a few days, before being sent home. - 21st December 1883.

RARA AVES: A fine pair of golden eagles, aquilla chrysalitos, are now on view at the establishment of Mr John Evans, taxidermist, West Street, Bourne. These birds were killed on the Isle of Lewis, near Stornoway, and were forwarded to Mr Evans for preservation. They were shot from an eyrie on the face of a crag, the only accessible means of getting at the nest being by a rope lowered over the cliff a distance of one hundred and thirty-two yards. Mr Evans requests me to state that the pair will be open for inspection until the first week in July when the male bird will be forwarded to a gentleman at Birmingham, as an addition to his collection, which already includes five eagles, previously supplied by Mr Evans. - 21st June 1884.

RARA AVES: Mr John Evans, taxidermist, has now on view in his establishment in West Street, Bourne, a very curious specimen of the honey buzzard (pernis apivorus) which was killed upon the estate of Sir Hugh Cholmeley, Bart., of Easton Hall, and sent to Mr Evans for preservation. Mr Evans informs us that the honey buzzard is very rare in England - this is only the second he has seen during his forty years' experience as a taxidermist - it being indigenous to Asia and various parts of India, and is also found in the warmer countries of Europe. Its food consists of the larvae of insects; also moles, rats, small birds and slugs. The bird in question is a pale variety or pied specimen; the head and neck white to the shoulders with quills slightly tinged with brown, the lorum that surrounds the eye being the usual dark chocolate colour. The secondary quill feathers are tipped and spotted with white; the greater and lesser wing coverts are also spotted with white. The breast and underparts white with a stripe of light brown down the quill of each feather. Amongst other rare birds received by Mr Evans during the past week are two merlins (falco aesalom), male and female, one from Stamford and one from Rippingale, and a bittern (betaurus stellans), shot at Gedney Marsh. - 22nd November 1884.

RARA AVIS: Mr John Evans, taxidermist, of West Street, Bourne, has had forwarded to him during the past week, two specimens of the little auk, one of which was picked up at Carlby, and the other upon Lord Kesteven's estate at Casewick. The little auk is a native of the Arctic circle, and is found in large numbers in Greenland and Spitzbergen, and is occasionally a winter visitor to the coast of Scotland, but very rarely seen in England except when driven by storms and adverse winds from its northern home, as it is supposed must have been the case with the birds in question. The ocean is the bird's home and nesting place, except during the season of incubation, when it builds its nest on the side of cliffs or precipices, and there deposits its single egg. The eggs of this and also of the large specimen of auk are very rare, and much sought after by collectors, one of the latter kind having been to Mr Evans' knowledge, sold for the large sum of one hundred and ten guineas. - 29th November 1884.

Mr John Evans, taxidermist, of Bourne, has now in his hands for preservation the skin of a magnificent tiger, shot last February at Sutna, Rewan State, Central India, by a Leicestershire sportsman. The skin measures 11 ft. 8 in. in length and round the body at the back of the shoulders, 5 ft. 1 in. Mr Evans said this is the largest and handsomest skin he has had sent to him for preservation. - 28th May 1886.

Mr John Evans, the noted taxidermist of this town, has had forwarded to him during last week three very rare birds, viz. a wood sandpiper (Potanus glareola), a greenshank (Potanus glottis), and a little gull (Larus minuatus). The birds were sent from the neighbourhood of Spalding. The first mentioned in exceedingly rare, this being the only specimen Mr Evans has had during the past 50 years. The two latter are also rarities, only three other specimens having been seen by Mr Evans during the time he has been in business.  - 18th September 1886.

RARA AVIS: A fine specimen of the gannet or Soland goose (sula alba) was killed near Sleaford on the 15th inst. under remarkable circumstances and may be seen by the curious at the shop of Mr John Evans, taxidermist, West Street, Bourne. As it is strictly an aquatic bird, it may interest some of our readers to know a few details of its history. The great breeding resorts of the gannet are the Bass Rock at the entrance of the Firth of Forth, and St Kilda; they migrate northwards during the winter, seldom leaving the sea; they are gifted with unwearied powers of wing, and soar over the ocean, surveying the surface with a piercing glance and darting down with more than arrow-like rapidity on the fish which unwarily approaches the surface. The above bird was doubtless driven from the sea, or lost in a fog, and flew until it became quite exhausted, and most likely its vision impaired, as it swooped down on a wall near Sleaford and died from the injury it received. - 25th September 1886.

A great grey shrike or butcher bird (Lanius excubitor) was killed at Billinghay on the 16th inst. It is being preserved by Mr John Evans, of Bourne. - 26th November 1886.

RARA AVIS: Mr John Evans, taxidermist, of this place, is now showing two remarkable hen pheasants with green necks. They are barren birds, and have assumed the male plumage. Mr Evans says it is not unusual for hen birds of this species to assume the cock's plumage, after leaving off laying eggs, but he has never seen one with a green neck before, and a tail nineteen inches long. The above birds are from the neighbourhood of Wragby, Lincolnshire, and can be seen by the curious for a few days, previous to being sent home. - 29th January 1887.

TAXIDERMY; Mr Evans, whose reputation as a taxidermist is widely extended, has now on view several very interesting objects in natural history, including a lamprey, or nine-eyed eel (petromyzon marinus) caught near Spalding. As this scientific name (stone-cucker) implies, its habit is to attach itself to stones or rocks to prevent it being carried along with the current of the water. This one is 2 ft. 1 in. in length, which is slightly above the average size. The lamprey is inseparably associated with the memory of Henry I who died through eating too many of these delicious creatures. Mr Evans also has a splendid white tailed sea eagle (haliaëtus albicilla) captured in Norway. This belongs to the largest species found in Northern Europe though it exhibits a smaller extent of wing than the well-known golden eagle, a large eagle owl (babo maximus), also captured in Norway; and the head of a sambre deer, from India, with magnificent antlers over three feet in length. Those who are desirous of studying the peculiar habits of the wasp, without incurring the least personal danger, have now an excellent opportunity of doing so, there being a wasp's nest exhibited (under a glass case) in Mr Evans' window. - 20th August 1887.

A marsh harrier (Circus oeruginosus) has been forwarded to Mr John Evans, of Bourne, for preservation. This bird, which is rarely met with, may be distinguished from the buzzard and the falcon by the lengthened wings and tail. The plumage is of soft and loose texture, and the feathers round the face form a kind of ruff, closely resembling the disc so conspicuous in the owl. They quarter the ground, like a spaniel, searching for small quadrupeds and birds, and build on the ground, among ferns or rushes. Mr Evans has also a fine specimen of the Brent goose (Anser brenta), shot near Stamford. The bird has a black neck, with a white collar or line round it, the rest of the plumage being dusky black. This is the first of the kind Mr Evans has received. Mr W H Redshaw, bird dealer, has now in his possession a peculiar skylark, captured in Mr Bray's garden. It is dove-coloured, with a very light brown pencilling. - 3rd February 1888.

Mr Evans, naturalist, of Bourne, has recently had sent to him for preservation a young wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans). - 18th May 1888.

RARA AVIS: Mr John Evans, taxidermist, West Street, has had forwarded to him for preservation a fine specimen of the hooper (Upapa epops). The bird was shot at Ketton, Rutland. - 29th September 1888.

Mr John Evans, naturalist, Bourne, has had sent to him recently for preservation, two gannets, captured in Bourne Fen, and a fine specimen of the rough-legged buzzard (Buteo vulgaris), caught in Grimsthorpe Park. - 25th January 1889.

Among the birds recently sent for preservation to Mr John Evans of Bourne, he has received a male goshawk (Aster palumbarius) shot in Lincolnshire; on March 12th, a female little owl (Athene noctua) and on the 15th, a wild swan, shot at Cowbit. - 20th March 1889.

A fine otter has been captured in the South Fen Wash Dyke by Mr Henry Stubley of the Six Bells Inn [at No 35 North Street]. It has been stuffed by the well known taxidermists, Evans and Co. of West Street, Bourne. Otters in the Bourne Eau are extremely rare. - 30th June 1899.

RARA AVIS: As Mr Henry Hind was drilling in a field near the Forty Foot Drain at Morton, near Bourne, one day last week, his attention was drawn to a strange bird alighting near him. From some cause it was unable to rise again and he secured it. It proved to be a little auk or guillemot (Artica or Mergulos Alle). Its habitat is within the Arctic circle and it is called in Greenland the icebird. This bird only visits the shores for the purpose of incubation, except when driven inland by violent storms. The ocean is their home and they may be seen riding joyfully upon the surge or sleeping tranquilly with their beak buried among their feathers even amid the raging of the billows. Mr Hind has placed it in the hands of Mr Cullingford, the noted taxidermist of Bourne, for preservation, who states that it is a very long time since hew saw one. - 25th November 1899.

LATE SWALLOWS: During the past week, two swallows (Hirundo rustica) have been seen flitting about the Wellhead at Bourne, trying to pick up a scanty meal. The cold has proved fatal to one which was picked up dead. The other was seen by John Evans, naturalist, in the Market Place on Tuesday last. Mr Evans says this is the only instance of his having seen one in December and he has seen only two on any previous occasion in the month of November. - 5th December 1873.

As an effect of the open weather we have been favoured with lately, a sparrow's nest with two eggs may be seen in the garden of Dr [Tom] Harker, Brook Lodge, South Road, Bourne. - 28th December 1883.

NESTING: A pair of blue tits have successfully brought up their brood in the hollow of a lamp-post in West Street, Bourne. - 30th June 1899.

WINGED INTRUDERS: During last week, four swallows affected an entrance into the Congregational Chapel [in Eastgate] and partly built their nest. On Sunday morning, when the congregation assembled, the intruders were flying about and chirping considerably. This resulted in the service being held in the schoolroom and during the morning, the birds took their leave of the building and the windows were closed against them. Nothing more was seen of them during the day. - 27th June 1902.

While out shooting on Saturday, Mr A R Agnew, Bourne Urban District Council surveyor, shot a pure white pheasant. It was a fine cock bird and had not a single coloured feather, the long tail feathers being white like the rest of the bird. Mr Agnew intends to give his capture in aid of the Red Cross funds. - 10th November 1916.

WILDLIFE IN RECENT TIMES

A MANX SHEARWATER found in a distressed state in a field at Edenham, near Bourne, in 2004, was subsequently given treatment and care by a farmer's boy before being released into the wild. The rare seabird was spotted by Robert Russell, aged 10, while out with his father inspecting crops at Scottlethorpe Grange in early September. It was floundering on the ground and obviously weak and too tired to fly. Wildlife photographer Tony Bates, of Fir Avenue, Bourne, was called in and he identified the bird as a Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus), a species that is quite common on the west coast but extremely rare inland. "They spend their entire lives over the sea and have been known to fly 3,500 miles in 12 days over the Atlantic", he said. "Consequently they do not have strong land legs and being so far from the sea, it was weak and would probably have died if left in the field." Robert put the bird in an old rabbit hutch and then called Bourne veterinary surgeon Roland Stevens who confirmed that it was exhausted and had probably been blown off course by recent gales. It was fed canned tuna for several days until it regained its strength and then safely released at Baston Fen.

AN OTTER was found dead at the roadside in Bourne in the autumn of 2011. The discovery was made by staff at a building supplies depot in Cherryholt Road on Monday 24th October. The body was identified by local naturalist Dr Bob Sheppard and then placed in a freezer and sent for examination to the Otter Project being carried out at Cardiff University. Dr Sheppard told The Local newspaper that the otter was rarely seen alive by the public (October 28th). "They often move long distances at night and regularly cross roads", he said. "In this case, it was probably moving along the Bourne Eau near the Anchor public house in Eastgate and ended up in Cherryholt Road. Otter sightings have increased in this country in recent years but for most people this beautiful creature remains elusive." The Otter Project receives dead animals from around the country and carries out post mortem examinations to determine the cause of death, the results giving an overall picture of the health of the country's rivers.

NATURALIST Dr Bob Sheppard trapped and ringed a great spotted woodpecker in his back garden at Beech Avenue, Bourne, in March 2012 for the second time in ten years. The bird was originally caught in April 2001 as part of a ringing scheme administered by the British Trust for Ornithology who confirmed that the bird was the oldest of its species discovered in Britain, beating the previous record set up in 1976 by a woodpecker in Kent. Dr Sheppard and his colleague Alan Ball have been ringing birds for more than 30 years and they are now hoping to set up a similar record for a blue tit which is currently held by a nine-year-old bird, also from Kent. At present, there are three blue tits in Dr Sheppard's garden which are all seven years old. - news report from The Local newspaper, Friday 23rd March 2012.