A couple of years ago I had an extraordinary encounter - it was a cold, windy, spring day and I had driven to the nearby village of Hutton-le-Hole where I saw a crested, long billed, orange, black and white bird - very unusual type and colouring for North Yorkshire. I knew this bird as a Hoopoe, but I did not know that they were found in this country - understanding they preferred warmer climates. An incongruous local sighting, on the edge of the moor on a bleak morning.
Anyway, true enough it was a Hoopoe, which had perhaps got blown off course, or made a navigational error!
The hoopoe is an exotic looking bird about the size of a mistle
thrush. It has a pinkish-brown body, striking black and white wings, a
long black downcurved bill, and a long pinkish-brown crest which it
raises when excited. It does not breed in the UK, but
birds can turn up in spring (mostly seen as single birds) as birds
migrating north to Europe from Africa overshoot and land on the south
coast of England.
The reason this incident is in my mind is because my Sitting Bird, I think, may have been influenced by it. As I was carving it, and its personality emerged, it reminded me of a Hoopoe, and of the rather lovely call they have (listen here).
Sitting Bird - Limestone - Jennifer Tetlow 2012
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Great creature to see. My wife is South African so we have seen a few over there, where they are looked on with affection. Apparently it appears on the University of Johannesburg logo, but you are so lucky to see one over here. I read that they can be seen sometimes in southern England, so it must be an even rarer where you are. Anyway, your sculpt is a lovely fitting way to mark such a sighting. All the best.
ReplyDeleteThankyou - it is a fascinating bird, apparently was voted as Israel's national bird in 2008, and is also the state bird of Punjab, so seems to have wide appeal. I think is related to the giant Hoopoe, which ate giant earwigs, both now extinct! It was a most enjoyable sighting and will no doubt continue to influence.
DeleteWe have those in our garden too. They haven't arrived yet though. The lady in the little bar here calls them dirty birds. I think because they feed off bugs in cow pats. I loved your little moth yesterday, it fooled me too. We have a long eared owl on the farm. It makes strange mewing s at dusk. I love this time of year for birds. You must really revel in it. It's wonderful how you are so enthusing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bird to have in the garden! I think they come later in April don't they. Certainly, while I watched the Hoopoe here, it probed and dibbled with its beak into the soil (they have amazing musculature in the head allowing the beak to open even when drilled into the ground!). You're right, I do love the birds being around - a never-ending source of joyfuls, and you seem to have quite a selection there too.
DeleteWow what an amazing bird. I love the sculpture too.
ReplyDeleteThankyou - they are amazing - I managed to go home and get my camera and get the Hoopoe on film, so have a lovely video of the experience!
DeleteAbout 10 years ago I saw one up here in Co. Durham at Harperley Hall, which used to be a regional centre for training police horses. Hoopoes love to seek out insects in animal dung and there was plenty of that around the stables. Sadly the police horses have been moved elsewhere so I don't suppose we'll see another hoopoe there - but I was a wonderful surprise. It arrived with the swallows.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely story, we're getting quite a Hoopoe survey here! I always look out for them - you never know with our milder climate they may become regulars.
DeleteI saw a Hoopoe many years ago, in coastal woodland in Mallorca. A stunning bird. How amazing to have seen one in North Yorkshire!
ReplyDeleteWhat a treat it was!
DeleteWhat an amazing looking bird. I have never seen anything like it. And I love your version in stone.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ellen - it looks really rather primitive when it is strutting about and has its crest spread open like a fan. Hope you're on the mend now after your snake bite!
DeleteI saw one a few years back. My local nature reserve was crawling with experienced birders, but who spotted the Hoopoe first? - a ten year old on his first birding trip! Magic. As is your sculpture.
ReplyDeleteHello John - lovely story, and lucky young man - I do recollect being in a hide as an inexperienced watcher and jumping up and down and shouting gleefully, when seeing a bird I recognised! Soon learned there was an etiquette to be observed!
DeleteWhat a lovely sighting - and beautiful sculpture too. So expressive without any fuss.
ReplyDeleteSara
Thanks Sara for your lovely comments, Sitting Bird and I are very appreciative!
DeleteLove your Hoopoe inspired sculpture. I enjoyed listening to his call again too. Amazing to think he was in my garden a little while ago and now he is in yours.
ReplyDeleteThat thought is staggering - anyway he brought some magic!
ReplyDelete