The Bird Book

The Bird Book is a bound volume of watercolour sketches of Devon and Cornwall's birdlife, dating from around 1802-1831.

Common Brown Owl [image courtesy University of Exeter Library (Special Collections)]

The 'Common Brown Owl' is another old name for the Tawny Owl (who looks appropriately surprised at being painted by day out in the open instead of at his roost).

'Pea Wit' or Lapwing [image courtesy University of Exeter Library (Special Collections)]

The 'Pea Wit' is the country name 'Peewit' for the Lapwing.

Ring Ouzel [image courtesy University of Exeter Library (Special Collections)]

The handwritten notes in the Bird Book indicate the Ring Ouzel was painted from a bird shot on the Isle of Wight, September 20th 1802 (not all of the paintings are from the Tamar).

Images courtesy of the University of Exeter Library (Special Collections).

[ The Big Draw ]