A night heron

John Gryphon

Well-Known Member
Nankeen Night Heron with one breeding plume showing.



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Funny, the eyes don't look big enough for a nocturnal feeder, but I'm guessing from the name that it is?
 
Hi John, Lovely picture!!

When I am not taking a few snaps myself or out deer stalking I dabble with a bit of taxidermy. Here is a picture of two cases done by a past master of the art, Thomas Edward Gunn (1844-1923)

The case on the left shows a Black Crowned Night Heron, which is a close relative of your Nankeen Night Heron.

The bird is a very rare visitor to the UK, and this particular bird was shot on 13th April 1914, at Sudbourne in Suffolk. The Squacco Heron on the right was also shot in Suffolk on 15th May 1912.

Both birds are part of the famous Ogilvie Bird Collection, which is one of the biggest and most complete Victorian/Edwardian Bird collections still largely intact that is left in the UK.

Keep up the good work with your pictures.

Lakey

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Thats very good T/dermy Lakey as its from so long ago,interesting birds that I wasnt aware of till you pics,thanks.
 
Used to spend a lot of time in Australia, but it was before I started getting interested in wildlife, what an opportunity I missed for the photography and hunting. oh well maybe one day I will go back. used to be in Perth for three months of the year and some time in Melbourne and Sydney
 
Used to spend a lot of time in Australia, but it was before I started getting interested in wildlife, what an opportunity I missed for the photography and hunting. oh well maybe one day I will go back. used to be in Perth for three months of the year and some time in Melbourne and Sydney
Forget the West side Doc,firearms restrictions are terrible over there! East is best.
 
Lakey, where is the collection held, National History Museum ?

Hi Doc,

The collection is at Ipswich Museum and forms part of their large collection. I am not sure if it is on current display, but I am sure if you make enquiries they will let you know. Contact the assistant curator and she can give you all the details.

there is a wonderful book about every aspect of the collection written by Chris Frost, and although sadly quite rare now, it is well worth hunting out a copy. The photograph of the two birds I posted above, came from that book. Alternatively google 'Ogilvie Bird Collection' as there is a wealth of info on the net.

Here is a link to the museum website


http://www.cimuseums.org.uk/collections/natural-history-ipswich.html
 
Last one. As you can see the taxidermy is truely exceptional, and the case interiors are very good, given that they were mostly done at the start of the last century.

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Once again sorry for hijacking your thread john, but I do believe that collections like this deserve to get to a wider public.:D
 
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