Seona Anderson 04/05/2024 Seona Anderson 04/05/2024

CUCKOO

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, CUCKOO: He knows me as the blind man knows the cuckoo. By his bad voice. The arrival of the Cuckoo back in the UK with their distinctive call is becoming less common. BTO tracks cuckoos on their journey back from Africa.

Seona Anderson 29/04/2024 Seona Anderson 29/04/2024

LARK

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, LARK: down king, for nightowls shriek where mounting larks should sing. Larks have been celebrated for their sweet song by writers and musicians in many cultures.

Seona Anderson 16/04/2024 Seona Anderson 16/04/2024

HALCYON (Kingfisher)

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, HALCYON (Kingfisher): revenge, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks with every gust and vary of their masters. Shakespeare is repeating the old myth that dead Kingfishers, suspended, pointed in the direction of the wind.

Seona Anderson 14/04/2024 Seona Anderson 14/04/2024

KITE

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, KITE: Is Beaufort termed a kite? Where are his talons? Red Kites were persecuted almost to extinction in the UK but are now thriving in many parts of the country.

Seona Anderson 12/04/2024 Seona Anderson 12/04/2024

MARTLET (MARTIN)

Shakespeare Species Martlet (Martin): the guest of summer, the temple-haunting martlet does approve. Shakespeare demonstrates real affection for this migratory bird even if Banquo will rue his words…

Seona Anderson 04/04/2024 Seona Anderson 04/04/2024

OSTRICH

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, OSTRICH: But I’ll make thee eat iron like an ostrich and swallow my sword like a pin. There was widespread medieval & early modern belief that Ostriches ate iron.

Seona Anderson 01/04/2024 Seona Anderson 01/04/2024

DOVE

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, DOVE: whose white investments figure innocence, the dove and very blessed spirit of peace. The Dove is one of the birds associated with Christ and they are symbolic in Islam, Judaism and other faiths.

Seona Anderson 30/03/2024 Seona Anderson 30/03/2024

Wild GEESE

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day: Winter’s not gone if the wild geese fly that way. Wild Geese have been an important sign of the changing seasons to many human cultures.

Seona Anderson 26/03/2024 Seona Anderson 26/03/2024

SWALLOW

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, SWALLOW: True hope is swift and flies with swallow’s wing. The Swallow signifies speed, agility and the hope of new beginnings as it returns in the spring.

Seona Anderson 20/03/2024 Seona Anderson 20/03/2024

MAGPIE

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, MAGPIE: Augurs and understood relations have by maggot pies, and choughs and rooks brought forth the secret’st man of blood.

Seona Anderson 15/03/2024 Seona Anderson 15/03/2024

STARLING

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, STARLING: I’ll have a starling shall be taught to speak nothing but “Mortimer”. Starlings, colourful, noisy, sociably are remarkable mimics.

Seona Anderson 06/03/2024 Seona Anderson 06/03/2024

CORMORANT

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, CORMORANT: Light vanity, insatiate cormorant, consuming means, soon preys upon itself. Cormorants are aquatic birds well known for their fishing abilities and their wing drying poses.

Seona Anderson 04/03/2024 Seona Anderson 04/03/2024

LAPWING

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, LAPWING: for look, where Beatrice, like a lapwing runs close by the ground, to hear our conference. The beautiful Lapwing was a rich Shakespearean metaphor, but they are now declining and vulnerable.

Seona Anderson 10/02/2024 Seona Anderson 10/02/2024

VULTURE

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, VULTURE: while the vulture of sedition feeds in the bosom of such great commanders. Vultures are magnificent birds, essential to healthy ecosystems but long persecuted.

Seona Anderson 05/02/2024 Seona Anderson 05/02/2024

JAY

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, JAY: What, is the jay more precious than the lark because his feathers are more beautiful?

The beautiful noisy Jay is still a common sight in rural and urban areas.

Seona Anderson 04/02/2024 Seona Anderson 04/02/2024

CHOUGH

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, CHOUGH: nor the boding raven, nor chough hoar… may on our birdhouse perch or sing. The distinctive Chough with its red legs and bills features in heraldry and heritage.

Seona Anderson 02/02/2024 Seona Anderson 02/02/2024

Woodcock

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, WOODCOCK: Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. Woodcocks are beautiful, quirky waders who live in forests.

Seona Anderson 01/02/2024 Seona Anderson 01/02/2024

RAVEN

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, RAVEN: the raven himself is hoarse that croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan under my battlements. The Raven is a bird of foreboding in Shakespeare. Ravens have a rich cultural heritage in many societies.

Seona Anderson 25/01/2024 Seona Anderson 25/01/2024

WREN

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, WREN: but if there be yet left in heaven as small a drop of pity as a wren’s eye, feared gods, a part of it! Wrens, tiny and tuneful are valued in many cultures.

Seona Anderson 21/01/2024 Seona Anderson 21/01/2024

OSPREY

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, OSPREY: I think he’ll be to Rome as is the osprey to the fish, who takes it by sovereignty of nature. The majestic fisher of the skies appears only once in Shakespeare.