Off the Beaten Track in Somerset: Beautiful Birds

On my travels around Somerset I have come across many artistic representations of birds: made from wire, topiary, brass, iron, stone, straw, plastic, wood and glass. As I come across others, I will add them to this blogpost.

Is this a crane? Pitney

Is this a peacock? Stembridge

Pheasant, Croydon Hill near Dunster

Woodpecker, Broadwood Plantation near Dunster

Kingfisher, Lopen Church

A spoonbill with an eel in its beak

Benchend in Stogursey Church

Rodney Stoke Church

The Blackbird Pub, Bradford-on-Tone

This sign used to be a 3 dimensional model but it is currently just a photo of that model. The original sign was made c1937 by West Somerset artist Rachel Reckitt (1908-1995). I don't know what has happened to the original sign, which is apparently Grade 2 listed.

Swan, Bishop's Palace, Wells

Swan, Wells Police Station

A tribute to Hot Fuzz, which was filmed in Wells

Eagle Lectern in St John the Baptist Church, Glastonbury

Lecterns in Anglican churches and cathedrals are often in the shape of eagles on whose outstretched wings a copy of the Bible rests. This is because an eagle is the symbol of St John the Apostle and writer of one of the four Gospels. Eagles are strong birds, who can soar high and carry God's word throughout the whole church and into the world beyond. The sphere the eagle is standing on represents the earth.

Wooden eagle lectern at St Barnabas Church, Queen Camel

Starling sculpture at Westhay Nature Reserve

Starlings

Close up the starlings are very simple but from a distance they are very eye-catching

Stork bench end, St Michael's Church, North Cadbury

Swan, Horse Pond, Castle Cary

This sculpture is titled The Return and was made by Perry Jansen Chapman.

Pelican bench end

St Michael's Church, North Cadbury

Pelican? feeding its young

Bench end in St George's Church, Dunster

Two birds on a bench end in St George's Church, Dunster

Swan Fountain, Dunster Castle Garden

Slightly spooky owl chainsaw sculpture, Webbers Post

Iron bird sculpture on the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal near Huntworth

Ducks Puddle - house sign at East Quantoxhead

Back of the Ducks Puddle house sign, East Quantoxhead

Marsh Harrier? Willow Sculpture at Steart Marshes

Peacock close to Taunton Castle

Bird on a bench end, All Saints' Church, Alford

Bench end, St Mary's Church, East Quantoxhead

A pair of birds on a bench end in St Mary's Church, East Quantoxhead

Wire peacock in Old Town Quarry, Weston-super-Mare

Robin, Old Town Quarry, Weston-super-Mare

Blackbird at Old Town Quarry, Weston-super-Mare

Iron pheasant on a garden fence in Ashill

Buzzard on the West Bagborough village sign

Martlet sculpture in an alcove above the front door of Townsend House, Townsend Road, Minehead

Kingfisher, owl, buzzard, robin and woodpecker sculptures in the playground of Kingston St Mary Church of England Primary School

The classes in the school are called Owl, Buzzard, Robin and Woodpecker. The After School Club is called Kingfishers.

Topiary peacock in the garden at Lytes Cary

(National Trust)

Peacock sculpture in the Cloisters of Wells Cathedral

This is a memorial to those whose ashes are buried in the Palm Churchyard.

Flight of Six Acres Phoenix

This colourful sculpture, which was made by artists Becky Shaw and Tad & Brenda Mendziej, was donated by Taunton and District Mencap Society and the Friends of Six Acres. It is located in the sensory garden in Vivary Park, Taunton and was unveiled in October 2019.

Flight of Six Acres Phoenix from the back

Wire goose sculpture in the garden of Coleridge Cottage at Nether Stowey

Painting of swallows on a paving slab by the side of the towpath of the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal at Firepool, Taunton

Chough and anchor on the sign of the Hood Arms at Kilve

This was the crest of the Acland-Hood family of St Audries.

Straw birds on a thatched cottage in Dunster

These blackbirds are part of the Goddess Hall mural, Glastonbury

Heron on the Goddess Hall Mural, Glastonbury

Magpie's Nest shop, Benedict Street, Glastonbury

Magpie on the shutters of The Magpie's Nest shop, Benedict Street, Glastonbury

Eye of an owl

This is part of the Wildwood mural in an alleyway off Glastonbury High Street

Barn Owl reflected in the eye of another owl

This is part of the Wildwood mural located in an alleyway just off Glastonbury High Street

Plaque on the former Swan Inn, 2 Silver Street, Wiveliscombe

Stained glass pied wagtail in Winsford Church

Stained glass robin in Winsford Church

Heron in Dulverton

Owl at Malmsmead Tea Room

Robin and wren on a kneeler in North Curry Church

Heron on a kneeler in North Curry Church

Cockerel weathervane in Lydeard St Lawrence Church

It has recently been restored and is awaiting re-erection on the top of the church tower.

Memorial to Derek the Goose in Watchet

She arrived in Watchet Harbour in a storm in 2010 and liked it so much that she stayed until her death in October 2021

Swallows painted on the back of a gravestone in Chipstable Churchyard

Dove of peace above the font in Exford Church

Birds on a kneeler in Exford Church

Ruffles the Parrot in a cage, East Quay Watchet

This was one of the exhibits in the 2023 Somerset Trash Trail and was painted by Kelly Durdan

Fernando, Timpsons, Taunton

This was painted by Renee Durdan for the 2023 Somerset Trash Trail.

Quakers the Duck

He was painted by Phil Dudman for the 2023 Somerset Trash Trail

Large owl sculpture at Torre Cider Farm

Herons at Swell Wood

This cob wall sculpture was created by pupils from Curry Mallet Primary School in October 2016. It is on display outside the bird hide at RSPB Swell Wood near Fivehead. Swell Wood has a large heronry.