Monday, 2 February 2026

Raymond Sheppard and Birds of Woodland and Hedgerow by Elizabeth Gould

 

Birds of Woodland and Hedgerow - Front and back cover

 This is the fourth book alphabetically in the series by Elizabeth Gould, but third in order within the single volume My Little Bird Book, (1952). When this title was published by Blackie and Son, in November 1950 at 1/6d all four titles were simultaneously published and then in 1952 combined into My Little Bird Book 

I've also previously mentioned there are no title pages to each individual volume.  The cover to Birds of Woodland and Hedgerow shows a large pheasant in the foreground - normally a field bird, being squawked at by a jay and in the background are a tree creeper, nuthatch plus a woodpecker!

So let's look at the Raymond Sheppard full colour artwork for this book

BIRDS OF WOODLAND AND HEDGEROW

Wood Pigeon

Owls

Nightingale

Pheasant

Willow Warbler
Goldcrest
Green Woodpecker

Nuthatch

Tree Creeper

Jay

Rook

Of all 63 images Sheppard drew for these books (plus covers) this is the only drawing which has his signature! Blackie were not averse to showing artists' signatures, so was this Sheppard indicating a favourite bird or favourite painting?
Yellow-Hammer


Long-tailed Tit

Bullfinch 

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