Following “The Wheatear” yesterday, a second stereo featuring birdlife in this blogpost-a-day series can be attributed to James Edward Ellam (1857-1920).
Evidenced by James’s familiar handwriting in ink on the verso, this stereo is titled “A tom tit robbing the Pears.”


© Author’s collection.
Such is the abundance of fruit on view that it is initially difficult to pick out the lone tom tit.
When viewed through the stereoscope, the bird emerges in 3D to the bottom right-hand corner of the stereo.
Also visible are peck marks on the pear beneath the tom tit’s feet.
Aside from the stereo’s 3D qualities, James has managed to capture the pear tree’s bowed branches positively groaning with fruit.
Tomorrow: “King Charles.”

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