APHOTOMARINE

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography
and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters
and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.

A-P-H-O-T-O Wildlife Stock Image Library
Feathergate - Orange Ostrich feather rachis, quills, spines. (Marine environmental images)
Scroll down and rollover titles to change screen image or click on title to view image.
Lost cargo Cornwall / Wales
Orange Ostrich feather rachis
- rachis / quills / spines 1

Lost cargo Cornwall / Wales
Orange Ostrich feather rachis
- close-up of rachis / quills 1

Lost cargo Cornwall / Wales
Orange Ostrich feather rachis
- close-up of rachis / quill 1

Lost cargo Cornwall / Wales
Orange Ostrich feather rachis
- close-up of rachis / quill 2

Lost cargo Cornwall / Wales
Orange Ostrich feather rachis
- rachis / quill interior 1

Orange feather rachis found on the strandline at Perranporth, Cornwall. 18.01.17.

Described as ''Feathergate'' in the 'Lost at Sea' Facebook Group, the mystery surrounding the washing-up of hundreds, if not thousands, of orange feather rachis washing up along the North Cornwall coast.

The RSPB were consulted and a specialist stated they were likely from cargo, but who uses rachis like this?

Not long after it was discovered these were offered for sale on ebay, on an industrial basis, supplied for millinery as craft supplies. Apparently these quills are commonly used in the production of fascinators. So mystery solved, and it doesn't relate to a bird incident anywhere, but a loss of cargo from a ship.

The feathers appear to have been lost on the east coast of the USA or Canada, the Western Atlantic, as some had hydroid growth and others had Buoy Barnacles on them. The feathers have also been washing up on the coast of Wales.

Orange Ostrich feather rachis quills spines, washing up strandline north cornwall Wales Marine Environmental Images
The main objective of this website is in furthering environmental awareness and education through the medium of photography. To increase awareness and access to the wildlife of the region and help
people find and identify it. Sometimes the difference between species is obvious but many species can only be determined by observing microscopic characteristics that are specific to any one species.