II. PERIODICAL VISITORS.
I. COMING IN SPRING AND SUMMER.
The Wheat–ear (Sylvia Œnanthe), iii., 142.
The earliest of our summer visitants, coming by the end of March, but staying in the fields not longer than two or three weeks, when it moves off to the mountainous districts to breed. Very fond of placing its nest in deserted rabbit–holes, and in cavities in old stone walls.
The Grasshopper Warbler (Sylvia locustella), iii., 143.
No one who has heard this bird can ever forget it, the note resembling the voice of the grasshopper, but prolonged into a whirr, like the noise of a spinning–wheel. Towards midnight, when all other birds are still, if approached, it will begin. Found haunting thickets and hedge–bottoms, but rather uncommon, and rarely seen, though often heard, on account of its habit of running among the low brushwood.
The Sedge Warbler (Sylvia salicaria), iii., 145.
Common by the sides of pitsteads. This is the bird so often mistaken in our neighbourhood for the nightingale. No bird takes more care to let us know of its presence; the moment it is disturbed, it begins to sing.
The Black–cap Warbler (Sylvia atricapilla), iii., 150.
A most beautiful song–bird, and common in woods. When it arrives, it is fond of mounting high into the trees; the males, like most of the warblers, coming a week or two before the females, and selecting a station, where they sing until their mates arrive.
The Garden Warbler (Sylvia hortensis), iii., 152.
Unlike the preceding, this bird never gets up high into the trees to sing, nor does it care to warble until the female arrives, when its lovely trill is heard plentifully in the low bushes. It will build in gardens among peas. Common in Hough–end Clough and about Urmston.
The Common Whitethroat (Sylvia cinerea), iii., 153.
Common everywhere, and apt to warble when on the wing, springing up out of the hedge, with its jar–jar–jar, jee–jee–jee, and in a minute or two diving down into it again.
The Less Whitethroat (Sylvia sylvicella), iii., 154.
Rare about Manchester, building in hedges a large and clumsy nest, similar to that of a greenfinch. The song is given only from the very heart of thick–foliaged trees.
The Wood Warbler, or Wood Wren (Sylvia sylvicola), iii., 155.
A very lovely little bird; its song, or trill, a repetition of two notes, and its nest very hard to find. While singing, it sits on the bough and seems to tremble, the wings being quivered elegantly.
The Whinchat (Sylvia rubetra), iii., 141.
A common little bird, breeding everywhere, usually selecting uncultivated lands, and sometimes hay–fields, but always having its nest upon the ground. About Urmston it is known as the “utic,” from its peculiar cry, “tic, tic, utic.” In habits sprightly and cheerful, popping about for ever from one spray to another.
The Willow Warbler, or Willow Wren (Sylvia Trochilus), iii., 156.
This little fellow is common in most places,—woods, gardens, hedgerows,—choosing the top of the trees to sing in. It ceases to sing after pairing, devoting itself to the construction of its large nest, which is usually protected with a lid, and built of grass, moss, and feathers. In the summer of 1858, Edward Jacques found a nest in Hough–end Clough, with a dead blackbird alongside, from which the feathers had all been plucked, and used in the construction. Nowhere is it more numerous or happy than about Urmston, arriving clean as a daisy, after its journey of a thousand miles or more.
The Chiff–chaff (Sylvia rufa), iii., 158.
This little creature, which is one of the smallest of the warblers, arrives a trifle later, or about the middle of March, when it at once begins its cry in the very highest branches it can find of the tallest poplars and fir–trees, perching itself on the topmost pinnacle. Not common about Manchester generally, though plentiful in Marple Wood. First it cries “chiff,” then “chaff,” then “chaff” and “chiff” alternately.
The White Wag–tail (Motacilla alba), ii., 81.
Arrives at the end of March or the beginning of April, but does not appear to breed in our neighbourhood.
The Yellow Wag–tail (Motacilla flava), ii., 84.
Common in open fields, building its nest among young corn, and in hay–grass. Like all the other wag–tails, a bird of very poor song, but singularly gentle and affectionate. It arrives the last week in March, apparently all the better for its journey, the plumage being often more clean and beautiful the day of arrival than at any later period.
The Redstart (Sylvia phœnicurus), iii., 138.
Formerly very common in Hulme, Chorlton, and Withington, but now become scarce, being shy in temperament, and retiring before the advance of population. Plentiful in the rural parts of Cheshire. To get a full view of a redstart is also very difficult, as it is for ever dodging behind a branch, and, as the name implies, is never still.
The Tree Pipit (Anthus arboreus), ii., 88.
A lively bird, arriving at the beginning of April, and commencing to sing immediately. Common, building its nest on the ground, and laying the most variously coloured eggs, some being blood–red and others deep black.
The Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), ii., 71.
Arrives abundantly about the 27th of April, remaining until about August, though young birds of the year have been found in October. However disregardful of its young, the cuckoo makes ample amends in its conjugal fidelity, for when one of either sex is seen, you may be quite sure that its mate is not far off.
The Wryneck, or Cuckoo’s Mate (Yunx Torquilla), ii., 61.
Rare, coming mostly with the cuckoo, which it somewhat resembles.
The Swallow (Hirundo rustica), ii., 76.
Common and familiar everywhere. Social, harmless, and useful, and perhaps as much beloved as the robin itself, if only because of its fondness for human habitations.
The House Martin (Hirundo riparia), ii., 79.
Common and familiar, and, like the swallow, always welcome. This odd bird often takes for the foundation of its nest one constructed the previous year by the swallow. The swallow’s nest is open at the top. The house–martin likes to have a roof or lid, so goes on with the one it adopts till finished to its own fancy, keeping only an aperture for ingress.
The Sand Martin (Hirundo urbica), ii., 78.
Comes in spring from North Africa and Malta, then common everywhere in sand–banks, in which it excavates horizontal galleries. It never alights on the ground, but gathers the blades of green grass used for the nest while on the wing, and in the same way collects the feathers for lining it.
The Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus), iv., 187.
This bird visits us in the beginning of May, arriving in large flocks. It is very tame, silly, and easily approached. If a fowler once gets among them, he may shoot the whole before they take alarm. It remains only for three or four days or a week, and then moves on to its breeding stations among the mountains in the north.—(On the Lancashire localities, see Manchester Guardian, Feb. 25, 1882.)
The Spotted Fly–catcher (Muscicapa grisola), i., 44.
Common, making its appearance in the middle of May, building in gardens and woods, and generally choosing very odd situations for the nest. Remarkable for the constancy of its return to the same old dead tree or rail, or old and ivied wall. After its long aërial sail it seems well content also to stop there till the time for departure in autumn. “From morn till dewy eve” it keeps in its chosen place, though incessantly darting out to secure a fly.
The Pied Fly–catcher (Muscicapa luctuosa), i., 43.
This bird has been seen frequently between Middleton and Oldham, where also it builds its nest, choosing old trees.
The Common Sand–piper (Tringa hypoleucos), iv., 217.
Tolerably common on the banks of the Mersey at Northen, and thence down the river.
The Land–rail, or Corn–crake (Crex pratensis), v., 242.
Common everywhere in hay and corn–fields. The voice of the corn–crake has in it something so nearly akin to ventriloquism that the birds themselves are rarely where we seem to hear them, furnishing in summer much pleasant amusement.
The Spotted Crake, or Gallinew (Crex porzana), v., 243.
These birds haunt the pit–bottoms, and cannot be got without a good dog; hence they appear to be less common than they really are.
The Common Quail (Perdrix coturnix), iii., 178.
Occasionally met with, and no doubt breeds, like the partridge, which it resembles, in open fields. It may be known by its peculiar cry in summer evenings, But–me–but! But–me–but!
The Common Dipper (Cinclus aquaticus), iii., 123.
The only place in the neighbourhood known to be visited by this curious bird is Stalybridge Brushes, from which nests and eggs have several times been brought. At home only in and about brooks and streams in mountainous districts, it generally builds its nests under the ledge of a cascade on rocks perfectly wet, having to go through the curtain of water to reach it. When wishing to feed, it goes to the bottom of the water, there walking about like a diver.—(On the Lancashire localities, see the Manchester Guardian, Feb. 4, 1882.)
The Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus), iii., 132.
Builds every summer in Stalybridge Brushes; occasionally about Withington. Remarkable for its loud and beautiful song.
II. VISITORS COMING IN AUTUMN AND WINTER.
The Field–fare (Turdus pilaris), iii., 125.
A common winter visitor, breeding in Norway and Sweden, and one of the eminently social birds, always travelling in large companies. Comes about the end of October, and leaves again not later than the beginning of April.
The Redwing (Turdus iliacus), iii., 126.
The habits of this bird are the same as those of the field–fare, with which it comes and goes.
The Siskin (Carduelis spinus), ii., 109.
The siskin visits us in November and December, but sometimes not for seven or eight years together, though coming plentifully when it chooses to make its appearance.
The Mealy Red–pole (Linaria canescens), ii., 112.
Comes and goes in flocks with the siskins, and at equally long and uncertain intervals.
The Common Snipe (Scolopax Gallinago), iv., 227.
Abundant, haunting old brick–pits and unfrozen brooks; plentiful about Gorton, Belle Vue, and Cheetham Hill.
The Jack Snipe (Scolopax Gallinula), iv., 228.
A smaller bird than the common snipe; not so plentiful, but often seen in company with it.
The Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola), iv., 225.
Formerly very plentiful about Hough–end, but now rare, owing to the filling up of the pits and the clearing away of the brushwood.