III. CASUAL, STRAY, AND OCCASIONAL BIRDS.
Several of the birds named below are permanent residents in the British Islands, and others are regular visitors to this country. They are put in the present place because seen near Manchester only at uncertain intervals, or as casuals, the only one that can be looked for with any degree of probability, being the sea–gull. The visits, as will be seen from the dates, have in some cases occurred at periods so far back, that except for completeness’ sake, they would scarcely be worth mention. I quote them from standard works upon ornithology, and from the late Mr. John Blackwall’s paper upon the migrations of Manchester birds in the “Transactions of the Literary and Philosophical Society for 1822,” the observations having been made during the eight years 1814–1821.
The Little Crake (Crex pusilla), v., 244.
One at Ardwick in 1807.
The Golden Oriole (Oriolus galbula), iii., 133.
One near Manchester in 1811.
The Ortolan (Emberiza hortulana), ii., 101.
One near Manchester in 1827.
The Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), ii., 116.
About the year 1840, in the month of August, a large flock of these birds, old and young in company, visited Hough–end Clough for a few hours. Mr. Blackwall gives as its Manchester period, August 5th to November 19th.
The Chatterer (Ampelis garrulus), i., 59.
In Mr. Blackwall’s list.
The Hoopoe (Upupa epops), i., 49.
In Mr. Blackwall’s list.
The Red–backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), i., 34.
Sometimes seen in the summer.
The Great Shrike (Lanius excubitor), i., 33.
In Mr. Blackwall’s list, and was seen at Cheadle about 1850. (On the Lancashire localities of the three species of Lanius, see the Manchester Guardian for March 11th, 1882.)
The Merlin (Falco æsalon), i., 16.
In Mr. Blackwall’s list. (On the Lancashire localities, see Manchester Guardian, January 14th, 1882.)
The Dusky Grebe (Colymbus obscurus), v., 296.
Once near Manchester.
Bewick’s Swan (Cygnus Bewickii), v., 262.
A flock of twenty–nine at Crumpsall on December 10th, 1829, and another of seventy–three at the same place, February 28th, 1830.
The Little Bittern (Ardea minuta), iv., 205.
A very shy and sulky little bird, sitting all of a heap, and looking like a bit of brown stump.
The Common Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), iv., 204.
The Great or Solitary Snipe (Scolopax major), iv., 226.
Has been seen at Urmston.
The Nightingale (Sylvia Luscinia), iii., 147.
The visit of the nightingales to our neighbourhood will long be remembered by those who heard their song. It took place in 1863. The first came to Wilmslow early in May, establishing itself in the little grove near the end of Bollin Hall Park, on the Manchester side of the railway viaduct. For several weeks it sang nightly, and the crowds of people who were attracted by the fame of the bird from distances of many miles, at last became quite a trouble to that usually quiet neighbourhood. The second took up its lodging in a grove close to the Strines Printworks, where, says Mr. Joel Wainwright,[31] no greater sensation was ever caused by a little thing. It began at ten every night, and continued almost uninterruptedly until three a.m. A third is said to have visited a plantation adjacent to the railway station at Sale, but over this one there may possibly have been an error.
The Snow Bunting (Emberiza nivalis), ii., 95.
Occasionally visits us in severe winters, breeding in Norway and Sweden.
The Mountain Finch, or Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla), ii., 103.
Visits us from the north in winter time, but rarely.
The Pectoral Sand–piper (Tringa pectoralis), iv., 239.
Once by a pit near the White House, Stretford Road.
The Common Wild Goose (Anser palustris), v., 251.
A flock of these birds was once seen feeding in a field at Withington.
The Wild Swan (Cygnus ferus), v., 261.
One preserved in the Peel Park Museum was shot near Bolton. Occasionally seen at Lymm.
The Sclavonian Grebe (Podiceps cornutus), v., 296.
One shot near Oldham many years ago is now in the Peel Park Museum.
The Common Tern (Sterna Hirundo), vi., 316.
Occasionally seen upon the Mersey and the lower Irwell.
The Black Tern (Sterna nigra), vi., 323.
The Black–headed Gull (Larus ridibundus), vi., 331.
The Common Gull (Larus canus), vi., 334.
The Kittiwake (Larus tridactylus), vi., 340.
Gulls are frequently seen in the winter on the mosses and in ploughed fields, feeding, but whether they are the kittiwake or common gull cannot always be ascertained with certainty, as they are very shy birds, and fly away before they can be approached.
The Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus), v., 246.
The Curlew (Numenius arquata), iv., 211.
Occasionally breeds on Chat Moss.
The Teal (Anas crecca), v., 272.
Occasionally seen by pit–sides.
The Black–start (Sylvia Tithys), iii., 139.
Two were seen at Didsbury about 1855.
The Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis), iv., 186.
Occasionally seen in large flocks upon the flat fields near Stretford and thereabouts.—(On the Lancashire localities, see Manchester Guardian, January 28th, 1882.)
The Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula), iv., 188.
Single birds are seen occasionally, both in summer and winter.
The Storm Petrel (Procellaria pelagica), vi., 353.
One was picked up alive near Stockport in the winter of 1856, and another, dead, at Pendleton, shortly before. A third had fallen at Withington, these birds being blown inland by tempestuous weather, and dropping when exhausted.
The Hobby (Falco subbuteo), i., 14.
Once near Brooks’ Bar, as a summer visitant. The hobby is the only British bird of prey that is migratory.
The Dunlin (Tringa variabilis), iv., 240.
This bird has been known to breed on Chat Moss, but very rarely.
The Common Swift (Hirundo apus), ii., 73.
Occasionally.
The Night–jar (Caprimulgus Europæus), ii., 72.
Chat Moss, and other out of the way moors.