Strigidæ, Owls.—Long-eared Owl, Asio otus, Thanet, Dec. 16th, two, evidently fresh arrivals. Short-eared Owl, A. brachyotus. Spring: Tees L.V., March 15th, one to E. Coquet L.H., April 21st, W.N.W., one. Longstone, L.H., April 28th, one. Autumn: Languard L.H., Aug. 20th, 6 a.m., one. Redcar, 21st, E., two. From Sept. 17th to 23rd, at four stations. In October, some at Spurn and Redcar. Thanet, Dec. 3rd, one. Coquet L.H., 9th, one. Farn L.H., Jan. 23rd, one, a very large example, caught in a trap, baited with a Redshank it had killed. Rush, first week in October and 11th. Tengmalm's Owl, Nyctala tengmalmi, Oct. 18th, one shot at Holmpton, Holderness ['Naturalist,' 1884, p. 110]. Heligoland, A. brachyotus, Sept. 21st, first; Oct. 3rd, 11th, 14th, some; very few compared with other years. N. tengmalmi, Oct. 3rd, one shot; 7th, one.
Falconidæ, Buteo.—First fortnight in September, a few "large Hawks" along coast, some of which would probably be Buzzards. Goshawk, Astur palumbarius, Sept. 29th, one seen on the wing by me, when driving between Easington and Skeflling, Holderness. Sparrowhawk, A. nisus, Spring: Newarp L.V., April 23rd, two, to E. Autumn: Dudgeon L.V., Aug. 12th, one, died on board; at various stations, several, during the first fortnight in September. Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus, Spurn, Sept. 9th, one, in pursuit of a Tern; Oct. 2nd, 8 p.m., one, an adult male, captured on mast-head of fishing-smack 'Surprise,' of Grimsby, between the Outer Dowsing L.V. and Cromer. Kestrel, Tinnunculus alaudarius, Spurn, Sept. 4th to 10th, many; on 8th, seven seen, and on 10th, ten in one field, by the Rev. H. H. Slater. Very common in North-east Lincolnshire in September. Thanet, Sept. 12th to 17th, evidently a considerable passage of Hawks. Heligoland, Buteo vulgaris, Buzzard, Sept. 4th and 5th, some. Archibuteo lagopus, Rough-legged Buzzard, Sept. 15th, one shot; Nov. 10th, several small flocks; 14th, several. Haliaëtus albicilla, White-tailed Eagle, Sept. 15th, one, young, shot. Accipiter nisus, Sparrowhawk, Aug. 15th, some, young; 21st, more numerous; Sept. 4th, 4 p.m., great many, young; 5th and 6th, a few towards evening; 10th and 11th, some; 18th, numerous, young birds; 21st, some; Oct. 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 14th, and 21st, some. Pernis apivorus, Honey Buzzard, Sept. 18th, some, young. Falco peregrinus, Peregrine Falcon, Oct. 1st to 15th, a few; 21st, some. Falco æsalon, Merlin, Oct. 6th, 7th, and 14th, some. Tinnunculus alaudarius, Kestrel, Aug. 17th, young; Sept. 10th, 11th, and Oct. 6th, 7th, some.
Sula bassana, Gannet.—Farn L.H., March 7th, several all day to N.E.; 10th, the same, and hundreds all day on 15th and 16th April. Longstone L.H., March 16th, some at 5 p.m., to north, and daily to 26th all day, but no large flocks, and more or less daily to April 15th. Autumn: Farn L.H., July 2nd, first young seen. Redcar, Sept. 24th to end of month, very numerous at sea, mainly young.
Ardea cinerea, Heron.—At many stations in the autumn, but it is impossible to say whether immigrants or not. Herons have been very common in the autumn and winter in all the low-lying districts in North-east Lincolnshire. On the evening of February 3rd, 1885, fourteen, flying close together, passed over me within half-gunshot, steering their course in the direction of the nearest "beck."
Botaurus stellaris, Bittern.—One shot in Gedney Marsh on Nov. 14th; one in Yorkshire, four or five in Lincolnshire, one in Norfolk, and one in Suffolk, during the first week in December, and one near Brigg, Lincolnshire, in January, 1885. Snow and severe frosts on Continent from Nov. 28th to Dec. 2nd. It is probable that the bulk of these visitors were shot within a week of their arrival on our shores.
Platalea leucorodia, Spoonbill.—Hollesley, Suffolk, four, early in August, two of which were shot by a "fortunate" gunner. ['Zool.,' 1884, p. 471.]
Anser, Geese.—Spring: Whitby, May 8th, eighteen wild geese, from N. to S. Autumn: first recorded from Whitby L.H., Sept. 8th, three large flocks to S., flying half a mile from shore. The main arrival from Redcar to Humber district on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Oct. Coquet L.H., Nov. 4th, many flocks all day to N. Shipwash L.V., Dec. 1st and 2nd, nights to W. Heligoland, Anser cinereus, Grey-lag Goose, Oct. 10th, a flight, one shot, a young bird; 11th, some; Nov. 30th, numerous.
Cygnus, Swans.—March 8th, Outer Dowsing L.V., one black Swan to S.S.E. A black Swan was shot on Sunk Island [Humber] in the autumn. Redcar, Oct. 5th, nine to N. Yarmouth, Nov. 20th, four on Breydon Water. Corton L.V., Dec. 4th and 6th, two.
Tadorna cornuta, Sheldrake.—Spring: April 12th, Farn L.H., four on rocks; first young at sea on June 22nd. Twigmoor, Lincolnshire, May 23rd, pair of old birds and seven young on pond. Redcar, Dec. 3rd, flock. Farn L.H., Jan. 21st, 10.30 to noon, flocks to N., one flock numbering thirty-eight.
Mareca penelope, Wigeon.—Redcar, Oct. 28th, first seen, several.