Columba Palumbus, Ringdove.—Outer Dowsing L.V., May 19th, one to W. Tetney, October 17th, flocks of migratory Wood Pigeons. Grainsby, November 17th and 19th, morning, large flocks to S.W. Spurn L.H., November 26th, from 7 to 10 P.M., [3] N.W., numbers of Wood Pigeons, several on gallery of lantern. January 18th, 4 P.M., flock to S. February 1st, 10 A.M., two to S. Cromer L.H., December 9th and 18th, great many. Languard L.H., February 5th, 3 to 4 P.M., large flock inland, towards Orwell Park. Longstone L.H., July 19th, Rock Pigeon (C. livia).
Turtur Communis, Turtle Dove.—Flamborough L.H., May 11th, one. Longstone L.H., 20th, 6.30 P.M., variable, N.E. to S.E. to S. by W., two seen; 28th, 9 A.M., S., rain, one. Cromer L.H., June 4th, 1.30 A.M., one killed. Redcar, September 7th, small flock of seven, one killed. Leman and Ower L.V., May 6th, 3 A.M., two "Doves" from S.E., and twenty to thirty small birds with them.[8]
[8] Mr G. H. Caton Haigh writes that the Turtle Dove has been very common during the summer in the neighbourhood of Grainsby, North-East Lincolnshire. About the middle of June one of the keepers saw a flock of twenty or thirty at Cadeby. The same man also saw eight in Grainsby Healing during the third week in August. Another keeper had seen a pair or two about Beasby Wood, and a pair in an orchard in the village of Grainsby all through the summer.
Coturnix Communis, Quail.—Shipwash L.V., October 22d, 1 A.M., one killed (wing sent).
Rallus Aquaticus, Water-Rail.—Spurn L.V., November 1st, 6 A.M., S.W., one caught on deck. Llyn Wells L.V., November 1st, 3 A.M., two killed striking the lantern. Coquet L.V., November 4th, one killed.
Crex Pratensis, Land-Rail.—Whitby L.V., May 7th, 2 A.M., first heard. Farn L.H., 17th, 4 A.M., W., Land-Rail. Common Coot (Fulica atra), Languard L.H., September 8th, 2.45 A.M., one struck and killed.
Charadriidæ.—Charadrius pluvialis, Golden Plover.—Farn L.H., September 12th, thirteen to W. Tetney, October 18th, E. to N.E., first flights. Languard L.H., October 31st, large flock to W. at 3 P.M. Squatarola helvetica, Grey Plover.—Yarmouth, May, first and second weeks, several in summer dress September 22d, first autumn arrivals. Great Cotes, May 18th, 1886, about 200 along the foreshore, the majority in full summer dress. March 10th, 1887, some young of the previous year seen on the muds to-day had not lost the golden-drop plumage of the autumn. Ægialitis cantiana, Kentish Plover.—Yarmouth. April 29th, two seen in a flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover; June 10th, one seen. Languard L.H., November 27th, 7.50 A.M., two pitched on beach; left at noon. Ægialitis hiaticula, Ringed Plover.—Great Cotes, May 18th, 1886, great numbers on flats. Languard L.H., November 16th, thousands of Dotterel and Oxbirds together pitched on beach at high water. Swin Middle L.V., November 13th, 2.50 P.M., W., thousands of "Stone Runners" first seen to E., then to W. (see [p. 48]); 18th, the same, a very large flight in sight from 3.55 to 4.20 going S.E. to S.W.; also on December 28th and January 13th. Great Cotes, August 19th, early night, sultry and dull, several Kinged Plover passing over. Trent Lock, Notts, August 19th, same at 9 P.M. [F. B. W.]. Eudromias morinellus, Dotterel.—Great Cotes, May 4th and 5th, trip of eight. Robin Hood's Bay, Yorkshire, September, first week, six shot; Whitby, 6th, four; Seaton-Carew, 10th, one shot. Vanellus vulgaris, Lapwing.—Outer Dowsing L.V., October 6th, great rush with others; Leman and Ower L.V., 8th, many during night to W.; Inner Dowsing L.V., 17th, one. Languard L.H., November 8th, hundreds at 2 P.M.; 26th, 3 A.M. till daylight, with many others. Great Cotes, December 13th, about 12,000 in one field twenty-four hours before the frost commencing on the 14th; Whitby, 24th, all morning in small flocks, twenty to forty, coming in from sea. Redcar, January 21st, 1887, S.W., strong; and 22d, W.N.W, many with larks coming in from sea and going W. Strepsilas interpres, Turnstone.—Yarmouth, May 14th, some; Great Cotes, 18th, a dozen in various plumage. Yarmouth, September 8th, some. Hæmatopus ostralegus, Oystercatcher.—Redcar, August 5th to end of month and to September 7th, many. Leman and Ower L.V., June 18th, one killed.
Scolopacidæ, Recurvirostra avocetta, Avocet.—Redcar, August 5th, 12.10 P.M., one (I am sure of species.—T. H. N.). Phalaropus fulicarius, Grey Phalarope.—October 14th, one picked up at Bassingham, near Lincoln. Scolopax rusticula, Woodcock.—Spring: Longstone L.H., April 3d, 1.30 P.M., S. by E., one Woodcock to E. Autumn: Farn L.H., October 4th, one; Flambro', 5th, some. "First flight" at Coquet Island, Whitby, Spurn, and Norfolk coast on 6th. At Whitby L.H., one struck at 1.30 A.M., probably marking the time of arrival of the flight on the East Coast; wind south-easterly, overcast, misty. The second or "great flight," from October 16th to 25th, from the Farn Islands to the Norfolk coast, birds dropping here and there in a desultory fashion, and nowhere plentiful, wind E. and E.S.E.; on October 15th to 16th a gale from E.S.E. A few on October 28th, 29th, and 30th, and scattered occurrences up to November 15th. The last recorded as coming in from the sea was at Tees L.V., December 18th, going W.; wind W.S.W. Gallinago cœlestis, Common Snipe.—Longstone L.H., August 8th, one; 23d, one. Tetney, August 12th, flight. Whitby L.H., October 4th, 4 A.M., one killed. Longstone L.H., October 4th, 1 A.M., one heard in flight. Yarmouth, October 30th, flight; Coquet, November 18th, 8 A.M., S.S.E., four. G. gallinula, Jacksnipe.—Longstone snipe.—Longstone L.H., April 25th, 10.30 A.M., one.[9] Autumn: At the Farn Island stations and Lincolnshire coast from October 2d to 6th, wind generally south-easterly. Tringa alpina, Dunlin.—Spring, 1886: Yarmouth, April 29th, enormous numbers on north beach, some Ringed Plover amongst them. Trent Lock, May 9th, 11 A.M., twenty to thirty Black-breasted Dunlin; Great Cotes, 18th, great numbers in summer plumage. T. subarquata, Pigmy Curlew.—Yarmouth, July 31st, one in full summer plumage. T. striata, Purple Sandpiper.—Tarn L.H., September 22d, some on rocks; October 31st, flock of twenty. Yarmouth, November 17th, two shot. T. canutus, Knot.—Spring, 1886: Yarmouth, April 13th, Knot and Dunlin on Breydon in semi-summer dress. Longstone L.H., July 16th, S.E., fine, one. Redcar, August 19th to end of month, a few seen at sea. Tetney, February 24th, 1887, out of six shot to-day, one had the lower parts mottled with faded brick red, the summer plumage of the previous year having not been altogether cast off. Calidris arenaria, Sanderling.—Yarmouth, May 14th, considerable arrival with others; some seen on the 9th. Totanus ochropus, Green Sandpiper.—Longstone L.H., July 29th, one seen (very rare here). Grainsby, Lincolnshire (Waithe-beck), July 27th, first; August 23d, large arrival; end of March, all have left. T. glareola, Wood Sandpiper.—Cley, Norfolk, August 13th. T. calidris, Redshank.—Longstone L.H., July 29th. Farn L.H., September 4th and 9th, many. Tees L.V., October 30th, twenty; always common on the Lincolnshire coast and at Spurn in the autumn. T. fuscus, Spotted Redshank.—Breydon, Norfolk, August 15th, one. T. canescens, Greenshank.—Yarmouth, April 28th, 1886, two; May 14th, some; and on return, November 27th. Limosa lapponica, Bar-tailed Godwit.—Yarmouth, April 12th, 1886, first; 14th, some; May 14th, great arrival. Autumn: September 22d, first. Redcar, July 19th, 12.30 P.M., seven or eight to E. L. ægocephala, Black-tailed Godwit.—September 12th, one at Breydon, Norfolk. Numenius phæopus, Whimbrel.—Spring: April 26th, Breydon, Yarmouth, in small number. May 14th, large arrival with others. Autumn: Redcar, June 19th, first heard passing over; last on September 7th. Great Cotes, July 26th, first heard. Tees L.V., August 30th, twenty; October 30th, very large flock of Curlew, Whimbrel, some Oyster-catchers and Redshanks; January 4th, 1887, large flocks both of Whimbrel and Curlew. N. arquata, Curlew.—Leman and Ower L.V., May 10th, 1886, 3 A.M., five, one killed. Great Cotes, August 19th, first young Curlew in marsh; 20th, hundreds of Curlew in the marsh for a few hours. I was told by one observer he had seen thousands. Redcar, September 6th, at sea flock to W. Yarmouth, September, early, very numerous; Redcar, 19th, flight, with others, overhead, 10 to 11 P.M., foggy and dark. Tees L.V., October 30th, very large flight; Hasbro' L.V., 30th, 7 P.M. to midnight, many round light, none struck. Winterton, October 27th, 8.30 P.M., flight to W. Tees L.V., January 4th, 1887, large flocks.
[9] Mr Thomas O. Hall, of the Longstone L.H., speaks of the great scarcity of birds this season, and thinks they must have crossed further south, the prevailing winds having been E.N.E. and N.E., crushing down the migration, and giving it a southerly direction.
The migration of waders was observed inland by their nocturnal cries. Great Cotes, August, night of 19th, Ringed Plover. Trent Lock, Notts, by Mr E. B. Whitlock, August 19th, Ringed Plover; 21st, Sandpipers and others; 24th, Curlew. At Grainsby, by Mr Haigh. August 29th, waders; and by Professor Newton, of Cambridge, July 21st to 22d and 26th to 27th, about midnight.