Norfolk coasts the arrival was very large in September and October;
the migration commencing the first week in September. At Great Cotes,
October 30th, still very numerous. Tees L.V., Oct. 15th, "three came
on board, one remaining a week." Heligoland, Sept. 26th, "a few during
last days;" Oct. 6th, some; 7th, many; 11th, very great many; 12th,
astounding numbers; 14th, many; 15th, same; 21st to 25th, less; 30th,
some. This very well represents the general order of migration at
the island; first a few, then a rush for some days culminating in
astounding numbers, after which there is a gradual falling away till
the migration of that special species ceases altogether.
_Calcarius lapponicus_, Lapland Bunting.--Cley, Norfolk, Sept. 17th,
N.E., one, a young male, obtained by Mr. F. D. Power. Great Cotes,
Nov. 27th, one, a mature male ('Zoologist,' 1884, p. 484); Nov. 11th,
one near Brighton, shown in the flesh to Mr. Gurney. Heligoland, Sept.
19th, a few; Oct. 3rd, a few; 7th, many; 12th and 16th, some.
_Plectrophanes nivalis_, Snow Bunting.--Spring: Farn L.H., March
11th, two on island; Longstone L.H., June 7th, one on rock. Autumn:
Northumberland Coast, Sept. 15th, one shot; sparingly in October, at
the more northern stations, and tolerably plentiful from Spurn to
Yarmouth, in the latter half of November; rushes, Nov. 24th, 25th and
26th, into Humber district. Great Cotes, marshes, also at this date,
Nov. 25th, sharp frost, Pink-footed Goose; great flights of Golden
Plover, Snipe large numbers; immense flocks of Linnets, Greenfinches,
Larks, Chaffinches and Tree Sparrows, fields covered; Nov. 26th, still
sharp frost, scores of old male Blackbirds, fields swarming with small
birds as before, with the addition of flights of newly-arrived Wood
Pigeons, which appear a smaller race than our home-bred birds. All this
time Snow Buntings, chiefly old birds. Tees L.V., Dec. 7th, 16th and
17th, large flocks to S.W. and N.W. Heligoland, Oct. 16th first; 29th,
many; Nov. 5th, large flights; 29th, great many.
_Sturnus vulgaris_, Starling.--Spring: Spurn L.H., March 3rd, 3 a.m.
to daybreak, misty, S.S.E., numbers round lantern. Outer Dowsing L.V.,
16th, a flight; 17th, continuous noon to 5 p.m., going W.N.W. to E.S.E.
Autumn: First at Whitby L.H. Sept. 2nd, great many for several days.
Spurn, 20th, all day to S. Immense rushes in October more or less
over the whole coast line, and during the latter half of the month
almost continuous night and day. At Leman and Ower L.V., Oct. 24th, 5
p.m., 5000, S.E. to N.W., fifty killed. Coquet Island L.H., many round
lantern all through November. Heligoland, in duration and number the
migration probably exceeds that of any other species, commencing with
young birds on June 28th, and continued at intervals to the end of the
year; enormous numbers crossed between the 14th and 25th of October,
especially on the 19th, "immense numbers;" 20th, "clouds of enormous
numbers;" 21st, "astounding;" 22nd, "astounding flights like clouds
passing on," and so on in less numbers to the end of the year.
_Pastor roseus_, Rose-coloured Pastor.--Aug. 30th, one shot near Spurn,
and another reputed to have been seen. Mr. Slater, who saw this bird,
says it was in very dusky plumage, and its colouring very much that of
an old Hooded Crow, but it was an adult female, and dissection showed
that it had bred this season.
_Corvus monedula_, Daw.--In large flocks at several stations in October
and November, frequently mixed with Rooks. Heligoland, first on October
6th; 12th, many; 15th, several flights; 24th and 25th, astounding
numbers.
_C. corone_, Carrion Crow.--Large numbers appear to have come over
in October. There are innumerable entries in the schedules of "black
crows" and "grey crows," and of course it is quite impossible to say
in each case whether Carrion Crows or Rooks are intended. In those
instances where the flocks are mixed, grey and black Crows together,
the latter are probably _C. corone_. Rooks, as a rule, keep to
themselves when migrating, or mixed with Jackdaws.
_C. cornix_, Hooded Crow.--Spring: Outer Dowsing L.V., March 1st, 8.30
a.m., flight to S.S.E. from W.N.W., and the same on April 3rd and 4th.
Farn L.H., April 11th, eleven to W. Great Cotes, May 8th, last. Autumn:
First at Flamborough L.H. on Oct. 3rd, two in field near lighthouse.
Thanet, 5th, one from N.E.; then on the 6th at Tees L.V., Flamborough,
Spurn, Hunstanton L.H. and Hasborough L.V., a few; during the latter
half of October the rush appears to have been continuous night and day;
and at the Outer Dowsing L.V., Nov. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, a continuous
rush N.E. to S.W., and also at other stations, but in less numbers to
Nov. 15th; Redcar, Dec. 3rd, some; and Spurn, at intervals, a few to
end of the year; the main body came in from Flamborough Head to the
coast of Essex, comparatively few north of Flamborough or south of the
Thames; the chief lines of flight S.E. to N.W., E. to W., and S. to
N.W. Heligoland, Oct. 2nd, first flight; 5th and 6th, numbers; and on
to 14th, when thousands crossed; 15th, none; 18th, N., great flights;
19th less; 20th, great numbers; 21st, astounding numbers; less on 22nd
and 23rd, and then very great again on 24th and 25th; Nov. 1st, and on
2nd and 3rd, very great migration late in afternoon, and at intervals
to 28th.
_C. frugilegus_, Rook.--Spring: Newarp L.V., Feb. 10th to 13th and 22nd
to 23rd, 7.30 to 9 a.m., great numbers of "black crows" to eastward,
and at intervals to April; 23rd, large numbers of both black and grey
Crows in same direction; Larks, Sparrows, and Chaffinches also; at the
same date, Feb. 23rd, large numbers of Crows and Larks passing _to the
west_. Shipwash L.V., 13th, 8 a.m., flights of thousands to S.E. Leman
and Ower L.V., from March 4th and through April, great numbers of Crows
to E. from W. Autumn: Oct. 5th to Nov. 12th, recorded at nine stations
south of Humber, from Spurn to Orfordness; an almost continuous rush
night and day last fortnight in October. Heligoland, Oct. 6th, first;
14th, great numbers; 15th, some; 23rd, two monstrous flights in
afternoon; 24th and 25th, astounding numbers (see General Remarks);
Nov. 3rd, during afternoon.
_C. corax_, Raven.--Languard L.H., June 22nd, 6.50 a.m., two.
_Alauda arvensis_, Sky Lark.--Spring: At Leman and Ower L.V., March
4th, great many E. to W., also many birds, Chaffinches and others,
to April 9th, likewise E. to W. Outer Dowsing L.V., March 7th, Larks
and Starlings. In the autumn Larks are recorded first at the Varne
L.V., Sept. 6th; last at Goodwin L.V., Dec. 23rd, a few about lantern
all night; the migration covering 109 days, and including twenty-four
stations between the Farn Islands and Hanois L.H., fourteen of which
are light vessels. From Sept. 30th to the middle of Nov. enormous
numbers crossed the North Sea either directly from E. to W., a point S.
of E. to other N. of W., and from the 15th of Oct. to the end of the
month the rush appears to have been nearly continuous night and day;
the great rush from the 20th to the 23rd. At Heligoland the migration
commenced on the 22nd of Sept. with pretty large flights, and continued
at intervals to the end of the year; on the 21st October an enormous
migration over the sea on each side of the island; night of 24th to
25th, great rush, 500 caught at lighthouse.
_A. arborea_, Woodlark.--Heligoland, Oct. 6th, a few; also on 8th and
11th; 13th, twenty to thirty; 15th, some; 22nd and 30th, many; Nov.
2nd, some; and the 28th, many.
_A. cristata_, Crested Lark.--Heligoland, Sept. 30th and Oct. 1st, one
each day.
_Otocorys alpestris_, Shore Lark.--Yarmouth, Nov. 11th, two; 12th,
one. Blakeney, 28th, two. Spurn, two or three about the same date.
Heligoland, Oct. 2nd, first young; 6th, flights eight to ten; 7th, 8th,
and 9th, some flights; 12th, large flights; 14th, flights of hundreds;
15th and 16th, some; 18th, large flights, thirty to forty; 20th, in
afternoon, a flight, fifty to sixty; 21st, twenty to thirty; 24th,
great multitudes; 29th and 30th, less; Nov. 2nd and 3rd, many; 10th
and 11th, hundreds constantly, and at intervals to Dec. 1st in large
numbers. When we consider the very few which appear on this side of
the North Sea compared with the vast numbers passing Heligoland in the
autumn, it becomes a matter of surprise where they all go, and in what
lands they find winter-quarters.
_Cypselus apus_, Swift.--Spring: Hunstanton L.H., May 6th, two. Cromer
L.H., July 28th, 3 a.m., two struck lantern. Last seen, Thanet, Sept.
7th, and Spurn, Sept. 8th. Heligoland, Sept. 3rd, a few.
_Caprimulgus europæus_, Nightjar.--Spurn, Sept. 2nd and 3rd, one each
day. Thanet, Sept. 5th, one. Heligoland, Aug. 17th, one.
_Dendrocopus major_, Great-spotted Woodpecker.--Heligoland, Sept. 16th,
one, young.
_Jynx torquilla_, Wryneck.--Heligoland, Aug. 21st, first; 22nd, very
many on cliff; 23rd, many.
_Alcedo ispida_, Kingfisher.--Orfordness L.H., March 25th, 9 p.m.,
E.N.E. 6, one struck and killed. North-east Lincolnshire, September and
October, great many.
_Upupa epops_, Hoopoe.--Farn, April 28th, 2 p.m., E.N.E., one on
island. Longstone L.H., 29th, one seen.
_Cuculus canorus_, Cuckoo.--Spring: Great Cotes, April 27th, first
recorded. Hunstanton L.H., May 6th. Spurn L.H., 7th; and Whitby L.H.,
8th, wind W.S.W., a progression northward at the rate of forty miles
a day. Farn L.H., May 23rd, calm S.E., heard calling overhead at
midnight. Autumn: Thanet, July 15th, first on autumn passage. Tees
L.V., 29th, one caught on board. Farn L.H., August 3rd, young Cuckoo on
rock. Spurn, young plentiful during third week; last seen on 25th. Last
seen at Thanet, Sept. 12th. Heligoland, early in July, some old; 15th
to 20th, daily young birds; Aug. 1st to 3rd, daily young; 17th same;
22nd, each day.
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.
_Anas boschas_, Wild Duck.--Spring: Outer Dowsing L.V., March 9th, 9
to 3 p.m., Wild Ducks continuous, from N.W. to S.E. Autumn: Redcar,
October 3rd to December 6th., large numbers in various directions, also
at most coast stations. Heligoland, _Querquedula crecca_, Teal, Sept.
1st, great many, also 2nd and 3rd.
_Harelda glacialis_, Long-tailed Duck.--Farn L.H., Jan. 12th, 1885,
several swimming all day near island.
_Somateria mollissima_, Eider Duck.--Spring: Coquet L.H., April 28th,
twenty, of which four were males off island. May 8th, many Ducks and
Drakes, and at the same station in December many off island. Farn L.H.,
Jan. 11th and 12th, 1885, hundreds swimming in lee of island. The first
young were seen on June 13th. The King Eider, _Somateria spectabilis_,
was seen at the Farn Islands on April 9th, and at the Longstone on May
4th. This bird, which has now regularly appeared in the locality for
several years, was unfortunately shot at on June 12th, and was not seen
afterwards.
_Œdemia nigra_, Common Scoter.--Gull L.V., April 27th, 8 a.m. to noon,
continuous to N. Autumn: Great numbers at several stations, moving in
various directions.
_Mergus merganser_, Goosander.--Redcar, Oct. 6th, one to N.W.; Nov.
19th, flock; Dec. 8th, two. _M. serrator_, Merganser, a few observed
off Redcar at sea between Oct. 12th and 25th.
_Columba palumbus_, Ring Dove.--Orfordness, Sept. 27th, 9 p.m., one
struck, killed. Languard, 29th, 8 a.m., eight flying very quick
W. to N.E. Between 21st of October and the end of November there
was an immense immigration covering the East Coast between Berwick
and Yarmouth; rushes Oct. 21st to 25th, Nov. 2nd and 20th to 28th,
continuous for nine days. Mr. T. H. Nelson says "there was an enormous
arrival of these birds in the Redcar neighbourhood about the middle
of November. I have not noted all down in the schedule, as I did
not see them all myself, but am told that from the 20th to end of
month there was a continuous migration; a friend shot about fifty in
three days between Redcar and Marske; there was also a considerable
influx into the Bishop Auckland district about the same time." In
Northumberland the numbers were so large as to attract general
attention. In Lincolnshire the arrival was immense, also on the Norfolk
coast. Hundreds were shot on their first arrival, their crops and
stomachs containing no food, invariably the case with all newly arrived
migrants. Heligoland, Oct. 3rd, flight of sixty; 12th, some; 25th,
great many, twenty to thirty in a flight.
_C. ænas_, Stockdove.--Great numbers crossed in the autumn with the
ring doves, mixed or in separate flocks. In November I saw one flock
of four or five hundred in the Great Cotes marshes, an enormous flight
considering the limited number bred in the district. From the beginning
of December to the end of February large flights have daily resorted
to fields of young clover, or those recently laid down with permanent
grasses.
_Turtur communis_, Turtle Dove.--Thanet, Oct. 4th, last seen.
Rallidæ, _Rallus aquaticus_, Water Rail.--There appears to have been
a very considerable immigration between the third week in September
and at intervals to the end of November, and through the autumn they
were exceedingly plentiful in all likely localities on the East Coast.
Heligoland, Oct. 25th, some; 30th, two or three. _Porzana maruetta_,
Spotted Crake. Redcar, Sept. 2nd, one. Heligoland, Oct. 23rd, one.
_Crex pratensis_, Corn Crake. Spring: Whitby, May 2nd, W.S.W., 3 a.m.,
first heard. Autumn: Great Cotes, Sept. 4th; and last near Spurn, Oct.
27th and 28th, one each day. _Gallinula chloropus_, Moorhen, Great
Cotes, Nov. 18th, N. strong, sleet and rain, great numbers on the
streams, drains, and "blowwell" ponds, also in gardens and localities
where I have rarely seen them; probably altogether ten to one in excess
of normal numbers; very few observed after this date. Heligoland, Oct.
23rd, some.
_Charadrius pluvialis_, Golden Plover.--Spring: Longstone L.H., March
14th, S., with Lapwings round lantern. Farn L.H., July 27th, first
flock. Tees L.V., Aug. 25th, large flock to N.W.[31] Great Cotes, the
great flight of old birds on 25th and 26th Nov. Heligoland, Aug. 1st to
3rd, N.N.W., numerous; 5th to 25th, daily, some young; 31st, 11 p.m.,
many; Sept. 23rd, still many; Oct. 12th, some; Nov. 30th, old birds.
[Footnote 31: See footnote Report for 1883, p. 50, on the night of
Golden Plover northward in August.]
_Squatarola helvetica_, Grey Plover. Spurn, Aug. 24th, about twenty
adults in summer plumage; Sept. 5th, about one hundred and fifty, of
which a third were in summer plumage, probably all adults (H. H. S.).
Cley and Blakeney, Sept. 5th, several, the first seen (F. D. P.)
_Ægialitis hiaticula_, Ringed Plover.--Spring: Spurn, April 19th, nest
with four eggs. Longstone L.H., May 4th, nest with four eggs. Very
numerous on migration at Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept. 10th, there was a
small ploughed field on which probably a thousand collected every night
(H. H. S.). Heligoland, June 28th, several hundreds young. _Ægialitis
cantiana_, Kentish Plover. Languard L.H., Aug. 12th, one.
_Eudromias morinellus_, Dotterel.--Spring, Great Cotes, May 8th, seven.
Autumn: Cley and Blakeney, Sept. 5th, W.N.W., five, one alone showing
some rufous on lower, parts of breast and flanks (F. D. P.). Easington,
near Spurn, Oct. 11th and 13th, seven. Heligoland, August 31st, some.
_Vanellus vulgaris_, Lapwing.--Great flights on to the coast throughout
October to Nov. 12th. Rushes, Coquet L.H., Oct. 8th, great numbers
all day; Redcar, 25th, continuous to N.W.; Tees L.V., 22nd and 23rd,
large flights to N.W.; and in November at Redcar on the 1st and 3rd
throughout the morning; 5th, all day; 8th, same. Hasboro' L.V., 12th,
10 p.m. to sunrise on 13th, and Jan. 3rd, 1885, night, quantities
round lantern. Heligoland, July 27th to 28th, great numbers, and to
Aug. 25th, daily.
_Strepsilas interpres_, Turnstone.--Farn, Aug. 13th, S.S.W., hundreds
in flocks all day. Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept. 10th, plentiful and
increasing in numbers.
_Himantopus ostralegus_, Oystercatcher.--Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept.
10th, a few at intervals.
_Phalaropus fulicarius_, Grey Phalarope.--Felixstowe, Sept. 9th, one
shot. Longstone L.H., Nov. 2nd, one swimming in pool near lighthouse.
_Scolopax rusticula_, Woodcock.--Spring: Spurn, March 15th, one. Farn
Islands, 25th, one; and again on April 28th. At Twigmoor, Lincolnshire,
young Woodcocks were hatched early in May.[32] Autumn: The first is
recorded at Coquet L.H. on Sept. 1st; the last at Hasboro' L.V., Jan.
20th, 1885, one caught at night. The migration covered 142 days, the
bulk arriving between Oct. the 5th and Nov. 22nd. What is usually
termed by sportsmen the 'first flight' came in on the nights of the 5th
and 6th of October, wind easterly; another flight between the 10th and
16th; the 'great flight' on the night of the 28th, N.W. strong, with
rain and colder weather; on the 29th, forty were shot in one locality
on the Lincolnshire coast; there was again a second "great flight" from
the 11th to 13th of November. Independent of these rushes, Woodcocks
have been dropping in either singly or by two's and three's throughout
the last three months in the year, and more or less over the whole
coast line. Altogether the migration has been much more desultory and
prolonged than any previously recorded by us. Heligoland, Oct. 6th,
some; 12th, some; 14th, twenty shot; 15th, about thirty shot; 19th,
less; 23rd, some; 25th, twenty to thirty shot; 29th, forty to fifty on
island--night, about ten caught at lighthouse; 30th, thirty to forty
caught or shot; Nov. 1st, some; 3rd, full moon, numbers flying about
island, two or three together; 12th, ten or twelve shot; 16th, ten or
fifteen shot; 22nd, several; 28th, twenty shot and two caught; 30th,
some; Dec. 26th, one.
[Footnote 32: Woodcocks bred in Great Britain invariably leave in the
autumn in August and September, and their place is taken some weeks
later by others coming from the north. Woodcocks found on the East
Coast in March are either such as have wintered in these islands and
are now on their return journey, or in some cases our English birds
returning to their nesting haunts.]