Sky Lark at the East Coast stations are far too numerous to note
separately. In many cases they occupy a large portion of the returned
schedules, and individually far outnumber any other species. At
Heligoland the migration commenced Sept. 25th, already great many
overhead; 27th, 9 to 10 p.m., passing. Oct. 5th, morning, great many;
6th, afternoon, great flights overhead; 19th, late in forenoon, great
flights passing on; 20th, with Starlings, hundreds of thousands
passing overhead and over the sea; 21st, same; 27th considerable
passage in the night; 28th, many thousands over the sea; and after
this in flights through November and December. On our East Coast they
are noticed at thirty-one of the stations making returns, from the
Farne Islands to the Casquets, Alderney. At Farne Island L.H., Sept.
30th to Oct. 31st. At Coquet L.H., Dec. 19th. At Teesmouth 5 Buoy
L.V., Sept. 25th to Nov. 21st. On Oct. 24th, all day, "great rush."
Nov. 21st, "second rush." At Teesmouth, Oct. 6th to 30th. At Whitby
L.H., Oct. 14th to Nov. 23rd. At Flamborough in October. At Spurn
L.H., Sept. 15th to Jan. 13th. At Spurn L.V., Oct. 6th to 27th--from
9th to 15th every day continuous. At Great Cotes, September, last
week, every day and on to Nov. 4th. At Outer Dowsing L.V., Oct. 13th
to Dec. 6th; "great rush," Oct. 13th to end of month; "second rush,"
Nov. 12th. At Inner Dowsing L.V., Oct. 27th to Jan. 4th. At Dudgeon
L.V., Oct. 4th to Dec. 15th; "great rush," Oct. 17th and 20th, and
night of 27th. At Lynn Well L.V., Oct. 5th to 23rd, on seven days
great numbers; 11th, 12th and 13th, continuous during day ("great
rush"); after this, from Oct. 23rd to Jan. 3rd, in less numbers. On
Jan. 1st, 2nd and 3rd, with Knot; sixteen Larks and fifteen Knots
killed against lantern. At Hunstanton L.H., Oct. 8th, great many. At
Cromer L.H., Sept. 20th to Jan. 2nd, eleven struck and killed. At
Leman and Ower L.V., Sept. 28th to Oct. 27th, on eleven days, day and
night; Oct. 23rd, 26th and 27th, "great rush." At Hasbro' L.V., Sept.
1st to Oct. 22nd. At Hasbro' L.H., Sept. 13th to Dec. 27th, thirty
killed. At Newarp L.V., Sept. 24th to Oct. 17th. At Cockle L.V.,
Sept. 27th to Oct. 22nd; Oct. 11th and 22nd, continuous. At Corton
L.V., Oct. 7th to Nov. 7th; Oct. 22nd, continuous. At Galloper L.V.,
Oct. 9th to Nov. 11th, on seventeen days in large flocks, up to five
hundred in a flock; Oct. 31st, 11 p.m., half a gale, thirty killed;
Nov. 2nd, 10 p.m. to sunrise, about same number, and many on night
of 6th, with other birds. At Kentish Knock L.V., only on Oct. 17th.
At Shipwash L.V., Sept. 18th, Oct. 4th and 8th, Nov. 22nd; all day,
continuous on Oct. 4th. At Swin Middle L.V., Oct. 21st to Jan. 12th.
At Tongue L.V., Sept. 27th to Oct. 30th; "rush," Oct. 22nd. On Sept.
27th, hazy, fifty in ship round lantern at 11 p.m.; when stars came
out they left. At Goodwin L.V., Sept. 27th to Nov. 7th. At Gull L.V.,
Oct. 18th to Nov. 2nd. At South-sand Head L.V., Aug. 27th to Nov.
9th. At East Goodwin L.V., Oct. 8th to Jan. 12th. Enormous numbers
crossed at these four Goodwin Stations. At Casquets L.H., Oct. 2nd,
11 p.m. to 2 a.m., sixty killed.
The migration of the Lark was carried on all hours of day and night
in all weathers from Aug. 27th to Jan. 12th. The "great rush" took
place during the last fortnight in October, more crossing probably
on the 22nd than any other day, and at Heligoland on 20th and 21st.
A "second rush" a month later, on or about Nov. 21st, and a "third
rush" on the outbreak of severe weather in the second week in January
this year. General line of direction E. to W., sometimes N.E. to
S.W., but generally, like the majority of immigrants this season,
with a strong trend from points south of east. It is remarkable,
as shown by the returns, how frequently Larks are associated in
migration with Starlings, either in separate flocks or together; in
fact, the two species seem to be inseparable. In a large majority of
instances these two meadow-feeders are associated as if impelled to
migrate by a common cause.
Wood Lark, _Alauda arborea_.--At Heligoland, Sept. 28th, four.
Snow Bunting, _Plectrophanes nivalis_.--At Heligoland, Sept. 17th,
a few first arrivals; Oct. 20th, great many; 20th and 26th, a few;
Nov. 20th, still great numbers, but very few old birds. At Farne
Inner L.H., Oct. 28th to Dec. 20th; "rush," Nov. 16th, and again
Dec. 20th. At Teesmouth 5 Buoy L.V., from Nov. 7th to the end of
month, nearly on every day, immense numbers passed; all came from
N., and were going S.W. At Flamborough, Oct. 8th, first seen; Jan.
13th, great many flocks. At Spurn L.H., third week in October, a few;
29th, many, after great gale from E. and N.E. At Great Cotes, early
in November,--1st to 5th,--many; 24th, enormous flocks. At Yarmouth,
middle of October. At Harwich, Oct. 30th, many in Orwell river; Nov.
4th, first flock seen near Dovercourt (Zool., 1881, p. 26). None
are recorded from stations south of Harwich. The flocks consisted
mainly of the young of the year and old females; very few old male
birds. The immigration of Snow Buntings on to the north-easterly
coasts in four distinct rushes, _viz._, at the end of October, in
November, December, and January, has been attended with corresponding
depressions of the barometer and outbursts of Arctic weather, _viz._,
the great gale E. to N.E., Oct. 28th, with heavy snow in Scotland;
Nov. 18th to 20th, sharp frosts and heavy snow-storms; Dec. 14th and
15th, the same; and Jan. 11th and 12th, same. Mr. Gätke has observed
for some years a very marked decrease in the number of Snow Buntings
crossing Heligoland. There has been a very great increase in the
number arriving on our east coast for the last six or seven winters,
and it is probable that, like the Shore Lark and other Arctic birds,
the line of migration now runs further to the west than formerly.
Other _Emberizinæ_ occurred as follows:--At Heligoland, Oct. 11th,
Ortolan Bunting, _Emberiza hortulana_, many young; 24th, same; Sept.
1st, pretty large numbers; 8th and 9th, many; 15th, great many in
potato-lands; 29th, Reed Bunting, _E. schœniclus_, many; Oct. 4th,
great many; 6th, same; 8th, great many; 11th, same. Yellow Bunting,
_E. citrinella_, 28th, many; and same and Corn Buntings up to Nov.
20th, few old birds. Little Bunting, _E. pusilla_, Sept. 26th, one;
30th, one; Oct. 11th, one. On the east coast of England, at Great
Cotes, Sept. 30th, _E. schœniclus_, many. At Spurn, Oct. 26th, a few
seen. At South-sand Head L.V., Aug. 29th, four to south.
Chaffinch, _Fringilla cœlebs_.--At Heligoland, Sept. 17th, great
many beginning to pass; 25th, enormous numbers passing on high
overhead in a westerly direction; 26th, hundreds of thousands high
overhead; 27th, some; 28th, thousands so high overhead that they
cannot be seen, only their call-notes heard, all day long; Oct. 6th,
7th, and 8th, great many; 11th, same; 27th, still many passing. Great
numbers have also arrived on the east coast; they are noticed at
fourteen stations, from the Farne Islands to the Goodwins. At Farne
Inner L.H., Sept. 1st, 2 a.m., one killed against glass, S.W., misty.
At Whitby L.H., Sept. 27th, "Finches," "great rush," with many other
species. At Great Cotes, Oct. 13th, very large flocks of females
and young of the year about this date. At Dudgeon L.V., Oct. 16th,
one male caught on deck; 28th, same; Dec. 5th, one same, going W.
At Lynn Well L.V., Oct. 5th and 23rd, many S.E. to N.W.; 25th, in
smaller flocks to N.W. At Northrepps, Oct. 13th, Mr. J. H. Gurney saw
a huge flock in a stubble-field on the cliff, which he thinks must
have come in from the sea. At Leman and Ower L.V., Oct. 19th, 8 to
12 p.m., o.m., six caught on deck. At Newarp L.V., 2 to 3 p.m., Oct.
6th, 14th, and 18th, each day to S.W. At Cockle L.V., Oct. 6th, two
on board caught. At Corton L.V., 7 p.m., several males alighted on
deck; 15th, 6 p.m., one male caught. At Galloper L.V., Oct. 9th to
Nov. 6th, on several days, sometimes with Larks, twelve Larks, nine
Chaffinches killed night of Oct. 9th, o.m., heavy rain. At Kentish
Knock L.V., Oct. 7th, two at sunrise to S.W.; 15th, two, male and
female, caught; 17th, W.S.W., three or four hundred very high to S.W.
At Swin Middle L.V. Sept. 18th, sunrise to 10 a.m., Chaffinches with
Linnets to W. At Gull L.V., Sept. 28th, 9 to 11 a.m., continuous
flocks of Linnets, Starlings, Chaffinches, and Mountain Sparrows
to W., many of each on deck. The main immigration of the Chaffinch
was from the middle of September to end of October, the bulk of the
immigrants crossing south of Yarmouth. The "great rush" on or about
Oct. 13th.
Brambling, _Fringilla montifringilla_.--At Heligoland, Sept. 25th,
many; 27th, some; Oct. 8th, great many; and on 27th, still more, and
also good many throughout November. On the English coast few have
been observed. At Flamborough, Jan. 13th, some large flocks. At Leman
and Ower L.V., Oct. 6th, one male caught.
Tree Sparrow, _Passer montanus_.--None are recorded as passing
Heligoland. On our east coast they were observed at eleven stations,
but none are recorded north of Spurn. In North-east Lincolnshire,
Oct. 13th, very large flocks were seen about this date. At Dudgeon
L.V., Oct. 5th, "Sparrows" to W. At Newarp L.V., Oct. 25th, six
going W. by N. At Corton L.V., Oct. 7th, several alighted on ship
for a short time, going E. to W. At Kentish Knock L.V., Oct. 9th,
seven on board till squall had passed. At Shipwash L.V., Nov. 28th,
flocks to N.N.W. At Tongue L.V., Sept. 28th, 11 a.m., o.m., about one
hundred Sparrows on masthead; Oct. 24th, twenty to W. at noon. At
North Foreland L.H., from October to third week in December, hundreds
"mixed" were seen. At Goodwin L.V., Sept. 28th to Nov. 5th, on five
days, often with Larks to W. At Gull L.V., Sept. 28th, continuous
with other birds from 9 to 11 a.m. to W.; Oct. 16th, from 9 a.m. to
3 p.m., continuous to W. At East Goodwin L.V., Sept. 25th, Oct. 9th,
and 11th, flocks flying about ship; 17th, flock from N.W. to S.E.;
Jan. 8th, about one hundred from W. to E. towards French coast. From
Sept. 25th to Nov. 28th, the majority passing across at the most
southern stations the four lightships on the Goodwin Sands. It is
possible that some of the entries of "Sparrows," where not distinctly
specified, may refer to the Common Sparrow, which is now recognised
as a regular immigrant.
House Sparrow, _Passer domesticus_.--At Heligoland, Mr. Gätke says,
"Up towards the end of July all young Sparrows disappeared from the
island," and "up to middle of September nearly all old Sparrows had
also quitted the island." Oct. 10th, "Sparrows latterly influx," from
which it appears that the local Sparrows leave, the young first,
then the old, and their place is taken by a fresh arrival. At Spurn,
last week in Nov., Mr. Hewetson saw an immense flock--hundreds upon
hundreds--on the shore, evidently quite fresh arrivals; amongst them
was a Reed Bunting. At Outer Dowsing L.V., Sept. 26th, 5 p.m., twenty
House Sparrows came on board, travelling from S.E. to N.W.; and on
Oct. 2nd, at 4 p.m., eight going E.S.E. to W. At Kentish Knock L.V.,
Oct. 10th, one Common Sparrow; and on 12th, two, till squall had
passed, then to S.W. At Casquets L.H., Alderney, Oct. 13th to 17th,
at midnight, Common Sparrows with Thrushes, Blackbirds, Starlings,
and Wood Pigeons, to English coast.
Greenfinch, _Coccothraustes chloris_.--At Heligoland, Oct. 27th,
many; Nov. 20th, great many. At Corton L.V., Oct. 31st, one, a male,
caught.
Goldfinch, _Carduelis elegans_.--At Heligoland, Oct. 27th, some; also
through November and December; on Dec. 17th, great many. At Great
Cotes, some small flocks in North-east Lincolnshire in October and
November, more than have been seen for many years. On Suffolk coast,
mouth of Deben, Nov. 1st, seven.
Siskin, _Carduelis spinus_.--At Heligoland, Sept. 16th, a.m.,
"flights in my garden of (say) fifty; p.m., flights of hundreds";
17th, "hundreds of thousands"--"flights like clouds"; 25th, many;
Oct. 7th, great many; 27th, many still passing; Nov. 4th, W., still
some flights. On English coast of Spurn, Oct. 27th, small flock seen.
At Northrepps, Sept. 16th, seen by Mr. J. H. Gurney. Have also been
reported as more plentiful than usual in other parts of country.
Lesser Redpole, _Linota rufescens_.--In Lincolnshire there were very
considerable numbers in our east coast marshes early in October;
in one instance, on the 7th, I saw a flock of two hundred in a
stubble-field near the coast. At Spurn, Oct. 28th, Mr. Wm. Eagle
Clarke saw a flock near Kilnsea.
Linnet, _Linota cannabina_.--At Heligoland, Oct. 4th, great many,
first comers; 6th, some; 28th, with Twites, great many. On the
English coast, Whitby L.V., Sept. 27th, with many others. At Corton
L.V., Oct. 5th, one E. to W. At Swin Middle L.V., Sept. 18th, sunrise
to 10 a.m., with Chaffinches to W.; and on previous day, Sept. 17th,
all day to N.N.W. with Swallows. At Gull L.V., Sept. 26th to Oct.
25th, on six days with other birds to W. and S.W.; continuous all day
on Oct. 24th and 25th. At South-sand Head L.V., Oct. 18th and 21st,
Linnets with others all day; 26th, all day with others to W. and N.W.
Immense numbers appear to have crossed from Oct. 1st to 26th at the
stations off the Essex and Kent coasts; none, or very few only, at
stations north of this.
Twite, _Linota flavirostris_.--Is not recorded on the English coast.
At Heligoland, Oct. 16th, many passed, first comers; and on 17th,
great many; 20th, great many; and on 25th, 26th, and 27th, lesser
flights; 28th, many with Linnets.
Bullfinch, _Pyrrhula europæa_.--At Heligoland, Oct. 7th, one, young;
8th, one, young, in garden; 10th, some; 11th, a few; 19th, some;
25th, a few; and through November and December in small parties of
ten to twelve; have not been seen on the island for ever so many
years. At Spurn, some were seen last week in November; and during the
last fortnight in the same month, many in North-east Lincolnshire.
Mr. J. H. Gurney, writing from Reigate, Jan. 4th, 1881, says, "There
are more Bullfinches in this part of Surrey than I think I ever saw."
Extraordinary numbers were seen in Mayo and Sligo, Ireland, in the
last autumn and winter (See 'Zoologist,' 1881, p. 133).
Crossbill, _Loxia curvirostra_.--At Heligoland, Oct. 7th, one young
bird.
Starling, _Sturnus vulgaris_.--Next to the Lark, this species
undoubtedly takes the second rank numerically amongst the migrants.
The young birds crossed Heligoland in large numbers from June 15th
to July 5th. The old birds beginning to move about Sept. 11th, and
from that time to Oct. 27th, enormous numbers passed. On the English
coast they are recorded at twenty-five stations, from the Longstone
to the Hanois L.H., Guernsey. At Longstone L.H., Nov. 19th, large
flocks to W. At Farne Inner L.H., Sept. 30th, to Nov. 13th (Oct.
15th, rush), when they passed all day westward. At Coquet L.H., Oct.
1st and 11th. At Teesmouth 5 Buoy L.V., Nov. 27th, large flocks from
S.E. to N.W. At Whitby L.H., July 23rd, one hundred young birds to S.
At Flamborough L.H., great numbers in November. At Spurn L.H., Oct.
14th to Nov. 27th, Oct. 23rd and 24th, and Nov. 27th to 30th, all day
from N. to S. At Spurn L.V., Oct. 17th, thirty came on board; 27th,
Starlings and Larks; two dozen caught going S. At Inner Dowsing L.V.,
Jan. 4th, one dead on deck at sunrise. At Hunstanton L.H., Oct. 8th,
4 a.m., o.m., rain, E., hundreds with Larks round light, fifteen
killed. At Cromer L.H., Jan. 3rd, 1881, 3 a.m., one killed. At Leman
and Ower L.V., Sept. 28th and 29th, and Oct. 19th, during night; At
Hasboro' L.H., Sept. 13th and 14th, 11 p.m. to midnight, with Larks,
twenty stunned, young birds; 27th, midnight, four killed, young;
Dec. 27th, midnight, with Larks and Blackbirds. At Newarp L.V.,
Oct. 13th to 25th, on three days to W. At Corton L.V., Sept. 27th,
Oct. 4th, and Nov. 17th, E. to W. At Galloper L.V., Oct. 13th to
Nov. 11th, nearly every day large flocks going N.W., day and night,
sometimes alone, at others with Larks and small birds. At Kentish
Knock L.V., Oct. 8th, 10th, and 13th, to W.S.W., with Larks and many
other birds. At Shipwash L.V., Sept. 21st to Nov. 23rd, on several
days, sometimes with Larks N. and N.W. At Swin Middle L.V., Aug.
28th, flocks to W. with other birds; and Oct. 30th, to W. with Larks.
At South-sand Head L.V., Oct. 10th, continuous with others; also on
17th, 18th, 22nd, and 26th, to W. At East Goodwin L.V., Sept. 24th
and 25th, hazy, flocks about ship with Sparrows on 25th; Oct. 16th,
hundreds E. to W. At Casquets L.H., Oct. 13th to 17th, midnight,
rain. Starlings amongst other birds to N.W. At Hanois L.H., Guernsey,
Aug. 14th, night, with many others; Dec. 2nd, midnight, o.m., half
a dozen struck. The young migrate first; the old in October and
November. Have crossed in the greatest number at the more southern
stations, travelling all hours of the day and night in westerly and
north-westerly directions; constantly associated with Larks in their
migrations. The majority crossed from Oct. 19th to 26th. Again there
was a "second rush" near the end of November, and a third the second
week in January, before the outbreak of severe weather.
Rose-coloured Starling, _Pastor roseus_.--At Heligoland, Sept. 17th,
one, a young bird, occurred.
Grey Crow, _Corvus cornix_.--At Heligoland, Sept. 24th, commencing
with flocks of thirty to forty, and passing at intervals to end of
October, sometimes in immense numbers; Oct. 7th, towards evening an
enormous flight, during night fifty caught by lanterns; and after
this passing in smaller numbers to Nov. 2nd. On the English coast
they were noticed at seventeen stations, extending from the Farne
Islands to the mouth of the Thames. At Farne Inner L.H., Oct. 21st to
Nov. 20th, to W. At Teesmouth 5 Buoy L.V., Sept. 10th, two E. to W.;
Oct. 12th, great many E.S.E. to W.N.W. At Teesmouth, Sept. 25th, two
seen; Oct. 16th and 20th, many. At Whitby L.H., Oct. 24th and 26th,
with Blackbirds at daylight. At Flamborough L.H., Oct. 8th, enormous
numbers seen. At Spurn, Oct. 12th to Nov. 9th, great many. At Great
Cotes, Oct. 9th, 5.30 p.m., gale from N.E., large flock came in,
travelling from E. to W., very high. At Lynn Well, L.V., Oct. 10th
to 14th, continuous every day from S. to N.W.; again 22nd and 23rd,
all day S.E. to N.W. At Hunstanton L.H., Oct. 10th, 11th, and 12th,
many E. to W., wind E.N.E. At Northrepps, Oct. 13th, many to N.W. At
Leman and Ower L.V., Oct. 21st, 5 p.m., to N.W. At Cockle L.V., Oct.
11th, continuous to W.N.W., and E.N.E. At Corton L.V., Oct. 10th,
very high, E. to W., wind E.N.E.; 11th, continuous 9 a.m. to noon.
At mouth of Deben, Oct. 29th to Nov. 1st, in numbers. At Galloper
L.V., Oct. 24th to Nov. 9th, many flocks. At Shipwash L.V., Oct.
12th, 30th, and Nov. 3rd, flocks N.W. and N.N.W. At Swin Middle L.V.,
Oct. 22nd, noon to 3 p.m., with Rooks. At South-sand Head L.V., Sept.
16th, ten "Crows" to N.W.--may have been _Corvus corone_; Nov. 4th,
two hundred Crows to N.W. The majority of the Hooded Crows arrived
from Oct. 8th to 23rd, the greatest number on any given day probably
on the 11th. The main body passed on to the east coast between
Flamborough and Yarmouth, with northerly and easterly winds, and
travelling from E. to W., N.E. to S.W., and S.E. and S. to N.W.
Rook, _Corvus frugilegus_.--Enormous as have been the number of Crows
crossing the North Sea the Rook has probably quite equalled them.
None were noticed at Heligoland, or indeed at any station north of
the Humber; but from Spurn to the Southsand Head they are recorded at
sixteen stations, from Oct. 10th to Nov. 12th, the greatest number
crossing undoubtedly on Oct. 21st, and the majority during the autumn
at the more southern stations. Comparing the immigration of the Grey
Crow with the Rook we find that the former crossed more to the north
than the latter did. Thus Grey Crows are recorded from the Farnes to
the mouth of the Thames: the majority into Holderness, Lincolnshire
and Norfolk; the Rooks from Spurn to the South Foreland, the majority
into the southern counties. Each, however, came from, and travelled
to, the same points of the compass--E. to W., or N.E. to S.W., or
S.E. and S. to S.W.
Daw, _Corvus monedula_.--At Great Cotes, Oct. 19th, several, with
Rooks, coming in from the sea. At Northrepps, Oct. 14th, going N.W.
At Galloper L.V., Oct. 17th, 7.45 a.m., Rooks and Daws, three to four
hundred.
Jay, _Garrulus glandarius_.--Nil Return. There was, however, a
considerable influx into North-east Lincolnshire on or about the last
week in October.
Pie, _Pica rustica_.--At Northrepps, Oct. 17th, Mr. J. H. Gurney
observed two high up, going E.
Swallow, _Hirundo rustica_.--At Heligoland, Sept. 16th, passing S.
At Farne Inner L.H., Oct. 1st, several all day. At Coquet L.H., July
10th, numbers; Sept. 20th, 6 p.m., four. At Teesmouth 5 Buoy L.V.,
July 27th, 6 to 7.30 p.m., wind S.W., moderate, six large flocks,
fifty to sixty each, north to south; Sept. 15th, 4 p.m., large
flocks to S. At Whitby L.H., Sept. 22nd, 4 p.m., last seen going S.
At Flamborough L.H., Sept. 17th, midday, great many. At Spurn L.H.,
Sept. 6th, all day young Swallows passing along Spurn promontory
towards S., each flock followed by Pipits. At Hunstanton L.V., Sept.
28th, large flock on lighthouse. At Leman and Ower L.V., July 29th,
6 a.m., numbers passed, some alighting on board, one struck and
killed. At Hasboro' L.H., Sept. 1st, 2 a.m., fog, flock, several
caught as they beat against lantern. At Winterton L.H., Sept. 3rd
to 9th, round lantern every day. At Swin Middle L.V., Sept. 15th,
all day to N.W.; 17th, with Linnets all day to N.N.W.; 18th, sunrise
to 9 a.m., two hundred to W. At North Foreland L.H., July 28th, 10
a.m. to 3 p.m., passing; 29th, six passed; Swallows also in numbers
from five to forty were seen flying round lantern during the last
week in September. At South-sand Head L.V., Sept. 23rd, twelve to W,
At Casquets L.H., Oct. 7th, from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m., S.S.E., rain.
Swallows, Landrails, Water Rails, Woodcocks, King Ouzels, and Common
Thrushes were seen round light; amongst the birds striking the glass
were one hundred Swallows. At Hanois L.H., Guernsey, Sept. 30th,
a flight passed south. Swallows were noticed migrating at fifteen
stations on the east coast and in the Channel from July 10th, at
Coquet Island, to Oct. 7th, at the Casquets, the greater part in
September. Migrate both by day and night, and in very considerable
flocks; general direction north to south, but at Swin Middle L.V.,
S.E. to N.W. Swallows remained very late in the autumn of the past
year in some localities. In North-east Lincolnshire, Nov. 9th, a
pair seen. In Essex, Nov. 4th. In 'The Zoologist' for 1881, p. 62,
the editor records the late stay of the Swallow at eight stations,
all southern ones except Dublin, from Nov. 22nd to Dec. 11th. It is
rather remarkable that, in North-east Germany, Swallows are recorded
in the German newspapers as taking their departure nearly a month
before the average time.
Martin, _Chelidon urbica_.--At Heligoland, Sept. 1st, with Swifts
passing on overhead, N.W., clear, little wind, warm. At Outer Dowsing
L.V., Sept. 21st, sunset, two flying round lantern. At mouth of
Deben, Nov. 1st, many Martins and Sand Martins seen. At South-sand
Head L.V., Sept. 1st, twelve to S. One was seen at Henley-on-Thames
on Dec. 18th (Zool., 1881, p. 62).
Swift, _Cypselus apus_.--At Heligoland, June 1st, some passing; Sept.
1st, passing on overhead; 16th, great many. At Whitby L.H., Sept.
16th, 4 p.m., flock to S. At Spurn L.H., Aug. 27th, 6.30 a.m., great
number to S.; Sept. 6th, again migrating; on June 7th, at 7 p.m.,
fifty were seen perched on gallery of lighthouse. At Cockle L.V.,
July 11th, two to N.W. Very few have been observed in comparison with
the enormous flight which passed up the coast in the autumn of 1879.
Nightjar, _Caprimulgus europæus_.--At Hasborough L.V., Sept. 24th, 10
p.m., one killed against lantern. Occurs every year at Spurn in the
autumn as a migrant.
Cuckoo, _Cuculus canorus_.--At Heligoland, June 3rd, one old bird. At
Whitby L.H., July 4th, one caught, a young bird. At Spurn, Sept. 7th,
one seen, young. At Cromer L.H., July 28th, midnight, stunned.
Wryneck, _Jynx torquilla_.--At Heligoland, Aug. 13th, one young bird.
Hoopoe, _Upupa epops_.--One recorded in the 'Field' of Nov. 6th as
shot at Redcar, middle of September. At Bridlington, Sept. 15th,
one. At Holt, Norfolk, Sept. 22nd, one, a male, in a turnip-field.
At Woodham Mortimer, Essex, one shot Sept. 20th. At Crofton, near
Wakefield, Oct. 29th, one shot and another seen.
Bee-eater, _Merops apiaster_.--At Tetney Haven, seven miles S. of
Grimsby, one on Aug. 16th (Zool., 1880, p. 511).
Great Spotted Woodpecker, _Picus major_.--At Spurn, Oct. 27th, one
shot, a few red feathers on the crown of the head, and in an advanced
state of moult. At Great Cotes, Dec. 8th, one.
King Dove or Wood Pigeon, _Columba palumbus_.--At Heligoland, Sept.
25th, twenty to thirty. At Tongue L.V., Dec. 30th, 2.30 p.m., nine
"Pigeons" going N. At Casquets L.H., Oct. 13th to 17th, midnight,
Wood Pigeons from French to English coast going N.W.
Turtle Dove, _Turtur communis_.--At Flamborough, first week in
October, one. At Great Cotes, Oct. 8th, N.E. gale and rain, one seen.
At Casquets, Sept. 7th, 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., fifteen striking.
Golden Plover, _Charadrius pluvialis_.--At Heligoland, July 3rd, E.,
passing over day and night in great numbers; 4th, about twenty young
birds; 23rd and 24th, young birds; Aug. 10th, flights of hundreds,
all young; 12th and 13th, northerly, fine, many high overhead; Sept.
3rd, great number of waders during night; 8th and 9th, great many;
16th, a.m., flights of dozens, p.m. flights of hundreds; Oct. 28th,
many thousands over sea. At Farne Inner L.H., Aug. 12th to 28th,
flocks to and from land every day; Nov. 23rd and 24th, all day. At
Coquet Island L.H., Nov. 21st and Dec. 10th, all day. At Teesmouth,
Sept. 25th, twenty seen. At Spurn L.H., Sept. 5th, flocks "Plover"
N. to S. during day. At Great Cotes, Dec. 9th, immense flights,
old birds. At Dudgeon L.V., Aug. 7th, 3 a.m. to midnight, in small
parties, general direction W.; 25th, some; Oct. 28th, about one
hundred to W. None at southern stations.[8] The young birds of the
year migrate across Heligoland as early as the first week in July,
and so on into August. The old birds later and in separate flocks.
The migration of old birds as seen at Spurn going towards the
north is exceptional, the rule on the east coast being a few old
black-breasted birds in August and September, often with Lapwings,
then flocks of young birds, and later in November the "great rush" of
old birds.