I902. Notes. 221 



Pool, where we were standing, and flew over the town towards Castle- 

 rock, after which we lost sight of them. The liour was between i and 

 1.30 p.m. Is it not unusual for swans to come south at this season ? My 

 land steward tells me that since I wrote to you in April {I.N., p. I5i)> 

 another brood of five young Woodcocks was found here. 



W. E. Hart 

 Kilderry, Co. Donegal. 



Nemesis ! 



In June last I took a clutch of eggs which proved to be far advanced in 

 incubation. Consequently I had to macerate them, so after blowing in 

 as much water as possible, I put them in a small cardboard box, and left 

 the box on a shelf in the summerhouse in my garden. I was away for 

 six days, and on my return was surprised and pleased (?) to find that a 

 pair of Spotted Flycatchers had built a nest on the top of the eggs in the 

 box,, and one egg was laid ! I did not disturb it, two more eggs were 

 laid, and the young birds hatched out successfully. Thus the spoils of 

 one home proved to be the foundations of another. 



Robert Patterson. 

 Belfast. 



White Wagtail in Co. Antrim. 



While looking for a Grasshopper Warbler on May 21st at the Lagan 

 near the old Belfast Waterworks, accompanied by Nevin H. Foster, we 

 saw sitting demurely in a thorn bush a White Wagtail {Mofadl/a alba). 

 We were struck by its very white appearance, by its tail being down 

 instead of up, and its quietness, and tameness, letting me within four 

 feet of it. We had ample time to examine it, and note its appearance, 

 and although neither of us had seen a White Wagtail alive before, we 

 have not the slightest doubt it was M. alba. This is an addition to the 

 list of Ulster birds. 



Robert Patterson. 



Belfast. 



Turnstones on Lough Neagh. 



On May 24th I was on Ram's Island, Lough Neagh, and was astonished 

 to find a small flock of Turnstones {Strepsilas interpres) on the shingly 

 beach at the north end of the island. There were five of them, in full 

 breeding plumage, and in the bright sunshine were exceedingly beauti- 

 ful. Eight Dunlins {Iriiiga alpitta), also in summer plumage, were with 

 them, and all were feeding on minute Crustacea at the water's edge. I 

 cannot find any record of Turnstones on an inland lake in Ireland 

 before. 



Robert Patterson. 



Belfast. 



