45 



Birds of the Rochester District. 



THE Birds included in the following L,ist, are arranged in the 

 same order as that adopted by Mr. Prentis in his " Birds of 

 Rainham," with a view to easy reference to that volume for fuller 

 particulars, and to his very complete and valuable Collection for 

 identification of species, etc. These may be consulted in the Rochester 

 Public Library, and the Museum respectively. "The Birds of 

 Rainham" has been very largely borrowed from, for "Stations" etc. ; 

 and Papers contributed to " The Rochester Naturalist " by Lord 

 Clifton (VII. Earl of Darnley), the Rev. C. H. Fielding, Mr. Roland 

 Green, Mr. G. Payne, F.S.A., and others, have been drawn upon. 

 A list of Birds observed more recentl}^ by Mr. Carr, principally in 

 Cobham and neighbouring woods, has been kindly lent me for refer- 

 ence. 



A "Label List of British Birds" of recent date contains 443 

 species ; of these we have records of the occurrence of 210 in our own 

 limited district, i.e., 47"5|, a very large percentage for so small an 

 area. The great richness in bird life of our woods, especially Cobham, 

 Cuxton and Rainham, and of the Marshes of the Thames and Medway. 

 should induce a prolonged visit of the bird lover to Rochester. 



A. Resident. Breeds. 



B. Regular Summer Visitor. Breeds. 



C. Regular Autumn, Winter or Spring Visitor. Does not 



breed. 



D. Occasional Visitor. Used to breed. 



E. Occasional Visitor. Never known to breed. 



(British Museum Guide. Birds). 



Haliactus albicilhis (White-tailed Eagle).— One or two stray birds seen 

 in neighbouring district. One shot at High Halstow by 

 Mr. Reed, and one or two since seen. (Fielding). A, 

 One Shot near Rainham, 1879, another seen. (Prentis). 



Pandion haliactus (Osprey). — Seen by Lord Clifton flying over Cobham 

 (Fielding). One shot in Upchurch, another shot at Rainham 

 (Prentis). A. 



Falco peregrinus (Peregrine Falcon). — " Occasionally found at 

 Cobham " (Fielding), Rainham (Green). " There is seldom 

 a year passes that one or more are not seen flying over the 

 Medway, chiefly young birds." (Prentis). E. 

 ,, subbnteo (Hobby). — " Used to be seen in Chattenden Roughs 

 and occasionally breed there " (Fielding). B. "My father 

 and I often saw three together there (Chattenden woods) 

 (Lord Clifton). 



