586 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



On the return passage in spring small parties, from five 

 to twenty in number, are observed going north ; I have 

 noted them at the Teesmouth as early as 8th May in the 

 year 1901 ; and a very large flock of shore birds, consisting of 

 Turnstones, Knots, and Grey Plovers, was on the sands at 

 Redcar on gth June 1887, at 3 a.m. At both the Tees and 

 the Humber a few, probably non-breeding birds, though in 

 full plumage, remain throughout the summer. 



This species is essentially a shore-bird, frequenting the 

 harder and stony portions of the flats, and at the Teesmouth 

 it is often found on the slag heaps which are left bare at 

 half tide ; small parties, when on migration, occasionally 

 rest on the " scars," reefs of low-lying rocks, some of them a 

 mile distant from the shore, and uncovered at low tide. 



The Turnstone is seldom found far away from salt water, 

 though it has been reported from one or two inland localities ; 

 one was shot from a flock of pigeons at Boroughbridge in 

 October 1849 ; others occurred at Cold Hiendley Reservoir 

 in September 1868, and at Harrogate in 1896, whilst in 1883 

 one was killed from a flock of seven on Eldrick moor. 



Of local names, there are but two known to me in York- 

 shire : it is called Dotterel in the Humber district, and at 

 the Teesmouth is known as Turnstone Plover. 



OYSTER. CATCHER 

 Haematopus ostralegus] (Z). 



Winter visitant on the coast, local, common in some places. Appears 

 sometimes in July, remaining until spring. Occasionally seen inland. 

 One or two pairs nest at Spurn. 



In the Northumberland Household Book, begun in 1512, 

 at the Earl Percy's Castles of Wressill and Lekinfield, is 

 found the first mention in Yorkshire of what is evidently this 

 species, which figures in the list of birds to be provided for 

 " my Lordes owne mees," but no price is aUotted, thus : — 



