WHIMBREL. 647 



Bridlington was personally unacquainted with the Whimbrel, 

 whose rippling notes are familiar sounds to the ornithologist 

 on the coast, where the bird is very regular in its appearance 

 in spring, remaining for a few days before proceeding to its 

 nesting grounds, and again on the return passage south in 

 autumn. During the vernal migration its arrival may be 

 looked for in May with unfailing regularity, and a few instances 

 are known of its occurrence in the latter part of April ; the 

 2ist of that month, in the year 1901, being the earliest date 

 of which I have note. At times large numbers are observed 

 on the sands above high water mark, diligently feeding on 

 sand-hoppers, when they allow a very near approach without 

 taking flight ; this movement continues throughout May 

 and occasionally into June ; at Filey some were heard going 

 northward on 8th June 1896, while on the 19th of the same 

 month in 1886, I recognised the whistle of birds passing 

 overhead ; in 1873 and 1896 a few remained on the Humber 

 foreshore all the summer, and odd individuals occasionally 

 stay in the Teesmouth district ; I heard and saw one on 

 26th June in the year 1904. 



The return migration commences early in July ; in 1880 

 a large flock was noticed at the Teesmouth on the 4th, and 

 in 1884 a few passed from the ist to the 15th ; in 1900 several 

 were at the estuary on ist July. These first comers are generally 

 old birds, which are followed in August by small parties of 

 young ones ; in some seasons they are very common, and 

 considerable quantities were at the Teesmouth on 6th Sep- 

 tember 1887. They remain on the coast until the end of 

 September, then leaving for their winter quarters in the 

 south. I am not aware of any instance of the Whimbrel 

 remaining on the Yorkshire coast during winter. 



The Whimbrel frequently alights on the " scars " off Redcar 

 at low tide, and I have many times seen parties coming directly 

 off the sea, and have called them over within range ; on 7th 

 September 1891 1 shot a migrating bird, which fell on the water, 

 and so fat was its condition that its breast split open with the 

 contact ; on another occasion, on the ist of September, I 

 killed two, whose feet and tails were stained with purple juice, 



VOL. II. T 



