1902 



Records of Observation 



53 



pigstye in Ironbridge, where it was found and killed by a 

 terrier. Another was seen floating about in a backwater 

 on the carcase of a drowned calf. It is also probably due 

 to the floods just before, that a party of salmon passed up 

 the brook at Cound, to spawn there in a small stream where 

 salmon have never previously been seen. A spent male fish 

 of about ten pounds weight was seen lying dead in the brook 

 on January 19th, and others subsequently. 



During the weeks of December and January there have 

 been immense numbers of wood-pigeons in the Shrewsbury 

 neighbourhood — a foreign horde, smaller and darker in 

 colour than our own native breed. On the evening of 

 January 22, weather very mild, I saw a pipestrelle bat 

 flying about. The winter sleep of this species is not so 

 profound as that of some others. 



As regards Shropshire, the year 1901 might be called 

 the ** Cirl Bunting Year," for never before has that inter- 

 esting species been so much in evidence. Mr J. Palmer 

 found two nests near Ludlow, and one near Bridgenorth. 

 Mr A. R. Horwood saw the birds and found the nest at 

 Marrington on the border of Montgomeryshire. Mr Rosse 

 Butterfield saw a pair of cirls with their fledged brood near 

 Oswestry, whilst in the preceding winter Rev. J. B. Mere- 

 dith noticed birds at Kinnerly in the same district. 



A White Wagtail took up its quarters about a mile from 

 my house, and I had the pleasure of seeing it almost daily 

 throughout the summer. This solitary bird is the only 

 example I ever saw in Shropshire. 



A Dipper is reported by Mr J. Palmer of Ludlow as 

 having eggs in the nest in February (1901). This pair of 

 birds reared /oz«' broods in the season. The nest was near 

 a waterfall between two artificial ponds. 



The following birds recorded in the county during igoi 

 are all very rare locally. 



Feb. 13. — Female Smew, Betton Pool, Shrewsbury. 



March 6. — Old male Cormorant, in full breeding dress, 

 shot at Criggion. Cormorants frequently occur, but I 

 never before saw one here in this plumage — white pencils 

 on the head and downy tufts on flanks. 



May 18. — Red-footed falcon, immature female; shot near 



