1902 A Field NattLvalist^s Diary for \<^o\ 119 



acquaintance with several examples of this curious bird. 

 It was a lovely day, and I had taken a friend over to Hick- 

 ling on the off-chance of seeing one, and we were lucky 

 enough to have eight almost full - frilled Ruffs and three 

 Reeves within 15 yards of our boat for nearly half an hour. 

 It was a never-to-be-forgotten sight, but space precludes a 

 description of their plumage or their antics, and we must 

 reserve for a future occasion the consideration of other 

 spring and summer visitors to Broadland. 



A Field Naturalist's Diary for 1901. 



By W. Percival Westell, M.B.O.U. 

 {Continued from p. 44.) 



April is^.— The wryneck was heard and seen near St Albans 

 to-day. 



4^/f. — Saw wheatear in brownish plumage, apparently a 

 female, and noticed particularly the dipping flight. 



^th. — Strawberry -leaved potentil, red dead-nettle, and 

 daisy in flower; hawthorn bursting in places. Saw a 

 golden-crested wren — a somewhat rare bird with us. 



yth. — Lilac unleafing ; lesser celandine in flower to greater 

 extent now ; horse-chestnut bursting. Heard the chiffchaff 

 for first time. 



i^th. — Currant leaves opened, also nutmeg-tree ; almond 

 in blossom ; wallflowers bursting ; lilies of the valley 

 through ; daffodils in bloom ; crocuses going off. The 

 season is about three weeks late. 



i^th. — Heard willow- and wood - warblers, nightingale, 

 tree-pipit, all for first time. Wild rose leafing. Many 

 nests with eggs now. Greater stitchwort showing, but not 

 in flower yet ; blackthorn in leaf. 



20th. — Cuckoo heard. Shepherd's-purse in flower. Saw 

 two swallows. Catkins of aspen and birch prominent. 



21st. — Dog violet and white violet in full bloom. Flower- 

 ing currant, greater stitchwort, plum, blackthorn, all noticed 



