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A NOTE ON THE GULLERY IN HAMFORD 

 WATERS, ESSEX. 



By PERCY CLARK, B.A. 



Owing to unfortunate circumstances this summer (1900) I 

 was prevented from prosecuting my usual researches into the 

 condition of the Black-headed Gulleries in Essex. 



Of the three gull-nurseries which 1 briefly described last 

 year (Essex Naturalist, ante pp. 184-190), I was only able to 

 visit one, which, however, is interesting as being I believe of 

 quite recent origin — viz., that situated in Hamford Waters 

 (Gullery No. 3 in paper referred to). Of this I send a short 

 note. 



One June 28th, 1900, I sailed from Harwich in my boat and 

 made for the scene of my discovery in the previous season, but 

 I found the gulls had entirely deserted the island-salting which 

 they had utilised for breeding purposes the year before. 



They had not wandered far however, for I found their 

 colony not half-a-mile away on another salting, but in a much 

 more exposed and accessible position, bordering the main 

 channel. 



It was a very high tide, being close on new moon, and I 

 was able to row up a narrow creek right into the heart of the 

 saltings which were all awash. Having on sea-boots I waded 

 out a short distance and very quickly discovered nine or ten 

 nests, all close together and loosely constructed on the edge of 

 various creeks, where the marine grass grows thickest. Most of 

 them contained three eggs, some two, and a few one, but all the 

 eggs were lying in the water, and the only nests built high 

 enough to be beyond the reach of the tide were empty. The 

 eggs however were still quite warm so that I think the gulls and 

 other birds who build in marshy places, hatch off their young in 

 spite of the water that frequently submerges the nests. 



It would be interesting to know whether this fact has ever 

 been definitely ascertained. 



I could not penetrate far into the saltings, as the creeks were 

 too wide and full of water to cross on foot, but I counted 75 



