GEOGRAPHICAL ASPECTS 85 



Sparrows, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Mistle-Thrushes, 

 Wheatears, Goldcrests, Swallows, Martins, Lapwings, 

 Ringed Plovers, Blue-headed Wagtails, Black Redstarts, 

 Golden Orioles, Hoopoes, Common Buzzards, Black 

 Terns, Avocets, Spoonbills, and, in winter, the Bittern 

 also pass, though in smaller numbers ; and more rarely 

 still the Firecrest, Richard's Pipit, Little and Baillon's 

 Crakes, Little Bustard, and Stilt. The most numerous 

 of the migrants travelling along this route are Rooks, 

 Grey Crows, Starlings, Skylarks, Tree - Sparrows, 

 Chaffinches, and Lapwings. 



On reaching our shores many of these immigrants 

 move up the Thames valley to reach particular winter 

 quarters in south central England. Others, on the 

 same errand bent, skirt the coast northwards (which 

 they^ — the Skylarks and Grey Crows in particular — 

 sometimes do as far as the Tees), proceeding inland at 

 various points as they go. Those forming the left wing, 

 and they are a considerable contingent, pass westward 

 along our channel shores to reach winter quarters in 

 southern and south-western England and in Ireland, 

 while others doubtless cross towards the shores of 

 France, en route for more southern lands. 



These movements from the east set in about the 

 middle of September, reach their maximum in October, 

 and continue at intervals until mid November. They 

 are renewed on the part of Skylarks, Starlings, Thrushes, 

 Lapwings, etc., during the winter, but only when ex- 

 ceptionally severe weather prevails in Central Europe, 

 and the birds then chiefly pass westwards along our 

 southern shores in search of retreats in the west, in- 

 cluding the Scilly Isles and Ireland. Many wild-fowl 

 seek eastern England by an east to west flight, when 



I. F 2 



