118 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



The Birds of Passage which are observed in our 

 islands during the month number about seventy species, 

 and include (apart from species which are also British 

 emigrants) the Ring-Ouzel, Blackcap, Willow- Warbler, 

 Redstart, White Wagtail, Whinchat, Ortolan Bunting, 

 Pied Flycatcher, Swallow, Sand-Martin, Wryneck, Green 

 Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint and Whimbrel. 

 The majority of these occur during the latter half of the 

 month, and are on their way to northern lands, but some 

 of them are not observed every year as passing April 

 mig-rants. 



Emigration of Winter Visitors. — The departure of 

 those birds which have spent the winter in our islands 

 sets in in earnest during April. Among the emigrants 

 proceeding to their northern homes are the Gold- 

 crest, Hedge Accentor, Great Grey Shrike, Siskin, 

 Mealy Redpoll, Short-eared Owl, Kestrel, Grey Lag, 

 White- fronted, Pink-footed, Barnacle, and Brent Geese, 

 Whooper and Bewick's Swans ; among ducks the 

 Tufted, Golden-eye, and Long-tailed species ; the Water- 

 Rail, Woodcock, Jack Snipe, Greenshank, and Glaucous 

 Gull ; and among rarer species the Little and Lapland 

 Buntings, Snowy Owl, Rough-legged Buzzard, Green- 

 land Falcon, and Smew. 



The departure movements of the Central European 

 birds among these winter guests, which commenced in 

 February, are still in progress from the south-east coast 

 of England, but terminate with the month. These 

 emigrants to the eastwards are of the same species as 

 those recorded for the previous month, but it is probable 

 that the Hoopoes which traverse the south coast at 

 this season may also find their way to their Continental 

 summer homes by this North Sea route. 



