268 



THE COMMON TERN (Sterna fuviatilis). 



The breeding-haunts of this species in S.E. Suffolk had been almost 

 abandoned by the 4th of August, those at Ravenglass (Cumberland) 

 entirely so by the 7th, and on Walney Island (Lancashire) prior to tlie 

 9th, though several pairs were still feeding their young at Southport 

 (Lancashire) on the latter date. 



Some Common Terns appeared at Brevdon (Norfolk) as early as the 

 3rd of July, though the autumn movement does not seem to have com- 

 menced in earnest until the 27th, when others arrived, to be followed 

 ten days later by large numbers. A further increase took place in this 

 locality on the 11th of August, on which date the first passage-migrants 

 appeared on the Suffolk coast, where they were noted in varying numbers 

 until the 12th of September, the largest numbers being present from the 

 17th to the 22nd of August. In S.E. Suffolk a few were still passing 

 until the 20th of September. Farther north, at Spurn Head ( Yorkshire), 

 the main passage was evidently over by the 4th of September, when our 

 observations began there ; from twelve to twenty were seen on the 5th and 

 6th, and scattered birds were noted until the 13th. One or two were also 

 seen in the neighbourhood of Flamborough from the 16th to the 18th_ 

 On the 16th and 17th from twelve to twenty were seen off the coast of 

 Kent, but their numbers had decreased to two on the 18th. 



Autumn movements were first noticed at the Scottish lights on the 

 19th of August, and from that date till the 23rd of September Common 

 Terns were noted on several occasions. Many were seen passing south at 

 the Isle of May (Fife) on the 18th and two were taken at Tarbatness 

 Light (E. Ross-shire) on that night. On the 5th of August a large 

 flock appeared in Plymouth Sound, where they remained in varying but 

 gradually decreasing numbers until the end of the month. At the 

 mouth of the Exe (South Devon) they were present in varying numbers 

 until the 23rd of September. 



From the west coast information is less complete. During the last 

 week in August an increase was noted on the coast of Lleyn (Carnarvon), 

 passing migrants were seen off the Isle of Man on the 28th and many 

 were still present in the Mersey on the 6th of September. 



Inland, Common Terns visited Windermere in large numbers on the 

 5th of August and Derwentwater from the 5th to the 7th, small numbers 

 were seen at frequent intervals on the Cheshire Meres throughout August 

 and up to the 7th of September, a dozen or so were seen at Ellesniere 

 (Shropshire) from the 7th to the 10th of August, and single birds visited 

 Shrewsbury (Shropshire) on the 4th, 6th, 7th and 21st, while a dozen 

 flew over that town on the 12th of September. Single birds were also 

 seen at Frensham (Surrey) on the 5th of August and on Tring Reservoir 

 (Herts) on the 7th and 15th of September. 



