BIRD NOTES AND NEWS. 



THE TWIGMORE GULL COLONY. 



Mr. Horace J. Wright, F.R.H.S., writes : — 



" The article on a Lincolnshire Gull Colony in 

 Bird Notes and News for December, 1905, was 

 peculiarly interesting to me, as one of my forbears 

 was instrumental in establishing the Twigmore 

 Gullery, which is one of the most important 

 colonies of the Black-headed Gull in the British 

 Islands. It is on the estate of R. N. Sutton 

 Nelthorpe, Esq., who resides at Scawby Hall, two 

 or three miles distant from the Gull-ponds. 



" The progenitors of the present gullery came 

 from Manton Warren about 63 years ago. At 

 this time, or thereabouts, the main line of the 

 Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire (now the 

 Great Central) Railway was in course of con- 

 struction, and the sand used for Kirton Tunnel was 

 fetched from Twigmore. The navvies thus soon 

 learned of the new colony, and used to make 

 pilgrimages of a Sunday in search of eggs, with a 

 view to their disposal as those of the plover. My 

 grandfather was in the employ of the then lord of 

 the manor, Sir John Nelthorpe, and he was so 

 much interested in the Gulls that he spent every 

 Sunday during the breeding-season at the ponds 

 in order to keep marauders away. His efforts 

 were supported by Sir John Nelthorpe, who closed 

 the whole place, and would not allow anyone to go 

 near without a special permit issued by himself. 

 The result was that the colony grew in strength 

 until the eggs were so closely laid that it was 

 almost impossible to move about among them, and 

 the birds when roused rose in such immense 

 numbers as to form one mass, entirely obscuring 

 all view beyond. The sight was one that could 

 never be forgotten. Nor could the sound. When 

 disturbed the birds gave forth a peculiar skirling 

 cry of such penetration that on still nights it could 

 be distinctly heard in the village of Scawby, 

 situated between three and four miles away. And 

 I have no doubt that it is the same to-day. At the 

 present time the area covered by the nests is 

 considerably greater than it was originally, con- 

 veying the impression that the number of birds is 

 not so great, but the impression is erroneous. 



" These facts have relation to the work done by 

 the Black-headed Gulls as farmers. They are up 

 betimes of a morning, and spreading themselves 

 over a radius of something approaching 14 miles 

 they follow at the heels of every ploughman. And 

 not in small numbers, but in such crowds as to 

 make the ground behind the plough absolutely 

 white. A more charming sight could scarcely 



be conceived than these Gulls struggling and 

 apparently tumbling over one another in their 

 eagerness to get closely up and secure the choicest 

 titbits brought to view by the travelling share. 

 Thus they work hour after hour and day after day, 

 behind every plough in every field, so that one can 

 form some idea of their wonderful numbers. 

 There cannot be the slightest doubt that the Gulls 

 do inestimable good as grub devourers, for they 

 have healthy appetites, and myriads of grubs must 

 have been consumed during the last half century. 



"Twigmore is a most secluded spot, without the 

 sight or sound of human habitation. Those who 

 would visit this colony can now do so at certain 

 times of the year upon payment of a small charge, 

 the returns being handed by Mr. Sutton Nelthorpe 

 to some charitable institution. To lovers of nature 

 it is one of the most delightful excursions that can 

 be enjoyed in the county of Lincoln." 



PUBLICATION RECEIVED. 



At the beginning of 1905 the British Ornitho- 

 logists' Club appointed a committee to enquire 

 into the migration of birds within this realm. The 

 first Report of the committee has been sent to us. 

 It contains accounts of the spring immigrations in 

 1905 of twenty-nine species of birds which nest 

 in this country and winter abroad. With the help 

 of a large number of records made by many 

 observers all over Great Britain, and by the keepers 

 of the lighthouses, the committee have been able 

 to tell us when and where the birds arrived, and to 

 trace their distribution over the country. The 

 chapters and maps devoted to the Swallow, 

 Martins, and Swift are of particular interest to 

 those members of our Society who have deplored 

 the diminution in the numbers of the Swallow in 

 recent years. (London : Witherby and Co., 326, 

 High Holborn. 6s.) 



COUNTY COUNCIL ORDERS. 



Devonshire, January 30th, 1906. A B C D E [•'. 

 Identical with that of 1905, with the addition of the 

 Taw and Torridge Fishery Districts to those dis- 

 tricts in which Shag and Cormorant are exempted 

 from protection. 



Yorkshire, East Riding, January 29th, 1906. 

 A C E F S. Extends Close Time for all birds but 

 Mallard, Golden Plover, Snipe and Woodcock, to 

 September 1st. Protects a number of birds and 

 eggs throughout the year, gives Sunday protection 

 in named areas ; protects certain eggs throughout 

 the Riding, and all eggs on Promontory of Spurn 

 and Hornsea Mere and adjoining lands ; prohibits 

 the killing or taking of all birds on or from the 

 piers or seashore of Bridlington, and on or from 

 the sands and seashore between Flamborough and 

 Skipsea. 



