OTES 



BIRDS AT DUNGENESS 1^^ 1915. 



In addition to the Surf-Scoter and Yellow-browed Warbler 

 already recorded, I think a few other birds that I have seen 

 at Dungeness this year deserve a record. Probably some of 

 the following occur regularly on this part of the coast at 

 certain seasons, but as they have not yet been recorded on 

 more than a few occasions, it seems advisable to give the 

 exact data. As I have not been able to spend more than 

 three or four consecutive days at Dungeness durmg- 1915, 

 I camiot add any information of value on the general course 

 of migration. 



On April 19th I saw a young Iceland Gull [Larus leuco'p- 

 terns) amongst the crowds of gulls, yovmg and old, that haunt 

 the shingle near the Hoj)pen Pits at all seasons. AMicnever 

 it flew its peculiar cry was even more noticeable than its 

 "bleached" plumage. As I noted a year ago (Vol. VIII., 

 p. 53), one or two birds of the species seem to winter in the 

 district each year, according to JVIr. Austen, the Matcher ; 

 in further support of this, I saw a bird in immature plumage 

 again on January 18th, 191C, and Mr. Austen told me 

 he had seen one from time to time for some weeks ; from 

 his description of its plumage it was evidently the same 

 bird. 



My next visit was from June 8th to 11th, when all the 

 Terns and other birds were busy breeding. It was especially 

 surprising, therefore, to find quite a crowd of Terns collected 

 on the point on the morning of the 11th, and amongst them 

 one Black Tern [Hydrochelidon nigra). As I watched them 

 fishing in a good-sized company just off the point, one 

 suddenly came past me that appeared to have a blackish beak 

 with orange or yellow base ; however, I saw the beak for 

 a very short moment only, and may have been mistaken. 

 This bird refused to come close to shore again, l)ut its shape 

 was so distinct from the Common Terns, with wliich it asso- 

 ciated, that I could easily pick it out whenever I looked lor it. 

 I strongly suspect that it was a Ro.seate Tern {Sterna doiigallii), 

 though, of course, the evidence is not sufficient to form a 

 definite record. Unfortunately this is not a species with 

 which I am familiar. These were not by any means the 

 only non-breeding species in evidence at that time. 



