OTES 



UNCOMMOX BIRDS ON THE SOUTH-EAST COAST 

 OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



Shore-Lark {Otocorys alpestris). — On October 28th, 1911, 

 while walking along the sea-banks south of Cress well Point, 

 my brother and I observed a very fine mature bird. It 

 was very tame and would not leave a small pool of water 

 close by the high road. On October 30th, S. G. Charlton 

 watched closely a small flock passing south along the shore 

 near Cullercoats. From what records I have, only five 

 specimens have been previously recorded for this joart of 

 the coast. 



Little Owl {Athene noctua). — On October 16th, 1911, 

 a bird of this species was found by a Mr. White in his back- 

 yard, at Whitley Bay. It had evidently struck against the 

 telegraph-wires above, during the heavy south-east gale 

 experienced the night before. On being placed in a cage 

 it had recovered by the following morning, and was given 

 an opportunity to escape. However, instead of doing so 

 it remained and was allowed to fly round the yard, returning 

 at night to the cage. It was an adult specimen and fairly 

 tame, sitting contentedly on the hand. It suffered an injury 

 however, and died in December. L^nfortunately its sex 

 was not determined. To all appearances it seems evident 

 that it was a true migrant, and is, I think, the only specimen 

 recorded for Northumberland. 



RouGH-LEGCxED BuzzARD {Buteo lagopus). — Mentioned by 

 John Hancock as one of the rarest of the Falconidse in 

 Northumberland (1874), this species may now be said to 

 be of almost yearly occurrence on this part of the coast. 

 An immature female was shot in October, 1911, near 

 Whitley Bay. 



Grey Phalarope {Phalaropus fulicarius). — An adult male 

 in winter plumage was shot by H. V. Charlton at the mouth 

 of the Lyne, near Cresswell, on October 10th, 1911. It Avas 

 observed SAvimming about, twenty Awards from shore and was 

 exceedingly tame. It is of interest to mention that in former 

 years two have been obtained at this identical spot. 



Fulmar {Fulmarus glacialis). — H. V. Charlton picked up 

 the much-decomposed remains of an adult on the shore at 

 the mouth of the Lyne at Cresswell, on October 16th, 1911. 

 Again on October 30th, a mature specimen of the light phase 



