on Hampshire birds.



9



and heather, and a wood adjoining. It used to be part of a large

estate, and the house I live in and the nearest one are both only a

few years old. A good deal of the undergrowth in one direction has

been cleared, which banished the Nightingale, but recently one seems

to have returned. One can stand at the door and listen to several

Nightingales singing, also the Night-jar's note can be heard. Once

a Cuckoo seemed to call nearly all night. One appeared for a while

to be constantly in the neighbourhood, and a year or so ago a young

one was being fed in close proximity. Some birds seem scarcer

since the gorse has been cut near the house, as, for instance, the

Stone Chat and Linnet as breeding-birds. I believe I found the

nest of the Cirl Bunting with one young bird a few years back, but

there has been no sign of the species lately. A full list of birds seen

or heard without going many yards from the door might be weari¬

some, but I may say that the Goldfinch is numerous, as also are the

Linnet, Skylark, Blackbird and Thrush, Willow Warbler, Green

Woodpecker, Tawny Owl, Starling and Missel Thrush. I cannot say

much for the good behaviour of boys in relation to birds here any

more than in other districts.


I have heard some very good vocalists in the Thrush and

Blackbird ranks here. Birds occurring on migration or found in

the neighbourhood include the Little Owl (or so I am told it is);

I have one stuffed, which was picked up dead. There is a

railway-line near the house, where the Corn-crake, although it does

not seem to stay here, has been picked up several times. One meets

with Partridge (both kinds), Pheasant, Barn Owl, Wryneck (not

much heard this year by me), Meadow Pipit (ditto, ditto), Lapwing,

Snipe, Jack Snipe, Water Rail, Woodcock, and the Redpoll in

winter. The Heron frequently passes over.


There is a very large rookery at Hinton Admiral: Jackdaws

are numerous, with Rooks ; Sea Gulls of one or two kinds are often

in evidence, and nearly all the well-known Warblers and Tits.

Magpies and Jays appear to be more unmolested than previously ; I

trust this will be permanent. I have noted the Spotted Flycatcher,

Nuthatch and Red-backed Shrike in the neighbourhood. Swallows

and Martins do not seem very numerous, and as yet not many

Swifts. If one can believe it, the Christchurch neighbourhood,



