8 Coward, Faunal Survey of Rostherne Mere. 



formed by the cut osiers, but the nest may also be found 

 in rushes or other waterside plants. A few Reed Bunt- 

 ings are usually present throughout the winter, but the 

 majority of the nesting birds leave in the autumn. 



The Meadow Pipit, al- 

 Anthtis pratensis (Linnaeus), though occurring as a 



resident in some locali- 

 ties at no great distance from the mere, is only a passing 

 migrant at Rostherne. We have met with it in fair-sized 

 flocks in March and April in the neighbourhood of the 

 inflow brook, where a few odd birds may often be seen in 

 spring either on the sand-spit at the mouth of the brook 

 or on the marshy fields. 



Four of the Wag- 

 Motacilla flava rayi (Bonaparte). tails have more or 



Motacilla boarula Linnaeus. less regular con- 



Motacilla alba lugubris Temminck. nection with the 

 Motacilla alba alba Linnaeus. mere, either as 



visitors or resi- 

 dents. The first of these, the Yellow Wagtail, is a summer 

 visitor and is much less of a waterside bird than the other 

 three. When it first arrives, however, it roosts in the 

 reeds, often with Pieds and Whites, and more occasionally 

 with Greys. It is probable that the Yellow Wagtails 

 which thus use the reed-beds are simply resting on passage, 

 and that the local birds distribute almost as soon as they 

 arrive. We have not detected the Blue-headed Wagtail 

 amongst the roosting Yellows at Rostherne, but it is not 

 unlikely that it is an occasional passage migrant. 



The Grey Wagtail occurs on passage and also as a 

 not infrequent winter visitor to the margin of the mere. 

 This species may either take a long migratory journey, 

 or the individuals which nest freely on the upland streams 

 may go no further than the lowland streams and lakes. 



