Manchester Memoirs, Vol. Iviii. (1914), No. 0. 13 



summer immense numbers of Sand Martins, the first of 

 the three to arrive and the first to depart, congregate 

 nightly above the mere, and like the Starlings go through 

 remarkable aerial evolutions. 



In 1908 and 1909, according to Mr. Boyd's notes, the 

 Swallows began their autumnal gathering between August 

 5th and nth, and by the beginning of September their 

 numbers had become very large. The numbers tailed 

 off towards the middle of the month, and in 1908 all had 

 gone b)'' the 27th. In most years the greatest gathering 

 is during the first half of September. The dates of the 

 House Martin practically correspond with those of the 

 Swallow, for the two species constantly move in company. 

 On the spring passage the Sand Martin is generally most 

 abundant in the latter half of April, although the bird 

 often appears before March is ended. The autumn passage 

 reaches its height during the first few days of September. 



The Swift is a frequent visitor 

 Apus apus (Linnaeus), for food, flying high, backwards 



and forwards, above the mere, 

 but it neither roosts in the reeds nor nests on the margin, 

 there being no suitable buildings immediately at the edge 

 of the water. Above the mere, however, is the most 

 likely place to see the first and also the last Swifts of the 

 season, so great is the attraction of the insects which fly 

 above the water. Throughout May and early June the 

 numbers vary considerably, and any day birds may be 

 absent or only one or two visible, and the next day scores 

 or even hundreds may be flying with the Swallows and 

 Martins. 



The Kingfisher is a common 

 Alcedo ispida Linnaeus. bird at Rostherne; it may be 



surprised from a perch on 

 the overhanging branch of some tree at any time. No 



