39 



EXCEPTIONAL INFLUX OF BUZZAEDS ON THE 



N.E. COAST DURING THE AUTUMN OF 1903. 



By Frank B. Atkinson. 



The months of September, October and No /ember, of 1903, 

 witnessed an unusual influx of various species of Buzzards on 

 the N. E. Coast and of these Cleveland received a fair share. 



The Rough Legged Buzzard (Archibuteo lagopus) was by far 

 the most plentiful, the Common Buzzard (Buteo vulgaris) much 

 less so and of the Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) one in- 

 dividual only was obtained (Redcar, Oct. 3rd.) to the knowledge 

 of the present writer. 



The first date of the appearance of the Buzzards seems to 

 have been about September 14th, and they were still arriving on 

 the coast in the middle of November. This seems to go to shew that 

 the exceptional circumstances which led to their visiting us in 

 such unwonted numbers were of long duration and operated for 

 a period of two montbs at least. 



The rough legged Buzzard appeared in comparatively large 

 numbers and flocks of from three to five individuals were seen 

 in many localities. A flock of even seven is said to have been 

 seen at Glaisdale. These dispersed in a day or two and probably 

 lived a good long time on the extensive moors in the neighbour- 

 hood. A fair number of others also were able to persist on the 

 moors, as isolated individuals were shot at intervals up to the 

 summer of 1904. The majority of the immigrants however 

 would pass on and leave the district. 



Many of the visitors fell victims to the gun and of those the 

 writer had an opportunity of examining, the majority were 

 young birds. This however, is only to be expected on the 

 autumn flight when about 60/70 per cent, of the flocks are 

 young of the year. 



This exceptional influx was in all likelihood due to some 

 unusual weather condition in the main breeding haunts of the 

 buzzard in the North and North-east of Europe, We are able 

 to surmise this from the fact that birds such as the Great Grey 

 Shrike (Lanius Excubitor) a partial migrant, the Waxwing 



