THE COMMON WHIMBREL 
NUMENIUS PHGOPUS 
LocaL names in surrounding counties: “‘ Titterel,”’ 
~Mapebicd, “jack Curlew.” 
Status IN British Avirauna: A regular and widely 
distributed visitor on spring and autumn migration, a few 
remaining to breed in the Hebrides and on the Orkneys 
and Shetlands, and small numbers remaining on the 
coasts to winter. 
RapriaL DisTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Paut’s: Very similar remarks apply to the Whimbrel as 
to the Curlew in the Metropolitan area. Great numbers 
of Whimbrels pass over London on migration in spring 
and autumn, and so far as the northern suburbs are con- 
cerned I can personally testify to the frequency of these 
journeying bands crossing the sky. For nights together 
they may be heard passing, uttering their unmistakable 
cries, especially in the vicinity of Harlesden, Kilburn, and 
Hampstead, and quite unsuspected by the majority of 
people below them. Records are to hand from all parts 
of the outlying suburbs of the occasional occurrence of 
the Whimbrel. A party of thirty birds were observed in 
the autumn of 1894 close to the grand stand on Epsom 
racecourse. The bird is well known on the Essex and 
Kentish saltings, and occasionally visits Wanstead, Epping, 
the Welsh Harp, Kingsbury, and the open grounds in the 
vicinity of the Metropolis. 
The Whimbrel is so regular in its spring migrations that 
it is known in many localities as the “‘ May Bird,” its 
appearance on May Day being so unerring. It may be 
confidently expected in the London area any favourable 
night during the first half of that month. I have many 
records of these migrating bands of Whimbrels passing 
over the Metropolis always at night. First the well- 
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