A BIRDLOVER'S YEAR 



and this is noticed during the third or fourth 

 week of September. These birds then appear 

 either as winter visitors or en passant in 

 company with early redwings, bramblings, 

 siskins, and goldcrests, and sometimes wood- 

 cock, jacksnipe, and short-eared owls. These 

 journeys continue throughout October until 

 the end of November, and " rushes " of large 

 numbers of birds take place from time to 

 time, when for several successive nights 

 thrushes arrive in quantities upon our 

 northern and eastern shores. Such move- 

 ments are noticed on the east coast of 

 Britain from the Shetland Isles to Norfolk, 

 whilst birds probably partaking of the same 

 movement are also abundant on the west 

 coast. The thrush's travelling companions 

 generally include the fieldfare, blackbird, 

 and ring-ouzel, as well as the birds already 

 noticed. Unfortunately, large numbers of 

 these migratory birds are dazzled by the 

 brilliant light of the lighthouses and light- 

 ships, and dash themselves against the glass 

 lanterns and are killed. 



Some of the immigrants on arrival proceed 

 along our coasts as birds of passage, finally 

 leaving Britain. Others, again, remain as 

 16 



