100 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 



frozen over; but in the open space and on the ice were some 

 500 wild-fowl, consisting of about 150 Mallard, 220 Teal, 12 

 Wigeon, 18 Shoveler, 6 Pintail, 50 Pochard, 20 Tufted Duck 

 and 10 Coot, all genuine wild birds in splendid plumage, a 

 sight worth going a long way to see ! Siskins and Bramblings 

 were more abundant at the end of the year than usual, a good 

 number of each being observed from November onwards, and 

 this was also noted from other parts of the county. 



Among the most interesting bird notes sent in from other 

 observers are the following: Stone Curlews breeding nearly 

 as far west as Beaminster (R. Hine) ; the same species observed 

 on the chalk, Central Dorset (F.L.B.); Long-eared Owl (2 eggs 

 May 24) nesting at Arne (D.D.); Common Buzzard seen at 

 Encombe Nov. 13th (D.D.); same species on several occasions 

 at end of year, Melbury Park (F.L.B.); Peregrine Falcon 

 breeding in W. of County (A. B. Hut ton) ; Marsh Warblers 

 breeding in some numbers in Blanclford district (W. J. Ashford); 

 76 Pochards and a few Tufted Ducks in Poole Park Dec. 8th 

 (F.G.P.); about 6 Terns which S.E.V.F. saw and thought were 

 White- winged Black Terns (but possibly were Black Terns) in 

 a bog for several days near Wool in early May a very 

 interesting record, as these ' Marsh Terns ' were probably 

 visiting an ancient breeding haunt of the species. S.E.V.F. 

 also reports 15 Little Owls killed near Wareham, and answers 

 the question on Whinchat breeding in Dorset* (see 191 

 Report) by stating that he used to find the species nesting on 

 the Ridgeway between Dorchester and Weymouth. Dr. J. H. 

 Sailer, of Verwood, a first-class field naturalist, also sent a 

 very interesting report on birds in his pine and heath district, 

 the most important of which perhaps refer to the existence of 

 the Dartford Warbler and Woodlark, the common breeding 

 of the Lesser Redpoll in small trees in pine plantations, and 

 the sad announcement of a pair of gibbeted Hobbies, on the 

 estate of a county nobleman who surely cannot have been 



* Dorset Field Club Proceedings, Vol. XL, p. 69: 



