BIRDS 



5. Blackbird. Turdus merit/a, Linn. 



Very common. This bird stands severe 

 weather better than the thrush or redwing. 



6. Ring Ouzel. Turdus torquatus, Linn. 

 Seen occasionally in the spring and autumn, 



more particularly the latter time. 



7. Wheatear. Saxicola oenanthe (Linn.) 

 Found in small numbers in suitable places. 



It nests on Ratcher Hill in Mansfield Forest, 

 where several pairs arrive in March, using 

 rabbit holes in which to lay their eggs ; a 

 fair number rest in big fields on their way 

 south in autumn. 



8. Whinchat. Pratincola rubetra (Linn.) 

 Very common all over the county and is 



partial to the hedges by the roadside. It is pro- 

 bable that there are two forms of this bird, 

 some of the males being larger and brighter 

 and having more white on their heads than 

 others. 



9. Stonechat. Pratincola rubicola (Linn.) 

 Not at all a common bird in Notts ; found 



here and there in suitable places, and at Rain- 

 worth it is seen almost as often in winter as 

 in summer. A pair or two breed in Mans- 

 field Forest. 



10. Redstart. Ruticilla phcenicurus (Linn.) 

 Lightly distributed in most parts ; it is fond 



of oak woods and frequents the forest where 

 it can find old hollow oaks for nesting ; in 

 younger woods it nests under the dead leaves 

 on the ground and in faggot heaps. I have 

 them breeding at Rainworth in boxes put up 

 in the plantations. 



n. Black Redstart. Ruticilla titys (Scopoli) 

 Rare. A male was shot near Nottingham 

 in May 1846, one in December 1857, and 

 another on the old Nottingham racecourse 

 in 1870. 



12. Redbreast. Erithacus rubecula (Linn.) 



A very common resident, drawing near 

 houses and gardens in autumn and winter 

 and going further afield to nest in spring. Its 

 eggs are rarely taken, but the species does not 

 increase ; one of our early nesting birds. 



13. Nightingale. Daulias luscinia (Linn.) 

 The old saying that this bird never went 



north of the Trent has been proved to be 

 wrong, for it is fairly plentiful in the southern 

 parts of the county, and a few pairs nest here 

 and there in the north portion. 



14. Whitethroat. Sylvia cinerea (Bechstein) 

 A very common spring visitor and frequents 



hedges ; it is often seen taking short upward 

 flights and singing at the same time. I have 

 a white variety shot near Nottingham. 



15. Lesser Whitethroat. Sylvia curruca 



(Linn.) 



Much less common and more local than 

 the last-named species, and often overlooked 

 by those who do not know its song. It 

 sings in trees of a good height. There are 

 always a pair or two nesting at Rainworth in 

 garden plantations. 



1 6. Blackcap. Sylvia atricapilla (Linn.) 

 Only fairly common in localities which 



suit it ; one of our finest songsters. I have 

 often seen a male sitting on the nest. 



17. Garden Warbler. Sylvia hortensis (Bech- 



stein) 



More numerous in some years than in 

 others, and commoner in the southern part of 

 the county. 



1 8. Goldcrest. Regulus cristatui, Koch 

 Found nesting in fir plantations, and occurs 



in greater numbers in the northern and middle 

 parts of the county. It has a very pleasing 

 little song in spring. 



19. Firecrest. Regulus ignicapillus (Brehm) 

 A rare visitor ; one was shot by Mr. 



Caborn in Nottingham Meadows in 1850, 

 and another by Daws, the bird-stuffer of 

 Mansfield, in his garden about 1878. This 

 bird no doubt is often overlooked and mis- 

 taken for one of the last species, for owing to 

 its quick movements it is not easy, even for a 

 keen observer, to see the white eye-line. 



20. Chiffchaff. Phylloscopus rufus (Bechstein) 

 Local, and is one of our earliest spring 



visitors. I shot one at Rainworth on 28 

 February 1882 ; this may have been one that 

 had stayed over the winter, which it has been 

 known to do on several occasions. 



21. Willow Warbler. Phylloscopus trochilus 



(Linn.) 



This pretty little warbler is much more 

 common in all parts of the county than the 

 last named bird, and its song is heard on all 

 sides in April, May and June. It is fond of 

 young larch plantations. 



22. Wood Warbler. Phylloscopus sibilatrix 



(Bechstein) 



A very local bird, but found in fair num- 

 bers in the great oak woods near Rainworth, 

 also at Annesley and in Sherwood Forest. 

 It has a very striking song which once heard 

 can never be mistaken. The nest of this 



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