580 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



Museum (1791), where it is stated to be " now and then 

 seen in small flocks in winter." (Fox's " Synopsis," p. 89.) 

 Thomas Allis, in 1844, wrote : 



Squatarola cinerea. Grey Plover F. O. Morris reports it common 

 on the coast ; it is rare near Sheffield ; Wm. Eddison remarks that 

 this species is not so common as the Golden Plover, but is occasionally 

 seen in the same localities ; J. and W. Tuke inform me that they saw 

 a pair on Hambleton in June, which no doubt had eggs or young ones, 

 as they would not leave the place, although watched for several hours. 

 It is met with on the Wolds* in autumn, and on the coast in winter. 



The Grey Plover is a winter visitant, common on the 

 coast in some seasons ; small parties of old birds in partial 

 summer dress occur at both the Tees and Humber estuaries 

 in late July and August, and in some years at the former, 

 these companies consist of as many as a hundred indi- 

 viduals, the young following in September, but not in such 

 large flights as the Golden Plover. Individuals retaining 

 the summer plumage have been noted as late as September, 

 and, in one case, in October, though such instances are very 

 uncommon. During September and October both young 

 and old birds continue to arrive and frequent the tidal 

 portions of the estuaries, consorting with Knots, Dunlin, 

 and other shore birds, in some years assembling in large flocks 

 in the Tees area ; the bulk of these retire further south as 

 the season advances, although many remain throughout 

 winter, and I observed considerable numbers at the Teesmouth 

 in quite Arctic weather, in December 1878, and, under similar 

 conditions, in February 1895 and 1901. It appears to be 

 more abundant in that district than elsewhere in the county, 

 but is much scarcer now than was the case several years ago. 

 On the spring migration small parties of from ten to fifty 

 are seen at Spurn in April and May, in all phases of plumage, 

 leaving towards the end of the latter month. The late J 

 Cordeaux was of opinion that this species, like the Bar-tailed 

 Godwit and Knot, does not proceed along the Yorkshire 

 coast north of Spurn on the vernal passage, but crosses the 



* Mr. F. Boyes states that he is not aware of any instance of the 

 Grey Plover occurring on the Wolds. 



