BIRDS 



The avifauna of the county does not show any strongly marked 

 characteristics. As might be expected, however, many sea coast or 

 estuarine birds follow the course of the Avon from the Bristol Channel, 

 and appear in Warwickshire as spring or autumn visitors, and heavy 

 gales from the south-west drive coast species into the county. 



The Avon is also the resort of birds which do not follow its course, as 

 for instance the swallow, which in former times came in countless numbers 

 to roost in the reed and osier beds. And as surely as they came so 

 surely came the hobbies to prey upon them, and might be seen two or 

 three at a time. Occasionally, though but rarely, a merlin would appear 

 with the hobbies. Again, the peregrine falcon has been a not very rare 

 winter visitor to the banks of the Avon, attracted by the various water 

 and other birds found there at that season. 



Whether the spring and autumn migration of birds across England 

 between the Bristol Channel and the Wash (in the line of which War- 

 wickshire lies) exercises any influence on the avifauna of the county is 

 a question which remains for future determination. Of the summer 

 visitors, consisting largely of warblers, Warwickshire always has an 

 abundance. The appearance in extraordinary numbers of the Arctic 

 tern up the course of the Avon in May, i 842, must be regarded rather in 

 the light of an irruption than a migration, but as the flight followed 

 the stream we may assume that had there been no river there would 

 have been no terns. 



Sutton Coldfield Park, in the north of the county, merits special 

 mention from its having been the haunt of many rare birds. It possesses 

 woodland, marsh, pools, and small streams, and was formerly frequented 

 by black grouse, red grouse, all the species of harriers, the little bittern, 

 the little egret, as well as the common bittern, the latter being by no 

 means of infrequent occurrence there. 



I. Missel-Thrush. Turdus viscivorus, Linn. 2. Song-Thrush. Turdus musicus y Linn. 



Although much less abundant than formerly The numbers of the song-thrush are con- 

 the recent mild winters have done much to- siderably augmented in the autumn. Some- 

 wards restoring its numbers. That the missel- times before harvest the beans are almost 

 thrush suffers very greatly in severe winters smothered by small brown beetles, which are 

 is without doubt. In the early autumn, about consumed in immense numbers by the 

 harvest time, this bird is very partial to fields thrushes. There is no doubt however that 

 of standing beans, from which small parties snails constitute to a great extent the food 

 are often flushed by harvest people, and later of the song-thrush, 

 on by the dogs of the partridge shooters. 



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