BIRDS 



141. Grey Lag-Goose. Anser cinereus, Meyer. 

 This bird is seen annually during the spring 



and autumn migration in flocks which rest on 

 the sandbanks off the mouths of the Mersey and 

 Dee, and in Morecambe Bay on the large tract 

 of land reclaimed since 1863 in the Ribble 

 estuary. While other waders have ceased to find 

 it a suitable rendezvous, geese of several species 

 annually muster on it to the number of many 

 thousands (Mitchell, Birds of Lancashire, ed. 2, 

 p. 151). A pair nested on the Formby Sands in 

 1904, but on their eggs being taken the birds 

 took their departure. 



[Egyptian Goose. Chenalopex eegyptiacus (Linn.). 

 Shot on several occasions on the Ribble, but 

 probably an escape from confinement (Mitchell, 

 Birds of Lancashire, ed. 2, p. xi.)]. 



142. White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons 



(Scopoli). 



A winter visitor, seen and obtained on several 

 occasions among flocks of migrating geese. 



143. Bean-Goose. Anser segetum (J. F. Gmelin). 

 The bean-goose is often shot on passage during 



the spring and autumn migration, and so occa- 

 sionally comes into the poultry markets of our 

 large towns. 



144. Pink-footed Goose. Anser brachyrhynchus, 



Baillon. 



An annual winter visitant, assembling with 

 other species of geese in our larger estuaries, 

 visiting the mouth of the Ribble in large flocks 

 every year to feed on the early bent-grass shoots 

 abundant there. 



145. Red-breasted Goose. Bernicla ruficollh 



(Pallas). 



Two are said to have been shot between 1832 

 and 1837 in the flooded marshes at Sowerby 

 near Garstang (Hornby, Zoologist, 1872, p. 3236 ; 

 Harting, Handbook of British Birds, p. 435). 



146. Barnacle Goose. Bernicla leucopsis (Bech- 



stein). 



An annual winter visitant, resorting in large- 

 flocks to Walney Island and to the shores of 

 Morecambe Bay, and to the sandbanks in the 

 estuaries of the Ribble and the Mersey. 



147. Brent Goose. Bernicla brenta (Pallas). 

 An annual winter visitor to all suitable banks 



and shores throughout the length of the Lancashire 

 coast, and to many of the lakes, though not in 

 large numbers. 

 [Canada Goose. Bernicla canadensis (Linn.). 



Though often obtained on the coast, probably 

 an escape from confinement.] 



148. Whooper Swan. Cygnus musicus, Bech- 



stein. 



A winter visitor, especially in severe winters 

 such as 1895, when they were reported from 



the meres, lakes, and estuaries of the county in 

 considerable numbers. 



149. Bewick's Swan. Cygnus bewicki, Yarrell. 

 A winter visitor, generally in flocks, but so 



rare in Lancashire that only a few records exist 

 during the past thirty years. 



150. Mute Swan. Cygnus olor (J. F. Gmelin). 

 Individuals of this common domesticated 



species, which often make their appearance for a 

 time on formerly untenanted waters, are doubt- 

 less young birds driven from some private enclosure 

 by their parents when about to nest again in the 

 spring. 



151. Sheld-Duck. Tadorna cornuta (S. G. 



Gmelin). 



The sheld-duck is a resident and nests in all 

 suitable places along our coasts, such as the 

 Formby sandhills, among the warrens near the 

 Ribble, and abundantly on Walney Island. 



152. Mallard or Wild Duck. Anas boscas, Linn. 

 Locally, Mere Duck. 



A common resident, breeding in all our meres, 

 and occasionally also far from water. In winter 

 large numbers of migrants from the Continent 

 augment our resident flocks. Several hundreds 

 are taken every year in the large decoy at Hale. 



153. Gadwall. Anas strepera, Linn. 



A rare winter visitor to our inland waters, of 

 whose occurrence several records exist, but pro- 

 bably it is oftener seen than identified and 

 recorded. 



154. Shoveler. Spatula clypeata (Linn.). 

 Locally, Spoonbill-duck. 



An annual winter visitant to all the marshes, 

 meres, river pools, estuaries, and lakes of the 

 county ; a few probably every year remaining to 

 breed. 



155. Pintail. Dafila acuta (Linn.). 



A regular winter visitor in increasing numbers 

 to our estuaries and inland waters, and probably 

 some remain to nest, though no record so far 

 exists of their having done so. 



156. Teal. Nettion crecca (Linn.). 



A resident, breeding in all suitable heathlands 

 in almost every district of Lancashire. During 

 autumn the home flocks are greatly increased 

 by migrants from the Continent. Over 450 teal 

 on an average are annually captured at the decoy 

 at Hale. 



157. Garganey. Querquedula circia (Linn.). 



A rare spring and autumn migrant, observed 

 three or four times only. 



158. Wigeon. Mareca penelope (Linn.). 

 During winter numerous flocks of this duck 



visit the larger estuaries along the coast and 



199 



