BIRDS 



84. Wryneck. lynx torquilla, Linn. 



A rare summer migrant which has been 

 recorded several times as nesting in the county 

 at Rolleston and Sandon. 



85. Green Woodpecker. Gecinus vlridis 



(Linn.) 



A resident, generally distributed in wooded 

 districts and on the heaths of central and 

 southern Staffordshire ; common on Cannock 

 Chase and around Ashley. 



86. Great Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus 



major (Linn.) 



Resident, and not uncommon, especially in 

 woods in the north-west and west of the 

 county and on Cannock Chase. 



87. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Dendrocopus 



minor (Linn.) 



A local resident and has been recorded from 

 Burton, Uttoxeter and Barlaston and found 

 nesting at Sandon, Maer, Bishop's Woods, 

 Dimminsdale near Cheadle and Ramsor. 

 Probably the shyness of this little bird is the 

 cause of its supposed scarcity. 



[Great Black Woodpecker. Picus martius, 

 Linn. 



Garner says of this species, ' We may add 

 Picus martius on Mr. Brown's authority.' Pro- 

 bably the statement was based on a misunder- 

 standing, for Mr. Brown when compiling his 

 list of the birds of the Burton district omits 

 all mention of this bird (1863).] 



88. Kingfisher. Alcedo ispida, Linn. 

 Resident and formerly fairly common on 



all our streams and lakes, but now scarce ex- 

 cept in the Dove valley below Dovedale, 

 where a considerable increase in numbers has 

 taken place during the last few years owing to 

 the protection extended by several riparian 

 owners. A few pairs still breed on backwaters 

 of the Trent in the Burton district and on 

 streams near Stone. 



89. Roller. Coracias garru/us, Linn. 

 Included by Mr. Sainter in his list of birds 



recently met with near Macclesfield (1878). 

 Mr. E. Brown (Fauna of Burton, p. 102) 

 states that one has ' been seen near Berkeley.' 



90. Hoopoe. Upupa (pops, Linn. 



A rare visitor on migration recorded by 

 Garner from Abbots Bromley, Barton and 

 Tutbury. ' One was winged a few years 

 back at Whitmore and afterwards kept in a 

 cage.' Sir O. Mosley (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, 

 p. 48) saw one on the Dove while fishing 

 near Rolleston. One was reported from near 



Loxley in the summer of 1885 by Mr. Wil- 

 kins, and Mr. R. W. Chase records one in 

 1893 from Quinton near Birmingham (Birds 

 of Staffordshire, p. 86). 



91. Cuckoo. Cuculus canorus, Linn. 



A common summer migrant arriving in 

 April and especially plentiful in the moorland 

 districts. The young cuckoo somewhat re- 

 sembles a kestrel in the colour and marking 

 of the plumage, hence a foolish saying that 

 the young cuckoo eventually turns into a 

 hawk ! Among the rarer foster parents re- 

 corded from Staffordshire may be mentioned 

 the thrush and the pheasant (Sandon Wood, 

 1879) (Report North Staffs Field Club, 1896, 

 p. 24). 



92. White or Barn-Owl. Strix famrnea, Linn. 

 A resident, most valuable to the farmer and 



once common, but has unfortunately become 

 rarer of recent years owing in a great measure 

 to the use of the pole-trap. Still breeds where 

 protected. 



93. Long-eared Owl. Asia otus (Linn.) 

 Resident, and found in most thick fir woods 



where not killed by gamekeepers. 



94. Short-eared Owl. Asia accipitrinus (Pallas) 

 A rare autumn and winter migrant. Gar- 

 ner describes it as ' frequent,' and Mr. E. 

 Brown (Fauna of Burton, p. 92) says that 

 many are killed in the Burton district at the 

 beginning of winter by sportsmen. Sir O. 

 Mosley shot one near Tutbury in October 

 1840 (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, p. 37), and 

 mentions others killed in the neighbourhood 

 soon afterwards. To other parts of the 

 county it is a rare occasional visitor but has 

 been recorded from Swythamley, Eccleshall 

 and near Alton in 1883 (Birds of Staffs, p. 

 88). 



95. Tawny Owl. Syrnium aluco (Linn.) 

 Locally, Brown Owl. 



A not uncommon resident, breeding usually 

 in hollow trees, but also occasionally in 

 deserted nests. May frequently be heard 

 hooting at night. 



96. Snowy Owl. Nyctea scandiaca (Linn.) 

 The only reference to the occurrence of 



this species in the county is a rather vague 

 notice by Mr. A. O. Worthington in Contri- 

 butions to the Flora and Fauna of Repton, p. 77. 

 ' Sir John Crewe records one killed near 

 Burton-on -Trent.' 



97. Marsh-Harrier. Circus eeruginosus (Linn.) 

 Garner says, ' Not very rare,' but no further 



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