MIGRATION ON THE COAST. 289 



or very early in April, the first of the purely 

 southern species reach us. Two of the most 

 familiar are the Wheatear and the Chiffchaff; Ring 

 Ouzels, Willow Wrens, and Yellow Wagtails follow 

 them closely. As April passes on, the numbers of 

 our summer migrants increase ; Whinchats, Red- 

 starts, Wrynecks, Cuckoos, Whitethroats, Blackcaps, 

 Swallows', Martins, and so on, appearing in force. 

 Towards the end of the month, and in May, Terns, 

 various Sandpipers, Turtle Doves, and Quails, may 

 all be found upon the coasts on their spring migra- 

 tion. Among the last to appear are such species 

 as Lesser Whitethroats, Spotted Fly Catchers, 

 Garden Warblers, and Red-backed Shrikes. This 

 spring migration of birds along the British coasts 

 lasts for a period of quite four months from 

 February to the end of May, or the first week in 

 June. Some birds may be observed on passage 

 almost throughout this period ; others not more 

 than half this time especially the Warblers, Wag- 

 tails, and Pipits others, yet again, complete their 

 migration in a month or less, amongst these being 

 the Red-backed Shrike and the Greenshank. For 

 the spring migration of such species that visit the 

 British Islands to breed, the southern coasts, of 

 course, are the best points of observation none 

 of these birds breed south of their point of 

 entrance to our area, as they all reach us from 

 winter quarters in more southerly latitudes than 

 ours. 



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