28O BIRD-LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



April and May. There are also several species 

 that pass the county on migration, both in going 

 to and returning from their northern breeding 

 grounds. This class of migration is initiated in 

 February and March by the passage of the Spotted 

 Crake ; becomes more pronounced in April with 

 the fleeting visits of such species as the Garganey, 

 the Turnstone, and the Whimbrel ; and perhaps 

 assumes its greatest numerical strength in early 

 May with /the advent of Little Stints, Curlew 

 Sandpipers, Knots, Greenshanks, Redshanks, Bar- 

 tailed Godwits, and still more Whimbrels. This 

 month also marks the passage along the coast of 

 the Common, Arctic, and Sandwich Terns. The 

 characteristics of many of these migrations have 

 been already described in previous chapters. 



Migration, however, never seems to be going 

 on in earnest to the ordinary observer until the 

 first of the summer migrants to the county make 

 their appearance. This return movement may be 

 invariably remarked in March. Amongst these 

 earliest arrivals we must place the White Wagtail. 

 Another of our first migrants is the Wheatear, 

 which usually reaches South Devon by the middle 

 of March, although we have one Paignton record 



