BIRDS 



asylum to large colonies of herring-gulls during the breeding season ; 

 while still more interesting is the fact that the peregrine falcon breeds in 

 inaccessible portions of the cliffs. And here, probably, many years ago 

 the chough bred, for it is included in Mr. Boys' list of Kent birds, and 

 we believe that it bred (sparingly) in the neighbouring county of Sussex. 



On the north shore-line are Pegwell and Sandwich Bays, localities 

 rich in shore birds. The former forms the mouth of the river Stour, 

 and with its large expanse of mud flats — about two miles in width and 

 nearly the same in length — becomes the resort during winter of many 

 gulls and waders at low water. 



Sandwich Bay is flanked by sand hills and has a wide tract of 

 sand and mud flats, visible at low tide. From this place most of 

 the rare birds recorded by Mr. Boys were obtained, and it was here 

 that the Sandwich tern was discovered by him to be a British bird 

 in 1784. 



In the south-east corner of Kent from Hythe to Lydd there is a 

 wide expanse of stones, that has been reclaimed from the sea. About 

 Lydd it is interspersed with shallow pools of brackish water and reed-girt 

 ponds. Among the latter are the well-known Hoppen Petts, the only 

 Kentish breeding home of the black-headed gull. This great tract of 

 stones is locally known as the ' Lydd beach.' Its brown surface is here 

 and there relieved by green patches of the creeping sloe, cup-shaped 

 hollies and clusters of the yellow beach poppy. In relation to bird life 

 the Lydd beach, in the days of Knox, was one of the most attractive 

 localities in the county ; but now, owing to the increased firing of both 

 artillery and small arms from the camp at Lydd during the height of 

 the breeding season, and the opening out of a portion of the beach by 

 the Dungeness railway, many interesting species are on the point of dis- 

 appearing. 



The thicknee and Kentish plovers now only breed there sparingly ; 

 the colonies of common and lesser terns have diminished, while the 

 spoonbill and avocet have become rare visitors. 



Between Lydd and Rye harbour the tide lays bare a wealth of sand. 

 During migration this coast line is filled with bird voices. At low tide 

 crowds of gulls line the water's edge. At times they raise a cackling 

 chorus, now loud, now soft as a breathing echo. Then away on the sand 

 the rattling cry of the turnstone, the plaintive notes of the ringed plover 

 and the tremulant whistle of the dunlin will fitfully strike the ear. 

 Farther inland, behind the Lydd beach, is the Romney marshland, where, 

 in the days of Dr. Plomley of Lydd, in the ' forties,' both the ruff and 

 bearded tit were found breeding and the great bustard was not uncom- 

 mon. The other marshes in the county are those about Rainham, near 

 Stourmouth, Wingham and Minster. Like Romney Marsh, all these 

 localities in former days harboured many birds. Owing to the increase 

 of cultivation and drainage, the area of these marshes has been consider- 

 ably restricted, and consequently the ranks of our marsh-loving birds are 

 much thinned compared with their number in former times. 



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