BIRDS 



instance, the gull-billed tern {Sterna anglicd) shot at Cofton reservoir and 

 the curlew sandpiper (T'ringa subarquatd) shot at the same place, have 

 both been added to the Worcestershire list by means of the common 

 gunner and the bird stuffer. 



A noteworthy feature in respect of the bird population of the 

 county is the conversion into garden land of a large area in the southern 

 district. The great and recent extension of the gardening industry 

 around Evesham and Pershore, including many of the surrounding 

 villages, and amounting to thousands of acres, has effected a consider- 

 able change among the bird inhabitants. With the exception of a few 

 finches and starlings at all seasons, and of warblers in the spring and at 

 the period of ripe fruit, very few birds frequent these gardens. The pretty 

 and lively chaffinch has, however, a way of putting in an appearance on 

 the beds of early radishes, and the linnet is sure to be seen when the 

 various kinds of Cruciferce are ripening their seeds, while the bullfinch 

 fails not, if permitted, to pay his respects to the buds of the plum trees 

 and gooseberry bushes all through the winter. Against such birds, and 

 indeed all birds, the gardeners wage incessant war with the gun, so that 

 few birds remain in the gardening district. 



The Severn valley is one of the great lines of bird migration across 

 England, the course of the Avon is another ; on two occasions the birds 

 have been seen passing over the county in the last-named line in actual 

 migration : once in the town of Evesham and once in the village of South 

 Littleton. Unfortunately there is no record of the dates, but on the 

 first occasion, the night being very still and dark, the birds were seen in 

 countless numbers passing over Evesham in a north-easterly direction, 

 only just clearing the chimneys, their white belHes being strongly illu- 

 minated by the street lamps. They were quite within gunshot, and 

 were witnessed by many townspeople, who came out of doors to see what 

 was a very remarkable sight. On the other occasion the night was very 

 bright and moonlight, and some very small bodies, mere specks, were 

 observed passing in front of the moon, which proved to be birds at a 

 great height, also travelling, so far as could be determined, in a north- 

 easterly direction. 



Birds doubtless on migration have many times been heard though 

 not seen passing over in the night. Mr. T. E, Doeg of Evesham, a good 

 ornithologist, fixes a date in the following communication to the Evesham 

 Journal of October 6th, 1899 : ' Probably some of your readers who, 

 hke myself, are often awake during the midnight hours, may have 

 been interested during the past month in noticing the great number of 

 migratory birds that have been passing over our district on passage from 

 their breeding haunts in the far north to the more genial cHmate of the 

 southern countries, where they spend the winter. They were particularly 

 numerous on the very dark night of September 6th, when, from a little 

 before twelve until after two o'clock, there was almost a constant stream 

 of them passing over the town.' None of the birds were visible on the 

 night mentioned. 



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