Migration in the Northern Shires 277 



regarded with as much interest as the appearance of 

 the Swallow in spring. Fishermen and farmers in 

 the locality say that the two birds are never seen in 

 the air together, meaning by this that the Swallow 

 has gone to the south before the Crow comes in 

 from the east. Unlike the two other species we 

 have just alluded to, the Hooded Crow migrates 

 exclusively by day at least that is our invariable 

 experience. During the periods of its passage the 

 bird may be remarked coming towards the land from 

 the sea in parties, in twos and threes, and now and 

 then in a large open flock, flying at a moderate 

 height and in a somewhat slow and deliberate 

 manner. Hundreds of thousands of this species 

 must enter the British Islands by way of the Wash 

 alone. Many of these do not penetrate inland far, 

 but live during the ensuing winter on the farms and 

 saltings; others, however, follow the river-valleys to 

 more central areas. It is interesting to remark, 

 however, that the Hooded Crow does not migrate 

 down the Humber and the Don valley to South 

 Yorkshire, where at all seasons it must be regarded 

 as a rare bird. 



There are many other migrants that enter our 

 islands by way of the Wash, some of them specially 

 interesting. One of the most remarkable of these is 

 the Short-eared Owl, another the Woodcock. Very 

 often these two birds arrive together, making the sea 



