VOL. XIV.] NOTES. 141 



COMMON SANDPIPERS IN DORSET. 



With reference to Major Thompson's interesting note (p. 95) 

 on this species, I may state that when spending a few days 

 near Portland Bill at the end of April 1919, Dr. F. G. 

 Penrose and I constantly noted Common Sandpipers {T. 

 hypolcitca), newly arrived and evidently passage-migrants. 

 Two were seen on the rocks near the Bill on April 29th and 

 six or seven tired looking birds in the same place the next day. 

 On May ist there was a distinct increase, seventeen being 

 seen together, and others were about, but on May 2nd only 

 seven or eight were noticed, so some had evidently passed 

 on. I have often thought that Alderney and " the Isle of 

 Portland " were important stepping-stones for migrants to 

 and from Dorset, and these observations on this species lend 

 weight to the theory. F. L. Blathwayt. 



WOOD-SANDPIPERS INLAND IN LINCOLNSHIRE. 



On September nth, 1920, I saw three Wood-Sandpipers 

 {T. glareola) by the side of the Welland, about three miles 

 to the east of Stamford. They rose together from a weed- 

 grown " drain," and their soft, rather sibilant, whistling 

 struck quite a pleasing and musical note as they circled 

 round. 



It may be of interest to recall that a few years ago I recorded 

 {Zoologist, 191 1, p. 432) the appearance of three birds near 

 Sleaford, in August, which were beheved to be of this species. 



George Bolam. 



BLACK-TAILED GODWIT IN SOUTH DEVON. 



An immature Black-tailed Godwit {Limosa limosa) appeared 

 on the shore near Budleigh Salterton, on September i6th, 

 1920, in company with a couple of Whimbrel (A'^. p.phccopus). 

 I watched it for half an hour as it fed among the seaweed 

 and tide-drift, and was able to notice clearly the many points 

 of difference between this bird and the Bar-tailed species 

 (L. /. lapponica), which is a fairly regular passage-migrant on 

 thispart of the coast. W. Walmesley White. 



BLACK TERN IN LANCASHIRE. 



On May 28th, 1920, a Black Tern {Hydrochclidon n. nigra) 

 arrived on Marton Mere (near Blackpool) and I watched it 

 daily until June 4th, when it took its departure. It spent 

 the evenings hawking for insects, a few feet above the tops 

 of the reed-beds, and rarely took an3'thing from the water. 



R. A. H. COOMBES. 



