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ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM NORFOLK 

 FOR 1920. 



27TH ANNUAL REPORT. 



J. H. GURNEY, F.z.s. 



{Assisted by Members of the Norwich Naturalists' Society.) 



In presenting the report for 1920, I may remark that there 

 are not so many personal observations as usual, but that does 

 not signify, as friends have supplied notes, and especially 

 my good correspondent Mr. Caton-Haigh has furnished those 

 from Lincolnshire. 



The Spring Migration of Birds. — There is little which calls 

 for remark in 1920, nothing very unusual took place, but there 

 is one thing which is most unaccountable, and that is the 

 non-appearance in spring of the vast flocks of migrants which 

 arrived during the preceding autumn. The only solution 

 is that six months have been sufficient for the death of most 

 of the birds which composed them, but some may return 

 another way. 



March was a dry month, yet I have never seen the country 

 look so green as it did this spring, for April was wet (3*. 50 

 rain) and this brought the verdure on. Jubilant Woodpeckers 

 continued hammering for six or seven hours at a stretch, 

 Thrushes tuned up gaily and Mr. F. C. Cook had the unusual 

 pleasure of listening to Redwings singing in chorus in a tree. 



The Curlew again bred near King's Lynn, and the Sandwich 

 Tern is suspected by Mr. Pashley of having had eggs at 

 Blakeney.* Hawfinches nested at Keswick, and Reed-Warblers 

 on the Yare at Cringleford, while Mr. Tracy's notes are evidence 

 of the breeding of Crossbills in more than one locality in 

 the west of Norfolk. 



The Autumn Migration. — The autumnal migration of 

 birds to our coast-line usually commences at the end of 

 August, and I believe it was punctual. Its maximum duration 

 lasts from two to three months, sometimes spasmodically, 

 at other times with an even flow according to the wind and 

 the amount of moisture present in the atmosphere. If an 

 observer be situated about a mile from the sea or nearer, 

 say at Cromer or Northrepps, where I have often spent 

 September and October, and has the energy to get up at 



* Since confirmed by Mr. Borrer. 



