OTES 



BIRDS MIGRATING NORTHWARDS IN OCTOBER. 



An unusually strong migration of Lapwings, Starlings, Gulls 

 (chiefly Herring-Gulls), Redwings, Sky-Larks, with finches 

 and other species in smaller numbers, and one Grey Shrike, 

 took place on the coast of north Norfolk on October 7th, 

 1914, being particularly remarked in the parishes of Cromer, 

 Northrepps, and Overstrand. The morning was quite fine, 

 with a gentle wind from the north, in which direction the 

 wind had been high on the previous day (when it registered 

 at Northrepps, one mile from the sea: N. force 4 at 8 a.m., 

 N.N.E. force 3 at 10 a.m., N. force 3 at 2 p.m., and N.N.E. 

 force 1 at 10 p.m.). All the birds were flying either dead 

 against the wind, or slightly north-north-west, and there 

 can be little doubt that it was owing to the wind that they 

 were going in this unusual direction. One does not expect 

 to see migrants going north in October without a reason. 



My attention was first drawn to the movement at 7 a.m., 

 but it was in full progress at six o'clock, and had probably 

 been going on most of the night. At 11 a.m. it had distinctly 

 slackened, and by mid-day was practically over. In those 

 six hours it is a reasonable estimate to say that twelve 

 thousand Lapwings must have passed over the parishes of 

 Northrepps and Overstrand, and say ten thousand Starlings, 

 ten thousand Gulls, and five thousand birds of other species, 

 all going north, or nearly so. The Redwings and Sky-Larks 

 went by in threes and fours, but all the Lapwings and 

 Gulls were in flocks, averaging perhaps forty birds apiece, 

 and all were flying rather slowly, as if they had come a 

 long way. 



On the coast of north Lincolnshire Mr. Caton Haigh writes 

 that a similar passage of birds was observed on the same 

 day, but here the direction of the flight was north-west. It 

 seems evident therefore that the migrants were following 

 the coast-line, and made no attempt to cross the North 

 Sea. One of the Plover netters told Mr. Caton Haigh 

 that it was the biggest flight of Lapwings he had ever 

 known, and these men have long experience at their 

 trade. J. H. Gurney. 



