ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM NORFOLK. 99 
Gray Shrike.—One of these birds was killed in the county this 
month, and two others in November. 
Sea Eagle.—One recorded in ‘ The Field’ of January 6th, 1877, 
as killed on the Westacre estate, near Swaffham, Norfolk. 
Snipe and Wild-fowl in the Early Winter.—The beginning of 
November was remarkable for the very unusual number of snipe 
which were met with at that time on our broads and marshes, and 
large bags were made by those fortunate enough to hear of their 
arrival in time to take advantage of it. From fifteen to five-and- 
twenty couples in a day were, I understand on good authority, 
killed in favourable localities, and this not only in the Broad Dis- 
trict, but in the salt marshes on the coast: these birds, according 
to some accounts, literally poured in upon us, just in advance of 
the sudden change to frost and snow, which commenced on the 
6th and lasted till about the 11th or 12th. From that time, as was 
the case last year under very similar circumstances, both snipe 
and fowl have been scarce, the weather remaining open, whilst 
these early flights have passed on to the south, to return only in 
March on their way northwards in Spring. Early in the month 
wild-fowl were reported as unusually plentiful at Salthouse, and 
on the 9th wild swans were seen off Blakeney; and about a 
week later others were seen out at sea, off Cley Harbour. On 
the 9th a flock of over two hundred wild geese flew over North- 
repps, in a N.W. direction, flying high and making much noise, 
and about the same time I learn that fowl in unusual numbers 
were heard passing over Breydon, near Yarmouth, but the 
nights were too dark for the gunners to do anything with 
them. Inland, and within a mile or two of Norwich, wild swans 
were seen on the wing, and a great many fowl frequented the low 
meadows both morning and evening. The great abundance at the 
same time of Golden and Green Plovers, has been already referred 
to, but Fieldfares and Redwings have not showed in force this 
winter, nor have any of our smaller resident species suffered 
privation, owing to the brief duration of frost, and the remarkable 
mildness and damp of the season generally. 
