SPRING MIGRATION ON THE EAST COAST. 513 
Although Blackbirds and Thrushes had commenced building on 
Valentine’s Day, we found no eggs before quite the end of March. 
On the 30th a Blackbird’s nest in the garden contained two eggs ; 
on the same day a Mistletoe Thrush’s, two eggs; and on April Ist 
a Thrush’s, three eggs—pale blue without spots. 
The larch this year was unusually forward, being in flower on 
April Ist. The first Willow Wren was seen on the 2nd; the song 
was not heard before the 7th. On the 2nd also a Wheatear was 
seen—a fine old male in full plumage. Young Rooks were calling 
in the nest on the 3rd, and a Robin’s nest contained two eggs; the 
eggs also of the Long-eared Owl were hatched off. 
Ou April 12th, the average time of arrival,—wind N., very dry 
and cold,—two Swallows appeared; also the first Tree Pipit was 
seen, but its song was not heard before the 24th, twelve days later. 
My impression is that the males of this species, also the male 
Willow Wrens, precede the females by some days; we do not hear 
their notes, however, before their nates arrive. On the 14th I saw 
a second pair of Swallows, but—so cold and inclement was the 
weather—only a single bird between this and the end of the month. 
At the time the Swallows arrived there were hundreds of Fieldfares 
still lingering about the coast hedges. 
On the 17th April, during a very heavy easterly gale, I saw the 
first Redstart, and for the next three or four weeks a remarkable 
number of these birds appeared to pass through the district—in 
every case females or the young of the preceding year; not a single 
old male did I see throughout the season. On the 19th the Yellow 
Wagtail was numerous, and | saw a single and exceedingly beautiful 
example of the Motacilla alba of Linneus. On the 28rd, after 
very heavy rain on the night of the 22nd (wind 8.S8.W.), two male 
Blackcaps came into the garden ;* at the same time a fine old male 
Whinchat was seen. On the 22nd also, nests of the Kestrel, Car- 
rion Crow and Lapwing contained their full complement of eggs. 
After this gale and rain also unusually large numbers of Wheatears 
appeared in the coast marshes, males and females together, but the 
males, without exception, were still wearing their russet-brown 
mantles. Ihe Cuckoo was seen and heard on the 25th; and the 
30th—wind N.E, and still excessively cold—brought the common 
Whitethroat. 
* I suspect the Blackcap nested in this parish last summer, for on the 3rd July 
T saw a female bird of this spevies in one of the plantations. 
3 U 
