OCCASIONAL NOTES. 211 
OrnitHoLoGicaL Norges From Rencar.—The following notes, taken 
during the past autumn and winter, may not be uninteresting to the 
ornithological portion of your readers. The arrival of autumn migrants 
earlier than usual caused me to suppose that we should have a good season 
for birds, both from a naturalist’s and also a sportsman’s point of view. 
Certainly the weather of last winter was sufficiently severe, and fowl 
numerous enough to satisfy the keenest wildfowler, while the naturalist has 
had abundant opportunities for obtaining specimens of several rare northern 
birds and other “strangers.” Turnstones were plentiful in the neigh- 
bourhood of the Tees-mouth early in the season. The first I saw was on 
July 2nd, a mature bird. On the 14th nine were shot by a friend of mine. 
Several large flocks frequented the sands and shingle on the east side of 
the South Gare Breakwater. On July 29th I observed a flock of Lesser 
Terns, ten in number, at the Tees-mouth; and at the same place, on the 
31st, two immature birds. On August 7th I saw two adult specimens, and 
on the 14th a flock of fifteen. On August 6th a Greenshank, an immature 
bird, one of three seen, was shot near the Tees. These birds of late years 
have become extremely rare in this district. The Pigmy Curlew was more 
abundant than has been known for some time. On August 20th I shot a 
pair from a flock of six at the Tees-mouth; on the 31st two were shot on 
Coatham sands. Four were shot from a flock at the Tees Bay on Sept. 10th, 
and six were obtained at the same place during the first fortnight of 
the same month. Two were shot at Coatham Marsh on the 28rd, and one 
at the Tees-mouth on the 30th. Two Reeves, birds of the year. were shot 
on Coatham Marsh, one on September 10th, the other on October Ist. 
During the summer a large number of Gannets frequented the Tees Bay. 
Four adult birds were shot off Redcar in September. Early in October a 
Ferruginous Duck, one of a pair seen, was shot at Coatham Marsh. The 
number of Ducks and other fowl which passed Redcar during the autumn 
migration was much larger than has been known for many years. The first 
flights were observed about September 16th, and continued every morning 
for almost a month, when heavy gales came from the N.E., which lasted for 
more than a fortnight. During the prevalence of this storm immense 
numbers of fowl of various kinds, but chiefly Duck, Widgeon and Teal, 
passed, flying from E. to N.W. Three Goosanders and two Grebes (species 
not ascertained) were obtained during these gales. A large flock of Wild 
Geese passed over the Tees on September 18th, flying S.W. Excepting 
this flock, few were seen before Christmas; but since January set in several 
large flocks (chiefly Brent) have been constantly observed, both in the estuary 
of the Tees and also passing Redcar. A good many Brent Geese were 
obtained by the punt-gunners in the river. Several swans were shot in 
the neighbourhood of the Tees estuary, one being obtained on the 20th 
December, and another on the 5th February. On the 15th January I saw 
