OENITHOLOGY OF RIDING MILL ON TYNE. 



101 



Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus, L. — A resident, not uncommon, 

 and breeding in all the larger and more unfrequented woods. It 

 is a great ornithological treat to watch this bird dash at full speed 

 through a thick wood, avoiding the branches bj' the merest shave. 

 The female appears much more abundant here than the male. 



Merlin, Falco cesalon, Tunst. — Being almost exclusively a 

 moorland bird, is seldom seen very near Riding Mill. In the 

 autumn of 1877 I saw a fine old blue male one day at Branch 

 End, near Sealey. I have several times seen Merlins whilst 

 driving between Riding Mill and Stanhope ; and up North Tyne, 

 above Bellingham, they are plentiful enough. 



Kestrel, F. tinnunculus, L. — A resident, slightly commoner 

 than the Sparrowhawk. 



Heron, Ardea cinerea, L. — A resident, and not uncommon, 

 which does not appear to have decreased in numbers since 1868. 



Little Bittern, Ardetta minuta, L,— I am not able to record 

 this bird from Riding Mill, but I possess an immature example 

 which was shot on the Wear, between Stanhope and Frosterley, 

 in or about the year 1869, and brought in the flesh to Messrs. 

 Tinkler, the Stanhope birdstufiPers, who afterwards kindly gave 

 it to me. 



Pink-footed Goose, Anser brachyrhynchus, Baill. — I have 

 several times seen geese pass over which were most likely of this 

 species. On the evening of the 8th December, 1878, — being, of 

 course, a Sunday, — I heard a flock of wild geese on the Tyne 

 above Riding Mill. I carefully abstained from going to look at 

 them, hoping to get a shot the next day, but they left at daybreak, 

 and were seen at that time at Corbridge. These were also, most 

 likely, Pink-footed Geese. 



Common Wild Duck, Anas hoschas, L. — Occasionally seen on 

 the river. During very severe frosts odd examples are met with 

 on the burns. 



Shoveller, Spatida clypeata, L. — A pair rose from the Tyne, 

 on March 1, 1877, when I went down to fish for Salmon, and, 

 for some reason, flew straight towards me, and passed close over 

 my head. 



Teal, Qiierquedida crecca, L. — Occasionally on the Tyne in 

 spring and autumn. 



Wigeon, Mareca penelope, L. — An occasional visitor, diu'ing 

 the winter months, in small parties. 



