NOTES FROM REDCAR. 95 



On the 1st October about twenty Kichardson's Skuas were 

 flying about, chasing the Terns and Gulls, close to shore. The 

 morning was thick and foggy, and they several times came half- 

 way up the sands in pursuit of their prey. I afterwards saw five 

 or six out at sea ; all were immature birds, some dark and others 

 of the brown variety. On the 2nd a Long-eared Owl was captured 

 alive behind the town. This species is much scarcer with us 

 than its Short-eared relative, only one or two examples occurring 

 in the course of the season. On the 3rd, wind light from E., 

 the first flight of Grey Crows was seen, about a dozen coming 

 in from eastward in the early morning. Two Short-eared Owls 

 crossed over ; a Kestrel was seen at the Breakwater. Gannets 

 and Skuas were still plentiful on the fishing-grounds ; the Skuas 

 were chiefly of Kichardson's species, but a few Pomatorhine and 

 one or two Buff on' s were seen. 



A Short-eared Owl was shot on the sand-hills on the 4th 

 October, and another was shot the next day ; it was mobbed 

 by Starlings, and flew close by the shooter on the sand-hills. A 

 Woodcock, the first of the season, was seen and shot on the 

 sand-hills. A small flight of Golden-crested Wrens appeared in 

 the early morning, and took refuge in the thick hedges bordering 

 the fishermen's gardens. About a dozen Hooded Crows passed 

 to the W., and an immature Buffon's Skua was shot at the Tees- 

 mouth ; this bird is now in the possession of my friend Mr. J. B. 

 Wood, of Middleton, Manchester. On the 6th, a strong N.E. wind 

 with showers, a large flight of Hooded Crows came over ; one old 

 fisherman declared he had never seen so many. A Bichardson's 

 Skua, a dark bird, in the second year's plumage, was shot at the 

 Tees-mouth. On the 7th twenty Hooded Crows passed ; two 

 Goosanders crossed East Scar from eastward. I saw a Sandwich 

 Tern (very late !) at the Tees-mouth, and two Robins (migrants) 

 on the Breakwater. 



Up to the 14th October a flock of some twenty or thirty 

 Common Terns frequented the shore to the east of Bedcar Pier. 

 On this day the memorable storm from the N.W. took place ; it 

 blew a perfect hurricane here, but not from the right direction, 

 according to a wildfowler's point of view. If the gale had been 

 from N.E. I have no doubt that the Pomatorhine Skuas would 

 have appeared again in great force, as they did exactly two years 

 ago (Oct. 14, 1879) ; as it was a good many came down wind from 



