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ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE. 



By John Cordeaux. 



These notes have reference to occurrences in the district in 

 1887. I regret they are not continuous, as I have been much 

 from home and for considerable intervals. 



January 5th. Hard frost, and about four inches of snow on 

 the level. Noticed five or six Stonechats on the sides of our 

 main drain, and along the Humber embankment, perched on dead 

 plants of ragwort and teasel or the tall withered stalks of the cow- 

 parsnip, Heracleum sphondylium—a, favourite perching-place of 

 these little birds. All were in the reddish-brown livery of autumn, 

 and I believe adults. Saw also a single Snow Bunting : they have 

 been remarkably scarce in the autumn and winter in our marshes, 

 but are reported as very plentiful in stubbles in the Trent district. 

 A small flock of ten Wild Ducks, Anas boschas, also about one 

 hundred and fifty Wigeon swimming in the river off our main 

 sluice. I was watching them through a glass when seven White- 

 fronted Geese passed inland, almost within range. 



Jan. 7th. Severe frost and snow. Noticed three pair of 

 Meadow Pipits in the sheep-fold on turnips ; directly a frozen 

 root is dragged they rush into the cavity to search for any small 

 insects or larvae concealed between the bulb and soil, and totally 

 regardless of the near proximity of men, or of the shower of 

 turnips cast in from the outsides to the central heap. Pied 

 Wagtails and Stonechats in severe weather also haunt sheep- 

 folds, the only place where they have any chance in prolonged 

 snow-storms of obtaining insect-food. 



Jan. 12th. I saw to-day at the birdstuffer's nine Kittiwakes 

 in the flesh, brought from sea in one of the smacks. Some were 

 young with black beaks, the back of the head and nape with 

 smoky-grey patches ; old birds with yellow-green beaks. Counted 

 forty-two Scaup, Fuligula marila, off the sluice ; some are old 

 males and a few old females, but the latter not easily, through 

 the glass, distinguishable from the remainder,— young of both 

 sexes in about equal proportions,— except by the greyer back and 

 more conspicuous frontal patch of the older bird. On the muds 

 are some Grey Plover, besides Ringed Plover, Knot, and Dunlin, 

 and near the tide -edge — now covering half the flats — a cluster of 



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