Yorkshire Naturalists' Union : Annual Report, 1920. 37 



liave been much more numerous. Landrails and Whinchats slightly 

 increased in the Scarborough district, but the former is reported as less 

 common near Whitby. 



Swallows, House Martins, and Swifts were normal in the Scarborough 

 and some other districts, but were less numerous than usual in the Whitby 

 area. 



Quails were present in two districts, and nested in one of them. 



Details of a flock of upwards of twenty Siskins, a Waxwing, and a 

 Grey Shrike, in the Whitby district, were published in The Naturalist 

 for May, 1920. 



Upwards of 100 Coots visited the Scarboro' Mere in the early spring, 

 "but owing to disturbance from boats on the water, only two pairs remained 

 to nest. Both reared their young. No Little Grebes nested on this 

 water during the present year. 



A pair of Merlins tried to nest on the Moors north of Scarborough, but 

 as usual both clutches of eggs were taken by a local collector. 



A Hen Harrier was shot in the WTiitby district, but precise details 

 are lacking. 



A pair of Teal, in the act of copulation, was seen upon Foul Syke on 

 the first Sunday in May. Six weeks later a family party of seven was 

 seen there, the majority of which were obviously young birds, pointing 

 to their having been bred there. 



Redshanks are extending their range as a breeding species in the 

 North Riding. 



Herring Gulls are also establishing new nesting colonies in the cliffs 

 south of Scarborough. It has just come to light that in 1917 a pair of 

 these birds nested in the midst of the Black-headed Gulls at Foul Syke. 



Cormorants are numerous — too numerous — along the coast. The 

 number nesting at the Peak is stated to have practically doubled during 

 the last three years. 



The recorder is indebted to Messrs. T. N. Roberts, A. E. Peck, and 

 A. T. Wallis, of Scarborough, and to Mr. F. Snowdon, and Rev. A. M. 

 Holland of the Whitby District, for information used in compiling this 

 report. 



York District .^ — Mr. S. H. Smith writes : — The wet and stormy 

 ■season has had a most disastrous effect on most of the local nesting species, 

 and particularly game birds. Migrants, in nothing like their ordinary 

 numbers, were late in arriving in their usual summer haunts. Whinchats 

 appear to be increasing, and there was a noticeable increase amongst 

 Landrails, this latter being specially significant in view of previous 

 reports as to steady decreases. I am indebted to Mr. V. G. F. Zimmer- 

 mann for valuable assistance in compiling the report. 



1920. 

 Jan. 20. — A Blackbird's nest containing three eggs was built in a green- 

 house on Bishopthorpe Road, York ; these birds have nested 

 in the same place since 1916. 

 Feb. I. — A pair of Pochard and several Shoveler are frequenting the 

 brickponds at Dringhouses, York. 

 ,, 13. — Rooks commenced building nests in an ash tree at Monkgate, 

 York. On the 23rd they began to build in the old rookery at 

 Heworth, York. 

 INIar. 14. — A large flock of Golden Plover on Bootham Stray, York. 

 ,, 16. — Two skeins of Pink-footed Geese passed over Dringhouses, 

 York, flying west. 

 21. — Several Hooded Crows were observed at Strensall. 

 April 13. — A large flock of Brambling Finches at Dringhouses. 



23. — The York Evening Press reports that ' A little Grebe broke the 

 metal top cone of a signal post at Selby station by collision 

 when flying at night.' 



1921 Jan. 1 



