38 Yorkshire Naturalists' Union : Annual Report, 1920. 



May 8. — Nest and four eggs of the Curlew found at Skipwith, the parent 

 birds were successfully photographed, and the eggs hatched^out 

 on the 20th, the young eventually going away safely. 



,, g. — Several small flocks of Meadow Pipits were observed on Clifton 

 Ings, York. 



,, 21. — A pair of Redshanks was seen in a meadow at Grimston, 

 near York ; a very unusual district for this species. 



,, 23. — A Curlew's nest containing four eggs was found on Strcnsall 

 Common . 

 24. — Cole Tit's nest, with young, in the ruins of By land Abbey, 

 and two pairs of Kestrels had their nests in W^iitomcliff. 

 June 2. — A pair of Curlew, two pairs of Redshanks, and three pairsTof 

 Nightjars were seen on Sandburn Common. A pair of Turtle 

 Doves was carrying nesting material, and on the gth the nest 

 contained two eggs, both of which hatched in due course. A 

 nest of the Bullfinch was found containing five eggs. 



,, 13. — A nest of the Garden Warbler, with five eggs, and that of a 

 Lesser Wlaitethroat, with four eggs, were found at Strensall. 

 A pair of Curlew with three strong young birds were also observed. 



,, 23. — A Meadow Pipit's nest, containing four eggs, and an egg of the 

 Cuckoo, was found in Askham Bog. 



,, 27. — The Blackcap Warbler was observed at Strensall and a nest 



of five eggs was successfully hatched. 



July 14. — A pair of Great Crested Grebes, with two young ones, seen on 



the lake at Castle Howai-d. One nest of the Reed Warbler with 



five young ones, was found in the usual haunt by the lake side. 



July 22. — A Tree Creeper's nest, with four young ones, was found at 



Sand Hutton, York. 

 Aug. I . — Four Herons and a flock of sixty Mallard were seen on Strensall 

 Common. 



,, 19. — Nineteen Pink-footed Geese flew over York at 7 p.m., travelling 

 south-west. The evening was clear and calm. The following 

 day the weather changed to very stormy, and heavy floods and 

 storms are reported to have taken place in Scotland. 



,, 18. — Three parties of Sandpipers passed through York, '^ one of 

 four and two of five birds, all following the course of the River 

 Ouse towards its mouth. 



,, 20.^ — Several more parties of Sandpipers proceeding down the River 

 Ouse, all flying fearlessly through the City. 



I have to thank Mr. F. Year for his observations upon the Curlewjat 

 Skipwith, he further states that the Black-headed Gull is more numerous 

 than ever in the well known haunt on Skijiwith Common, many new 

 nests being built on the ponds nearest to the niain road. Other species 

 that have more than held their own in point of numbers are Tawny and 

 Barn Owls. Kingfishers are now a common feature in the bird life of the 

 Rivers Ouse and Fo.ss, at York, and locally there are hordes of Wood 

 Pigeons. 



Stockdoves are reported to be very common in a plantation at Bolton 

 Percy, and Pied Flycatchers have nested at Newton Kyme for the past five 

 years. Dippers have been very common in all their usual local haunts. 

 Lapwings have fared well, and large flocks gathered together during 

 September, and at the time of writing one favourite haunt of the species 

 at Raskclf is crowded Avith larger numbers than have been seen for 

 several years. There is also a ' stand ' of Golden Plover of perhaps 

 one hundred birds. 



Naturalist 



