164 Nesting Status of the Black-headed Gull in Yorks. 



was established in 1900 or 1901, and has varied between a 

 dozen and thirty pairs during its existence). 



Oughtcrshaw in Langstrathdale. — A nesting colony, about 

 two miles from the village, was established about 25 years 

 since, and gradually increased, until a few years ago quite 

 150 pairs nested there. But after the great ' caterpillar 

 year ' (1917) they have decreased, and during the last three 

 years 30 or 40 pairs only have nested. (Geo. Turnbull). 



Keasden, near Clapham railway station. — This colony 

 started with two pairs about 20 years ago, and has continuously 

 increased. It is in two portions, the larger colony now being 

 on Dovenanter Moor, which I carefully estimated in 1920 to 

 consist of not fewer than 300 pairs. The second colon}' lies 

 about three-quarters of a mile in an easterly direction from 

 the first one, and in 1920 would contain about 80 or 90 pairs. 

 The gamekeeper (T. Brennand) informs me that up to 1914 

 this second colony was the larger, but the birds have steadily 

 moved to the one on Dovenanter Moor. He considers that, 

 taking the two colonies together, they have considerably 

 more than doubled during the last, eight years. Some years 

 several pairs nest at another place in the direction of Bowland 

 Knotts, but it was not occupied in 1920. 



Browsholme Tarn, in Bowland. — In ' The Birds of York- 

 shire,' it is stated ' several pairs are established ' (page 673). 

 The gamekeeper on the Browsholme estate does not remember 

 them, and he has held the post for over 28 years. He informs 

 me that the gulls first came and nested about 1915. They 

 increased until 1918 when there were more than twenty nests. 

 These were robbed, and the birds decreased, only about five 

 pairs nesting in 1920. 



About two miles away, at Gagglemire, on Newton Fell, 

 a few pairs of Black-headed Gulls also came and nested about 

 1915. These have since returned annually, but there were 

 only about five pairs in 1920. It was evidently on this site 

 that Dr. W. Eagle Clarke (' Vertebrate Fauna of York- 

 shire,' page 82), recorded that ' in i860 a colony appeared, 

 deposited a large number of eggs, but these being all taken, 

 the gulls left the place and never returned.' 



In the extreme N.W. of the county several small gulleries 

 have been attempted, chiefly in the neighbourhood of Sedbcrgh 

 and Dent, and also at Semer Water, but so far as I can learn 

 these were only of a temporary nature, and \vaxv only been occu- 

 pied for a year or so. 



North Riding. 



Foul Syke Mere, Fylingdales Moor, about three miles 

 from Robin Hood's Bay. — This is the gullery mentioned in 

 ' The Birds of Yorkshire ' as on the moors between Whitby 

 and Scarborough, to have originated about 1893, and in 1902 



Naturalist 



