CORDEAUX : HUMBER ORNITHOl.OGICAL NOTES. 9 



Woodcock {Stohpax rusticola). From the loth to the 22nd of 

 October the wind was persistently E. and N.E.— very rough at 

 sea. On the night of Saturday 19th, and Sunday 20th, there 

 was a heavy gale from N.E. During this time, from the loth 

 to 22nd, Woodcocks kept dropping in daily, at various points of 

 the coast, but not in great numbers. The ' great flight ' came 

 across on the night of Saturday, November gth-ioth, wind N., 

 but very slight — full moon. Woodcocks also occurred at 

 Heligoland on Sunday morning, the loth, wind northerly, 

 light, accompanied by Blackbirds, and preceded by Parus 

 major, Frini^illa luinria, and Lanius major. The gale of 

 October 19th and 20th was very destructive to the coast-line 

 south of Kilnsea, considerably altering the character of the 

 shore. Many immigrants on nearing land were beaten into the 

 sea, and I found the coast south of Easington strewn with the 

 bodies of Rooks and some Jackdaws. From Flamborough, 

 Mr. M. Bailey, in litt., October 23rd, says : — ' The storm of 

 Saturday night caught the migrants at sea, and great numbers 

 perished, others, striking the cliffs, fell to the bottom dead, and 

 were seen by scores, washing about in the surf. At present, the 

 storm is raging, with the barometer at 29^^-50', and a strong 

 easterly wind blowing, which has brought over Woodcock, 

 Ring -ousels. Golden -crests, and Redstarts. The Grey 

 Shrike and a Shorelark have been obtained.' Mr. Haigh 

 writes: — 'The North Cotes and Marsh Chapel coast is 

 strewed with the remains of Rooks, Redwings, and a very few 

 Starlings.' 



Mealy Redpole {Linota linaria). Between tlie 20th and 24th 

 October, several were seen at Spurn and Easington, and 

 some shot. I have not met with it in this district since 

 October 1881, when the Rev. H. H. Slater, Mr. VV. Eagle Clarke, 

 and myself found so many at Spurn. It is an irregular winter 

 visitant in this district, seven or eight years intervening between 

 its visits. As on the last occasion in 18S1, it v^^as associated 

 with Siskins. 



Brambling {Fringilla montifringilla). In considerable numbers 

 at Spurn at the same date. 



Shorelarks {Otocorys alpestris). October 20th to 24th. Several 

 seen, and some shot ; subsequently very numerous on coast. 



Great Grey Shrike {Lanius excubitor). From October 20th 

 to the end of the month several were seen in the Spurn district. 

 Two were observed by Mr. G. H. Caton Haigh on a clump of 



Jan. 1890. 



