99 



BIRD-NOTES 

 From Redcar and Tees Mouth for 1889-1890. 



THOMAS H. NKLSON, M.I5.0.U., Ere, 

 Redcar. 



In continuation of my notes for 1888 ('Naturalist,' 1889, p. 81), 

 I now give an account of ornithological occurrences for 1889-90. 

 I have to regret that the record is of so meagre a quality, but 

 perhaps the remarkably mild winter may account for the great 

 scarcity of birds. 



1889. January 3rd. — Eight Swans were noticed at 10 a.m. about 

 a mile out at sea, flying to the N.W. 



January 30th. — Great quantities of shore-birds were on the Tees 

 sands, but they were quite unapproachable with an ordinary gun. 



February 14th. — A Green Cormorant {Phalacrocorax graculus) 

 was killed in the river by a Redcar fisherman. The Shag is, in my 

 experience, a rather rare bird in this district. 



February 15 th. — I purchased a Red-necked Grebe {Podiceps grisei- 

 gena) in winter plumage, which had been picked up alive on the sands. 

 About the end of May a Grey Plover (^Sqnatarola helvetica) in 

 breeding plumage, was shot by the river Tees, near Lackenby. 

 During the summer a local taxidermist had four young Haw- 

 finches {Coccothraustes vulgaris) brought to him, and he is of opinion 

 that they were from two different broods. Two of them (male and 

 female) he reared, and they are now thriving and in good condition. 

 It would not be advisable to indicate the exact locality where the nests 

 were found, but I may say that it was within a mile or two of Redcar. 

 August. — During the middle and latter part of this month shore- 

 birds arrived in considerable numbers. About twenty Little Stints 

 {Tringa ininuta) and two or three Pigmy Curlews {T. subarquata) 

 were shot; two of the latter were adult birds. Knots {T. canutus) and 

 Turnstones {Slrepsilas iuterptes) were also very numerous towards the 

 end of the month ; two of the former with red breasts were procured. 

 August 30th and for several days afterwards. Sandwich Terns 

 {Sterna cantiaca) passed to the S. in small parties of three or four. 

 While off in a boat E. of Redcar I shot two, both mature specimens. 

 September 6th. — My friend Dr. Kershaw shot a Pigmy Curlew 

 {Tringa subarquata) with partly red breast, from a flock of Dunlins 

 {Tringa alpina), and on the 9th he shot an immature example of 

 Bufifon's Skua {Stercorarins parasiticus). The Skua tribe was well 

 represented in September, the majority being ^. crepidatus., but on 

 one occasion, when sailing between Redcar and Saltburn, I noticed 



April 1890. 



