44 Yovkshii'c Naturalists' Union: Annual Report, igog. 



On 2ist October, flocks of migrant duck — Pochard, Widgeon 

 and Tufted, were already present in large quantities, earlier than 

 usual. 



Last winter two Bitterns frequented the Mere. 



The watcher considers that he should have 21/- instead of 

 20/- per week, the former being recognised as a standard wage. 



Bempton. — The climbers had an unusually early and prolific 

 season, commencing on 12th May, and running through practically 

 without a break, till the last week in June, when the bad weather 

 commenced, but as few eggs were laid then, this made scarcely 

 any difference to the number lifted. In spite of the cold weather, 

 the birds averaged a week earlier than usual throughout the 

 whole cliff, the first scale or fling being over by the end of May, 

 the second in full swing on 12th June, and quite over by 19th, 

 after which the third was so thin as to be hardly worth gathering. 

 On the later grounds the dates would be about a week later than 

 this. The men who took part regularly in the climbing must have 

 done some thirty per cent, better than in 1908. Unfortunately or 

 fortunately, as we take the climber's or bird's point of view, W. 

 Wilkinson had a serious accident, during the last week in May, 

 which disabled him for further climbing in 1909 and has caused 

 his retirement from " the ring ; " and though his place was taken 

 now and again by other men, a good many eggs would escape in 

 consequence. 



On nth Sept., H. Marr, the oldest man then climbing the cliff, 

 <lied suddenly (see notice in " The Naturahst " for November). 



I took a special type of egg for the eleventh year in succession. 



The Falcon again hatched out in " Falcon's nest " for the 

 second year in succession, and produced two young and one addled 

 egg, which Mr. Sapsworth saw and photographed on 24th May, 

 but on 31st May, when I went down, only one yoimg bird remained, 

 the other apparently having scrambled or fallen off the ledge. 

 The survivor refused to stay in the nest, where I had replaced it, 

 but preferred sitting out among the grass in sight of all visitors, 

 much to the distress of the parent bird. On 12th June it had 

 flown. 



Deduction from the 1909 season — Given plenty of food, cold 

 weather does not seem to reduce the fertility of birds. 



Occasional Visitors. — 21st June — A Ruddy Sheldrake was 

 shot at Sunk Island, and proved to be a pinioned bird. 



i8th July — A pair of Hedge Sparrows had reared a white 

 young one at Kirkella for the second successive year. 



15th July — Immigration of Crossbills in the East Riding, 

 many old and birds of the year being seen at North Dalton and 

 Beverley nurseries. 



Several Greenshanks on the Lamwath early in August. 



15th August — A Spoonbill observed on north shore of Humber 

 by Mr. Stanley Duncan, and the same observer reported an excep- 



Naturalist 



