Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union: Annual Report, 1912. 79 
which, together with the balance in hand, made a total fund of 
£56 11s. 4d. The expenditure amounts to £31 15s. 6d., leaving 
a balance in hand of £24 15s. Iod. 
The birds in the sanctuaries under our care have done well 
despite the bad season. 
The birds at Spurn have had a good season ; a year or two 
ago all the nests on the point were overwhelmed and buried 
by asand-storm. Subsequently the Terns practically deserted 
the point and took up their quarters on the coast near Kilnsea 
Beacon where they have returned this season. It is estimated 
that at least 80 pairs have nested there, about 4 pairs nested on 
the point and ro pairs on the sea side of the promontory, 
halfway between Kilnsea and the point, about 8 pairs also 
nested halfway on the Humber side. The birds arrived a 
little late, but nesting operations commenced and finished 
about the average time. 
Ring Plovers have increased considerably and are now 
exceedingly common, nesting on both the sea and the Humber 
sides and also among the bents. 
At least two pairs of Oystercatchers nested, but the nests 
were not found with eggs until well into June; probably the 
first clutches were taken by gulls. 
The Redshanks and Sheld Ducks nested ‘again. 
It is a pleasure to report that the Stone Curlews show a 
slight increase in numbers and that all hatched their young out. 
In one locality the first birds were hatched on June 12th. 
They were, however, earlier in the other colony. 
Hornsea Mere has been in charge of Mr. George Bolam, whose 
excellent book on ‘The Birds of Northumberland and the 
Eastern Borders,’ was published while he had charge of our . 
sanctuary. Mr. Bolam’s exhaustive report is being published 
as a supplement to The Naturalist, through the kindness of 
our President, Mr. W. H. St. Quintin, and our publishers, 
Messrs. A. Brown and Sons. 
Mr. Wade reports :—The Peregrines at Bempton have been 
unfortunate, they nested in the old locality, and in the third 
week in May the eyrie contained one young one and an egg 
containing a dead bird fully developed. The nestling seemed 
delicate and soon disappeared. As no one was allowed to in- 
terfere with them, it is supposed that it died from natural 
want of vigour or fell off the ledge. 
We have had several cases of infringement of the Wild 
Birds’ Protection Acts through our hands and in each case the 
culprits have been fined. The police co-operated with us in 
each case. 
1913 Jan. 1. 
