NELSON : ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM REDCAR. S3 



were in great numbers in the Tees Bay, pursuing the Terns and 

 small Gulls. At this time both Little Stints and Pigmy Curlews 

 abounded at the Tees mouth, several examples of each being 

 shot. 



September 6th. — S.W. gale, fine. A 'rush' of shore-birds took 

 place ; Godwits, Whimbrels, Grey Plovers, Pigmy Curlews, Little 

 Stints, etc. On the 13th, with a N. gale and rain, there was another 

 great migratory flight, consisting of Duck, Teal, Grey Plovers, God- 

 wits, Dunlins (Tringa alpina), Knots, and Oystercatchers, as also a 

 few Pigmy Curlews. On the 16th shore-birds were more numerous 

 than they have been for several years past. To use a local expres- 

 sion, ' the Tees was full of Grey Plovers.' Several more Pigmy 

 Curlews and Little Stints were shot. On the 17th the first flight of 

 migrant Larks (Alauda arvensis) passed over, and the next day the 

 first Snow Bunting (Plcctrophanes nivalis) was seen in the early 

 morning on the E. sands. 20th. — N. wind, moderate, dull. A flock 

 of about thirty Richardson's Skuas flew high overhead to the N.W., 

 making a continuous screaming call. The first Shore Larks (Otocorys 

 alpestris) and several Snow Buntings passed to the N.W. 22nd. — Fine 

 and calm. I was out at sea and shot an adult drake Common Scoter 

 ( CEdemia nigra) from a large flock, and also an adult Sandwich Tern 

 {Sterna cantiaca) — this is a late date on which to see this latter bird. 

 A Great Northern and two Red-throated Divers {Colymbus glacialis 

 and C. septentrionalis) flew past to the S.E. The next day I went 

 off again, and saw two Manx Shearwaters, one of which I secured ; 

 Mussell tells me it is the finest specimen he has ever preserved. 

 I also procured two immature Gannets and two immature Richardson's 

 Skuas, there being several of each observed. 25th. — N.W., light, 

 fine. The first Hooded Crow (Corvus comix) passed to the W. 

 28th. — At sea I noticed four Great Northern Divers flying to 

 the S.E., and two Glaucous Gulls {Larus glaucus) going to the 

 N.W. 



October 1st. — N. wind, moderate, dull to rain. A great rush of 

 Ducks, principally Widgeon (Mareca penelope). Fifty or sixty large 

 flocks passed ; seven which were shot were all immature birds. 

 During the first week in October many Skuas, chiefly Pomatorhine 

 {Stercorarius pomatorhinus), were observed at sea in small flocks ; the 

 majority were adult white-breasted birds. Numbers of Gannets were 

 also seen three or four miles off. On the 4th the first Goldcrest 

 (jRegu/us cristatus) appeared on the sand-hills. 6th. — I observed a 

 flock of twelve immature Pomatorhine Skuas and a Sandwich 

 Tern out at sea. Two Skuas were shot from a steamer this day. 

 7th. — A Goosander (Mergus merganser) passed to the N. W. 



March 1889. 



