NELSON: ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM REDCAR. 85 



miles off. I saw an immense flock of Peewits cross over from sea- 

 ward. 17th. — A Bean Goose {Anser segetum) was shot near Marske. 

 22nd. — A few Purple Sandpipers (Tringa striata) were observed at 

 the Tees mouth, and two were shot. 24th. — Several small bodies 

 of Wood Pigeons {Columba palitinbus) crossed over from the sea to 

 the S.W. 



December 2nd. — NAV., light, fine. A large flight of Snow Buntings 

 passed in the early morning, flying to the N.W. 7th. — A Glaucous 

 (kill {Larus glaucus) remained on the sands in front of the house 

 nearly all the morning. 9th. — A flock of about 120 'Grey' Geese 

 passed high overhead to the S.W. 26th. — Two small herds of Swans, 

 containing six and eight respectively, were seen at sea. 



January 18th, 1888. — Whilst one of the fishermen was setting his 

 lines near Coatham Pier, a Manx Shearwater {Puffinus angloruni) 

 remained for a considerable time close to the boat, and showed no 

 alarm until it approached almost within oar's length. 



February. — Longtailed Ducks (Hareida glacialis) were still 

 numerous. A male was shot in the Tees on the 14th; two others 

 on the 20th ; and a flock of about forty was constantly seen off 

 Redcar. 



During the stormy weather towards the end of February, a great 

 many Common and Black-headed Gulls {Larus canus and L. ridi- 

 bumius) were shot. Large flocks of Fieldfares {Turdus pilaris), 

 Redwings (T. iiiacus), Golden Plovers (C/iaradrius pluvialis), and 

 Stockdoves (Columba cenas) were driven from their inland resorts, 

 by the heavy snows and frosts, to the open ground in the vicinity 

 of the coast, which had been clear from snow all the winter. The 

 Fieldfares and Redwings soon lost condition, and grew very bold 

 in search of food. Fourteen Stockdoves were killed at one shot 

 while feeding amongst some cabbages in a field between Redcar 

 and Marske. 



March 15th. — Weather stormy, N.E. gale and heavy rain. 

 A Brent Goose (Bernicla brenta) was shot on the sands near Redcar 

 Pier. I purchased a very fine adult Velvet Scoter drake (CEdemia 

 fusca) from a fisherman, who had found it dead on Coatham Sands. 

 Another equally good specimen was picked up on the 31st; these 

 two are the only adult drakes of this species which have come under 

 my observation here in the course of fifteen years, and it is rather 

 strange that they should have occurred within a fortnight of each 

 other. 



April 1 st. — Several Wheatears (Saxicoia cenanthe) were flitting 

 about on the Redcar sand-hills. 3rd. — Seventeen Grey Geese passed 

 overhead, flying eastward. 



March 1880. 



