2I 3 



THE BIRDS OF 

 NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE TOWN MOOR. 



R. DUNCAN. 



The following is a list of birds I have either shot or observed on the 

 Town Moor of Newcastle during a period extending over the last 

 thirty-five years. Those marked with an asterisk have been shot 

 by myself. 



The Town Moor is an open grassy space, comprising about 

 1,000 acres, bounding the town on the north and west. Formerly, 

 before it was so extensively drained, there were numerous sedgy 

 pools of water, which remained all the year round, and the outskirts 

 consisted of fine hawthorn hedges and tall trees. These latter and 

 the pools are nearly all gone, and in consequence many birds which 

 used annually to resort here, now rarely come or have altogether 

 disappeared. 



The list is interesting as showing that, although close to a large 

 town, many very rare specimens are recorded. Shooting was 

 formerly permitted on the moor, but has been stopped for some 

 years past. 

 *Missel Thrush (Turdus viscivorus L.). These birds, like the 



Starlings, were very plentiful previous to 1878. They then 



disappeared for some years, and now only an occasional one is 



to be seen. 

 *Song Thrush {Tardus musicus L.). Formerly common, and nested 



regularly, but is now only occasionally met with. 

 * Redwing {Tardus iliacus L.). Formerly a common winter 



visitant. A few may now be observed on their arrival in 



October, but they seldom stay long. 

 ^Fieldfare {Turdus pilaris L.). A common winter visitant. 



Arrives in October and departs late in Spring. I shot one out 



of a flock as late as the 22nd of May in the year 1856. 

 ^Blackbird {Turdus merula L.). Formerly a common resident 



and bred regularly ; now only a pair or two are to be seen. 

 *Ring Ouzel {Turdus torquatus L.). Rare; I have only seen 



one specimen — a young bird shot in the autumn of 1866. 

 "*Wheatear {Saxicola cenanthe L.). Formerly an abundant 



summer visitor; nested regularly; greatly diminished in 



numbers of late years. 

 *\A/hinchat {Pratiucola rubetra L.). The same remark applies. 

 Stonechat {Pratiucola rubicola L.). Formerly not uncommon, 



but has now entirely disappeared. 



July 1889. 



