1 88 



ABNORMAL IMMIGRATION OF FIELDFARES. 



H. B. BOOTH. 



Shipley. 



Some weeks after the Fieldfares, which have spent the winter 

 in the Bradford neig^hbourhood, have departed, we each year 

 notice flocks of immig-rant Fieldfares passing through this 

 district in a northerly direction, and very often in a rather 

 leisurely manner. This usually takes place towards the end of 

 April, and occasionally small flocks are seen as late as the first 

 week in May. The numbers seem to vary considerably each 

 season, but this year they have completely eclipsed in numbers 

 all previous records. For the past fortnight Fieldfares have been 

 in evidence almost daily in small parties, but on April 21st and 

 22nd great numbers were seen slowly passing northwards, and 

 every now and then settling. Some of the largest flocks on these 

 two days were estimated at quite four hundred birds. Since 

 then only straggling birds, or small parties, have been observed. 

 On the evening of the 12th of April (which would be about the 

 commencement of the movement through this district), Mr. 

 Rosse Butterfield noticed a flock of several hundreds flying 

 towards the north. All the birds seen were on the west side ot 

 Bradford, and were noted near Denholme, Wilsden, and 

 Bingley, but 1 have no proof that others did not pass to the east 

 of Bradford as well, although I have not heard of them. It 

 would be very interesting to know from whence all these birds 

 came, and in what direction they left these Islands. 



Other observers doubtless will have noticed them in other 

 districts, and records would be most interesting. April 26th, 

 1 906. 



P.S. — Since writing the above note, stra_\- parties of Field- 

 fares have been seen in the same districts, and generally working 

 northwards, the last stragglers being noticed on May 4th. 1 

 have been in constant communication with Mr. R. Fortune, ot 

 Harrogate, and he has repeatedly informed me that he has not 

 seen a single Fieldfare there during this immigration. This is 

 as interesting as it is curious, because Harrogate only lies a 

 little to the east of the route which they appeared to be taking. — 

 H. B. B., May loth. 



♦♦ 



On .May i2tli llic 'I^ostoii .\iili(|iiaiian ami N'almalisls' Ramblintj Socioly,' 

 was foiiiKlcd. Tli<" .Mayor (Councillor H. Barron CMarkf) is the first 

 I'rcsidcnt, and Mr. T. .V. .Man is is tlic lion. Secretary. 



Naturalist, 



