CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES 481 
at Wolferton. In 1921 these various societies were amalgamated, their 
funds pooled and their administration taken over by a committee of 
Norfolk naturalists called ‘’The Norfolk Wild Birds’ Protection Com- 
mittee,’ which is now a committee of The Norfolk Naturalists Trust. 
Breydon Water is a tidal estuary, but it is not a breeding ground, though 
of late years an increasing number of sheld-ducks have nested in the 
vicinity, especially in the neighbourhood of Burgh Castle. The estuary 
is of interest, because it is the halting place of many passing migrants 
during the spring and autumn migrations and, in the old days, any rare 
visitor—and there have been many—stood but a small chance of escaping 
from the gun of the collector or his agent. Our watcher is on duty during 
the summer months in a houseboat moored in the middle of the estuary, 
and his presence is undoubtedly a deterrent to illicit shooting. 
At Wolferton, which adjoins the Sandringham Estate, there was formerly 
a considerable colony of common and little terns nesting on an extensive 
shingle flat on the edge of the Wash, but in 1927 the birds were driven 
away by workmen removing shingle from the nesting grounds for the 
manufacture of cement; since then this site has been practically deserted 
by the terns. 
The Wells ternery was situated on the north boundary of the saltings 
between Wells and Stiffkey, a part of the Holkham Estate, and, to the 
writer’s personal knowledge, was in a flourishing condition as long ago as 
the “eighties of last century. Trees have since been planted on the 
boundary dunes, and in 1921 an extensive fire occurred, burning all the 
maram. In the following winter most of these dunes were swept away by 
high tides and gales, and in the next summer only about half a dozen pairs 
of terns nested on the area. They have not since returned. One interest- 
ing fact may be recorded in connection with this ternery. For seventeen 
years a common tern returned and nested, her identification being made 
by the nest being always placed in the same position—adjacent to a piece 
of wreckage—and by the eggs being unspotted and red in colour. She 
met with an untimely end at the jaws of a stoat. 
Although Blakeney Point had been under protection for several years, 
it was not until 1911 that it became the property of the National Trust, 
since when a whole-time watcher has been employed. The number of 
terns nesting here is variable, for this nesting ground is an alternative site 
to Scolt Head Island. As the result of protection the number of the 
different species of birds nesting on the Point has undoubtedly increased, 
especially the common terns. The following is the result of a carefully 
taken census during the past season : 
Common terns . 3 . 3,177 nests. 
Little terns : P z 40g... 
Sandwich terns . : “ TOs. 
Oyster-catchers . : . Te ys 
Redshanks " , : Shee 
Sheld-ducks é , , AO’ as (estimated). 
The increase in the number of nesting oyster-catchers, both at Blakeney 
and at Scolt Head Island, has been very noticeable, for whereas in 1923 
_ the numbers were five and nine respectively, the numbers this year were 
eighteen and thirty-eight. In 1921 we have the first record—two pairs— 
of Sandwich terns nesting on Blakeney Point, since when the numbers 
_ have varied from about 1,000 nests in 1928 to ten this year, when all the 
eggs were pecked and deserted. Occasionally a pair of Roseate terns 
have nested on the Point, though during the last few years these birds 
