128 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF BLACKPOOL AND DISTRICT 



Plover, which breeds on the fells, is widely distributed in winter when it often 

 flocks with Lapwings. The Grey Plover is regular on passage, a remnant 

 remaining to winter on the coast. The Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher nest 

 on the shingle patches. Large migratory flocks of the former, composed of 

 young birds, arrive on the coast early in August. The Dotterel is a periodical 

 visitant, though appearing in far smaller numbers than formerly. The first 

 British specimen of the Sociable Plover (which masqueraded for some years 

 as a Cream-coloured Courser) was shot at St. Michaels-on-Wyre in the 

 autumn of 1 860. 



The Common, Herring, Lesser Black-backed, Greater Black-backed and 

 Black-headed Gulls are mostly abundant at all times, except that during the 

 breeding season there is a marked diminution in their numbers. The Little 

 Gull has been reported from Rossall and Silverdale and once or twice from the 

 Ribble estuary. The Glaucous Gull has been observed off the south Lancashire 

 coast and should be included. The Kittiwake is seen chiefly during spring 

 and often in the company of other gulls. An immature Sabine's Gull in the 

 Rossall School Museum (the only county specimen) was shot at the mouth of 

 the Wyre in November, 191 1 . Mr. H. W. Robinson saw a solitary Iceland Gull 

 at Lancaster quay in the early part of 1929. 



The Common, Arctic, Sandwich and Roseate Terns are passage visitors. 

 The Sandwich is often the first to arrive, usually at the end of March, followed 

 by the others in April, the birds returning south in September. The Little 

 Tern nests occasionally on the shingle ; and observations of late years indicate 

 that the Black Tern is a fairly regular passage migrant. An example of the 

 rare Gull-billed Tern was shot at Blackpool in 1832. 



Of the four British Skuas, all of which have been recorded, the Arctic is 

 most frequent in its visits. 



All five Auks and four of the Petrels are included. The Razorbill and Guille- 

 mot are common at sea, especially during winter, and oil-clogged birds are all- 

 too-frequently met with on the tide line. A Black Guillemot was taken alive 

 near Camforth in 1914. Storm-driven Little Auks, Puffins, Storm and Leach's 

 Petrels and the Fulmar are occasionally picked up exhausted both on shore 

 and inland. The Manx Shearwater appears on passage. 



Three Divers and five Grebes occur, the Dabchick as a nesting species. 



There are three Doves (four if Mitchell's record of the Rock Dove is 

 accepted). The Turtle Dove has somewhat increased its visits of late years. 

 Pallas's Sand Grouse visited St. Michaels-on-Wyre during the 1888 ' irruption'; 

 some of the birds which fell to the gun on that occasion may be seen in the 

 village museum. 



Of the game birds the Pheasant and Partridge are common. Now and again 

 a Red-legged Partridge appears in the district due to introduction. The Quail 

 which was common on the newly-reclaimed mosslands sixty years ago is now 

 a very irregular visitor. A few Black Grouse (nearly all males), the remnant 

 of batch imported from Norway by the late Lord Sefton, exist at Abbeystead. 

 The Red Grouse formerly bred on the mosses, but is now confined to the 

 moorlands, where it is abundant. 



