57 



THE WHITETHROAT. 



Sylvia cinerea, Bechst. 



The Wliitethroat entered the country along the whole o£ the 

 south coast. The earliest arrivals reported were two birds 

 in Essex on the 2nd a,nd others in Sussex and Westmoreland 

 on the 7th of April, and from that date until the 22nd the 

 records were those of single birds or very small numbers 

 scattered over the whole kingdom. The first large immi- 

 gration began on the night of the 22nd/23rd of April, when 

 numbers were observed at St. Catherine's light (Hants), 

 while others arrived in Sussex and in the west leading to 

 large increases in Berkshire and Somerset during the next 

 few days. On the 24th/25th a considerable passage took 

 place through the Channel Islands and further arrivals were 

 recorded at St. Catherine's light on the following night. 

 The second and largest immigration commenced on the 

 28th/29th of April and continued without intermission up to 

 the 10th of May. The stream of migrants was strongest at 

 St. Catherine's light on the nights of the 28th and 29th of 

 April and the 5th of May. Although almost unrecorded from 

 the coast to the west of that point, it is evident from the records 

 of more inland counties that the numbers arriving in that area 

 were quite as large, if not larger, than those arriving to the 

 east. A marked increase of Whitethroats in all parts of the 

 country was the natural consequence of this large influx, so 

 that by the end of the first week in May they were distributed 

 in numbers over every county and settling down to nest. 



Migratory movements, however, continued up to nearly 

 the end of May, the arrivals between the lOth and 27th 

 being apparently confined to the area to the westward of the 

 Isle of Wight. The birds partaking in these latter move- 



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