43 



THE WHEATEAR. 



Saxicola oenantlie (L.). 



This species was first observed on March the 8th at the South 

 Foreland Lighthouse (Kent), where a single bird was seen at 

 9 A.M. In Hampshire a few were noticed on the 17th, and a 

 good many more arrived continuously till about the 27th. 

 Other notices in March referred chiefly to single birds, 

 generally males, which were observed over the greater part 

 of England and Wales. 



In the early part of April small immigrations were observed 

 in Kent, Sussex and Hampshire between the 1st and the 9th, 

 while in Sussex birds were reported to be already pairing at 

 that early date. Along the western half of the south coast 

 Wheatears arrived in some numbers in Cornwall on April 

 the 5thj and a large increase was recorded in Devonshire on 

 April the 7th and the following days. 



At St. Catherine's light, Isle of Wight, large numbers 

 were observed on the nights of April 16th/17th and 17th/18th, 

 and others, though not so many, on April 13th/14th, 20th/21st 

 and 23rd/24th. This was probably the main immigration of 

 this species, for after that date Wheatears appear to have 

 been numerous and generally distributed throughout the 

 southern and midland counties, as well as in North Wales, 

 where they had arrived by April the 23rd. Large numbers 

 reached Yorkshire on April the 28th. 



Another considerable migration was noticed at St. 

 Catherine's light on the nights of May lOth/llth, 13th/14th 

 and 14th/15th; but the movements of these birds were rather 

 difficult to trace, as by that date nearly all the Wheatears 

 which had already 'arrived had commenced to nest. In Kent 

 many were observed nesting between the 26th of April and 

 the 1st of May, and during the first week in May breeding- 

 records were received from all parts of the country. 



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