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Bird - Lore 



A flock of 50 Red-backed Sandpipers were 

 seen at Corson's Inlet on February 5. Since 

 a flock of about the same size was observed 

 here early in December (see last report), it 

 would indicate that the birds were wintering. 

 A small group of Sanderlings accompanied 

 this flock of Sandpipers. 



Other records of interest are: Ipswich 

 Sparrow and 4 Snow Buntings, Cape May, 

 N. J., December 18; Northern Shrike, Mt. 

 Holly, N. J., January 8, and Winslow Junc- 

 tion, N. J., February 5; Saw- whet Owl, 

 National Park, N. J., January 15; 6 Great 

 Black-backed Gull, Seaside Park, N. J., 

 January 22, and 6 at Corson's Inlet, N. J., 

 February 5 ; Mallard drake, i . 



Robins, which were absent for the most 

 part during December, began to appear at 

 numerous points by the middle of January 

 (7 at National Park, January 15) and since 

 have been quite common. — Julian K. 

 Potter, Camden, N. J. 



Washington Region. — A winter of about 

 normal weather drew almost no unusual 

 northern birds to the region about Washing- 

 ton during December, 1921, and January, 

 1922. Notwithstanding this, some of the 

 ornithological happenings may be worthy 

 of mention. 



The Herring Gull has been as common as 

 ever along the Potomac River, and the Ring- 

 billed Gull, although not so numerous, has 

 also been present. The Bonaparte's Gull, 

 which is of rare occurrence after December 

 I, was several times noted on the Potomac 

 River during December; and also, by J. 

 Kittredge, Jr., on January i, about the Tidal 

 Basin at Washington. The Pied-billed 

 Grebe, for which there is no previous certain 

 winter record, was reported by E. A. Preble 

 from the mouth of Little Hunting Creek, 

 Va., on December 24. 



Ducks to the number of several thousand 

 frequented the Potomac River below Wash- 

 ington, the Greater and Lesser Scaup Ducks 

 forming the bulk of the flocks. In addition 

 to these the following other species have been 

 reported: American Merganser, Hooded Mer- 

 ganser, Mallard, Black Duck, Canvasback, 

 American Golden-eye, and Ruddy Duck. 

 In addition, the Old Squaw, White-winged 



Scoter, and Surf Scoter were noted on 

 Chesapeake Bay, near Fairhaven, Md., by 

 Mr. Kittredge. On December 12, a flock of 

 7 Mallards was seen flying at a considerable 

 height over the northern part of the city of 

 Washington. This recalls the fact that wild 

 Ducks, apparently attracted by their own 

 kind, and, presumably to feed and rest, 

 occasionally drop down for a time into the 

 pond in the Zoological Park, where various 

 species of North American Ducks and Geese, 

 pinioned but not confined, dwell together 

 as a happy family. 



The Red-winged Blackbird, which is rare 

 during winter in the vicinity of Washington, 

 was seen by L. D. Miner, on December 17, 

 at Dyke, Va., and on January 2 near Arling-- 

 ton, Va. The Golden- crowned Kinglet is 

 relatively common this winter for the first 

 time in several years. The European Starling 

 is becoming one of our common birds, and 

 is more numerous this winter than ever 

 before, roosting, in considerable flocks in 

 places about buildings within the limits of 

 the city of Washington. 



Mr. T. Denmead reports an unusual gath- 

 ering of Robins near the mouth of South 

 River, in Anne Arundel County, Md., where 

 he saw birds to the number of 500 or more on 

 January 21 and 22, scattered over a number 

 of fields, feeding on the ground and eating 

 the berries of the holly trees in the vicinity. 

 The birds were said by the residents to have 

 arrived on January 20. While a few Robins 

 ordinarily winter in this region, the great 

 bulk of the species moves farther south, and 

 such a large number in any one place during 

 January is notable. 



What appear to be rather remarkably 

 early records for the singing of birds were 

 obtained during January. The White- 

 throated Sparrow was heard singing on 

 January 14, the Song Sparrow on January 

 23 and 30, the Junco on January 30, and the 

 Cardinal on January 21, 28, and 29. It is 

 rather interesting to note that none of these 

 days was much warmer than the days pre- 

 ceding or following. Furthermore, a pair 

 of Cardinals was observed mating on Jan- 

 uary 14. 



Of considerable interest was the behavior 

 of birds in the outskirts of Washington during 



