The Season 



309 



and pools between the grass that Yellow- 

 legs love. On a certain piece of salt- 

 meadow, facing brackish Moriches Bay, 

 several Spotted Sandpipers were observed 

 at the beginning of July and for the first 

 time I was able to verify a suspicion that 

 the diagnostic and peculiar method of 

 flight which this species uses in coursing 

 low over the water and along the shore is 

 not always employed under other circum- 

 stances. Individuals flying low over the 

 meadow grass sometimes used this same 

 flight and again flew in a swift, darting 

 manner, whereas flying at considerable 

 height they moved their wings steadily 

 like a diminutive Yellowleg. My first 

 Solitary Sandpiper of the season was 

 observed on the morning of July 30, flying 

 about high in air by one of the harbors of 

 Long Island Sound. Since that date, every 

 visit to the particular south-shore meadow 

 referred to has shown the Solitary to be 

 present there, probably upwards of 

 a half-dozen birds on August 9 and 10. — 

 J. T. Nichols, Neiv York City. 



Philadelphia Region. — Weather con- 

 ditions averaged about normal for June 

 and the same statement holds good in 

 regard to the bird-life in this region. Two 

 Herring Gulls noted June 8 — the only 

 record the writer has for this month at 

 Camden — and a flock of four Mergansers 

 that lingered until June 9 can be mentioned 

 as two interesting features. 



While July averaged normal as far as 

 temperature was concerned, the precipi- 

 tation for the month exceeded all records of 

 the local Weather Bureau, 10.30 inches 

 being recorded. However, the abundant 

 showers seemed to have no apparent effect 

 on the most conspicuous July migrants, 

 the Swallows, the daily movements of the 

 birds being carried on without any regard 

 to weather conditions. On July 20, when 

 showers were particularly heavy and 

 frequent, loose flocks of Barn Swallows 

 were noticed headed due southeast through 

 the pelting rain, seemingly heedless of 

 the storm. 



On July 4 the only colony of Common 

 Terns known to the writer to be breeding 



on the New Jersey coast was visited and 

 found to be in anything but a flourishing 

 condition. Only eight nests, all with eggs, 

 were found and few adult birds were seen. 

 A pair of Piping Plover, also known to 

 nest on the iteland, was observed. Early 

 in July two years ago there were at least 

 fifty pairs of Terns, two pairs of Piping 

 Plover, and a pair of Black Skimmers 

 breeding on the island. It was evident that 

 the high tides of the previous week had 

 destroyed some of the nests, but it was 

 also apparent from the numerous tracks 

 of a barefoot boy, winding in and out 

 among the dunes, that the nests above 

 the tide had been robbed by one of the 

 family of eight children who live on the 

 island. On questioning them, they pleaded 

 ignorance of having any knowledge of the 

 birds nesting there. 



Here is an opportunity, that is passing, 

 to establish a bird and game refuge on one 

 of the few remaining islands on the New 

 Jersey coast that is not occupied by sum- 

 mer cottages. As a preserve it would not 

 only protect the breeding birds but also 

 serve as a refuge for migrant shore-birds 

 and water-fowl. 



A pleasing contrast to the Terns was the 

 abundance of Laughing Gulls. These birds 

 are now firmly established and are a com- 

 mon sight at most any of the numerous 

 coast resorts, a refreshing change from 

 ten or fifteen years ago when they were 

 by no means common. At Stone Harbor, 

 N. J., July 20, a flock of about 1,500 

 Laughing Gulls were gathered on the 

 marsh near the road. Among them was a 

 good scattering of young birds, some with 

 down still clinging to their heads. The 

 'laughing' of the Gulls could be heard 

 a mile and a half distant. On the same day 

 an Egret was discovered feeding in a shal- 

 low lagoon, and Mr. C. K. Roland found 

 two Black Skimmers flying about above 

 the beach. All of which would lead us to 

 believe that a touch at least of the former 

 abundant bird-life is slowly returning to 

 the Jersey coast. 



The first influx of nearby Warblers was 

 observed August 2. — Julian K. Potter, 

 Camden, N. J. 



