on Ornithological Report for Norfolk.



99



which was shot in Buckinghamshire, as recorded. From what I

have seen of them in Switzerland, I should judge the Nutcracker to

he a bird of feeble flight, not well adapted for crossing seas, and

without a wind behind them these would hardly have got over the

North Sea. On looking back through the ‘ Zoologist,’ I do not find

that a Nutcracker has been accorded a place in these Norfolk Notes

since 1907, and the last before that was a doubtful occurrence in

May, 1899.


12th.—About 300 Rooks seen at daybreak by Mr. F. N.

Chasen arriving at Yarmouth, cawing loudly as they dropped on the

sand-dunes. Many Rooks were to be seen during this month busy

on the recently drilled wheat-fields, in spite of all efforts to keep

them off. It is to be presumed that they are not long in finding out

which farmers have, and which have not, dressed their grain with

“ corvusine.” Rooks no doubt do a certain amount of good, that no

one will deny, but Mr. Walter Collinge, in his recent Report to the

Council of the Land Agents’ Society (1910), lays a verdict of heavy

damages against them. In 830 dissections made by himself and

Mr. T. Thring, the percentage of grain was 67’5, and if to this be

added roots and fruit, it was 71 per cent. In Henry YIII’s time

Rooks were kept in check by Act of Parliament.


13th. — A flock of eleven Norfolk Plovers in a field of swede-

turnips at Hempstead, where the gamekeeper had noticed them for

some weeks ; also the largest congregation of Starlings on one of the

reed-ponds that I think I ever saw.


17th.—Greater Spotted Woodpecker at Hoveton. A marked

arrival of Goldcrests at Yarmouth (B. Dye), and four Brent Geese at

Cley (Pinchin).


18th.—Mr. Arthur Patterson found among the rejectamenta of

the sea some birds at high-tide mark at Caistor — a Wood-Pigeon, a

Chaffinch, and a Robin — and the next day, continuing his walk along

the shore, some Starlings and Thrushes. During the two preceding

days the wind had been registered at Yarmouth as due east and very

high. Probably we little know how many migratory birds succumb

to the violence of these autumnal gales. A Rook, afraid to venture

any further until compelled by hunger, remained for three days on

the “Argus” steamship.



