Tee NALUBRALATS b 
For 189A. 
BIRD-NOTES 
FROM THE MID-TRENT VALLEY IN 1893. 
F. B. WHITLOCK, 
Beeston 
THE climatic conditions of the year just drawn to a close, though 
very favourable for the observation of breeding birds, has not 
presented exceptional opportunities for the collection of facts 
relating to overland migration, which is by far the most interesting 
ornithological feature of this district. During the period when birds 
were moving towards their breeding-grounds we had a constant 
succession of brilliantly fine days, accompanied by light east winds, 
and whilst certain species which reach this district by the ordinary 
routes were a week or a fortnight earlier than usual, those which 
I maintain travel by our special fly-line, of the Humber and Trent 
valley, were only noticed about their average time. So regular are 
the pioneers of this latter movement in the time of their appearance, 
that I am inclined to think, especially as most of them are birds 
capable of sustained flight, that they make their journey at a stated 
time irrespective of favourable climatic conditions. An exception 
perhaps should be made in the case of the Hirundines, the main 
body of which eee appears to be delayed by east or north-east 
winds of any violen 
It is a curious er that our familiar Yellow Wagtail should come 
so regularly on 2nd or 3rd April, when the average date of its arrival 
in districts south of the Trent is quite a week later, while on the 
other hand, the Wheatear, which frequently turns up in more 
northern districts early in March, and in the High Peak by the end 
of the month, is never seen here much earlier than the middle of April. 
With regard to the former species, if my contention is correct 
that our local birds first touch our coasts at the mouth of the 
Humber, it would be interesting to learn from what part of the 
Continent they come. 
In the ‘Zoologist’ (1892, pp. 389-391) Mr. Cordeaux calls 
attention to the distribution and migrations of this species, specially 
remarking on its abundance on the Lincolnshire coast during the 
month of September. 
Jan. ao rf 
