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Ornithological Notes. By George Bolam. 



Field Fare. Turdus pilaris, Linn^us. 



On 1st August 1890, I was rather surprised to disturb a Fieldfare from 

 a bed of bracken, on the moor above Harehope, in the parish of 

 Eglingham. The bird, however, settled again at no great distance, and 

 on following it up, I found that, though it was well able to fly, it did so in 

 rather a lop-sided manner, owing no doubt to some previous injury to one 

 of the wings, which had probably prevented it migrating with its fellows. 

 The bird was otherwise apparently in perfect health, and rose with the 

 accustomed wild chatter. 



Fieldfares often tarry with us till very late in spring, and must begin 

 nesting immediately on arriving at their summer quarters. On 6th and 

 10th May 1891 large flocks were noticed at Flodden Hill and at Ayton, 

 many of them sitting upon the trees and in full song. They generally 

 come to us in flocks in the autumn, but on 22nd October 1890 I saw a 

 single bird arrive from across the sea. It was flying from a north- 

 easterly direction and ac a considerable elevation, but rapidly descended 

 to alight upon making the land. On 27th of the same month I witnessed 

 the arrival of several little parties upon the Old Law at Ross Links, near 

 Holy Island. The day was very stormy, with a north wind and heavy 

 falls of snow, and the birds flew low over the water, barely topping the 

 stormy waves— alighting in many cases upon the shingle at the water's 

 edge immediately they reached the land. From thence they gradually 

 worked their way up to the shelter of the links, and remained there 

 during the day, skulking and hiding amongst the benty grass. Several 

 other migrants were noticed during the day, conspicuous amongst which 

 were some Snow Buntings, a Woodcock, a Mountain Finch, and a party of 

 about a dozen Twites ; while Wrens were numerous amongst the coarse 

 grass, and wild fowl and shore birds were present in great variety. A 

 flock of quite thirty Stockdoves were seen together upon a held at Elwick 

 in the early morning. 



Great Grey Shrike. Lanius excubitor, Linnaeus. 



During the last two or three winters Grey Shrikes have been rather 

 unusually numerous in the district, and many captures have come under 

 my notice, all those examined being of this species, and as is generally the 

 case, mostly birds of the year. 



In 1888 a young individual was shot on 26th November, in a garden in 

 Wooler, by Mr Wm. Hall ; and on 11th January following I had the 

 pleasure of watching one for some time, near Mindrum Station, on the 

 Alnwick and Cornhill Railway. When flrst noticed it was descending 

 almost perpendicularly from a considerable height in the air, and pre- 

 pax'atory to alighting upon a tall hedge, the downward flight was 

 checked by one or two deep undulations, the wings and tail being 

 alternately closed and spread out to their full extent, aifording a fine view 



