BIRDS 
107. Kestrel. Falko tinnunculus, Linn. 
Common, nesting plentifully, though some- 
what locally, even in unpreserved districts. 
During the winter months it is a partial 
migrant, as at that time several may be seen 
together about the meadow lands and espe- 
cially in the neighbourhood of Goldington 
and Cardington, whereas in the summer it 
will rarely be observed. ‘The nests of the 
magpie, both old and new (if the latter have 
already been robbed of the rightful owner’s 
eggs), are usually adopted, and also crows’ 
nests, holes in trees being next in favour. 
Occasionally the nest of the sparrow-hawk is 
selected, and in one instance I have found their 
eggs in the fork of an ivy-covered oaktree. 
108. Osprey. Pandion haliaétus (Linn.) 
An occasional spring and autumn migrant. 
The earliest record is one shot at Luton in 1839 
(Beds Mercury). One formerly in the posses- 
sion of Mr, W. King was shot by him in 
1852 at the moats in Biggin Spinney, Roxton ; 
another was shot on the Ivel at Blunham by 
Mr. Triplow in 1877, both of which have 
come under my observation. One shot at Tur- 
vey in July 1863 is preserved at the Abbey, 
and another frequented the river between 
Stevington and Oakley about 1867 for over a 
fortnight. Davis (History of Luton, ed. 2) re- 
fers to one killed in Luton Park about 1844, 
and Dr. C. Sprigge saw one near Roxton 
Bridge about 1894. According to Mr. J. 
Wilkerson the osprey has occurred twice near 
Chawston, the last instance being in 1889. 
On 18 May 1894 Mr. King and I saw an 
osprey at the pool in Southill Park. The 
most recent occurrence is a male shot at 
Southill 31 August 1900. 
109. Cormorant. Phalacrocorax carbo (Linn.) 
A rare straggler inland. Three have come 
within the knowledge of Mr. A. Covington, 
but only one, which was shot at Sutton in 
1863, was received by him in the flesh ; one 
of the others was killed previous to that year 
on the brick-kiln in one of the brickyards 
along the road to Clapham. Mr. T. Cane 
received one to set up which had been shot 
about 1865 as it sat on the roof of Todding- 
ton church. Mr. J. King mentions having 
seen one about 1875 at Southill Lake, and 
on 3 May 1901 another came under my 
observation there—it was sitting on the brick- 
work surrounding the pool island. 
110. Shag or Green Cormorant. Phalacro- 
corax graculus (Linn.) 
Another rare straggler inland. Mr. J 
King mentions an immature bird which was 
caught in a potato field at Biggleswade on 
29 August 1877, and the following instances 
are given by Mr. A. Covington: One killed 
at Biddenham Backwater about 1859; an 
immature bird received by him about 1868 
that had been killed on the river at Kemp- 
ston; another taken to him alive on 28 
August 1887—it had been caught by a man 
at Renhold, who had seen two birds alight 
on a pond during a very high wind, and by 
running up was able to catch one, which was 
apparently exhausted. 
111. Gannet or Solan Goose. Sula bassana 
(Linn.) 
Very rarely observed. Mr. A. Covington 
remembers one being caught alive locally 
many years ago, but he cannot call to mind 
the name of the place. In February 1895 
Mr. J. King saw two gannets at Langford 
flying over during the first week of that 
month. They were passing at a good height 
from south-west to north-east. 
112. Common Heron. Ardea cinerea, Linn. 
Locally, Heronshaw, Mollhern. 
A common winter visitant, and at times I 
have seen them in flights of as many as ten 
together, but no heronry now exists in the 
county. Until about 1869 they bred in 
Luton Hoo Park, when by an accident in a 
high wind some trees were blown down on 
what is known as‘ The Island’ and destroyed 
their nests (Davis, Hist. of Luton, ed. 2, 
1874). Isolated nests have occasionally 
occurred. ‘I'wo were built in the Cowhill 
rookery at Woburn about 1855, but being 
within a stone’s throw of the London road 
they were harried, and the birds did not 
attempt nesting there again (C. F. Woods). 
Dr. Sprigge records that a pair nested on a 
fir tree in the six-acre plantation at Temps- 
ford about 1890. In the Twin Woods at 
Clapham at least a few pairs nested regularly 
until about 1850, or possibly a few years 
later. A pair attempted nesting about 1880 
in the tall poplar trees close to the island in 
the river between Cardington and Castle 
Mills, and previous to 1895 another pair 
nested on the small island in the lake at 
Southill Park. When I visited this island in 
May 1899 a nest which the birds had placed 
there in that year was on the horizontal 
branch of a tree overhanging the water, but 
only partly constructed. Either the owners 
had forsaken it, or they had no intention at 
the time of completing it. I was assured 
that they were in no way molested. The 
only locality in the county where at least 
two pairs nest regularly, and have done so 
I 121 16 
