ornithological notes from norfolk. 173 



May. 



Prevailing wind E. and N. 



5th. Twelve Spoonbills visited Breydon tidal Broad, where 

 Chambers, the watcher employed by the Breydon Wild Birds' 

 Protection Society, guarded them splendidly, and they all passed 

 on unscathed. A single one was seen a few days later (Patterson)- 

 In the seventeenth century, Spoonbills nested a little higher up 

 the river within only about three miles of Breydon, and it seems 

 not too much to hope that with protection they might be induced 

 to breed again. 



8th. As further evidence of the good which has been done, 

 Mr. Patterson saw and counted in one walk ninety-nine Bar- 

 tailed Godwits, twenty-seven Wigeon, fourteen Turnstones, forty- 

 two Black Terns, and eight Sandpipers. The Black Terns, 

 which were resting all together on a mud-flat in company with 

 Gulls, flew up in a very erratic manner, screaming noisily, and 

 shortly afterwards mounted high in the air, flying N.N.E. : per- 

 haps the Zuider Zee was their next halting-place, or Naarden 

 Meer. 



9th. Nine Black Terns were seen sitting on a rail over- 

 hanging a pond at Snettisham (R. Clarke). 



15th. A Kestrel's nest was found in a wheat-stack at Horning- 

 toft about a foot into the roof, underneath the eaves (Davey). 



29th. Two Fulmar Petrels were picked up on the shore at 

 Cley (Pashley), but they may have been dead some time, for I 

 have known one to lie on the beach two months or more before 

 the sea disintegrated its carcass ; and the skeleton of one of the 

 January Little Auks was reported as still sticking in a bush in 

 August. 



A Marsh Harrier and a Scaup Duck were noted this month 

 at Swaifham (Gunn) ; and some Crossbills at Rollesby and 

 Belton. Three of the last-named were caught in a Pheasant 

 enclosure at Somerton (W. Lowne). 



June. 



Prevailing wind N.E. 



8th. Caught a Squirrel in the act of eating a young Starling, 

 to the indignation of its parents and several other birds. Jays 

 also kill a great many nestlings. 



19th. A pair of Black Terns at Scoulton contemplating the 



