ornithology of northamptonshire. 51 



July. 



11th. I was assured by a lady who lives at Stoke Doyle that 

 there is a brood of Little Owls in an old wall in that village. 



20th. My son reports swarms of Starlings devouring the 

 "fly" on pea-fields near Achurch. 



26th. To-day, and for several days past, I have remarked that 

 Woodpeckers of our three species have been unusually clamorous 

 in the elm-trees close to the house. Sultry heat after heavy rain. 



27th. The falconer, who went to search for young Hobbies in 

 their favourite wood, only saw one old bird of this species, and 

 could not discover a nest. 



29th. Many young Swallows and House Martins about the 

 house ; of the latter species I had hardly seen one here since 

 June 20th ult. 



30th. Little Owls very noisy close to the house between 

 8 and 9 p.m. 



August. 



2nd. A pair of Swallows have a nest, full of young birds, 

 under a rustic bridge near our boat-house, about three feet above 

 the water. 



6th. An immature Shag was brought to me alive, taken at 

 Stanground, Peterborough, on 3rd inst. 



13th. Two Curlews going westward over Wigsthorpe Wolds; 

 first report of season. Mr. Walter Stopford tells of a few Swifts 

 still lingering at Tichmarsh. 



16th. First report for the season of Whimbrel ; a solitary 

 bird seen at Little Houghton, Northampton. 



17th. I noticed a very large gathering of Swallows, chiefly 

 young birds, on the willows by the river, just below Lilford. 



20th. I had two very near views of a young male Goldeneye 

 from my boat on the river, about half a mile below Lilford. This 

 is a remarkably early date for the appearance of this species in 

 our neighbourhood. 



21st. Total disappearance of all Hirundines from Lilford. 



26th. Green Sandpiper at park-pond ; first of this autumn. 

 Green Woodpecker very busy after ants in the interstices of our 

 garden-balustrades. 



27th. Teal on the decoy ; first report of this season. First 

 report of Snipe for this season. 



