ornithology of northamptonshire. 213 



March. 



1st. About half-a-dozen Common Gulls passed over Lilford 

 to the south-west. — K. C. 



3rd. Several Herring Gulls seen passing southward. — R. C. 



7th. Mr. W. J. Horn, of Kingsthorpe, in a letter received 

 to-day, tells me of having seen many Bramblings in a spinney 

 near that place on 19th ult., also of return of Common Wagtail 

 on 23rd ult., and many male Reed Buntings on 6th inst. ; he also 

 remarks the total absence of Grey Crows from the neighbourhood 

 of Northampton. 



9th. R. C, having heard of two Swans near Barnwell Mill, 

 went down to have a look at them, and assures me that he could 

 perfectly identify them as Whoopers. 



11th. Three pairs of Barn Owls found in hollow elms near 

 Lilford, but no eggs as yet laid by these birds. 



20th. The first nest of Song Thrush reported to me, con- 

 taining three eggs. 



27th. A pair of Wood Pigeons in our aviary have two eggs in 

 their nest in a box. The Bitterns in our aviary have been 

 "booming" at night for several days past. 



29th. First eggs of Peewit of the season brought in. 



30th. R. C. made an exploring visit to the many hollow trees 

 in the deer-park, and reports that almost every suitable cavity is 

 tenanted by a pair of Stock Doves. He found a nest of Tawny Owl 

 with three eggs, and two Barn Owls in another tree without eggs. 



April. 



2nd. A very large flock of travelling Wood Pigeons seen near 

 Wigsthorpe. 



4th. Mr. Walter Stopford told me that on going to look at a 

 nest of Stock Dove near Aldwincle, in an old hollow willow-tree, 

 he found one of the old birds, freshly killed and partly eaten, at 

 the foot of the tree ; and whilst he was climbing up to the cavity 

 that contained the nest an old fox jumped from it. My nephews 

 reported having seen a "large, slow-flying brown hawk" in the 

 park, hotly pursued by Rooks ; in all probability a Common 

 Buzzard. 



7th. Two nests of Barn Owl found in the park, containing 

 respectively four and one eggs. 



