KOTES FROM REDCAR. O 



southerly and warmer climes with the least possible delay, for 

 they did not exhibit any of the piscatorial habits of their Common 

 and Arctic cousins, but flew straight onwards. For several days 

 Richardson's Skuas had been frequenting the Tees Bay in con- 

 siderable numbers, and on the 12th forty or fifty, comprising both 

 the adult dark and light-breasted varieties, were seen engaged in 

 their piratical pursuits of the poor unfortunate Terns which were 

 feeding on the herring " sile." The Skuas generally hunted in 

 pairs, and occasionally one of each form would be noticed engaged 

 in a chase. Rain accompanied the equinoctial gales which raged 

 on the 20th and following days. Flocks of ducks passed on the 

 21st, and a Velvet Scoter was shot while flying over the sands 

 near the Breakwater. 



On October 1st, a Fork-tailed Petrel was captured by a cat, 

 and brought into the kitchen of Easby Hall; there is but little 

 doubt that it had been blown across from the opposite coast by 

 the severe gales which brought so many of these little ocean 

 wanderers under the observation of naturalists on the western 

 shores of our islands, as reported at the time in * The Field.' So 

 far as records show, this is but the second reported occurrence of 

 this Petrel in Cleveland within the past forty years. Southerly 

 winds, with heavy rain at intervals, commenced on the 6th, and 

 continued for a few days, during which flocks of ducks and larks 

 were constantly passing; a Short-eared Owl was also seen crossing 

 over from the sea. On the 14th Hooded Crows and Peewits 

 appeared, and fresh visitants kept coming in till the 21st, on 

 which day there was an unusually great migratory ''rush": from 

 early dawn till late in the afternoon thousands upon thousands 

 of birds kept crossing inland from the sea ; the flocks consisted 

 chiefly of Thrushes, Redwings, Fieldfares, Chaffinches, Larks, 

 Peewits, and Hooded Crows, interspersed at intervals with a few 

 Snow Buntings, while out at sea ducks were seen migrating to 

 the N.W. This mighty influx diminished on the 22nd, although 

 every day for a week or so the tide of migration flowed. On the 

 16th a Little Grebe sought refuge on the railway-station platform, 

 from a strong S.W. gale that was blowing, and was promptly 

 captured by the watchful policeman on duty. Three Ruffs were 

 seen in a field near Redcar, and one — an immature example — was 

 shot. On the 23rd a Red-necked Phalarope was picked up on the 

 sands near the Tees-mouth ; this is the first specimen we have 



