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ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FEOM NORFOLK, 1904. 

 By J. H. Gurney, F.Z.S. 



(Assisted by several local Naturalists.) 



A problem in East Anglian ornithology — one may say, in 

 British ornithology — which must impress itself upon naturalists, 

 and which is very difficult of solution, is the not infrequent 

 presence in mid-winter (i. e. the months of December and 

 January) of quite southern species ; species, that is to say, 

 like the Little Bustard and Serin Finch, whose breeding area 

 lies a long way to the south of England, and whose proper 

 winter quarters are the shores of the Mediterranean or Africa. 

 Why such birds should be on our coast at such a time is a point 

 for consideration, and one not easy of solution. 



I am led to these remarks because, during January, 1904, no 

 fewer than three such occurrences took place, viz. the Red-crested 

 Ducks, the Citril Finch, and the Avocet. A short list may here 

 be given — merely taking Norfolk and Suffolk — of former mid- 

 winter visitations, which, if the last fortnight in November and 

 the first fortnight in February were included, would be con- 

 siderably extended. These waifs and strays are in all likelihood 

 derived from the east of Russia, if not from Asia, and their 

 presence in the British Isles can be ascribed to gales in Russia. 



Red-breasted Flycatcher ... December 12th, 1896. 



Serin Finch January 31st, 1887. 



Citril Finch January 29th, 1904. 



Cirl-Bunting Four examples in Dec. or Jan. 



Great Bustard Two or three ,, ,, 



Little Bustard Six or seven ,, ,, 



Avocet January 1st, 1904. 



Allen's Gallinule January 1st, 1902. 



Red-crested Duck Four or five examples. 



Nyroca Duck Several examples. 



Mediterranean Black-headed 



Gull December 26th, 1886. 



