( 447 



NOTES ON THE OENITHOLOGY OP OXFORDSHIRE, 



1903. 



By 0. V. Aplin, F.L.S. 



(Concluded from p. 417.) 



April 20th. — Men saw ten Wild Geese, going E., fly over the 

 village about 9 a.m. Magpie's nest of three eggs. I have known the 

 eggs very hard sat by the 21st. A Swallow near Trafford Bridge. 

 When I got home from Otter-hunting I found one sitting outside 

 the barn-loft door ; I opened it, and the bird went in at once, and 

 remained there. Swallows always breed there, and I have no 

 doubt it was one of our own birds. 



22nd. — Three Gulls at Wickham, flying east. 



23rd. — Hounds killed an Otter on the Evenlode near Puddli- 

 cote. Saw three House-Martins (early), Bay's Wagtail, Tree- 

 Pipit, and a Wood- Wren travelling along a railway hedge near 

 Charlbury. The Evenlode valley is earlier for migrants than we 

 are here. Cold day and slight snow shower. 



25th. — Very few migrants here. News of nests of seven and 

 four eggs of the Coot and of one egg of Little Grebe seen near 

 Eynsham yesterday. 



26th. — A pair of Stonechats in Milcombe gorse ; I have not 

 seen one in this old haunt of the bird for a long time. 



27th. — Redstart and Kay's Wagtail. Long-tailed Tit's nest 

 with eleven eggs. 



28th. — Blackcap. 



29th. — Driving Mr. Whitaker down to Ettington, we saw a 

 male Brambling near Alkerton, a very late date for it to be here. 

 We noticed Sand-Martins at a breeding place, but could see no 

 hedge -warblers except Phylloscopi until we got into Warwickshire 

 and down Edge Hill, where were several Nightingales, and we 

 heard the Cuckoo at Ettington. 



Bainfall 1'96 in. on nine days this month. 



May 1st.— Cuckoo here. 



