ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOR NORFOLK. 169 



FEBRUARY. 



2nd. — This was the coldest day of all, the thermometer being 

 nearly down to zero, with very little wind. Eighteen Wild Geese 

 flew over Northrepps Hill House (Burdett), and there were nearly 

 a hundred frozen-out Waterhens on the Keswick Eiver, besides 

 two Water-Kails. Eedwings had a hard time of it, and a Bittern 

 was picked up dead. Other species which suffered were the Wren, 

 Chaffinch, Bearded Tit, Kingfisher, and Coot (E. C. Saunders). 



4th. — Mr. Cole, again continuing his researches among 

 the debris at high-water mark, but in an opposite direction to 

 his last walk, found twelve Little Auks on the beach between 

 Cromer and Beeston, as well as three Razorbills, seven Guille- 

 mots, two young Puffins, one Great Black-backed Gull, and six 

 Black-headed Gulls. 



8th. — After this tne weather improved, though still very cold. 

 On the 15th a pair of Whooper Swans paid Keswick a visit, and 

 seemed content with our small river (the Yare), until one! of them 

 allowed my nephew to get within range, and it now adorns the 

 National Collection. I am not sure that I have heard of any 

 Whooper Swans on our river since February, 1838, when my 

 father nearly approached four at Earlham (1838 was a great 

 Swan year ; cf. ' Guns and Shooting,' by P. Hawker, 1844, 

 p. 274). 



22nd. — The Rev. M. C. Bird observed two pairs of Mistle- 

 Thrushes already nest-building, and on the 29th a Bittern was 

 booming, 



March. 



2nd. — With these signs of spring it was not suprising to hear 

 of the Ringed Plovers having returned on the 2nd to Santon 

 (W. G. Clarke), which is near Thetford. 



29th. — Mr. W. G. Clarke flushed a Stone Curlew at Honing- 

 ham, where he says a pair remained until the beginning of 

 August, and, he thinks, bred ; the next day one was seen at 

 Icklingham by Mr. C. A. Hamond. Two or three pairs, I am 

 informed by Mr. N. Tracey, breed at Roydon ; I learn also from 

 Mr. Tracey that a pair of Curlews {N. arquata) bred again near 

 Lynn, and hatched off. 



April. 



19th. — Sky-Lark's nest with three young.t 



22nd. — The Tawny Owls again had young in the same pigeon- 



