THE ZOOLOGIST 



No. 790.— April 1907, 



ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOR NORFOLK (1906). 

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



There is nothing very eventful in the Ornithological Budget 

 of Norfolk Notes for 1906, or which calls for any special re- 

 mark, except it be in connection with some rather abnormal 

 movements. 



Vernal Migration. — The spring migration of 1906 brought an 

 unusual number of Black Terns, but only one Spoonbill. It also 

 brought the customary flights of outward-bound Grey Crows. As 

 a rule, in Norfolk, the flight of the Grey Crow, and of migrating 

 Rooks also/takes place at less than a quarter of a mile high, but 

 at Heligoland it is much higher. Gatke says these birds are 

 often but mere specks in the sky, and sometimes only their calls 

 are faintly audible from above when they themselves are out of 

 sight. The visit of a small pack of Pallas's Sand Grouse to the 

 east coast in June, though resting on imperfect evidence, may 

 be accepted, and it is rather a matter of congratulation than 

 otherwise that none were shot. It is now eighteen years since 

 their great visitation to the west of Europe. 



Autumnal Migration. — Certainly the presence of such a large 



number of Red-crested Pochards {Netta rufina) at the beginning 



of September was very exceptional, but the great heat may have 



been the cause of their coming, for it would tend to dry up 



Zool. 4th ser. vol. XL. April, 1907. L 



