NOT US AND QUERIES. 



231 



and counted ninety-five Snipe, seven Mallards, forty-five Pochards, 

 eleven Wigeon, and three Gadwalls ; also flushed a Sparrow-Hawk. 

 22nd. Fifty-five Pochards and five Tufted Duck on the loch. 24th. 

 Between two and three hundred Ducks on the loch to-day. 



November 5th and 6th. Have seen Fieldfares both days. 8th. 

 Severe frost during last night. At Loch Libo found about ninety 

 Snipe, one hundred and twenty Pochards, eleven Tufted Duck, and 

 five Goldeneyes. 9th. Three Goosanders to-day. 15th. Beautiful 

 sunshiny morning after a touch of frost. Fieldfares plentiful, and a 

 few Eedwings. At Loch Libo found one hundred and ten Snipe, two 

 hundred and twenty Pochards. There were four Sparrow- Hawks 

 flying about. 



December 6th. About two hundred and fifty Fieldfares. At the 

 loch found one hundred and nineteen Snipe, one hundred and twenty 

 Pochards, and a few Tufted Duck. Saw a solitary Kestrel. 23rd. 

 Two Mistle-Thrushes in fine song at 7.50 a.m. From their behaviour 

 I judged they were pairing, an observation afterwards confirmed by 

 some friends. 26th. Mistle-Thrush again in fine song. About eight 

 inches of snow to-day, a fitting close for the year. — T. Thornton 

 Mackeith (The Hall, Caldwell, Eenfrewshire). 



Some Ornithological Notes from North-East Surrey. — The finest 

 bird haunts in this portion of Surrey are undoubtedly the well-known 

 Wimbledon Common and adjoining Eichmond Park ; in addition, the 

 large reservoirs that lie between Putney and Hammersmith Bridges 

 protect many interesting species of water birds during the winter. I 

 have appended a few notes On some of the birds of the district : — 



Kestrel. — This species is fairly common in district, nesting 

 annually in Eichmond Park. Watched one hovering over the reser- 

 voirs at Putney, Nov. 27th, 1908. 



Eed-backed Shrike. — Formerly bred on Wimbledon Common, 

 but is only known there now as an occasional spring visitor ; saw a 

 pair for some days during early June, 1908, on Common ; was rather 

 disappointed that they did not stay to nest. Nearest regular nesting- 

 place is, I believe, Banstead Downs. 



Eedwing. — A regular winter visitor with Fieldfares to Wimbledon 

 Common ; only occasionally seen in Eichmond Park. 



Wheatear. — Usually only known as a passing migrant in spring. 

 First seen on Wimbledon Common this year, March 31st ; they gene- 

 rally disappear by the second week in May. Saw a pair near the 

 Penn Ponds, in Eichmond Park, June 16th, 1908, probably a nesting 

 pair. Occasionally seen during April on Barnes Common. 



