Claeke : Yorkshire Ornithological Notes for 1880. 177 



This species, in the inconspicuous plumage of immaturity, is probably- 

 much overlooked ; at all events it is not often reported. 



Redstarts and wheatears swarmed on our coast-line, as elsewhere, 

 during the latter days of August ; the redstarts departed from Spurn 

 to a bird on the 3rd of September. 



A white martin — a true albino with pink eyes — was shot at Pat- 

 rington on the 6th of September. 



Some of the autumn immigrants put in a very early appearance 

 on our coast. Goldcrests were seen on the 1 5th of September, and a 

 short-eared owl was shot on the 29th. I think that these very early 

 arrivals are not of Continental origin, but British-bred birds following 

 the coast-line south, after the manner of our summer visitants. 



On the 5th of October, the weather cloudy with passing showers, a 

 considerable immigration of goldcrests and redwings took place on the 

 Holderness coast. A great grey shrike — a male — was shot on the 6th 

 and sent to me in the flesh. The crop was filled with the remains of 

 coleoptera, chiefly belonging to the genera Geotrupes and Carabus. A 

 few woodcock and a more considerable immigration of goldcrests 

 occurred on the 9th, when the gardens on the southern portion of our 

 coast literally swarmed with the latter species. The first grey crow 

 was seen on the Holderness coast on the 10th; on the night of the 

 16th a large flight of hedge sparrows arrived, the village of Easington 

 being alive with them on the following morning. A few common 

 wrens accompanied them. A keen frost occurred on the night of the 

 19th, with an immigration of redwings and fieldfares, accompanied by 

 a few snow buntings and siskins. The last few days of the month I 

 spent, along with Mr. Cordeaux, on the Holderness coast, when we 

 made the following notes : — On the 26th a few migratory goldfinches, 

 old male blackbirds, and a short-eared owl seen. 27th, wind strong 

 from east, cloudy, with rain ; a solitary great spotted woodpecker and 

 a long-eared owl shot ; carrion crows passing in great numbers from 

 east to west. On the 28th, after a strong N E gale, I shot a female 

 blackcap at Kilnsea (a willow-wren was shot at Flamborough on the 

 same day), and a considerable arrival of fieldfares, redwings, and snow 

 buntings, along with a few siskins, were observed. Purple sandpipers 

 — a species which seems to be somewhat erratic in its visits to this 

 portion of our coast — were this season not uncommon, and made a long 

 stay. Two hoopoes were seen at Crofton, near Wakefield, on the 30th, 

 one of which was shot. 



On the 5th November a large flight of scaups passed up the Humber. 

 A solitary swallow was observed at Spurn, on the 17tli. A rather 



