R. LOFTHOUSE : THE RIVER TEES. 



13 



(Numenius arquata)^ Golden Plover {Charadrius pluvtalis), and 

 Redshank {Totanus calidris) are resident all the year, but in 

 greatly increased numbers in autumn and winter. The Dunlin 

 {Tringa alpina) and Ring Dotterel {^gialitis hiaticula) are 

 also resident all the year, and congregate in immense flocks in the 

 autumn and winter, occasionally associated with Knots {Tringa 

 canutus), Turnstones {Strepsilas iiiterpres)^ Greenshanks {Totanus 

 canescens), and Redshanks {Totanus calidris). Dunlins {Tringa 

 alpina) shot on August 7th still retained the black pectoral patch, 

 but it had entirely disappeared in birds shot on September 22nd. 

 These birds vary greatly, not only in plumage, but in the length of 

 the bill and other members, so much so, that a taxidermist of my 

 acquaintance maintains there are two distinct species, one having 

 a bill much longer and more bent, and more slender legs, than the 

 other. 



Of the winter migrants, the average date of the arrival of the 

 Woodcock {Scolopax rusticnla) at the Tees mouth is about the 5 th of 

 October, generally with north-east or easterly winds. They begm to 

 arrive early in September, and continue until late in December, but 

 the greatest number usually arrive about the date named, and, 

 curiously enough, often accompanied by Goldcrested Wrens {Regulus 

 cristatus). The breakwater, which is built of slag, at times 

 swarms with these pretty diminutive birds, which arrive in an 

 exhausted condition. In Sharpens List, published in 18 16, it is 

 recorded that many Woodcocks were found drowned on the north 

 sands about twelve years previously, ' in the spring, supposed to have 

 met with a contrary wind.' Redwings {Turdus iliacus)^ and Field- 

 fares {T pilaris) begin to arrive about the end of September, but 

 the second week in October for the Redwings and the third for 

 the Fieldfares is about the average time of arrival. There is generally, 

 too, a very large immigration of other Thrushes about the same time, 

 or a little earlier, chiefly the Missel Thrush ( Turdus visdvorus), with 

 a sprinkling of the Common Thrush {T. musicus) and the Blackbird 

 {T. rnerula) amongst them. I have several times noticed the fields 

 suddenly to literally swarm with these birds; they, however, soon 

 disperse, or probably pass on in a body further south. Short-eared 

 Owls {Asio brachyotus) arrive chiefly in September and October ; 

 Hooded Crows {Corvus comix) about the middle of October; and 

 Snipes {Gallinago ccelestis) from October, probably on to December. 

 Large numbers of Wild Geese pass over in September and October 

 in flocks of from a dozen to one hundred, and occasionally stay a 

 short time on the mud-flats ; they do not, however, frequent the mud- 

 flats much until later on, when cold and frosty weather sets in and 



Jan. 1887. 



