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ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES PROM REDCAR IN 1886. 



T. H. NELSON, M.B.O.U., 

 Bishop Auckland. 



In May a male Bittern lyBotaurus stellaris) was shot near Middles- 

 brough. During the latter part of this month and the first half of 

 June several Shellducks {Tadorfia co7'mUd) were seen near Redcar, 

 and I heard of the discovery of a nest on the sand-hills, but could 

 not ascertain whether any young birds were observed afterwards. 

 On the 1 2th of June I heard a Sandwich Tern {Sterna cantiaca) 

 caUing off Redcar Pier, and on the 14th I saw four Little Gulls 

 {Larus minutus) flying past the same place. On the 29th of July 

 four Swans were observed at sea flying north-west in the early morning ; 

 on Sunday, August ist, I was on Coatham Pier about 3 p.m., when 

 eight Swans flew over my head within a few yards ; they were going 

 towards the Tees mouth, where, during the next few days, they were 

 all shot. One of them has been preserved by Mussell, of Middles- 

 brough, who tells me it is the Mute Swan {Cygnus olor). Judging 

 by newspaper reports there appears to have been a considerable 

 flight of these birds early in August, no doubt all of them referable to 

 this species, and escaped from some private waters. It was said they 

 had been seen crossing the sea from the direction of Norway, but on 

 what authority this statement w^as made I cannot say. August 2nd, 

 three Lesser Terns {Ster?ia mimita), and on the 4th an adult Sandwich 

 Tern {S. caiiiiacd), were shot on Coatham sands. I was out at sea 

 on the 5th, when a bird passed to the north-west which I am positive 

 was an Avocet {Recurvirostj'a avocettd)', it flew within 100 yards of 

 the boat, and I think there is no doubt as to its identity. September 

 loth, seven Turtle Doves {Turtur communis) were seen on Coatham 

 hills ; one was afterwards shot and preserved by a local taxidermist. 

 On the 12th five Pomatorhine Skuas {Stercorarius pomatorhiiuis) were 

 observed flying overhead at Deighton Manor, near Northallerton, 

 about 25 miles from the coast. About this date an immature 

 Peregrine Falcon {Falco pe?'egrmus) was shot near Saltburn-by-the-Sea. 



By the middle of October the autumn migration had fairly set in ; 

 Larks {Alauda arvensis), Gold-crests (Regulus cristatus), Blackbirds 

 {Turdus mei-uld), and most of the regular winter migrants were 

 constantly arriving. The first Fieldfares {Turdus pilaris) were seen 

 on the 9th ; Woodcock {Scolopax rusticula) on the nth; and Short- 

 eared Owl {Asio brachyotus) on the i6th; while Hooded Crows 

 {Corvus comix) were very late in making their appearance; I did 

 not observe any until the 20th. Generally they arrive during the first 

 week of October. 



March 1887. _ G 



