A. C. CHAPMAN: BIRDS OF NORTHUMBERLAND COAST. 4 1 



that so far as he is able to make out, ' its exceptional visits in our 

 northern counties are during August only, and these are exclusively 

 young birds hatched that year.' As might be expected, common Snipe 

 (Galtinago ccelestis) not infrequently come into the saltslakes from 

 the land to feed, both during the day and night. 



The earliest date on which I have observed the Common Godwit 

 is August nth. This was a single bird, and as usual, one of the year, 

 in the spotted rufous plumage. On August 24th, 1880, a great flock 

 appeared on the Holy Island slakes, out of which I procured six 

 birds, all young. When approaching them in small flocks of five or 

 six, they allowed the punt to glide right up to them within ten yards, 

 without the least suspicion, but these were invariably young birds. 

 The main flock, consisting of several hundred birds, on the same day 

 and under exactly similar conditions, was utterly unapproachable. 

 When they rose, they quickly attained an immense height, and I saw 

 them no more that day, and it is noticeable that on the same ground 

 the following day, hardly a Godwit was to be seen ; they had evidently 

 continued their migration. Old Godwits, in the red breeding dress, are 

 sometimes obtained at this season, but the proportion of young to 

 old birds must be very great. They feed along the edges of the sand, 

 and often congregate in immense flocks, as the flood tide gradually 

 covers their feeding grounds. On such occasions, experience proves 

 that even a punt and stanchion gun can seldom approach within range 

 of them. I have never seen Godwits on the rocks, but in some 

 seasons they resort to ploughed fields inland to feed, where, as on the 

 sand, they assemble in such large numbers that the ground appears 

 literally 'grey with them.' Young birds, when changing to winter 

 plumage, assume a pretty marbled appearance on the back. I shot 

 such a bird on October 14th, 1881, a few moments prior to the great 

 storm which devastated both land and sea on that day.* The 

 Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa melamira) must, I think, be a very rare 

 visitor, as I have never even heard of its occurrence (except in books, 

 and that but rarely) on the coast of Northumberland. 



As soon as the Common Sandpipers (Tringoides hypoleucos) have 

 finished rearing their young by the upland stream sides, they, 

 together with the moor T bred Curlew and Golden Plover ( Charadrius 



* My boatman and I retain a lively recollection of clinging to the bottom of 

 the capsized punt for upwards of three hours on this occasion. It was interesting 

 to note the rush of birds southwards, immediately prior to the on-rush of the 

 northerly cyclone. A string of a dozen Grey Geese, a large flock of Widgeon, 

 Oystercatchers, Gulls, and other birds, all hurried on southwards at a tremendous 

 speed in the ten minutes preceding the storm, and the straggling Gulls and 

 Oystercatchers, when overtaken by it, simply flopped down into the mud, and 

 instantl y crouching down, headed windwards. 

 Feb. 1886. 



