Brogden : Birds of Spalding and S. Lines. Fenland. 23 



much more numerous if so many foolish persons had not 

 got the idea they are harmful to poultry. I am g-lad to say 

 I think the idea is dying- out. 



Asio accipitrinus (Pallas). Short-eared Owl. An annual 

 visitor, arriving- about the second and third week in October. 

 Is more plentiful some years than others ; last year, 1895, 

 I saw several during- November. 



Syrnium aluco (L.). Tawny Owl. The only example I have 

 heard of in this division is one I saw in August 1889 near 

 Spalding. 



Buteo vulgaris Leach. Buzzard. In October 1894 I saw in 

 the Spalding Marsh what I took to be one of these birds, 

 and a friend with me, who was well acquainted with them 

 on his g*rouse moor, agreed with me. 



Accipiter nisus (LV). Sparrowhawk. Only a casual visitor, 

 seldom breeding. 



Pernis apivorus (L.). Honey-Buzzard. In September last 

 year, when riding in a trap with a friend in Spalding Marsh, 

 a very fine specimen of this bird flew over us within a few 

 yards. One I shot some years ago is now in the Derby 

 Museum. 



Falco peregrinus Tunstall. Peregrine. Of annual occurrence 

 in the autumn. I have seen it in the parishes of Surfleet, 

 Spalding, and Holbeach. The one in my collection I 

 obtained on the Holbeach Outmarsh when in the act of 

 stooping on a Skylark. I also know of three specimens 

 taken during the last few years in plover nets, when trying 

 to carry off the decoy birds,, and also of another which 

 escaped with a decoy. They appear to migrate into the 

 district with the Plover. One was taken alive in October 

 1896 at Cowbit in a plover net. 



Falco tinnunculus L. Kestrel. Very common, and breeding 

 regularly throughout the district. 



Pandion haliaetus (L.). Osprey. Reported as seen perched 

 on the faggots used for embanking the river Welland in the 

 Outmarsh in Holbeach parish. 



Phalacrocorax carbo (L.). Cormorant. Fairly common, and 

 frequently occurs inland. 



Sula bassana (L.). Gannet. Immature birds of frequent 

 occurrence, but full plumaged ones uncommon. 



1900 January 



