Afiderson : Bird-Notes from Lea, near Gainsborough. 1^9 



15th March. The Robin (Erithacus mbeculd) has begun to 

 rebuild its nest in an old sieve in the potting- shed. 



19th March. First Thrush [Tardus musicnsYs eggs. A 

 change in the weather, which had been mild and spring-like, 

 and became bitterly cold. 



23rd March. After six days' snow a Woodcock {Scolopax 

 rusticola) was put up in the garden. 



25th March. Watched a Greater and a Lesser Spotted 

 Woodpecker {Dendrocopus major and D. minor) in the same 

 tree for some time. A splendid opportunity for comparing their 

 size. They seemed very tame. Saw a Lapwing ( Vanellus 

 vanellus) with a broken leg on a fallow. 



20th April. Swallows {Hirundo rustica) first seen, but could 

 not find out when the Chiffchaff {Phylloscopus rufus) was first 

 heard. Found two or three Lapwings' nests. Saw two Snipe 

 ( Gallinago gallinago ) . 



23rd April. Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) first heard. Hedge 

 Sparrow {Accentor modularisy s nest with eggs. Oxeye Tit 

 (Parus ?najor) building in the old pump. 



26th April. Starling {Sturnus vulgaris) with eggs. 



27th April. Longtailed Tit (Acredula rosea)' 's nest found at 

 the Amadam. 



29th April. Heard a Nightingale {Daulias luscinia) for the 

 first time last night. 



2nd May. Found a Wren {Troglodytes troglodytes)' 's nest. 

 Saw a party of ten Fieldfares {Tardus pilaris) at Lea Wood. 

 A Pied Wagtail {Motacilla lugubris) building in the ivy opposite 

 the dining-room window. The butler saw either a Sparrow 

 Hawk {Accipiter nisus) or a Cuckoo [Cuculus canorus) sitting on 

 a hencoop close to the Wagtail's nest in the afternoon. 



7th May. The Oxeye in the pump has three eggs, which it 

 covers up carefully before leaving them. A Chiffchaff {Phyllo- 

 scopus rufus) building in the top of a little holly hedge, about 

 two and a half feet or more from the ground. The nest is in 

 a perfectly bare part of the hedge, in a dead branch, and built 

 of dry, bleached holly leaves. Voting Robins (Eritha&is 

 mbeculd) nearly ready to fly. 



8th May. The first Swift (Cypselus apus) seen, and a Black- 

 cap (Sylvia atrica pi I la) singing. 



16th May. Heard the Turtle Hove {Turtur turtur) tor the 

 first time and saw the first Spotted Flycatcher [Muscicapa 



1900 May 1. 



