A r mitt: The Birds of Rydal. 



249 



the open fell above Lake Windermere on 29th March (where 

 indeed Mr. White saw it on the 12th) 1893 ; but in general it 

 arrives on the first days of April. In the bleak valley of Rydal 

 Head it is still later in settling. 



Whinchat. Pratincola rubetra (L.). Summer visitant. 

 The highway traffic seems to have banished this bird from the 

 valley under Loughrigg, where it once had nesting-ground. It 

 is now found in the wilder nooks and principally in Rydal Head, 

 where there are several pairs. Occasionally it may be seen on 

 2 1 st or 22nd April, but 30th April or 1st May are the more usual 

 dates of its arrival. 



Hedge Sparrow. Tharrhaleus modularis (L. ). Permanent 

 resident. Nests most frequently in gardens, but in wild spots 

 also. Has two, or even three, broods. Eats minute seeds, as 

 of the Nettle plant, Welsh Poppy, Violet. 



Dipper. Cinclus aquaticus Bechst. Permanent resident. 

 Nests on the Rothay and Rydal Beck. Starts its autumn song 

 shortly after the Robin, generally in the first days of September, 

 though Occasionally in Aug'ust. Continues until the nesting season 

 is advanced. Pairs often in January and builds in late February 

 and March. Is fond of the arch of a bridge to build in, to which 

 it resorts year after year ; or the face of a rock. A nest built on 

 the rock-face opposite this garden was used afterwards by a 

 Wren, that contracted its too-large entrance. I doubt if there 

 are many second nests in these parts, where rivers and becks 

 are apt to run low in the usually dry weather of early summer. 

 The Dipper is on Rydal Mere almost a lake bird, at least in 

 winter, when two or three are generally squirming in the 

 shallows. There it invariably flies to the feeding spot, and drops 

 through the water like a stone. 



Wren. Anorthura troglodytes (Macg.). Permanent resi- 

 dent. Fairly numerous. A frequent nester, and young may fly 

 as late as nth September. 



Spotted Flycatcher. Muscicapa grisola L. Summer 

 visitant. Most abundant, nesting on every dwelling and out- 

 house, and upon the broken and ancient trees of the woodlands. 

 Arrives generally from 9th to nth May. 5th May 1893, [5th 

 May 1899 : 23rd September. 



Pied Flycatcher. Ficedula atricapilla (L.). Summer 

 visitant. Fairly abundant in Rydal, where the ancient trees 01 

 the estate afford it nest room. Numbers vary, as well as the 

 nesting-ground, owing in some degree at least to other birds 



1902 August 1. 



