Armitt: The Birds of Rydal. 



253 



two winters. In the cold weather of February 1901 their 

 number, few at first, increased to 27. In January and February 

 1902 there were often more than 30 birds ; probably the band of 

 33 or 34 first noticed on Loughrigg Tarn on 27th Nov. 190 1. 

 Like the following species the adult drakes are g-enerallv in 

 a large majority. 



Tufted Scaup-Duck. Fuligula fuligula (L.). Winter 

 visitant. This pretty little Duck is, next to the Golden Eye, 

 our most frequent winter visitor ; and never more frequent than 

 in the early days of March, shortly before it leaves. Then two 

 or three are sure to be found feeding- at the head of the lake, in 

 the neighbourhood of the Coots, who give to them mavbe a 

 protective, home-like feeling-. Larger, shyer bands, too, are 

 seen ; and these sail in a closer knot than any other Duck 

 I know. All the winter-coming water-fowl are erratic in their 

 movements ; constant on the lake one winter, scarce another ; 

 here one day, gone the next. In fact, with many meres and 

 tarns at hand, they roam ; and their stay depends largely on the 

 season's food supply. The apt local name for this species is 

 Whitesides. 



Golden-eyed Duck. Clangula clangula (L.). Winter 

 visitant. Present every winter in varying numbers. It appears 

 neither quite as early nor stays so late as Mr. Chapman reports 

 it on the Northumbrian loughs. On the other hand, the parties 

 seem larger here, and I have known thirteen in company. Adult 

 drakes, too, are frequent, either with the party or singly, and 

 are sometimes seen three together. It is November, and some- 

 times late in the month, before they appear ; and on the latest 

 date I have, 21st April, the two birds, duck and drake, were 

 decidedly paired. 



Goosander. Merganser merganser (L.). Occasional 

 visitant. On 10th November 1900 I saw a female or young- 

 bird of this species diving in the lake. 



Common Heron. Ardea cinerea L. Permanent resident. 

 Constantly on the lake, . and last autumn (1899) a couple seemed 

 to roost in the trees of shore or island. But it has no nest 

 station in the parish. The well-known heronry on the island 

 was deserted, according to Mr. Jones Balme's report to Dr. 

 Gough, three or four years before 1876, when the birds took to 

 a Larch plantation on the side of Loughrigg. When this was 

 given up I do not know. The birds nested in two lino Scotch 

 Firs high on Silverhow, I was told, in the summers of [897 and 

 1898; but this station likewise has been vacated. 



1902 August 1 . 



