353 



OCCURRENCE OF THE LITTLE BUNTING AT 

 TEES MOUTH, CO. DURHAM: 



AN ADDITION TO THE NORTH COUNTRY AVI FAUNA. 



C. E. MILBURX, 



105, Grange Road E., Middlesbrough. 



Ox nth October 1902, while Mr. C. Braithwaite, of Seaton 

 Carew, and I were 'working-' the Tees mouth on the Durham 

 side of the river, a small bird rose at our feet out of the long- 

 grass which grows upon the inner sea wall, and at once drew 

 our attention by its diminutive size. It settled on a piece of 

 slag-, and, upon being- followed up, rose, and, uttering a 'tick- 

 tick-tick' call which was strange to us, settled between the 

 inner and outer sea wall, where it was shot by my companion. 



On close examination we came to the conclusion that the 

 bird was probably the Little Bunting, but, to make assurance 

 doubly sure, it was forwarded to the South Kensington Museum, 

 and was identified by Mr. Ogilvie Grant as being Emberiza 

 pusilla Pall. 



The specimen is a female (by dissection), and was exhibited 

 at a meeting of the B.O. Club on 22nd October on behalf of its 

 present owner. 



As this is the first example which has occurred in the North 

 of England, so far as is known, and only the second recorded 

 specimen for the British Isles, the above record will no doubt be 

 of great interest to north country ornithologists. 



The easterly winds which brought the above bird over 

 caused the arrival of a good number of regular immigrants, as 

 on the above date we noted three Shore Larks (Otocorys alpestris), 

 a pair of old Snow Buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis), single Great 

 Grey Shrike (Lanius excabitor), and Hooded Crow (Corone 

 comix), besides the Thrushes, Redwings, Redbreasts, Rock 

 Pipits, Larks, etc., during our usual week-end ramble. 



NOTE on LINCOLNSHIRE BIRDS. 



Early Migration of Wild Geese near Horncastle. Lasl even g 

 (Friday, 12th September) I was walking in my Holds when I was surprised 10 

 hear the cackling- of Wild Geese, and, looking- up, I counted eight passing 

 over me, probablv from the Wash to the Trent. There was .1 verj cold 

 east wind, but I have never seen them so early in the season.— J. CONTA \n 

 Walter, Langton Rectory, Horncastle, 13th September 1902. 



1902 November 4. 



