Hornsea : Its Mere and Coastline. 



proportion for the time of the year were summer visitors, viz., 

 only thirteen species, against forty-five residents. On the 

 Mere, Mallards, Tufted Ducks and Pochards were common, 

 and about two pairs each of Shovelers, Teal and Great Crested 

 Grebes were noted. Coots were abundant, and Waterhens 

 not uncommon, but the Little Grebe was not found to be so 

 common as might have been expected. Around the margins 

 of the lake the Reed Warbler abounded, and the Reed Bunting, 

 Garden Warbler and Sedge Warbler were numerous in suitable 

 places. Nests and eggs of the following species (amongst 

 others) were found : — Tufted Duck, Shoveler (?), Reed Banting, 

 Reed Warbler, Tree Creeper and Skylark. With eggs, and also 

 with young, was the Mallard, Coot and Waterhen. With young 

 only were the Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe and 

 Blue Tit. A nest of the Waterhen, containing six eggs, built 

 under the gangway of the landing-stae^e, only a few inches below 

 the floor level, claimed a good deal of attention, it seem.ed a 

 most unlikely place for a nest, as people were continually 

 walking over and about it. 



On Saturday, it was interesting to note how, owing to the 

 heavy wind blowing, all the Swallow tribe and the Swifts 

 appeared to have deserted the town, repairing to the Mere, 

 where, obtaining shelter from the strong wind at the lea of the 

 trees fringing the water, they were very busy hawking for 

 insects which were rising in myriads from the reed beds. 



It is equally interesting to note that birds which were ex- 

 pected to occur rather commonly were not noted, whilst others 

 were in smaller numbers than was anticipated. Of these the 

 Corncrake, Magpie, Nightjar, Yellow Wagtail and Green Wood- 

 pecker were neither heard nor seen. One pair each only of the 

 Tree Pipit and Pied Wagtail was seen, and the Mistle Thrush 

 and Greenfinch were not so common as we expected to find 

 them. The Corn Bunting was very common. Several Cor- 

 morants and nearly a hundred Herring Gulls spent the greater 

 part of the day on the Mere, but all of them were in various 

 stages of immaturity. On Monday, a very large flock of 

 Herring Gulls frequented the Mere for a time. An ineffectual 

 attempt was made to get through the almost impassible swamp 

 to the heronry, but several of the birds were seen. A very 

 pretty incident was witnessed by one party in a boat whilst 

 investigating a thick patch of reed bed. Suddenly, and by a 

 series of dives, a pair of Great Crested Grebes appeared quite 



1908 August I 



