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OYSTERCATCHER NESTING AT SPURN. 



OXLEY GRABHAM, M.A., M.B.O.U. 



Every member of the Yorkshire Wild Birds' Protection Com- 

 mittee, and all those who are interested in our county's birds, 

 will be pleased to hear that the Oystercatcher nested at Spurn 

 this season, after an interval of twenty years. Mr. Digby 

 Legard and I received a telegram from Robinson, our watcher, 

 saying that he had at last, after much trouble, found the nest 

 of the Oystercatcher, so we immediately set off for Spurn, and 

 on the morning of June 21st, were fortunate enough to get 



Photo by] Nest and Eggs of the Oystercatcher. [Oxlcy Grabham. 



two or three successful photographs. We were very anxious not 

 to frighten the bird, so we did not keep her off her eggs for long, 

 but she was by no means wild, and was soon back on her nest 

 after the camera was rigged up. 



The nest was on the Humber side, and, as can be seen from 

 the photograph, was a mere scratching in the sand and shingle, 

 partially surrounded by dead sea weed, which had drifted up 

 on the shore. I was in great hopes that the eggs would hatch 

 out safely, and Robinson kept me periodically informed that 

 the hen bird was sitting all right. He could see her a long way 

 off with his glass without going anywhere near the nest, but 



1909 Sep. I. . 



