British Bird Calendar. 
277 
on the 28th of September, I saw a large flock of Starling's 
flying due west; they will be landing from the Continent in 
thousands next month. 
A few Wheatears are still on the sand hills; the 
Swallows and Martins still remain in goodly numbers. 
With the exception of Knots, Waders are scarce on the 
coast, they are probably in the marshy inland. Knots are 
passing in large flocks, taking the coastline in a southerly 
direction . 
Ducks have too much food on the stubbles with abund- 
ance of water inland, to trouble about food on the shore at 
present. A flock of about 50 Mistle Thrushes, very tired, 
arrived about 2 p.m. September 30th, they settled on some 
trees in my garden. I shot one to make sure whether they 
were Mistle Thrushes or Fieldfares. E.S. 30/9/' 12. 
I saw to-day, Martins, Swallows, Chifl'-Chaff's, and Wil- 
low Wrens ; also a Martin's nest containing young, which can- 
not leave the nest for at least another ten days. 
P.F.M.G. Oct. 1, 1912. 
Wnile wandering through lovely Dovedale with my fellow 
member, Mr. J. H. Henstock, I was delighted to see once more the 
Dipper (C//*677/s aquaticKS, Bech.) in a state of nature. The river 
Dove is a favourite haunt of this species, and it is, I am told, al- 
most common there. We watched one particular bird for fully 
fifteen minutes while it made its ablutions and attending to its 
toilet, on an evidently favourite piece of rock rising some six 
inches above water level. On our return about one hour later it 
was still there foraging around for "grub," returning mostly to the 
aforementioned piece of rock. W.T.P., Mitcham, September 7/'12. 
In the same company, while th-iving from Ashbourne to 
Matlock, we noted the following species : Moorhen (Gallinula 
chloropits. Linn.), fully 100 were noted during the drive; also several 
Magpies, Robins, Linnets, Greenfinches, Chaffinches. Pied Wag- 
tails, Blackbirds, Thrushes, Yellow Buntings, Blue Tits, Common 
Wrens, Goldfinches, Corn Buntings, Great Tits, Hedge Sparrows 
(Accentors), Swallows, Carrion Crows, Pheasants, Partridges, and a 
flock of about 1.50 Green Plover flew over onr heads. No note 
was taken of birds simply heard. Hawks are fairly plentiful in 
the district but we did not come across any. 
W.T.P., Mitcham, September 7/'12.. 
