726 mr. a. Patterson’s natural history notes from Yarmouth 
XVII. 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES FROM YARMOUTH. 
By A. H. Patterson. 
Read 29th March, 190 J/.. 
1903—1904. 
April 28th, 1903. A pair of Nightingales visited St. George’s 
Park, in the centre of the town, on this date ; the male bird perch- 
ing himself on a tree sung for four hours with but slight intervals 
of rest, to the great delight of numerous admirers. 
May 1st. Saw several Lesser Terns ( Sterna minuta ) on 
Breydon ; it is interesting to note their more frequent appear- 
ance on Breydon year by year. It is a great pity such exquisite 
creatures are not scheduled all year round. On the same date 
a Swallow Avas observed to fly in straight from sea. 
On May 5th, three Black Terns (Hydroohelidon nigra) on 
Breydon ; quite a number reported for the Broad district. 
Early on May 7th I sailed up amongst the mudflats, observing 
quite a number of small waders, mostly Dunlins. In the after- 
noon I put up a young Spoonbill from the edge of a drain, Avhere I 
discovered him in sociable companionship with a Heron and several 
gulls. A perfectly “ grey ” OodAvit, and a number of CurleAvs 
and Whimbrel Avere also in evidence. A common Sandpiper 
(Totanus liypoleucus ) Avas also seen. A day or tAvo after I saAv fully 
500 Ringed Plovers. 
May 13tli. Three pairs of SAvifts ( Cypselus apus) visited their 
old quarters — the corner house near the Brick Quay. Their stay 
this year Avas remarkable for the almost entire absence of their 
noisy, rollicking screaming. The cold Avet summer evidently 
damped their spirits, as it did our oavii. Mr. B. Dye also 
remarked this peculiarity. 
May 16th. Greensliank on Breydon. Tavo Spoonbills for 
some days on the flats. 
