486 mr. a. Patterson’s natural history notes from Yarmouth. 
I have been allowed a peep into “ Ducker ” Chambers’ (the 
Breydon watcher’s) memorandum book, which contains his 
scanty lists of 
follows : — 
birds seen. His records this year, so far, are 
March 9th. 
200 Widgeon, with few Pintails and Shovellers. 
,, 10th. 
1000 Widgeon. 
April 8th. 
1 Spoonbill. 
,, 16th. 
1 Swan. 
May 16th. 
About 700 Godwits and “Plovers” (undoubtedly 
Grey, A.P.), Wimbrel and Knots. 
„ 24th 
2 Goosanders. 
„ 27th. 
2 Spoonbills. 
June 19th. 
A Scribbled Mackerel. 
July 7th. First lot of young Dunlins on Breydon, and the same 
day a 10-feet Thrasher Shark was brought to Fish Wharf. 
August 8th. Four Greenshanks on Breydon. 
August 14th. I was much interested in observing some Sand 
Martins popping in and out of holes in a wall rising perpendicularly 
from the water at Thorpe. The birds evidently had nests inside 
the wall. 
On the evening of the 15th August (it was very warm and quiet) 
I took a stroll on Breydon walls. The tide was low, the flats 
uncovered. Along the edge of the 5-stake drain, many Gulls were 
lying asleep, with here and there one doing sentry. I estimated, 
after attempting to count a portion of them, that there were at 
least 2000 of various species. On another flat I counted 24 Herons 
feeding and sleeping. There were about 200 Curlews, also which, 
when disturbed, made a din that sounded loudly enough in the 
stillness of the evening. I observed also one Greenshank, one Green 
Sandpiper, and several common Sandpipers. 
August 18th. Four Greenshanks on Breydon. On the same 
day a Seal swam up the river, played round the bridge, and went 
back to sea again unmolested — for a wonder. 
September 1 5 tb. Saw a good flock of Curlew Sandpipers on 
Breydon very tame. 
October 7th. A young Bittern and a White-fronted Goose, on 
a game dealer’s stall. 
An extraordinary invasion of Gold-crested Wrens, first week in 
October. 
