Birds of Macedonia. 
223 
1921.] 
Platalea leucorodia. Spoonbill. 
A considerable number crossed the Struma—-going east- 
on the evening of 23 May; they were travelling in parties of 
from 6 to 20 birds. Seen again in June. It is quite probable 
that I had overlooked these high flying Spoonbills for several 
weeks. At a good height, the flocks are very liable to be mis¬ 
taken for flocks of Geese or Storks. This may seem rather 
ridiculous, but when the air was thick, the light failing, and 
the sky full of passing skeins of Whitefronts, it was a very 
easy mistake to make. 
Ardea cinerea. Heron. 
Seen in no great numbers along the course of the Struma 
and Butkova rivers, December and April. 
Ardea purpurea. Purple Heron. 
Odd birds seen near the Struma at intervals. 
(I did not meet with any “ White ” Heron, but should say 
that I never visited the lakes.) 
Botaurus stellaris. Bittern. 
Occasionally on the Struma plain. 
Ciconia ciconia. White Stork. 
Noted on 13 May in the springs of 1917 and 1918. Breeds 
plentifully on the plain-—almost always in trees. There were 
numerous nests at Kopriva, Orljak, Elisan, Dragos, and 
Ormanli. Some of the villages on the hills were not so 
favoured. At Ormanli there were 26 occupied nests on one 
side of the village alone. There were very few chimney-top 
nests in my district, although a few birds had nests on the 
church towers. Odd birds seen late in October. 
Otis tarda. Great Bustard. 
I only saw one, but from all accounts was unfortunate in 
not seeing more. A single bird flew over our camp on 
7 April, at Alexia. 
Otis tetrax. Little Bustard. 
Seen commonly when once the right localities were found. 
On 4 May, one of these birds jumped out of the long grass 
