266 THE ESSEX NATURALIST. 
flock of birds is impossible so that our figure of 10,000 must be 
. taken as an index of the impression that was made on our minds. 
at the time. So vast was this congregation that when it was 
first seen in the distance it did not occur to us that we were look- 
ing at birds but at a cloud or bank of mist. We marvelled 
at the homogeneous movements of this great mass of birds. At 
times parties would break away and sweep across the sea in a. 
northerly direction as though on migration but these must have 
been trial trips as these detachments always returned to the 
main body. Maldon, 19/11/22 several with Lapwings. May- 
land Creek, 4/2/23 large flock. 
Grey Plover (Squatarola s. squatarola (L.) ). Tollesbury,. 
two small flocks on the mud, 14/10/22 fifteen, 16/10/22 seven. 
Dunlin (Calidris a. alpina (L.). Seen in parties of varying 
sizes, some containing hundreds, in Jan., Feb:, Marehyepril 
and Oct. It was noticeable that in April some individuals had 
partly assumed the breeding plumage, and that some still 
retained it at the beginning of August. 
Green Sandpiper (7vinga ochropus L.). Globe Outfall, 
5/8/23. 
Common Sandpiper (Tvinga hypoleucos L.). Ramsey 
Island, 13/8/22 three ; Lawling Creek, 10/9/22 one ; Globe Out- 
fall 5/8/23 two. 
Curlew (Numenius a. arquata (L.) ). Abundant, seen on all 
visits. 
Whimbrel (Numenius p. phaeopus (L.)). Near St. Peters, 
16/4/22 one. Between Bradwell and Ramsey Island, 13/8/22 
numerous. Bradwell, 4/8/23 numerous. 
Snipe (Capella g. gallinago (L.)). Bradwell, 15/4/22 one. 
Mayland Creek, 22/10/22 one, 4/2/23 seventeen, 11/2/23 several. 
Common Tern (Sterna h. hwrundo L.). Several to the 
east of Bradwell, 5/8/23. | 
Little Tern (Sterna a. albifrons Pall.). One near Bradwell, 
15/4/22 and one or two 5/8/23. 
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus L.). Occasional 
birds seen in April, Aug. and Oct. Unusually numerous at 
the beginning of August, 1923. 
Herring Gull (Larus a. argentatus Pontopp.). Identified 
in Jan., Feb., Aug., Oct. and Dec. Always much less numerous, 
than the Common or Black-headed. 
