Oct. 12th. Moderate breeze from the W.S.W., cloudy; barometer at noon 29-68; thermometer 46. Large flocks of Geese came in this day, and some Crows.
Oct.„ 20th. W., light breeze, with rain; bar. at noon 29-97; ther. 54. Great many Woodcocks came over this day; large flocks of wild Geese and some Ducks.
Oct.„ 21st. Moderate breeze from the S.W. and rainy; bar. 29-85; ther. 56. Great many Woodcocks and two Owls came over to-day.
Oct.„ 27th. Strong breeze and cloudy; bar. at noon 29-60; ther. 58. Two Woodcocks and great many Crows this day. Large flocks of Lapwings came in from E. all day; also large flocks of wild ducks and a great variety of other small birds—they appear to come in from E.S.E. I never observed 80 many birds come over in one day before. J.F. shot twenty-nine ducks at one shot this day.[1]
Nov. 13th. Light breeze and hazy; bar. at noon 29-20; ther. 48. Two Woodcocks.
Nov.„ 22nd. Strong breeze and cloudy from the S.W. to W.S.W.; bar. 29-10; ther. at noon 46. Eight Sheldrakes and two Mergansers.
Nov.„ 23rd. W.N.W., gale, cloudy; bar. 29-10; ther. at noon 48. Four Scoter ducks and a great many wild geese.
We have had very few rare captures on the coast this autumn, compared with what is generally the case. Mr. Bailey, of Flamborough, writes on the 22nd October, "The other day I saw several Storm Petrels off the Headland." Subsequently (but I neglected at the time taking the date) Mr. Bailey shot a mature male of the Long-tailed Duck, a Harelda, off Flamborough. Mr. Lawton, the innkeeper, of Easington, on the Yorkshire coast, six miles north of the Spurn, on November 4th or 5th, shot a very fine example of Pastor roseus. I examined this bird in the flesh; it was in autumn plumage, the edges of the salmon-coloured feathers on the shoulders and back being fringed with a dirty snuff-brown, giving those parts the appearance of being smeared with dirt.
- ↑ Species not stated by my correspondent.
