Page:VCH Norfolk 1.djvu/273

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BIRDS Six appeared on Breydon on May 4th, 1887, four of which were killed ; three were on Breydon on June 15th, 1891 ; one was shot at Stiffkey on October 1 2th of the same year ; two were seen at Hickling on April 23rd, 1 893 ; and two at Salthouse on June 4th, 1898. This bird was known as the 'shoeing horn ' at Salthouse. 231. Black-winged Stilt. Himantofus candi- dus, Bonnaterre. The black-winged stilt is an accidental visitant here on migration. About thirteen examples have been recorded. All but the last were killed in summer ; the autumn bird was shot at Castleacreon October 12th, 1895, a few days previous to which two were seen on the Wolferton Marshes by Mr. Plowright and Mr. Fetch. 232. Grey Phalarope. Phalaropus fuUcarius (Linn.). The grey phalarope is an occasional winter visitant, but never abundant. 233. Red-necked Phalarope. Phalaropus hy- perhoreus (Linn.). This species is not of infrequent occur- rence, generally in autumn and in immature plumage. 234. Woodcock. Scolopax rusticula, Linn. The woodcock is a common autumn visitor in varying numbers, some few remaining to breed in the county every year. 235. Great Snipe. Gallinago major {GmtWn). This specits is frequently met with in Nor- folk in autumn, but rarely occurs in spring. 236. Snipe. Gallinago ccelestis (Frenzel). The snipe is a common resident, but not now found in the immense numbers early writers speak of. Many migratory birds arrive in autumn. The variety known as ' Sabine's snipe ' has twice been met with in Norfolk. 237. Jack Snipe. Gallinago gallinula {L'mn.). This is an autumn and winter visitant. It has been met with as late as the month of July, but there is no reason to believe that it has bred here. 238. Broad-billed Sandpiper. Limicola platy- rhyncha (Temminck). This species was first recognized as British from a specimen killed on Breydon in 1 836, since which time it has been killed three times in that locality and once at Cley, where two were seen, one of which was killed in I 24 August, 1895; of these five occurrences three were in spring and one in autumn, 239. Pectoral Sandpiper. Tringa maculatOy Vieillot. Breydon produced the first British-killed pectoral sandpiper in October, 1830 ; since that time eight or nine others have been ob- tained in various parts of the coast all in the autumn, with one exception. This was captured in the bird-nets in the Wash on January 9th, 1868. 240. Siberian Pectoral Sandpiper. Tringa acuminata (Horsfield). The Siberian pectoral sandpiper is yet an- other of the rare migrants which the attractive region of Breydon has added to the British list. On August 29th, 1892, an example of this interesting bird, which I saw in the flesh, was killed by Mr. T. Ground, in whose col- lection it now is, on the Breydon mud-flats. This example is figured in the Ihis for 1898, p. 182. On re-examining the pectoral sand- pipers in the Norwich Museum I found a second specimen of this bird, which had been killed near Yarmouth, in September, 1848. 241. Dunlin. Tringa alpina, Linn. This is the most abundant of all our mi- gratory waders. Although it has been met with in every month of the year, it has not been known to breed here. 242. Little Stint. Tringa minuta, Leisler. A spring and autumn migrant, sometimes quite abundant, especially in September. Al- though as a rule only immature birds occur, it has been met with in full breeding plumage. 243. Temminck's Stint. Tringa temmincii, Leisler. Temminck's stint is rare with us, generally in immature, but occasionally in adult, plum- age. 244. Curlew-Sandpiper. Tringa subarquata (Galdenstadt). By no means uncommon with us, especially in the month of September. It leaves us very late in spring, at which time some very per- fect specimens in full breeding plumage have been obtained. On July 28th, 1880, Mr. Gurney saw six in most beautiful breeding dress. 245. Purple Sandpiper. Tringa striata, h'mn. The purple sandpiper is somewhat rare in Norfolk, but most often met with in early autumn.