BREEDING OF THE TUFTED DUCK (FULIGULA
CRISTATA) IN SHROPSHIRE.
By H.E. Forrest.
The late Mr. W.E. Beckwith says of this species:—"The Tufted Duck is rather common on pools in Shropshire in winter, being often found with Pochards, and, though the females or young birds are always much more plentiful than the handsome adult males, I frequently see the latter on the Ellesmere meres. About the year 1855 a pair of Tufted Ducks bred near Shifnal, and several pairs now breed regularly in that neighbourhood. I have also seen one with young ones in June on a pool near Shrewsbury; and, in the summer of 1885, I saw a pair of Tufted Ducks, but without young, on Whitemere, near Ellesmere. Except in hard frost, this Duck is not often seen on the Severn."—The 'Field,' Dec. 19th, 1885.
Mr. W.H. Slaney writes that "the bird is common on the large meres of Stafford and Shropshire [in winter], and that he has known of one nest in the latter county."—A.G. More, "On the distribution of birds in Great Britain during nesting season," 'Ibis,' 1865. The nest mentioned is the one at Shifnal alluded to above. Col. Kenyon Slaney informs me that he thinks the nest was at Hatton, Shifnal. There have been one or two nests there during the last few years; the birds probably belong to the larger colony at Weston, to be next described.
Col. the Hon. F.O. Bridgeman informs me that at Weston Park, the Earl of Bradford's estate on the borders of Stafford and Shropshire, the Tufted Duck has bred regularly ever since 1880. Its numbers have steadily increased, till now there are about twenty pairs nesting on five or six pools. The birds here have lost the migratory habit, and become residents, although, like other Anatidæ, the Tufted Duck is normally a winter migrant; even here the colony in winter is increased by visitors.
On January 4th, this year, when visiting Ellesmere mere, in company with Mr. Brownlow Tower, I saw about two hundred
