Page:VCH Herefordshire 1.djvu/197

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

BIRDS 1 70. Woodcock. Scolopax rusttcula, Linn. A &irly common winter visitor from October to March. It occasionally stops here all the year, and has nested at Ocle Coppice, Gatley, and the woods near Shobdon (Williams). It also nests annually on several estates around Ross (Blake). 171. Great Snipe. GalRnago major (J. F. Gmelin). Locall"), Double Snipe, Solitary Snipe. A very rare winter visitor, arriving from August to October. It has been seen at Rotherwas in 1886 and 1887. 172. Common Snipe. Gallinago coehstis (Frenzel). Locally, Whole Snipe, Snite, Heather bleater. A resident in the county recruited by large numbers from abroad from October to March. It breeds in the Golden Valley near Kington, also near Haywood Forest, and on many of the hills as well as in Shobdon Marshes and Coombe (Williams). 173. Jack Snipe. Gallinago gallinula (Linn.). Locally, Judcock, Half Snipe. A common winter migrant from September to April, but not so numerous as the last-named bird. 1 74. Dunlin. Tringa alp'ma, Linn. Locally, Purre, Dunlin Sandpiper, Churr, Stint, Oxbird, Sea Snipe, Least Snipe, Sea Lark. This bird occurs occasionally, only in the winter, on the Lugg and Wye. On 5 November, 1895, Mr. Sanders sent Ashdown a good specimen for pre- servation shot at Eardisland, and doubtless swept inland by a storm. Mr. Blake says small companies occur in winter on the Wye, near Ross. 175. Knot. Tringa camtus, Linn. A rare winter visitant, only three having been obtained in the county, viz. one at Dewsall in 1879, one met with at Llanwarne in 1883, and one found in a field at Newcourt in 1884. 1 76. RufF 2 Reeve. Machetes fugnax (Linn.). Usually met with in winter, although it formerly bred in the marshy district of this county. A pair were killed at Colwall in September, 1890, in winter plumage, by Mr. Ballard, and one was taken at Garnstone 30 August, 1894, evidently a freshly arrived migrant ; this bird was beautifiilly marked with bars of dark brown and fawn colour, but was altogether devoid of the singular collar worn by the male in summer, and would be assuming sombre plumage ; it was placed in a case with another supplied by Mr. de Winton, and a reeve, the three forming a very interesting group, and are now at Garnstone Castle (Ashdown). 177. Common Sandpiper. Totanus hypoleucus (Linn.). Locally, Summer Snipe, Willy Wicket, Sand Lark. A summer migrant, visiting this county in some numbers in the spring and autumn ; common on the various brooks and rivers, especially on the Wye, where It is abundant in April and May, after which it passes on to its secluded breeding places situated in the upper reaches of the river. 178. Green Sandpiper, Totanus ochropus {}J n!) Another summer migrant, occurring very occasionally in the county, generally in the autumn. One was shot at Fawley, one at Great Brampton about thirty years ago, and another was shot by the late Mr. C. Hatton. A female was shot at Eaton Bishop in November, 1 889, and one was seen there in November, 1898. Another occurred on the Lugg, near the aqueduct, in May, 1899. It also occurs on the Lugg and Arrow near Kingsland. Ashdown says that Mr. Harley, of Brampton Bryan, shot a female on 29 August, 1894, and on i August, 1895, a male was shot by Mr. I. Wyndham Smith near Ross. In November, 1889, he bought a pair shot at Lower Eaton, which are now in the city museum, and in 1893 a female was sent him killed at Holme Lacy in October by Mr. Oliverson. On 28 November, 1893, Mr. Wood, of Fownhope, secured an unusually large female measuring across the wings from tip to tip 1 7 J in., and from tip of bill to end of tail 9f in. This was an unusually late date for its occurrence. This species visits the county but sparingly, and definite proofs of its nidification here is wanting ; unlike other sandpipers, it breeds in the deserted nest of the rook, hawk, or magpie, in a tree. 179. Common Redshank. Totanus calidrls QJinn.). Locally, Sandpiper, Teuke, Pool Snipe, Sandcock, Redlegged Horseman, Red-legged Sandpiper. A rare visitor. The specimen in the Hereford Museum was shot on the Wye at Ruckhall in 1830, one was killed at Monkland in 1879, and Mr. Oliver Power, of Hill Court, killed one on the Wye some years since. 1 80. Spotted Redshank. Totanus fuscus (Linn.) Locally, Spotted Snipe, Dusky Sandpiper, Black- headed Snipe, Courand Snipe. Rare. One has been reported to have been killed at Monkland in 1881 (Pulley), but its occurrence in the county is restricted to this one instance. 181. Greenshank. Totanus canescens (J. F. Gmelin). Locally, Cinerous Godwit, Green-legged Horse- man. A very occasional visitor on spring and autumn migration. It has occurred at Castleton in 1879, Aymestrey in 1880, Caplar in 1880, and at Weir End, Ross, in 1886. One was shot in the county in August, 1905, and two seen (Blake). 182. Bartailed Godwit. Limosa lapponica (hmn.). Locally, Common Godwit, Grey Godwit, Red Godwit, Godwit Snipe, Redbreasted Snipe. A rare visitor. One was shot at Mordifbrd in 1839. The Hereford Museum specimen was shot at Carey Island in 1879. Another was shot in the county in August, 1905, two being seen (Pilley). 183. Black- tailed Godwit. Limosa belgica (J. F. Gmelin). Locally, Godwit Snipe, Jadreka Snipe, Red God- vrit, Yarwhelp, Yarwhip, Shrieker. The only record of this extremely rare visitant, usually obtained on migration, is one shot on the Lugg in 1876 (Bull). 45 19