Page:VCH Lancaster 1.djvu/255

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BIRDS out the year, nesting only in a very few localities, Carnforth and Martin Marshes, Winster Valley and Walney Island among them. 221. Spotted Redshank. Totanus fuscus {Linn.). Locally, Dusky Redshank. A spring and autumn migrant of rare occur- rence. 222. Greenshank. Totanus canescens (J. F. Gmelin). An annual visitant in autumn, sparsely distri- buted on the coast, usually in small flocks. 223. Red-breasted Snipe. Macrorhamphus gri- seus (J. F. Gmelin). "Two occurrences of this N. American species are on record (Zoologist, 1875) in the years 1873 and 1891 respectively, both by Mr. J. B. Hodg- kinson (Harting, Handbook of British Birds, p. 436 ; Mitchell, Birds of Lancashire, ed. 2, P- 235). 224. Bar-tailed Godwit. Limosa lapponica, (Linn.). Locally, Curlew Knave. A short sojourner in spring and autumn on passage. 225. Black-tailed Godwit. Limosa belgica (J. F. Gmelin). A rarer visitant than the last, but a few are seen every year, as a rule in the autumn. 226. Curlew. Numenius arquatus (Linn.). A resident and abundant species, visiting Walney Island in large flocks, nesting on the Fells, the upland moors, and on the mosses of the lowlands. In autumn and winter frequenting in great numbers the off-shore sandbanks. 227. Whimbrel. Numenius ph^eopus (Linn.). Locally, Curlew Hilp (Leigh), Curlew Knave. Rarer than the curlew, the whimbrel visits our shores, especially off Morecambe Bay, only in autumn and spring on migration to and from its nesting grounds. 228. Black Tern. Hydrochelidon nigra (Linn.). A fairly frequent sojourner on its passage in spring and autumn to and from its nesting haunts. A specimen is recorded from Ashton- on-Mersey on 3 November, 1893. 229. Gull-billed Tern. Sterna anglica, Mon- tagu. One occurrence of this species is recorded from Lancashire, but it lacks sufficient authenticity. 230. Sandwich Tern. Sterna cantiaca, J. F. Gmelin. Locally, Cat Swallow. A summer immigrant nesting on Walney Island among the black-headed gulls. Rare elsewhere and taking its departure at the end of summer. 231. Roseate Tern. Sterna dougalli, Montagu. A rare summer visitor, breeding on Walney Island from time to time. It nested at one period on the isolated islet of Foulney, but does so no longer. 232. Common Tern. Sterna fluviatilis, Nau- mann. Locally, Sea Swallow, Sparling. A summer visitor breeding in many places along the coast in suitable and undisturbed locali- ties, especially on Walney Island in association with black-headed gulls, and often among the Formby sandhills. 233. Arctic Tern. Sterna macrura, Naumann. Locally, Sea Swallow, Sparling. A summer visitor, but few in numbers. Walney Island is one of its chief haunts in Lan- cashire, where it nests in association with gulls and other terns. 234. Little Tern. Sterna minuta, Linn. Locally, Sea Swallow, Sparling. A summer visitor nesting on Walney Island. 235. Sooty Tern. Sterna fiiliginosa, J. F. Gmelin. This West Indian species was caught alive 9 October, 190 1, in a street in Hulme, near Manchester (Bull, B.O.C. xii. 26). 236. Sabine's Gull. Xema sabinii (Sabine). Two specimens from Morecambe Bay are on record, obtained in October, 1893, and at the same place Mr. Moor of Morecambe has shot three specimens within the last few years. 237. Little Gull. Larus minutus, Pallas. An irregular autumn and winter straggler, of which four or five occurrences are recorded (Mitchell, Birds of Lancashire, ed. 2. p. 254 ; Jourdain, Zoologist, 1 904, p. 193). A specimen was shot by Mr. Murray's son on Carnforth Marshes in 1902. 238. Black-headed Gull. Larus ridibundus, Linn. Locally, Chir-Maws, Cockle Maw. A resident, and abundant on our inland waters in great and increasing numbers. Many colonies breed in the sandhills and marshy parts of Walney Island. It is often seen far inland. 239. Common Gull. Larus canus, Linn. An annual visitant throughout the winter, but the species breeds nowhere in England. 240. Herring-Gull. Larus argentatus, J. F. Gmelin. Locally, Silver Gull. A resident, abundant on the coast at all seasons, but nesting only in a few places now, mainly at Foulshaw Moss, near Morecambe Bay, 203