Page:VCH Norfolk 1.djvu/277

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BIRDS March, and remains to breed. Once reduced to a very low ebb, but judicious protection has resulted in restoring this bird to almost its former numbers. 297. Red-necked Grebe. Podicipes grheigena (Boddaert). This grebe has never been proved to breed in Norfolk, although it has more than once been met with in full breeding plumage. It visits us in late autumn and early spring. 298. Slavonian Grebe. Podicipes auritus (Linn.). The Slavonian grebe is not uncommon as a winter visitor, the greater number occurring in the month of February, but a few have been met with as late as April and May, in full breeding plumage. 299. Eared or Black-necked Grebe. Podi- cipes nigricoUis (Brehm). This is essentially a summer visitor, and has occurred in numerous instances in full breeding plumage, generally in the months of April and May ; one was seen in July, others in August and September, and twice in win- ter, but has not been known to breed here. 300. Little Grebe or Dabchick. Podicipes Jluviatilis (Tunstall). The little grebe, or dabchick, is our only resident grebe. It is fairly common in suit- able localities, and receives considerable addi- tions to its numbers in the autumn. 301. Storm-Petrel. Procel/aria pe/agica,hinn. The storm-petrel is not infrequent on our shores, especially after severe weather at sea, when it has been found far inland. 302. Leach's or Fork-tailed Petrel. Oceano- droma leucorrhoa (Vieillot). This petrel has occurred a good many times on our coast, but at uncertain intervals, and in the winter months. One, however, was killed at Yarmouth in July, 1867. [Wilson's Petrel. Oceanites oceanicus (Kuhl). Mr. Gurney has a Wilson's petrel, said to have been killed in Norfolk, and another is mentioned by Yarrell (edit. 4, vol. iv. p. 49), but Mr. Gurney considers the authenticity of both these doubtful.] 303. Great Shearwater. Puffinus gravis (O'Reilly). In December, 1892, a fine adult great shearwater was picked up dead on Caister beach. In August, 1896, it is believed that one was seen off Blakeney, and in November, 1898, one of these birds was brought into Lowestoft. 304. Sooty Shearwater. Puffinus griseus (Gmelin). This species has occurred once in Norfolk. The specimen was obtained on June 25th, 1 85 1, near Lynn, and is in the museum of that town. At the time it was recorded as P. cinereus. 305. Manx Shearwater. Puffinus anglorum (Temminck). The Manx shearwater is occasionally met with in autumn, and after severe weather has been found far inland. 306. Little Dusky Shearwater. Puffinus as- similis, Gould. This bird was originally recorded as P. obscurus {Zoologist, 1 858, p. 6096 ; P.Z.S., 1882, p. 421) ; but a subsequent examination by Mr. Howard Saunders resulted in its being referred to this species. It was found dead at Earsham in April, 1858. 307. Capped Petrel. (Estrelata hasitata (Kuhl). The only known British specimen of this rare wanderer, now in Mr. Newcome's col- lection, was caught alive at Southacre, near Swaffham, Norfolk, in the spring of 1850. 308. Fulmar. Fulmarus glacialis (Linn.). The fulmar, although probably abundant out at sea in autumn and winter, seldom ap- proaches the shore except when storm driven, under which circumstances they have occa- sionally been met with in numbers. 245