The Zoologist/4th series, vol 6 (1902)/Issue 734/Notes and Queries
NOTES AND QUERIES.
AVES.
Red-throated Pipit in Ireland.—In my note on Anthus cervinus (ante, 1901, p. 264), I mentioned one specimen from Donegal. As there is some doubt about this bird, I wish it to be understood that the record for Ireland must for the present rest upon the specimen shot by me on Achill Island, May 25th, 1895. This latter bird has been certified by Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, Mr. Howard Saunders, and Dr. Hartert, and was exhibited by me before the meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club, October, 1901. I spent three weeks in Donegal, studying the Pipits of one particular district, and hoped to have worked up the material I collected before now; but pressure of other business has prevented me doing so. I therefore think it will be more satisfactory for this explanation to appear, pending the fuller inquiry I hope to make.—F. Coburn (Holloway Head, Birmingham).
Breeding of Linota rufescens on Wimbledon Common.—On June 22nd I found a nest of the Lesser Redpoll on Wimbledon Common. It was built in a thick birch, and was nearly ready for eggs. When I last visited it (on the 29th) it contained two eggs. For obvious reasons it will be as well not to give the exact locality, as I hope they will breed there again next year. I also found a nest of the Wood-Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix), containing five eggs, near the same place. I further saw six pairs of Yellow Wagtails on different parts of the Common, and found two nests containing young, one of which was built almost in the centre of the Common amongst the gorse.—M.J. Nicoll (10, Charles Road, St. Leonards).
Notes on the Nesting of a Pair of Green Woodpeckers (Gecinus viridis) at Wells, Somerset.—In this district Starlings are so numerous in the breeding season that they have become a serious nuisance to the Green and Greater Spotted Woodpeckers. On May 20th, in an orchard at Milton, a pair of Starlings fought for, and took possession of, a newly finished hole of a pair of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers. On more than one occasion I have also watched battles between the green species and Starlings; the green birds are not so easily beaten off as the Greater Spotted species. On May 5th I found a pair of Green Woodpeckers trying to occupy a last year's hole in one of the three large trees in Park Wood, not far from the Bishop's Palace, and which might more appropriately be called Nightingale Wood, for my finding of the Nightingale's nest and eggs in this wood is, I believe, the farthest point west of the island where the Nightingale has been discovered breeding. Five pairs of Woodpeckers have inhabited the wood this summer; the hole was about twenty feet up, and situated in the bole of the tree. The foliage of the nut-bushes not being sufficiently out at this date to hide me, the birds at first seemed shy to enter the hole. These trees, not in the least decayed, contain thirteen previous nesting-holes, chiefly in the various tall branches, and at this date all occupied by Starlings. Just above the old hole in question is a short branch, and on it two Starlings sat, and poured forth their mimicking notes, alternately dropping and turning into the hole; when swiftly—and, until then, unseen—one of the Green Woodpeckers flew at the hole, and drove the Starlings out on to the short branch. After having quite a tussle it flew up into the higher branches again. One or other of the Starlings repeated this act again and again, but each time a Woodpecker descended, and showed his superiority. I immediately thought of shooting the Starlings, but abandoned the idea, thinking it might frighten away the Woodpeckers. I spent hours on subsequent dates watching the hole, and, as a rule, had not long to wait before seeing one or both of the Woodpeckers; one would come silently from a near oak, and sometimes alight on the trunk some feet above the hole, where it would stay for some minutes, and peep at me round the tree, the head and beak only being visible. It would then utter its loud "plew plew" notes, as if to tell its mate that danger was nigh; the cry was answered from close by; then, with a mode of progression something between a jump and a climb, it descended backwards, or tail first, down the side of the tree to a level with the hole; and, climbing sideways, it entered. On May 13th no Starlings pitched on the short branch, the above mentioned pair having no doubt given it up as a bad job. On the 15th and 16th respectively the female Woodpecker flew from the hole after I had struck the trunk with a stick, and I concluded she had eggs there; so at 6.30 a.m. on May 17th, with the aid of a ladder, a mallet, and a chisel, I enlarged the hole, keeping it circular as much as possible, until the lad with me could put his arm in. The nest, or rather hole, contained seven fresh eggs, which I took. I may here mention that I passed immediately under these three tall trees several times daily, for the narrow keeper's path led me to a Sparrow-Hawk's nest, which I was also watching with interest.
On May 21st I noticed one of the birds again at the nesting-hole, which rather surprised me; so I allowed her what I thought a sufficient time to deposit another clutch, which I intended to take, in order to see how many I could induce her to lay. On June 5th, at 6 a.m., I again visited the nest. The same lad mounted the ladder, and took five eggs, slightly incubated. The birds did not forsake the hole, for on June 20th one of them flew out on my approach; so I again placed the ladder against the tree on June 28th, at 4.30 a.m. The same small lad again bared his shoulders (for length), and placed his arm in the hole; but this time he was beaten. He could not reach the bottom of the hole. He tried again and again, but the birds had bored deeper since the last visit. I sent the boy home for the mallet and chisel, and a big lad of eighteen years. The wood was very tough, taking me over an hour to enlarge the hole sufficiently. The nest contained six eggs; three of them were much incubated, but the other three were quite fresh and splendidly transparent, the yolks being plainly visible.
The Woodpeckers still stuck to the hole, and on July 4th both birds were about the trees. I saw and heard both birds again on July 10th; so, after allowing them the usual interval of about three weeks, I again borrowed the ladder from the local builder, and assisted in carrying it to the wood at 7 a.m. on Friday, July 18th. As the ladder touched just beneath the hole the bird flew out, and the big lad Parker quickly brought six eggs to the bottom of the ladder, one at a time. I noticed that incubation had commenced. The female seemed greatly agitated, and flew into the tree calling loudly; she thereby saved her eggs. The lad, by my wish, replaced each one, and we left the vicinity of the nest quickly, leaving her to bring forth her brood. This made a total of twenty-four eggs deposited by the same female in a last year's hole, eighteen of which are in my collection; and I am sure I wish her every success with her fourth attempt.—Stanley Lewis (Wells, Somerset).
Breeding of the Bittern in Herts in 1849.—In the fourth edition of 'Yarrell' (vol. iv. p. 208) nests of the Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) are recorded from near Tring, in Herts, and near Drayton Beauchamp, in Bucks. In a footnote the editor suggests that these records relate to the same occurrence. This appears to be the case, for, from information kindly furnished by Miss Williams to Miss Harpur Crewe, I find that the nest with four eggs was taken in July, 1849, at the Wilstone Reservoirs, in Herts, about a couple of miles from Tring, and close to Drayton Beauchamp. The eggs were afterwards accidentally broken, but were beautifully mended by John Wobley[1] in April, 1853, as appears from the Rev. H. Harpur Crewe's note-book.—Francis C.R. Jourdain (Clifton Vicarage, Ashburne, Derbyshire).
Breeding of the Ringed Plover in Worcestershire.—One June 1st I found a pair of these birds (Ægialitis hiaticula) breeding by the side of a large reservoir within ten miles of Birmingham. The young were just out of the egg, and I found three of them. This reservoir is a regular haunt of the Ringed Plover on the spring and autumn migration, but is it not very unusual to find them nesting so far inland? — D.B. Grubb (The Croft, Barnt Green, near Birmingham).
Dusky Redshanks in Worcestershire and Warwickshire.—During my systematic rambles in this district for studying its ornithology, I was, on Sept. 15th, 1901, delighted to find Totanus fuscus on the muddy shore of a large sheet of water in Warwickshire. I was attracted by a note which was totally new to me, and, bringing my glasses to bear, found the specimen, which was in the immature dress. In the field this bird may be easily recognized, not only by its note, which, though bearing a family resemblance, is nevertheless quite distinct from that of Totanus calidris, but by the white patch across the rump, which shows up very distinctly against the wholly dark wings when the bird displays itself. A fortnight later (Sept. 29th), I saw another specimen of this bird in the winter plumage round a sheet of water in Worcestershire, about five or six miles from the Warwickshire water; and, going the same day to this latter place, I ascertained from the keeper that two more, also in winter plumage, had been seen during the week.—F. Coburn (Holloway Head, Birmingham).
Black-tailed Godwit in Ireland in Mid-winter.—On Jan. 5th, 1900, I received from Limerick a female specimen of Limosa belgica in full winter plumage. According to Ussher's 'Birds of Ireland' this bird is very rare in winter. I have now in my collection a fine series of this species, from the first plumage through every grade of autumn, winter, and summer—all procured at different times from Ireland.—F. Coburn (Holloway Head, Birmingham).
- ↑ Erratum: John Wobley, see p. 356 (Wikisource-Ed.)