Immigrating Lapwings, on first coming to land, sit for a time very closely packed where they happen to alight, as if comparing notes of their passage; and I have often noticed that before leaving their winter quarters they come together in the same way, covering the land like a black sheet.
Grey Crows have for weeks (March 24th) shown signs of leave-taking, and now scarcely any of the many hundreds can be seen in their winter haunts, or on the Humber tide-slobs. Black Carrion Crows move about the same time, and they are very numerous here in winter. I know of one small wood where about two hundred have come in each night to roost.
Golden-crested Wrens are always in evidence about the last week in March, not showing in the thousands of autumn immigration, but two and three together, and scattered all about the country. When delayed in departure by unfavourable weather conditions, I have known them accumulate in great numbers in the Flamborough hedgerows.
I often wonder what becomes of the Redbreasts which in October come in thousands at the same time as the Gold-crests. Robins which we see at low water skulking amidst blackened timbers of ancient wrecks miles from the shore—Robins in scores on the bleak wind-swept fitties sheltering amongst sea-plants, or on the marram-grown dune—Robins again in hundreds preening and sunning on the lee side of storm-clipt hedgerows, so numerous that on dull autumn days the dark strip of fence is bright as a flower-bank with the gleam of so many chestnut-red spots. Indications of the spring migration of Redbreasts are few; possibly they may return to their European quarters by another route. At Heligoland during the first part of April they are in the height of the movement.
Woodcocks and Gold-crests (Woodcock pilots) are fellow-travellers in autumn, and on the move at the same time in spring from the middle to the end of March, when the former approach the east coast and appear in the covers.
Peregrines in pairs move northward along the coast in March.
Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Twites, and Yellowhammers, particularly the latter, come in great flocks in oat-seed time, but are quickly gone, often remaining but a few hours.
