NOTES ON BIRDS MADE DURING THREE SHORT
VISITS TO THE BEACH AT DUNGENESS.
By Thomas Hepburn.
These observations were made on May 10th–14th, June 3rd–4th, and July 16th–21st (1900).
Mistle-Thrush (Turdus viscivorus).—May 10th. Found a nest in one of the clumps of elder and holly bushes, which are a feature of this stretch of beach. The nest was in the fork of an elder-bush not more than three feet above the ground. The outside of the nest was made almost entirely of sheep's wool, with a few sticks entangled in it, and was neatly lined with fine grass. It contained four young birds about a week old. July 16th-21st. Noticed considerable numbers of these birds on the grass-lands and meadows which join the beach. They seemed to be mostly young birds.
Song-Thrush (T. musicus), Blackbird (T. merula).—These birds were also nesting in the patches of bush on the beach.
Wheatear (Saxicola œnanthe).—May 10th–14th. Nesting everywhere. Found two nests in crevices of the military earthworks, one in an empty shell-case, and another in an empty tin can. The eggs in one of the nests were fresh, in the others hard sat. June 3rd-4th. Found a nest with three fresh eggs in a crack in a bank of earth. July 16th-21st. Old and young birds all over the beach and adjacent meadows.
Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus streperus).—July 16th–21st. Found three nests in the reeds fringing a pool of water on the marsh-land; one containing three perfectly fresh eggs, another with three young birds and an addled egg, and a third from which the birds had evidently just flown. The birds were singing all round in the reed-bed.
Sedge-Warbler (A. phragmitis).—Common everywhere amongst the growth on the edges of pools and dykes.
Pied Wagtail (Motacilla lugubris).—Common near the fishermen's or coastguards' cottages and farm-buildings. Rather a favourite nesting-place for them was amongst the stacks of fish-boxes near the coast.
Yellow Wagtail (M. raii).—A common bird on the marsh-land.
