Page:The British Warblers A History with Problems of Their Lives - 2 of 9.djvu/23

 They are the first of the Warblers to arrive in these islands and the last to leave them. The earliest record of arrival I have is March 17th, and the latest April 5th. These dates refer to the West Midlands; on the South and East Coast they may arrive slightly earlier, but only slightly, since all these migrants appear to spread themselves over the greater part of England within a very short time of their arrival on the coast. This applies to the general bulk of the migrants; individuals have been seen as early as February, but these may possibly have passed the winter in some of the southern counties, where the climate is mild.

As will be seen from the dates, there is considerable variation year by year, but since the period of their arrival is frequently one of gales and very varied climatic conditions, this is, perhaps, no more than we should necessarily expect.

The migratory movement extends, as a rule, over ten to fourteen days, but here, again, we find considerable variation. In some years it will be finished within a few days of the arrival of the first male, in others there may be a delay of perhaps a week after the first one comes before any considerable numbers appear, and yet again there may be a steady increase, which is almost imperceptible day by day.

They generally reach us during the night, but I have met with small parties arriving about five o'clock in the morning; and such movements are unmistakable, for where an hour or so previously there was no sign of this species, every few acres would now hold their tiny member, each one wending his way northwards.

The welcome note of the male will be heard in the morning after his arrival; there may be fog, or there may be a cold north-east wind blowing, but no matter what the weather, there, in the tops of the highest trees, he will be, singing intermittently, a restless little fellow, looking, as he sways backwards and forwards, his feathers ruffled with the wind, almost too delicate to stand the cold; yet, apparently, he