Page:VCH Buckinghamshire 1.djvu/187

Rh 110. Osprey. Pandion haliaetus (Linn.).

A number of single specimens have been obtained and seen at various times. In February 1845 an osprey was killed at Chequers. In 1868 it was in the collection of Lady Frankland Russell (Kennedy, p. 158). In 1854 one was shot on the canal at Halton, and was sold to Sir Anthony de Rothschild in Aston Clinton. One was seen in Fawley Woods in the winter of 1858. On September 26, 1863, the lodge-keeper shot a specimen in Ditton Park (Kennedy, p. 159). During the greater part of September 1864 a pair of ospreys frequented the large reservoirs and canals near Weston Xurville, Wilstone and Marsworth. They were tame and fearless and not molested even by the gamekeepers; but on September 30 a country lad killed the female and the specimen was obtained by the Rev. H. Harpur Crewe at Drayton Beauchamp. According to Willis (Field, 1862, xx. 319) another specimen was killed at Ditton Park on September 9, 1862. In August 1867 a female was shot by Captain Robson near Maidenhead. On October n, 1901, Mr. Pope, jun., shot a fine specimen on Aston Hill above Halton, and from some reports of two different people it would seem that a second specimen had been seen there shortly afterwards.

111. Cormorant. Phalacrocorax carbo (Linn.).

In 1857 Mr. John Wig shot one near Marlow railway bridge; in 1858 one was killed on the reservoir at Weston Turville by Mr. T. Billington (Kennedy, Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 214). Mr. A. H. Cocks informs us that a specimen of Phalacrocorax passed him flying on the Thames between Bisham and Marlow, in a thick fog, too dense to allow of identifying whether it was a cormorant or a shag.

112. Gannet. Sula bassana (Linn.).

This exclusively marine bird was caught by the Rev. J. Rogers at Sherington near Newport Pagnell in November 1847 (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 2 1 6). One was killed on the canal near Wendover in 1886, and passed into the Tring Museum.

113. White Stork. Ciconia alba, Bechstein. C. ciconia (Linnaeus).

Said to have been shot near Buckingham in September 1846 (F. O. Morris, on the authority of Mr. James Dalton).

114. Common Heron. Ardea cinerea, Linn.

Herons are frequently seen on canals, rivers and ponds, especially on the river Ouse, Weston Turville reservoirs and Thames. We are aware of only two heronries in the county, both on the Thames. There is an old heronry at Harleyford, which was formerly large. Mr. Grossman made investigations about this heronry, and wrote as follows: 'On the 26th of August I visited Harleyford Manor on the Thames above Marlow, and found that the heronry which formerly had a good many nests had now dwindled down to very few. Sir William Clapton's bailiff informed me that he did not think that more than two or three pairs now nested there. It is very difficult to say at this time of the year how many inhabited nests there were this season, as nearly all the nests were in two or three tall fir-trees.' Mr. Heatley Noble tells us that there is a small heronry of some thirteen nests in a wood called Oaken Grove at Fawley Court. They came there about eighteen years ago, possibly from Harleyford. Before this heronry established itself at Fawley Court a single pair bred there once, but the nest was robbed.

115. Night-Heron. Nycticorax griseus (Linn.).

' Many years ago a specimen in the immature plumage was shot near Thame ' (Matthews, Zoologist, 1849, P- 2600). It is also said to have been killed near Cliefden in 1797 (cf. Kennedy, p. 189).

116. Little Bittern. Ardetta minuta (Linn.).

Single specimens have been shot at various times in the south of the county. In the Field, 1865, p. 254, Mr. J. Marshall records having shot a specimen just below Monkey Island on the Thames near Maidenhead. Another was shot at the same place about ten years before, and many years ago others were taken near Maidenhead. Those who know how little these birds are noticed in the daytime in most parts of Germany Hartert considers them much more frequent than they are supposed to be can hardly doubt that some must have bred near the Thames when these specimens were shot. The Rev. L. Jenyns also mentions its appearance on the river near Windsor, and ' it has once occurred in Buckinghamshire, near Uxbridge, on the borders of the county ' (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 186).

117. Bittern. Botaurus stellaris (Linn.).

This bird is sometimes noticed in autumn or winter, but we have only a few exact records and dates from Buckinghamshire. Clark Kennedy wrote: ' I am informed by Mr. Dalziel Mackenzie that a fine specimen of the bittern was shot at Fawley Court