Page:VCH Kent 1.djvu/337

 BIRDS Kent, November 1881 [Field, 18 November to a light brown, obtained in May, June and 1881). July, from 1866 to 1870, 1888 and 1898 respectively. This species has bred in the county near Wingham (Oxenden Ham- mond, Zool. 1897, p. 363). 117. Little Owl. Athena noctua {?>co^o) An accidental visitor. It is difficult to say whether the examples taken from time to time in England are really wild or not, since many are imported from the continent into this county and purposely liberated. Mr. Meade-Waldo has thoroughly estab- lished this bird as an introduced species at Stonewall Park, Edenbridge. In that district it breeds in holes in old apple trees and under the roots of trees overhanging the railway embankments. In May 1856 one was taken alive at Maidstone {Zool. 1856, p. 5159). Another at Sevenoaks, Kent, 1862, formerly in the collection of the late F. Bond. One near Maidstone (Dover Museum). I have also examined another specimen taken some years ago at Hythe, and belonging to a barber in that town. In August 1894 another was obtained at Maidstone (Allchin, Science Gossip, September 1894, p. 159). On 24 October 1902 a female was shot in the Angley woods, Cranbrook, and pre- served by Mr. Springett of that town. 118. Eagle-Owl. Bubo igijavus, T, Forster. A rare migrant. One in Kent, recorded by Latham in the first supplement of his Synopsis. 119. Marsh-Harrier. Circus aruginosus (Linn.) Seldom obtained now. It formerly haunted our marshes before drainage was commenced. In the ' fifties ' this bird was often seen in Romney Marsh. There are two specimens from that locality probably obtained about that time in the Plomley collection, Dover Museum. In June 1867 a fine adult was killed at Rainham (Prentis). 120. Hen-Harrier. Circus cyaneus (Lmn.) A scarce migrant in autumn, when imma- ture birds are sometimes obtained. I have an adult female, killed at Staplehurst in November 1892. Old males in the grey plumage are very rare. I have seen a specimen, obtained in Romney Marsh many years ago ; it was the property of Mr. J. D. Walker of New Rom- ney. At his death it was sold and passed into the collection of Mr. Harrison of Folke- stone. 121. Montagu's Harrier. Circus cineraceus (Montagu) A spring migrant, occurring fairly fre- quently in the northern portion of the county. In the collection of Mr. Prentis there are seven specimens, varying from a sooty black 122. Buzzard. Buieo vulgaris, Lcuch. An autumn and winter visitor of irregular occurrence. In November 1870 a large visitation took place. Near Canterbury, on the Godmersham and Chilham estates alone, eight specimens were obtained (Gordon, Zool. 1 87 1, p. 2439). In December 1895 another visitation, but in a lesser degree, occurred, when several specimens were ob- tained near Cranbrook and in other parts of the county. The autumn migration chiefly consists of young birds of the year, the adults being seldom met with. When on migration, I have seen this buzzard soar to a great height, and then its flight now and again becomes a series of graceful curves and gyrations. But when a temporary halting- place is taken up, the flight is slow and slug- gish, and seldom higher than the tree-tops, the bird working backwards and forwards after its prey over the same ground diurnally. At dusk, it seems more alert than during the day — a sombre-feathered form, it appears, as it looms and glides past the tree-trunks and over the russet-clad undergrowth in almost noise- less fashion, more after the manner of an owl than a hawk. Owing to the large increase of pheasant-rearing, this bird is ruthlessly trapped and shot. But for this, there is not a doubt that these birds would stay throughout the winter and breed in the Kentish woods. 123. Rough-legged Buzzard. Buteo lagopus (J. F. Gmelin) A rare autumn visitor to the vicinity of our coast. I have a fine adult female, shot on the Lydd beach 30 October 1895. In the same winter another was obtained near East- well, Ashford. It has occurred at Rainham (Prentis). 124. White-tailed Eagle. Halia^tus albicilla (Linn.) Immature birds on migration not unfre- quently occur in the county, generally in November and December, and seldom escape being shot. Of late years the following are the authentic records : In November 1879 a pair appeared in the Rainham district, of which one was shot. In early November 1885 a fine female was obtained at Minster and is now in the Canterbury Museum. About the same time another bird, a male, was killed at Eastwell Park near Ashford. At 287