Page:VCH Northamptonshire 1.djvu/161

 BIRDS 187. Whimbrel. Numenius phceopui [L'mn.). A passing migrant, as a rule in early autumn, seldom stopping, or alighting. Only one example seems to have come to hand, near Thorpe Mandeville, May i6th, 1881. 188. Black Tern. Hydrochelidon nigra {L n). Formerly abundant, when it bred in the then undrained fens and meres. Now an irregular visitor to Northants, most commonly seen on the larger sheets of water, reservoirs, etc. 1 89. Common Tern. Sterna Jiuviatilisy Nau- mann. A not uncommon bird of passage in early autumn, wandering up the rivers. The Arctic tern has never been obtained in Northants, as far as is known, though it is likely enough to occur on passage. 190. Little Tern. Sterna minuta, Linn. A rarer visitor than the last, but seen under similar conditions. Lord Lilford gives obituary notices of two only. 191. Brown-headed Gull. Larus ridibundus, Linn. This, usually but wrongly called the black- headed gull, is much the commonest gull in Northants, outnumbering all the other species together. Between Peterborough and Wans- ford the brown-headed gull seems often to settle for the winter, as on the Serpentine. It has then, of course, lost the sooty-brown head, which it only wears in summer. For its breeding in Norfolk, see Lilford, ii. 233-235. 192. Common Gull. Larus canus, Linn. Decidedly uncommon, and only recurring singly, or in small parties, as a casual wan- derer ; most often in immature dress in early autumn. 193. Herring-Gull. Larus argentatus, GmeVm. One of the commonest gulls in Northants (of course only a passing wanderer at best). I have noticed it on many occasions. Lord Lilford considers it hard to distinguish on the wing from the next species ; I am inclined to the opposite opinion, for it is a much slenderer bird in outline. 194. Lesser Black-backed Gull. Larus fuscus, Linn. Not a common visitor to Northants. Lord Lilford only records three undoubted occur- rences, but it is oftener seen at the eastern end of the county, where I have thrice been able to identify it, passing over, in six years. 195. Great Black-backed Gull. Larus ma- rinus, Linn. Not uncommon, but usually seen at a great height in stately flight up or down the river. Considerably the largest of the gulls that visit Northants. 196. Kittiwake. Rissa tridactyla (Linn.). One of the scarcer gulls in Northants, and only a rare accidental visitor. I have only once identified it, and Lord Lilford, with his much greater opportunities, only handled three or four Northamptonshire specimens. [Great Skua. Megakstris catarrhactes (Linn.) A bird was reported to Lord Lilford from the Oxfordshire border under this name, but the reporter subsequently had reason to doubt the correct identification, and thought it was more likely to have been the Pomatorhine skua, so a valuable record is thrown away.] 197. Arctic or Richardson's Skua. Stercora- rius crepidatus (Gmelin). A wandering pirate from autumn to spring, which has once only been obtained in North- ants — near Houghton Mills, Northampton, October 14th, 1890 {Lilford). 198. Long-tailed or BufFon's Skua. Sterco- rarius parasiticus (Linn.). A rare wanderer, but one which has thrice occurred in Northants {Lilford, ii. 249). 1 99. Common Guillemot. Uria troile (Linn.). A common marine bird, breeding in rocks, of rare occurrence inland. One was obtained at Kislingbury on November i6th, 1864 {Lil- ford, ii. 266). 200. Little Auk. Mergulus alle (Linn.). A scarce winter visitor to our coasts, occa- sionally, however, in severe winters, appearing in vast numbers, and then driven inland by storms, from which it happens that many more specimens are on record of this arctic species in our inland counties, than of such common British breeding birds as the guillemot and razorbill. 1841 and 1895 were great 'little auk years,' and a good many records are men- tioned by Lord Lilford (ii. 260-262), who also mentions that immature puffins were generally reported to him as ' little auks.' 201. Puffin. Fratercula arctica {Lmn.). A marine species, which seems to appear inland more frequently than most of its con- geners that breed on our coasts in equal abun- dance. Ten occurrences, mostly of immature birds, are reported in Lilford (ii. 262-264). 127