Page:VCH Worcestershire 1.djvu/206

 A HISTORY OF WORCESTERSHIRE as it was observed doing so. Arrived at Welford, it was seen and shot by Mr. W. H. Baylies on the day above mentioned, and is now in the writer's collection. The plumage is that of an adult, but the sex could not be determined, as the internal parts were destroyed by shot.] 183. Gull-billed Tern. Sterna ang/ica, Mon- tagu. I can only record a single undoubted oc- currence of the gull-billed tern in Worcester- shire, and I have no note either of the date of appearance or sex. It was shot while flying over the reservoir at Cofton, near Barnt Green, Bromsgrove, and taken to Birming- ham for preservation. A specimen has also been met with in Warwickshire, quite near to the boundary of Worcestershire. 184. Common Tern. Sterna fluviatHis, Naumann. So far as I know, the common tern is a rare bird in the county, and indeed in the valleys of the Severn and Avon ; at any rate, I have seen but few specimens either in the hands of local bird stuffers or in collections. Speci- mens of terns, both adult and immature, sup- posed to be of this species, have nearly always proved on examination to be Arctic terns. A pair, however, of common terns were shot while flying over the Avon on August 1 8th, 1 84 1, which proved on examination to be male and female in full plumage. The date is rather early in the autumn for the appearance of any species of tern in passage. 185. Arctic Tern. Sterna macrura^'HaMmdinn. This is by far the most common tern seen in our inland county, and has been known to appear in extraordinary numbers during the spring migration. In 1842 an immense flight came ' in and about the estuary of the Severn, and up the line of its course.' So wrote Yarrell in his History of British Birds. He might have added that their flight extended up the tributaries of the Severn. A full account of that remarkable appearance of Arctic terns was published in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History, by Mr. H. E. Strickland, then residing at Cracombe near Evesham. As many as forty which had been shot on the 8th and 9th of May of the year above mentioned, were taken, as we learn from that account, to one bird stuffer in that town. The present writer well remembers that flight of unusual birds appearing over and about the Avon. Every man who could command a gun of any description, large or small, sallied forth intent on slaughter ; and there was no need to wait long for the chances of a shot, for the birds were by no means wary, but came freely within range. From any station by the side of the stream twenty or thirty could be seen at once. Since that date a few have appeared taking the same course up stream, but only as single stragglers. Im- mature specimens are common in local collec- tions, all of which have been taken at the time of the autumn migration. 186. Little Tern. Sterna minuta, Linn. A rare straggler, but has appeared on the Severn and the Avon. Hastings records it as a Worcestershire bird, on the authority of Mrs. Perrott, it having been observ'ed, accord- ing to that lady, on the Avon. Lees says that the one mentioned by her was seen a little above Tewkesbury. The present writer has specimens which were shot on the Avon. 187. Little Gull. Larus minutus, Pallas. According to Lees, one was shot at Upton- on-Severn ; and I saw one some years ago which was shot on the Avon and taken to Stratford to be stuffed. On enquiry I was told that it had been killed a little lower down the stream than Bidford, and probably there- fore in the county of Worcester, or, if not, in very close contiguity to it. 188. Black-headed Gull. Larus ridibundus, Linn. Like all other gulls which have been met with in Worcestershire, this species is only a straggler, though it cannot be said to be rare. There is a large breeding colony in Stafford- shire. 189. Common Gull. Larus canus, Linn. An occasional individual of this species appears in our cultivated fields, and stays for awhile, taking up its quarters in the large open parts, and feeding on worms and insects. I have known one frequent a ploughed field for more than a week, following the plough, always however at a respectful distance, and devouring the worms which were brought up. 190. Herring-Gull. Larus argentatus, GmeVm. An occasional bird of this species may be noted in Worcestershire, most frequently in mottled immature plumage. It cannot, how- ever, at any age be considered as any other than a waif and stray, and is really much more often seen passing over the county than actually frequenting it. 191. Great Black-backed Gull. Larus mari- nus, Linn. Hastings mentions the appearance of this gull in Worcestershire on several occasions, and gives the following in a note on page 7 1 : 168