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A VISIT TO AN ESSEX GULLERY, WITH
NOTES ON THE BIRDS FREQUENTING THE
MARSHES ROUND TOLLESBURY.
By EDWARD A. FITCH, F.L.S., F.E.S. (President of the Essex Field Club),
and MILLER CHRISTY.
On Tuesday, June 12th, 1888, we enjoyed in company a most
interesting day among the birds frequenting the Old Hall Marshes,
Tollesbury, which are chiefly in the occupation of Mr. Joseph Smith,
jun. of Pattiswick Hall. Our main object in visiting these marshes
was to see the breeding-haunts of the Black-headed Gull (Larus
ridibundus). This bird still appears annually, though in limited
numbers when compared with the thousands frequenting many of
the gulleries in the more northern counties. There are now but few
gulleries in England south of Essex, and none of large size. In accom-
plishing our main object, we were completely successful, thanks to
the kind attentions of Messrs. Jonathan May and George Wilsher,
Dr. Salter's gamekeepers, and Fred Clarke, Mr. Smith's marshman ;
while we also came unexpectedly across several other breeding birds
of considerable interest. The following paragraphs give a brief
account of our observations and proceedings.
Our head-quarters for the day, by the kind permission of Mr.
Smith, were at Bourchier's Hall, an ancient farm-house, possessing a
very extensive view over the marshes and saltings towards Mersea.
It is obviously a fragment only of a once-fine mansion, as one of the
rooms has much good panelling and contains an exceedingly good,
elaborately-carved, oak fire-place and mantel-shelf. This is of large
size, extending quite to the ceiling, and is decorated with the fully
emblazoned arms of the Gardiner and other families.
Leaving Bourchier's Hall, a walk of about three-quarters of a mile
brought us to "The Hoy," a small public-house which stands on the
edge of the marshes. A "hoy" was a one-masted, sloop-rigged,
coasting vessel, formerly much used, but now almost forgotten. There
is only one other inn of the same name in Essex, namely at South
Benfleet, where there is a double pictorial sign. Here there was
no sign, not even the name being visible.
After passing the "Hoy," we found ourselves at once on the
marshes. The first bird of any interest seen was a redshank, locally
known as a "teuke.'' There seemed to be a fair number of these
about, but still they were not numerous. The keepers, however,