BLACK-HEADED GULLS IN ESSEX (1899). 189
or two not yet able to use their wings, I noticed scurry-
ing away among the muddy little islands, and quickly hiding
themselves in the thick sedge or grass with which all the saltings
are covered.
" The spot is peculiarly favourable for a gulls' colony, being
out of the beaten track, well surrounded by extremely deep tidal
channels, and not far from a Coastguard Station whose officers I
have no doubt would be quite willing, if requested, to look after
the interests of the birds and see they are unmolested."
This concludes my notes this year, 1899, about the gulls in
Essex. There may be other Gulleries among the islands of the
Essex Archipelago at the mouth of the Crouch, but so far I have
not heard of or come across them, though every year I confi-
dently expect they will increase in number.
These sagacious birds appear to be the first to have discovered
that the Essex shores are a protected area, and having now
realised the fact (sic.) we may expect them to utilise our coasts
more and more.
Every winter the gulls come up the London river in larger
numbers and naturally they will be all the more likely to form
breeding grounds in suitable localities, close to their favourite
winter quarters. Moreover they appear to be reverting to their
old time-honoured custom of nesting on the saltings and islands
round the Essex coast, which a century ago they did in such
numbers. It was probably only the spoliation and destruction
which they began to suffer later, that forced them to find shelter
among the reedy beds of more secluded fleets inland, and that
also entailed their constructing larger and more elaborate nests
to raise their eggs above the uncertain level of those freshwater
localities.
Before long we may expect to find our low coast and
marshes fringed with myriads of these beautiful and harmless
creatures, lighting up the muddy stretches of foreshore with their
snowy plumage and lending a beauty and gaiety to scenes which
without them are often dull and even depressing.
In conclusion I may say I know of two small colonies of
Lesser Tern in different parts of the Essex coast, but they are
so precious and still so small, I dare not mention the exact
positions even in the pages of the Essex Naturalist.
The Ringed Dotterel or Plover also abound and seem to be
increasing, but I don't think any Common Tern breed with us.