BIRDS OF WEST THURROCK MARSH. 265
The Jack-snipe (Gallinago gallinula) puts in an appearance
in hard weather. Its favourite haunts are the ditch running
parallel to the sea-wall, and that lying east of the lighthouse.
The Jack-snipe is an inveterate skulker. During an excep-
tionally high tide in the winter 1919-20, I saw two birds driven
out of the ditch near the lighthouse by the rising water. Ten
minutes previously I had searched this ditch for Jack-snipe
but without success.
Small parties of Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis) visit
the saltings and foreshore during the first two days of snowy
weather. Prolonged snow drives these (and the following
species) away, presumably to a more congenial feeding ground.
I am informed that the Golden Plover was present on December
13th, 1920.
The Lapwing (Vanellus vulgaris) commonly arrives in large
numbers from the inland pastures to the north at dusk, de-
parting before daybreak. An early morning examination of
the mudbanks (tide permitting), will reveal their footprints in
thousands. In hard weather when the frost seals the pastures
for the greater part of twenty-four hours, these birds visit the
foreshore at all hours of the day. They appear to be most
plentiful in November and December.
A most interesting visitor is the Hooded Crow (Corvus
cornix). It is not common, and I have never seen other than
individual birds. They do not appear to associate with the
numerous foraging rooks which come over from the quarry wood
at Purfleet.
The Kingfisher is a regular winter visitor to the creek and
foreshore. The abundance of Gobius minutus probably accounts
for the bird's presence. The sluice-gate midway between
Thurrock church and the lighthouse bears unmistakable traces
of being a favourite resting place.
The Grey Wagtail (Motacilla melanope) sometimes visits the
creek in winter, but it is more frequently seen in the ditches
on the land-ward side of the wall.
The Rock Pipit (Anthus obscurus) is invariably present in
the "rills" throughout the winter. It has a duskier and more
bulky appearance than the Meadow Pipit (A. pratensis), and to
my mind is a typical bird of the mournful saltings.
An immature specimen of Phalacrocorax carbo or P. graculus