THE BIRDS OF THE BLACKWATER VALLEY. 265
Common Scoter (Oidemia n. nigra (L.)). Several between
Bradwell and St. Peters, 14 and 16/4/22.
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator L.). Lawling
Creek, 5/2/22, a badly oiled male picked up, skin now in my pos-
session, 22/10/22 fourteen, 11/2/23 four females. Bradwell,
19/3/22 nine male and female, 14 and 15/4/22 parties of both
sexes.
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax c. carbo (L.)). Single birds and
small parties up to six seen in April, Aug. and Oct.
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps c. cristatus (L.)). Bradwell
Quay, 19/3/22 one, Bradwell 14 to 17/4/22 parties up to six
seen each day. Lawling Creek, 22/10/22 one.
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps g. griseigena (Bodd.)). Lawling
Creek 5/3/22 one.
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps n. nigricollis (Brehm.)). Brad-
well to Ramsey Island, 14 and 15/4/22, several pairs were on
this stretch of the river. Some of the Grebes were in their very
handsome breeding plumage and once came close to the shore
giving us remarkable views. (See British Birds, vol. 16, p. 26.)
Little Grebe (Podiceps r. ruficollis (Pall.)). Ramsey Island
15 and 17/4/22, 13/8/22. Old Hall Marshes, 14 and 16/10/22.
Goldhanger, 15/10/22.
Red-throated Diver ? (Colymbus stellatus Pontopp.).
Lawling Creek, one 22/1/22, 5/2/22 and 5/3/22. Osea Island,
one 11/2/23. It is highly probable that these birds were Red
and not Black-throated, although I never got sufficiently near
to be certain.
Stock-Dove (Columba o. oenas L.). Mundon, 5/2/22 thirty,
5/3/22, 10/9/22 twenty, 22/10/22 three. It is not improbable
that the old trees here may shelter a nesting colony. Bradwell,
19/3/22 a probable nesting place. Ramsey Island, 17/4/22.
Ringed Plover (Charadrius h. hiaticula L.). Identified in
Jan., Feb., March, April, Aug. and Oct.
Golden Plover (Charadrius apricarius L.). Maldon, 22/1/22,
some hundreds: This flock was unusually tame, the plover were
spread over a field just inside the sea-wall and were separated
from the observer by little more than the distance of the dyke.
Lawling Creek, 5/2/22 many. On 14/4/22 Mr. Bayne and the
writer had the good fortune to see a tremendous gathering of
this species to the south of St. Peters. To estimate such a vast