BIRDS OF THE THAMES VALLEY (ESSEX ONLY). 167
fortune must be considered to have been kind to have permitted
a successful conclusion.
The observations were started mainly with a view to deter-
mining the status of the birds occurring on the coast from early
autumn to the end of spring, and, although other matter has
crept in, this purpose has not been lost sight of. As the work
progressed its scope widened, which explains why less time was
devoted to the first estuary (the Crouch) treated. The estimate
of the comparative interest of this area holds good, however, as a
series of supplementary observations were carried out, which
confirm the statements made in previous papers. The following
species were added to the list: a considerable party of Little
Terns was seen opposite the mouth of the Roach on August 6,
1923, these must have been migrating birds as there is no nesting
ground in the vicinity ; several Greenshank were identified at
Fambridge on August 31, 1924, and a male and female Pintail
at North Fambridge on March 27, 1927. Mention must be made
of the marsh at Paglesham, which is a haunt of the Shoveler,
and falls into the Crouch area.
During the period in which the observations were made the
whole of the Essex coast has been tramped, although some
portions are outside the scope of the papers ; all the creeks have
been explored, and with the exception of the inaccessible pieces
and some on some of the islands, the whole of the Essex sea-wall
has been tramped. Although no startling discoveries have been
made, valuable knowledge has been obtained of the distribution
of many species, and of the seasonal change in numbers, and
although it is limited, information has been gained on that diffi-
cult subject, migration. The collation of the results suggests
that the coast of Essex might be considered in two parts, for
there is certainly a marked difference between that section
which includes the Thames and Crouch, and that which encloses
the Blackwater, Colne and Stour. The latter is unquestionably
much richer in bird-life, even apart from the fact that in the
northern half there is a belt of shingle which is not possessed by
the southern. Incidently the ornithological importance of this
stretch of shingle has not been previously referred to. A striking
illustration of the difference between the northern and southern
portions is that not a single Grey Plover was identified in the
latter, while in some parts of the former the species was frequently