VARIOUS NOTES ON BIRDS OF ESSEX.
23
1930. A brown-headed bird was seen on the Lea Valley
Reservoirs on 2nd March, 1929.
Goosander (Mergus m. merganser L.). Lea Valley Reservoirs,
15th February, 1929, 2 adult males and 7 brown-headed birds;
16th February, 1929, 1 adult male and 13 brown-headed birds;
2nd March, 1929, 1 brown-headed bird; Mr. R. W. Pethen
tells me that he saw a pair on 29th March, 1929.
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator L.). The following
were observed on the Blackwater between Mundon and Bradwell
on 1st February, 1930:—Thirteen, of which 3 were adult males;
one adult male and one brown-headed bird; and one adult
male and two brown-headed birds.
Smew (Mergus albellus L.). The birds, which frequent the
Lea Valley Reservoirs, made an unusually prolonged stay in
the winter of 1928-9, no doubt the result of the hard weather;
Mr. R. W. Pethen informs me that an adult male was there as
late as 14th April, 1929.
Red-throated Diver (Colymbus stellatus Pontopp). A dead
bird was found at the head of Lawling Creek, Blackwater, on
23rd February, 1930.
Stock-Dove (Columba oenas L.). Mr. J. E. S. Dallas informs
me that he found a nest with two young in the tower of Little
Bardfield Church from 4-5th May, 1929.
Ringed Plover (Charadrius h. hiaticula L.). Mr. J. P.
Hardiman saw no less than thirty on 23rd September and one
on 29th September, 1929, at the King George Reservoir. Much
mud was exposed at the time.
Turnstone (Arenaria i. interpres (L.)). Mr. T. H. Harrisson
saw a party of seven on the Blackwater, near Bradwell, on 6th
February, 1930, and Mr. J. W. Campbell saw a party on Mersea
flats a few days later.
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax (L.)). Mr. J. P. Hardiman saw
one, probably a male, at the King George Reservoir on 4th
October, 1929.
Dunlin (Calidris alpina,? subspecies). Mr. J. P. Hardiman
observed twenty-five on 23rd September and three on 29th
September, 1929, at the King George Reservoir. I saw five at
the same place on 12th October, 1929. Much mud was exposed
at the time.
Curlew-Sandpiper (Calidris testacea (Pall.)). Mr. J. P.