186
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
autumn passage to their more southerly winter quarters. The
Lapwing and the Common Redshank may be seen at any time
of the year, but this is to be expected, as probably both, certainly
the Lapwing, nest in the vicinity of the reservoirs. During the
autumn the Lapwing becomes a much increased bird, and
bands of considerable size are seen annually; these larger
groups must be included among the passage-migrants. The
Common Sandpiper is one of the common waders, and is the
only one which is purely a passage-migrant and as such regular.
The stone facings and the pebbly shores of the reservoirs are as
suitable to this species as they are unsuitable to most of the
other waders, which require mud as a feeding ground. The
Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Green Sandpiper, although they have
not been observed annually, have occurred sufficiently often
to give the impression that they are annual birds of passage.
The Greenshank, however, although it has occurred in several
years, cannot be considered as being annual. The remainder
of the waders which have occurred on passage owe their
inclusion to one or two appearances. The Turnstone, Sanderling,
Knot, Little Stint and Whimbrel have each been recorded once,
and the Grey Phalarope, Oyster-catcher, Ruff and Curlew-
Sandpiper on two occasions. The Curlew has been identified
on several occasions, but its visits are too erratic to allow of it
being placed in a particular category. The four remaining birds
of this group are winter visitors. The Golden Plover has been
recorded several times and the Grey Plover once only.
It may be remarked that inland occurrences of the latter species
are very unusual. The appearance of the Snipe may be generally
associated with severe weather, as there is not much ground
which is suitable to its habits. Comment must be made on
the large numbers which were seen on the mud at the King
George Reservoir in the autumn of 1933. The Jack Snipe is
recorded only on rare occasions, and it is also subject to weather
conditions. Before we leave the Limicoline birds a word as to
their numbers. In the autumn of 1929, when the mud was
exposed at the King George, about thirty Ringed Plovers and
twenty-five Dunlin were seen, and during similar conditions in
1933 twenty of the latter species were noted. These figures are
unusual. With the exception of the Common Sandpiper, of
which a number appears every autumn, only single birds or
small parties are observed.