NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 141
marshes. A single bird on November 17th and 27th. 1947, at Martello
Tower Dyke and two birds on April 12th. 1948. In all cases, even when
the long thin pinkish legs could not be seen, the clear-cut contrasting metallic
black of the wings and the pure white of the rest of the body left no doubt
as to the identity of the birds.
Reginald W. Arthur.
Blue-headed Wagtail breeding at St. Osyth. A male, female and several
young Blue-headed Wagtails (Motacilla f. flava) were first seen on June 13th,
1947. running on the surface of water-weed in a dyke at Seawick Estate,
St. Osyth. The young were being fed by both the male and the female and.
although able to move about, were still stumpy-looking with short tails.
The birds were seen at intervals for about a week. The male showed the
slate-blue head with darker eye-stripe and white stripes above and below the
eye. The female and the young birds were very similar to those of the
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava flavissima).
Reginald W. Arthur.
Firecrest in Epping Forest. A Firecrest (Regulus i. ignicapilius) was
observed by Mr. A. C. Wheeler near Connaught Water on January 6th,
1947 (British Birds, February, 1948).
Grey Lag-Goose on Walthamstow Reservoirs. Two birds of this species
(Anser a. anser) were seen on the reservoirs by Mr. E. O. Hohn on February
12th. 1947 (British Birds, March, 1948).
Fieldfares in late June. Mr. J. R. Kennedy saw three Fieldfares (Turdus
pilaris) at Dunmow on June 29th, 1947 (British Birds, May, 1948). This
species is, of course, a winter visitor to this country and usually leaves for its
breeding grounds by the month of May.
Whooper Swans at Leytonstone. Mr. C. R. H. Edwards reports in The
Field for March 6th. 1948, that he saw three Whooper Swans on the Hollow
Pond on February 9th, 1948.
Hoopoe at Margaretting. A Hoopoe (Upupa e. epops) was seen at Copt-
fold, Margaretting, at 3 p.m. on April 27th, 1948. The wind was in the west
and the day was warm. The bird was watched on the ground and flitting
to and from Oak trees. It was known to have been about the same garden
for about one week.
(Mrs.) R. Upton.
Birds in Wanstead Park. On April 8th, 1948, I saw a Kingfisher (Alcedo
atthis ispida) flying along the River Roding. Mr. Waller also saw one in the
Park during the summer. On February 8th, 1948, four Teal (Anas c. crecca)
were seen on the ornamental waters near the Fortifications in company with
the usual large number of Mallard. A similar number was seen there in
December, 1948.
C. B. Pratt.
Gulls hawking beetles. In February I noticed about 40 Blackheaded
Gulls (Larus r. ridibundus) circling over Wintry Wood, Epping. I at first
thought that they were attracted by some refuse from the farm nearby, but
then noticed that they checked and fluttered periodically, and the binoculars
revealed that they were hawking flying insects which were seen to have a rapid
and direct flight quite unlike that of a moth. A few apparently similar
insects could be seen near the ground and some of them rapidly ascended