288 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
common scoter (Melanitta nigra)
One male inland, St. Osyth Millpond, 9 January 1949. (J.C., R.A.)
redshank (Tringa totanus)
When ringing on the Howlands, St. Osyth, on 15 May 1949, I noticed an
agitated Redshank adult. Lying still on the ground I was rewarded by
seeing the bird attract the attention of two chicks and start leading them away.
I then rose and prepared to ring the crouching chicks which I was surprised
to find were Lapwing. Having ringed these, I then searched and found a
Redshank chick of about the same age in the nearby dyke. (R.A.).
ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
Eleven inland, St. Osyth Millpond, 26 March 1950. (R.A.).
oyster catcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
One feigned injury to lead us away from its territory. The action was of
the Ringed Plover broken wing type and caused the bird to spin round in the
sand ; 9 July 1950. (R.A., V.F.)
arctic skua (Stercorarius parasiticus)
A male was worrying small sea birds all day on 30 July 1950 at Leewick
Beach. No bird was seen to be taken but Little Terns, Ringed Plover, and
Turnstones were all attacked. The Little Terns appeared to take little
notice of the Skua's attacks. (R.A., M.M.)
guillemot (Uria aalge)
One dead (oiled) on September 17 1949, an early date. (R.A., J.C.)
water-rail (Rallus aquaticus)
One at St. Osyth Millpond, 8 January 1950. (R.A.)
Migration Dates, St. Osyth Area. Observer : R. W. Arthur.
1949.
Summer arrivals.—Swallow, 1 April; Whitethroat, 15 April; Turtle
Dove, 28 April.
Late departures.—Common Tern, 3 September; Wheatear, 26 October;
House-Martin, 29 October ; Swallow, 7 November; Fieldfare 27 March.
Winter arrival.—Fieldfare, 26 October.
1950.
Summer arrivals.—House-Martin, 3 April; Swallow, 13 April; Wheatear
and Blackcap, 17 April; Cuckoo and Turtle Dove, 30 April; Whinchat,
2 May.
Late departures.—Common Tern, 15 October; House-Martin, 16 October;
Stonechat, 25 October ; Swallow, 2 November; Wheatear, 25 September;
Whinchat, 26 September.
Late departure.—Brambling in summer plumage, 15 April.
Wood-Larks at Woodford.—We have a flock of ten Wood-Larks feeding
regularly on the Woodford Golf Course (30 July 1950). I have been watching
them since I first noticed them in May and I think that they represent two or
possibly three broods from the same pair. The first brood consisted of three
young. The flock is extremely easy to approach and I have taken a good
many people to see them. I have not looked for the nest as I find it best not to
draw attention to nests in this area where so many are destroyed by youngsters.
(Mrs.) D. M. Harris.
Grasshopper-Warbler at Tollesbury.—On 27 May 1950 I was for several
hours on the Tollesbury marshes ; for about an hour I sat by an osier bed and
after a time I identified the separate and unmistakable note of the Grasshopper-
Warbler (Locustella naevia). The "reeling note", like that of a fisherman's