106 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
A Barn-Owl "schrumped" about a mile south across the river, it sounded
nearer and nearer, and the bird crossed the wide river to quarter our
fields. The owl repeatedly made this trans-river flight on quiet evenings
throughout the summer. 29th. Chiffchaffs, Long-tailed Tits by the score,
and Bullfinches in local woods.
July. 15th. Blue Tits are doing a lot of damage to our peaches. Nothing
scares them off.
August. 1st. Swifts flying due south at dusk. 1th. A Hedgehog got
in amongst a brood of chicks under a hen and scattered them from under
her. I caught him in the act and gave him a good smacking and away
he ran at full speed like a schoolboy caught stealing apples. 9th. A re-
markable sight at high tide on the field here. Large numbers of Swallows
were settling on the last ripple and picking up the mosquito flies drifting in
on the wrack. Also at least 10 Yellow Wagtails running quickly in and out
of the wavelets to feast on the insect harvest. In a quarter of an hour the
tide had turned and there was not one bird to be seen; the meal was over.
10th. I have never seen nor heard so many Blackcaps as this year. 11th.
Saw a splendid cock Redstart quite close on a post in the village. 12th. Saw
the Redstart again today and also a canary yellow Warbler, far too yellow
for a Willow-Warbler. 22nd. Swallows leaving our sheds fast now.
23rd. Another cock Redstart, also many Spotted Flycatchers and Warblers
passing through. A family of Bullfinches are clearing our honeysuckle
berries. 21th. Swallows massing for departure early. Our tall ash tree
was full of the birds: it was an unusual sight, so I took a cine-colour shot
which came out well. About 150 Curlew in the marsh and the usual odd
Oyster-catchers. 26th. A nest of fledgling Spotted Flycatchers at Althorne:
rather late for them. 27th. Swallows by the hundred whirling away like
falling autumn leaves in the strong W.N.W. wind at dusk: they are really
in a hurry now. 29th. Several hundred Swallows massed before 8 a.m.
30th. A large Parrot is almost wild round here and flies very strongly.
This bird was reported 15 miles from here later on.
September. 2nd. Two Swallow nests in sheds still have tiny young.
1th. Kingfisher at our pond. They are resident in the vicinity. 7th.
Dreadful weather, cold and rainy. Migrating Swallows perched on ledges
in fowl-house, 20 or 30 in a heap in a deplorable state. 8th. Swallows
lying in the roads with wings spread and rump ruffled, in a dying state.
11th. Better day and Swallows and Martins brighter. 17th. Several Swal-
lows still here. Reports of Swallows dying from the cold in Germany: many
were collected and taken by air to Italy. 26th. Saw a "funnel" of
Starlings whirling to attack an unidentified large bird flying high. They
chased it for at least four miles until they disappeared from sight seawards.
October. 1st. A large number of Swallows and Martins drifting through.
Noticed a Falcon and many Seagulls circling very high in the sunshine.
I expect there is a warm air current high up. 6th. A few Swallows. Saw
Kestrel, Sparrow-hawk and Peregrine Falcon today. 22nd. Still odd Swal-
lows passing through; how they survive I do not know. 21th. Many-
thousands of Starlings invade the village thickets: the roar of their wings
is like Niagara! 28th. At least 100 Lapwing in our field. 29th. Two
Swallows at 1 p.m.
November. 3rd. Saw from the train at Ramsden a male Sparrow-hawk
thrash a bird out of long grass and weeds. 5th. About 1,000 Lapwing on
our land and river frontage. 11th. My daughter saw, at close range at
Fambridge station, a female Crossbill pulling off groundsel seeds. One
Goldcrest in company of Tits. Barn-Owls seem to be becoming less rare.
25th. 33 Golden Plover a mile north of here. 30th. Fieldfare numerous.
December. 7th. 18 Grey Geese passing west. 11th. About 1.000 Teal in
the marsh. 28th. Snipe and Oyster-catchers calling at night. 29th. With