BIRDS AT NORTH FAMBRIDGE 65
so early in the year. 8th. Warblers crowding through on migration. Bull-
finches eating unripe honeysuckle berries. The Spotted Flycatcher's fourth
nest was deserted. 15th. Two canary-yellow warblers in the willows. 19th.
An immature wagtail below the cowshed every day, I believe it is a Grey
Wagtail. 20th. A Moorhen's nest with young in a sloe bush 12 feet from
the ground. 21st. About 300 Swallows and House-Martins massing in one
flight at 7.30 p.m. 22nd. Another brood of Swallows, fully fledged, dead in
the nest. Can it be a parasite or is some disease killing the parent birds?
24th. A Pied Flycatcher on the telephone wires catching insects. A flock of
over fifty Turtle Doves in the usual field west of Woodham Ferrers. 26th.
Three Yellow Wagtails feeding round the cows' feet. 27th. Weather more
like November must surely be hurrying migration. 28th. One Swift flying
over the farm at 7 p.m. Numerous Warblers passing south.
September 1st. North-east wind like a January day. One Swift. Warblers
in large numbers. 2nd. A Pied Flycatcher invasion 1 Eight to twelve on the
farm all day. Large numbers of Willow-Warblers, Chiffchaffs and White-
throats spent the day feeding in our garden, orchard and hedgerows. They
were also feeding high up in the tall willows and poplars. A very large
warbler, like an outsize Willow-Warbler, seen at ten paces for two minutes.
It may have been an Icterine or a Melodious Warbler. Greenshank and
Oyster-catcher in the marsh. 4th. Pied Flycatchers still on the farm. Five
Swifts in a large flight of Swallows and House-Martins. 5th. Two Swifts
and three Pied Flycatchers. 6th. One Swift today. A large group of
Swallows and Martins at 7 p.m. 7th. Two Swifts on the farm. 8th. Thous-
ands of Swallows and Martins spread over the whole sky at a great height,
catching flies and drifting south. 9th. One Swift and three Yellow Wagtails.
Four Whimbrel circling the marsh and calling at dusk. 10th. A beautiful mature
cock Grey Wagtail in the roadway to Woodham. 11th. Dreadful weather,
corn lying rotting in the fields. 12th. Two Yellow Wagtails feeding amongst
the cows. 13th. A Chiffchaff singing in the willow tree. 14th. Yellow Wag-
tails still here. Swallows massing on telephone wires. Greenshank in the
marsh. 16th. Two Whimbrel flew west so high that they looked like specks
and would not have been seen if their calls had not attracted my attention.
17th. A mixed lot of wagtails feeding and squabbling below" the cowshed—
Pied, Yellow and, I think, Grey. 18th. Turtle Dove at Woodham. 19th.
Summer weather at last! Three Pied Flycatchers on the wire fence. Two
Yellow Wagtails on the field. A large Warbler (Icterine?) at Old Heath,
Southminster. Several of this species have been reported in Essex. 20th.
Wheatears on Hollington's marsh. 21st. Swallows massing on the wires in
hundreds. 23rd. Two Whitethroats eating blackberries. 25th. Two Wheat-
ears flew off the railroad in front of the train near Woodham. Groups of
about 50 Swallows and Martins here and there. 26th. Again two White-
throats eating blackberries on the same bush. Several Greenshank in the
marsh. 29th and 30th. Whitethroat in full song.
October 1st. Small groups of Swallows and Martins on the telephone
wires. 2nd. Two Willow-Warblers and a Chiffchaff working the plum trees.
Two House-Martins' nests have young peeping out. Thirty Swallows and
Martins on the station wires. 3rd. A Chiffchaff and a Blackcap in the same
plum tree. Greenshank in the marsh. 4th. Chiffchaff in song. 6th. A few
Swallows and Martins. A dead House-Martin was picked up and, searching
for the cause of its death, we found a large crab-like louse under one wing.
Years ago we also found one on a dead martin. 7th. Saw the first King-
fisher fly up the field. Twelve Long-tailed Tits in the dairy hedge. 9th to
15th. A few Swallows on most days. 15th. Redwings calling as they pass
over in bright moonlight. 17th. Twelve Swallows and Martins at noon.
18th. A Tree-Creeper in the orchard. 20th. Ten Swallows and Martins. 21st.