268
THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
Little Gull: Larus minutus.
An irregular and uncommon winter visitor, of which about a
dozen specimens, most of them in immature plumage, are recorded
from Essex.
Yarrell says (25. iii. 544) : '' Dr. Waring gave Mr. Leadbeater a beautiful
adult specimen, in winter plumage, that was shot at the mouth of a small river in
Essex." In the List of Suffolk birds, by the Rev. J. Mitford, of Benhall, two are
recorded from Languard Fort (Jesse's Gleanings, vol. ii., p. 189), and on Sept. 3rd,
1885, two " cream-coloured Gulls " (probably of this species) were seen at Languard
L.H. (42. vii.), Mr. G. B. Ashmead records an adult in winter plumage (34. 1462)
shot early in Oct., 1868, on the Thames near Gravesend, when in company
with Common Terns. Dr. Bree says (32a) he possessed a male and a female
and two young birds, all in winter plumage, and shot at Brightlingsea in
Feb., 1870 ; also a bird of the year shot at West Mersea in Dec, 1874. Mr.
Kerry records (40. 52) one shot on the beach at Dovercourt on Aug. 24th, 1876,
an immature specimen shot in Harwich Harbour on Dec. 9th, 1876, and an adult
on Jan. 8th following (40. 259), and a second immature bird on the Dovercourt
beach on Jan. 10th, 1879 (40. iii. 182). In the Museum at Saffron Walden is a
young specimen in winter plumage caught on the wharf beside the River Stort
at Bishop Stortford about the year 1870 and presented by Edward Taylor, Esq.
An immature specimen was shot on the Thames, between Rainham and Grays, on
Sept. 20th, 1875 (29. Oct. 2), when flying in company with Terns. On Oct.
33th, 1889, a fine example, measuring 103/4 ins. in length, was shot at Brightling-
sea and preserved by Mr. Pettitt. In the Dictionary of the Thames it is stated
that "within the last twenty years we have noted the occurrence of eight or nine
individuals of this species in Blackwall Reach, at Rainham, Grays, and Graves-
end." Mr. Harting records (Birds of Middlesex, p. 254) one in nearly-mature
spring plumage from Blackwall Reach in the early spring of 1863. A bird of
the year with conspicuously-barred shoulders was shot off Mucking Light by
a Mr. Cooper early on Oct. 26th, 1889 (Harting—29. Oct. 19, and 40. xiv. 19). A
beautiful specimen, apparently in the plumage of the second year, was shot in
Harwich Harbour on Dec. 4th, 1889 (Kerry—40. xiv. 19), Mr. Arthur Wright,
of Maldon, shot one on the Blackwater in Feb., 1890 (Fitch). Mr. Hope observes
that it is " not uncommon in the immature plumage."
Sabine's Gull: Xenia sabini.
A scarce autumnal straggler to the British coasts from the
northern regions of Asia and North America. A single specimen
only has occurred in Essex.
Mr. Harting writes (Birds of Middlesex, p. 252) :—
"Early in September, 1862, Mr. J. Sorrell, of Trinity House, proceeded in a
boat towards the mouth of the Thames for the diversion of shooting Gulls, which,
at this season of the year, appear in some numbers ; and when nearly opposite
Blackwall he killed the rare specimen which is now before me,"
Mr. Harting adds a full description of this specimen, which was a bird of the
year. As Blackwall abuts on Bow Creek this may fairly be considered an Essex bird.
Great or Common Skua : Stercorarius catarrhactes. Locally,
"Turd-bird," "Dung-bird" (E. A. F.), or "Dung-eater" (E. A. F.).
A rare passing migrant, seen on the coast when migrating in