VOL. XLVI.] NOTES. 375

Transcription

1 374 NOTES. The winter food and ecological distribution of Greenland Whitefronted Geese in Britain. It has long been evident that the natural habitat and the distribution of the typical race of the White-fronted Goose (Anser a. albifrons) and of the Greenland form (Anser a. flavirostris) differ considerably. The former is a bird which frequents fresh marshes, pastures and saltings: very often the habitat of the latter in open winter weather is moorland, and peat-bogs such as are found on the west coast of Scotland, western Ireland and central Wales. Knowing that Whitefronts are grass-eaters I have been much puzzled by the fact that Greenland Whitefronts spend so much of their time in the most acid type of sphagnum peat-bog. I have now established that one of the principal winter food plants of Greenland Whitefronts during open weather is the root of cotton grass (Eriophorum angustifolium). When these geese are using an area of moorland and peat bog, if the precise locality is closely examined, it will be found that the stems and leaves of cotton grass are strewn about the surface of the water, only the root below the ground level having been eaten. The throats of two Greenland Whitefronts shot near a small mountain lake in Wales on January 10th, 1953, were packed with these roots almost up to the base of the head. I am indebted to Mr. Michael Leneghan, of Gwessalia, Co. Mayo, a local wildfowler who assisted me in tracing this food plant in Eire and also to Mr. E. Nelmes who has identified the plant specimens from Wales. W. A. CADMAN. [Mr. Cadman has kindly sent us some of the actual roots taken from the crops of the two Greenland White-fronted Geese shot in W T ales on January 10th, 1953, as well as specimens of the discarded leaves collected at the same place on that day. EDS.] Pheasant swimming and taking off from water. - At No. 2 reservoir, Barrow Gurney, Somerset, on November 30th, 1952, we flushed a hen Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) from a heap of snow on the bank. This bird rose to a height of approximately twenty feet and made to cross the reservoir, but having flown about half way it suddenly alighted on fairly choppy water and commenced to swim steadily towards the edge. It appeared in no way alarmed, and in fact it had swum at least thirty yards when, turning a little into the wind, it spread its wings to the fullest extent and, to our amazement, took flight again. It was last observed alighting on the bank, soon scurrying well out of sight. P. J. CHADWICK AND BERNARD KING. [There are a number of records of Pheasants swimming, but it seems unusual for such a land species as this to take off from water. EDS.]

2 VOL. XLVI.] NOTES. 375 Unusual nesting-site oi Red-legged Partridge. As The Handbook states that the Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) builds "exceptionally on top of a stack," I write to describe a nest at Lambourne End, Essex, during June, The nest was placed inside a four foot high pile of hay, alongside a stack. In one of the sloping sides of the pile, about one foot from the ground, was the entrance to a tunnel, approximately eight inches across. This tunnel ran straight into the hay for about nine inches, forked left, ran parallel to the outside, into a hollow, forked left again and came out. The tunnel, or burrow, therefore had two entrances which were two feet apart, so that the sitting bird could not be seen from the outside, unless one put one's face to one of the entrances and enlarged it. The eight eggs had hatched by July 17th. M. R. CHETTLEBURGH. Begging behaviour of Black-headed Gull. On April 15th, 1953, at a flash near Sandbach, Cheshire, I watched an immature Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) persistently assume a typical begging attitude towards a Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus). When first noticed the grebe was diving for food with the gull following it on the water. Each time the grebe surfaced the gull moved towards it, stretching the head and neck low over the water and with upward jerks of the head accompanied by the shrill hunger call of a young bird, it begged food as from a parent. When I revisited the flash on April 16th five Great Crested Grebes were present, each with an attendant Black-headed Gull. Four grebes were repeatedly harried by the gulls which flew above the water and swooped on them each time they surfaced. The fifth grebe was followed on the water by an immature gull which repeated the begging pattern outlined above. On neither occasion was the immature gull successful in obtaining food from the grebe which ignored its attentions. The predatory attacks of Black-headed Gulls on diving birds and particularly on Great Crested Grebes have already been described (cf. antea, vol. xxxviii, pp ), but the "begging" of food from other species does not appear to have been recorded and this note may serve to promote further observations. A. W. GOODIN. Guillemot incubating two eggs. On July 3rd, 1952, while watching incubating Guillemots (Uria aalge) on Puffin Island, N. Wales, we noticed one which was sitting in an unusual, and apparently uncomfortable, position. Closer examination it was possible by peering over the cliff top to watch the bird from a distance of 4 feet revealed that it was attempting to incubate two eggs and finding difficulty in covering them. Both eggs were of identical type (blotched turquoise), but one

3 376 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLVI. was paler than the other. No others of this type were within 10 feet. The thin ends of both eggs lay together and pointed in the normal direction, that is, towards the tail of the sitting bird. It was impossible for them to be incubated satisfactorily for as the bird sat almost half of each was clearly visible. The Guillemot also had great difficulty in stretching its legs wide enough apart to incubate in the normal manner. Unfortunately we were unable to observe if, and when, each egg hatched. The following year, at the end of June, a single egg of identical type was being incubated in the same hollow. The above facts strongly suggest that both eggs were laid by the single bird, although it is impossible to be certain of this. We can find no previous record of a Guillemot incubating 2 eggs. JAMES R. ENTWISTLE, MILES A. STANDISH AND KENNETH STANSFIELD. Little Owl "smoke-bathing". On December 26th, 1952, I observed a Little Owl (Athene noctua) "smoke-bathing" on a cottage chimney near East Wittering, Sussex. The bird was sitting on the rim of the chimney-pot, with wings fanned outwards over the path of the rising smoke. I can find no other record of a Little Owl "smoke-bathing" in this manner. C. R. TUBBS. [For observations on similar behaviour in certain other species, particularly Starlings [Sturnus vulgaris), see antea, vol. xl, p. 340 and vol. xli, pp. 83, 244. EDS.] Carrion Crow striking Lapwing in the air. _ Together with Miss E. Sager, W. Verplanck and G. van Beusekom I observed on April nth, 1953, how a Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) attacked a Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) in the air and succeeded in bringing it down. At about 6.30 a.m. we saw, just south of Monks' House near Seahouses in Northumberland, a Lapwing flying out across the beach with three Carrion Crows in hot pursuit. One Crow swooped down on the Lapwing and gave it a vicious peck. The Lapwing, though a little shaky, flew on, but immediately the Crow dashed down again and pecked it a second time, this time holding on with the bill. After a confused struggle the Lapwing tore itself free again, but the Crow gave chase once more and delivered another peck. This made the Lapwing fall down onto the beach. The three Crows prepared to land near it, but in the meantime several Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) had been attracted to the scene; we were also approaching, and this prevented them from alighting. When we reached the Lapwing it was in such a bad condition that we could pick it up. Both eyes were damaged, and there was a large wound under the wing. Blood dripped from the bill. We took the bird along to Monks' House, where Dr. E. A. R. Ennion kept it until it died the same day.

4 VOL. XLVI.] NOTES. 377 We are not aware of any similar record of this peregrinelike type of hunting by Carrion Crows. During a winter in the Angmagssalik district in East Greenland I often saw Ravens (C. corax) attack Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) in the same way, although I never saw them actually kill one. The local Eskimo however assured me that Ravens often kill Ptarmigan in flight. N. TINBERGEN. Curious behaviour of Carrion Crow. On April 16th, 1952, towards dusk, I was watching the antics of 3 pairs of Carrion Crows (Corvus- corone) among the branches of a tree on an Ayrshire farm. One bird while being chased landed on a slim branch and its pursuer in trying to perch beside it knocked it over. Instead of letting go it remained hanging on to the branch upside down, titlike, the pursuing bird meanwhile flying to another branch. I timed it for over a minute and I reckon it must have been hanging there for at least another minute before I started looking at my watch. It kept turning its head from side to side as if thoroughly enjoying the novelty of viewing the world from an unusual angle. In the end one of the other Crows, not the original pursuer, approaching closely, caused it to forsake its unorthodox perch and seek a normal one. NEIL MCINTYRE. [A comparable observation has already been published (antea, vol. xlii, p. 327). EDS.] Carrion Crow and Black-headed and Common Gulls "playing" with Objects in flight. With reference to the note by J. Denny (antea, vol. xliii, p. 333) on Hooded Crow (Corvus comix) dropping and catching an object in flight, and to a similar observation by A. C. C. Hervey (antea, vol. xliv, p. 69) for the Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), some personal observations may be of interest. On January 5th, 1952, in Richmond Park, Surrey, I noticed a Carrion Crow (C. corone) flying low over open ground carrying in its claws some object, several inches long, which appeared to be a stick or perhaps a bone. As I watched, the Crow dropped the object, alighted at once, then rose a few feet with the object in its bill. Then, flying slowly perhaps 10 to 15 feet above the ground, the Crow released it from its bill and immediately caught and held it in its feet for a short time before dropping it again to the ground. This time it alighted and rose again with the object in its bill before being lost to sight behind a rise in the ground. It should be noted that this form of play, as it appears to be, differed from that reported by Mr. Denny for the Hooded Crow in that the feet were used for catching. Although Carrion Crows are common in the neighbourhood, I have never noticed such behaviour before.

5 378 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLVI. With regard to gulls playing with objects in flight in my experience this is not uncommon. I have several times seen both Black-headed Gulls (L. ridibundus) and Common Gulls (L. canus) playing with dead leaves high over the Serpentine and Round Pond in London, particularly in windy but mild winter weather. The usual practice is to carry the leaf to a good height in the bill, drop it, swoop after it and catch it, and repeat this process several times. R. W. HAYMAN. Red-eyed Vireo in Ireland. On October 4th, 1951, a Redeyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) was found dead at Tuskar Rock, off Co. Wexford, where it had evidently been killed by striking the lighthouse. Many other migrants became casualties in the same night. Identification was kindly confirmed by Mr. J. D. MacDonald at the British Museum (Nat. Hist.) and the occurrence was reported in B.O.C. Bull., vol. 72, p. 37. Captain C. H. B. Grant also carefully examined the specimen and informed me that the plumage showed no trace of the bird's having been in captivity. A study of the weather charts shows how very suitable conditions were at the time for a west to east crossing of the North Atlantic. It is significant that during the week in which the Vireo occurred at Tuskar Rock an American Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta rubescens) was observed at Great Saltee which is within sight of Tuskar Rock (antea, vol. xlv, pp ). Careful consideration of the facts points to the probability that the bird was a genuine vagrant. ROBERT F. RUTTLEDGE. [Mr. Roger Tory Peterson has very kindly agreed to prepare coloured illustrations of the Red-eyed Vireo and, in connection with the Lundy record (see pp ), the American Robin (Turdus migratorius) and these will be published when they are ready. A preliminary discussion of the occurrence of American land-birds in Europe is made on pages EDS.] One Grey Wagtail killing another. On September 30th, 1952, I witnessed the drowning of one Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) by another. I was on the towpath of the River Kennet near its junction with the Thames, when I noticed what appeared to be two wagtails fluttering on the water near the far bank. One was on top of the other and seemed to be pressing the second bird's head under the water with its beak. I tried to find something to throw to frighten the aggressor, but I could find nothing so had to watch helplessly. After a short while the topmost wagtail flew onto a punt near by and puffed out its yellow breast. Its victim gave one last flutter and then lay still. The drift of the water and the upstream wind gradually brought it towards ray bank. It was quite dead when I lifted it out.

6 VOL. XLVI.] NOTES. 379 The murderer was a cock Grey Wagtail and its victim a young bird of the same species which had presumably trespassed into its territory. The two birds probably met in combat in the air and fell onto the water. B. B. BASSETT. Two pairs of Bullfinches nesting together in the same bush. Mr. H. H. Lancaster, of Brackenrigg, Windermere, has sent me an account of two pairs of Bullfinches (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) occupying adjacent nests in the same bush. These nests were also seen by Miss Sheila McLaren who confirms the occurrence. As there is no similar record in British Birds, nor, as far as I can find, anywhere else, the following summary of his observations may be of interest. At 6.30 a.m., on May 24th, 1953, Mr. Lancaster observed two pairs of Bullfinches in a small orchard. Both the females were feeding on the ground, and one was seen to enter a small gorse bush. The two males were very restless: one (male A, distinguishable by its rich dark breast) was continually trying to alight on the gorse bush which the female had entered, and was being driven off by the other male (male B, with a pale breast). Later that morning male B was seen perched on the gorse bush. After a few minutes male A arrived and was again driven off by male B, who then worked his way into the gorse bush. Inspection of the bush revealed a nest with 6 eggs. It was not until the next day, after an unsuccessful search for the nest of the other pair in the bushes near by, that another inspection of the gorse bush revealed a second nest containing 3 eggs, almost touching the first nest and partly concealed by it. On the next day male B was several times seen perched on the gorse bush and working his way into it, while male A was seen perched about 30 yards away. At 6 p.m. on June 4th, 5 young had hatched in the first nest (the sixth egg failed to hatch), and the second nest contained 5 eggs. On June 5th, at the same time, a watch was made on the nests, and male A was seen, for the first time, to enter the bush without interference from male B, who was also perched on the bush. On June 8th two young had hatched in the second nest, and on the 14th both nests contained 5 young. Both broods flew successfully, the first on June 17th and the second about 6 days later. It was particularly noticed that there was no aggressiveness between the males on and after June 5th, when one family had hatched. Unfortunately, however, it was not certain which nest belonged to which male. It was also noticed that when the feeding of the young was in full swing, no two birds would enter the gorse bush at the same time. While one bird went to feed the youngf the others would wait at a little distance. On one occasion

7 380 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLVI. three were seen waiting in a plum tree a few yards away, while the fourth was at the nests. D. W. SNOW. Early breeding of Crossbill in East Anglia. On January 14th, 1952, I examined an area in Suffolk for signs of breeding activity among Crossbills (Loxia curvirostra). At 2.15 p.m. I heard the chattering "sit-seecher, sit-seecher, sit-sit-seecher" characteristic of a fledgeling Crossbill awaiting food. From beneath a Scots pine, I saw the bird calling 6 ft. above me. The plumage in general was dull green, the grey-white breast was streaked with brown, the "cross" of the bill was barely noticeable and a tuft of down still adhered to the nape. In all respects this corresponded with juvenile plumage. There was no nest in the tree. An adult male Crossbill approached this bird, and caused the chattering to rise in pitch and tempo until it resembled the twittering of a Swallow (Hirundo rustica). No food passed; the male flew to another tree, and the fledgeling soon followed, beating its wings strongly, but tending nevertheless to lose height. The short unforked tail could be seen clearly in flight. I remained near the spot for an hour, and saw another juvenile being fed by both adults. On the morning of January 15th, Mr. L. R. Flack and I found three juveniles being fed, and again had a good view of one in flight. In a tree near by L.R.F. located a new but used nest, in which the brood was probably raised. On February 10th L.R.F. visited this site, and found a newlydead fledgling beneath this tree. (Two boys with air-guns had been seen there earlier in the day). To judge by its size and development it was one of the original brood I had seen on January 14th. The fledgling was preserved in spirit, and sent by me to the Department of Zoology, Cambridge. Dr. R. A. Hinde kindly examined the specimen and confirmed it to be a bird of the year, with the following measurements: bill 15mm., tail 52mm., wing 88mm., tarsus 17mm. The mandibles were not crossed. From previous experience I assumed that the juveniles first seen on January 14th were not less than four days out of the nest, and had probably spent in it. Adding an incubation period of c.14 days and a laying period of at least 3 days, it is reasonable to assume that building was begun in the first week of December, 1951, if not before. The Handbook gives the breeding season as: "some laying January and February," and in "Additions and corrections": "Some lay December." A. W. P. ROBERTSON. House Sparrow enlarging its nesting-site In 1947, 1948 and 1949 I was able to maintain observations upon a House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) which apparently excavated its own nest-

8 VOL. XLVI.] NOTES. 381 sites in an ornamental willow in a garden in Hove, Sussex. Each year the nest was situated in a cavity in the end of a vertical rotten branch some nine inches across; each winter the end of the branch broke away at the site of the previous year's nest; and each spring- the cock enlarged a new cavity lower in the side of the branch apparently to provide a new nesting-chamber inside the shell of the bark, with an entrance at the side. The cock would start visiting the hole on fine days in January and February, sitting in it, chirping, and removing beakfuls of rotten wood from the floor of the hole; he was observed in the act of ejecting chips on a considerable number of mornings, and a small pile of chips appeared beneath the hole during March. By April he was able to withdraw within the cavity which had been formed, and a normal nest was then built within it. and two broods reared. The process was observed over two springs, and probably occurred in a third ; the activities of the cock can perhaps best be regarded as assisting the natural process of decay, but the bird undoubtedly enlarged the hole. W. R. P. BOURNE. Sexual behaviour occurring as overflow activity in juvenile House Sparrow. On October nth, 1952, fourteen House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) were feeding on the lawn of my garden. One juvenile cock (his black bib just beginning to show) was hopping about with a downy white feather in his beak. The bird approached a dandelion stalk, about five inches high and ending in a seed head but denuded of pappus and seed. Straddling the stalk, the bird moved along it towards the head and when the head was approximately between his legs he copulated against it, his wings drooped and tail depressed in the usual manner. At the end of the act, the bird shook himself and hopped away, the feather still in his beak. This behaviour is interesting in that the dandelion head apparently presented sufficient stimulus for the release of copulation which thus occurred as an overflow activity, but it is surprising that the attempt was not directed towards one of the other sparrows (both sexes were present) which would have provided a more adequate stimulus-releasing situation E. M. BARRAUD.