The report below was compiled by Lincolnshire ornithologist John Cordeaux for an 1873 edition of The Zoologist journal.
August, September and October, 1873.
Golden Plover: Aug. 9th. Saw two golden plovers with a flock of lapwings; one of these was in full summer plumage.
Grey Plover: Aug. 16th. First observed in their autumnal gration, apparently old birds.
Swift. — Aug. 16lh. When driving homeward across the "wolds" this afternoon, flocks of swifts kept passing over, at a considerable altitude, and flying south. A friend in this neighbourhood had observed the same thing during the day.
Wryneck and Pied Flycatcher. — Aug. 25th. Mr. Richardson, of Beverley, informs me that he shot a wryneck at Spurn on the 25th; also several immature pied flycatchers.
Grey Plover and Whimbrel. — Aug. 27th. Numerous on the river-flats.
Curlew Sandpiper. — Aug. 30th to Sept. 1st. Large migratory flocks seen in the Great Cotes marshes.
Green Sandpiper. — Sept. 3rd. A pair seen on the Ulceby beck.
Common Sandpiper. — Sept. 3rd, Rather numerous in our marshes during the autumnal migration, although entirely absent during the summer months.
Knot. — Sept. 10th. Flocks of young knots on the foreshores.
Starling. — Sept. 26th. This afternoon, which was very close and warm, there were hundreds of starlings, also peewits, rooks, and a flock of missel thrushes, hawking, like swallows, for insects. I watched them for some time, and can only conjecture their prey was the common cranefly, as on this day the air seemed very full of these insects.
Hooded Crow. — Oct. 9th. First seen. The main body came from the 18th to the 21st. On the latter day I was on the sea coast, near Tetney, and saw for several hours small parties of " hoodies," at short intervals, come in from the sea: they flew very low, and against a south-west wind with driving rain : they never swerved a yard to
avoid me, and I could have dropped many had they been worth the cartridge.
House Martin. — Oct. 10th. In a neighbouring parish, a pair were feeding their young, still in the nest, under the eaves of a dwelling-house.
Swift. — Oct. 10th. Last swift seen, apparently a young bird.
Chimney Swallow. — Oct. 14th. Last seen.
Godwit. — Oct. 16th. Since the commencement of the month very numerous on the coast: I have heard of four killed at a shot. On the 21st there were many on the sands near Tetney, mainly the young birds of the year.
Wild Geese.— Oct. 20th. First flight seen.
Brent Geese. — Oct. 21st. Saw a small flock on the coast this morning.
Brambling.— 'Oct. 2lst. A friend, who was shooting with me today, killed an old male brambling on the "Fitties," probably one having just arrived.
Grey Plover. — Oct. 21st. Saw numerous young birds on the coast; specimens obtained were in the golden spotted 'plumage, peculiar to the young only of the year. Also saw a fine old bird yet in full summer plumage ; indeed I could not perceive the slightest tendency to a change; the breast was as black as in a
late spring specimen, such as we see on our flats.
Snow Bunting. — Oct. 22nd. Saw the first snow bunting, and, on the following day flocks crossed the llumber into our marshes, coming from the direction of Spurn Point.
Woodcock. — Oct. 27th. The first flight came on the night of the 27th; wind E.N.E., rather thick and hazy on the sea, but clear above, and a very beautiful night. On the morning of the 28th, I got two couples in this parish. The same night, judging from what I saw passing over in early morning, and in the marsh hedgerows during the day, came across great numbers of fieldfares, blackbirds and thrushes, also thousands of larks; altogether a most extraordinary arrival of birds. The blackbirds were principally oung males.
