lit limes doling autumn on the lulls round the broads in the eastern eounties. 1 remarked tiro or three
small parties in winter plumage resting on one of the hills on llickling Broad after a gale of wind and
rough weather towards the end of September 1S75). Dunlins were also present in numbers, together
with Knots, a few Curlew, and Greenshauks. The tiny Stints, evidently exhausted hy the storm,
presented at a short distance the appearance of balls of white down as they rested on the dark green
grass of the hills, their heads turned over on their backs and the feathers of the breast puffed out to
the fullest extent.
Previous to the draining of a part of the flats known as the Nook at Bye, these birds were exceedingly
numerous during autumn; since 1861, however, when the sea-wall was built, they appear to have
gradually decreased in the district. At this time of year Stints usually joined in flocks with Curlew
Sandpipers, and for a season or two both species still continued to resort to the reclaimed laud, evidently
reluctant (though the ground was now sufficiently firm to afford grazing for sheep) to quit entirely the
vicinity of their old haunts. In September 1880 I obtained many specimens of this species showing
autumn plumage on the marshes and uu the mudflats round Bye, ami remarked a great difference hi
their size and weight.
A heavy gale of wind from the south and east not wnlil met llllj brings numbers on the coast or
Sussex so Into as October. About the middle of the month, in I860, Grey Phalaropcs, many in the last
stnge of exhaustion, were found for over a week in hundreds along the shore from Shorebam towards the
west; I also observed several worn-out parties of Stints and Grey Plovers. During the continuation of
the rough weather Dunlins and other Waders were conspicuous only by their absence. In all probability
these northern breeders had been on the passage in company from their summer-quarter* when overtaken
by the force of the storm, and driven hy the protracted buiTctings of the squalls from their accustomed
The fact that Dunlins (especially in autumn and winter plumage) are known in some localities as
Stints, has, I am of opinion, in many instances led to their having been recorded as specimens of this
species.
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