weather was very mild and wet, and no snow fell till after New Year's Day.
1901.
A fair number of Woodcock were seen and shot in the Dove Valley in January. Three were killed in one afternoon at Norbury, where it is usually rather a scarce bird. On Jan. 17th (not 27th, as stated in the 'Field') a Bittern was shot at Spondon. The Wild Ducks at Osmaston began to breed exceptionally early, and a nest with seven eggs was found on Feb. 27th, and another with four eggs on March 2nd. On March 18th a Starling's nest between Bradley and Ashburne contained four eggs, quite a month before the usual date. Curiously enough, this was the same place where a nest was found in January, 1898, with nearly fledged young ('Knowledge,' 1898). On April 17th a Long-eared Owl was put off a newly-built Magpie's nest in Bradley Wood, near Ashburne, which proved to contain one young Owl, two hard-sat eggs, and three mice. The Redshanks, which are annually increasing their breeding range in the Trent and Dove Valleys, made their appearance this spring for the first time in the meadows between Norbury and Calwich. Near Calwich Grey and Pied Wagtails nested within a few inches of one another in the hollow left in the masonry of a wall for the insertion of a plank bridge. Kingfishers' nests were, I am glad to say, very numerous during this season on the Dove. Mr. Storrs Fox has already recorded (Zool. 1901, p. 270) the Little Bustard shot at Middleton Top, near Youlgreave.
On examining a Hawfinch's nest found on May 20th, the lining was found to be composed entirely of pigs' bristles. In suitable spots these birds are quite common, and several pairs may be found breeding within a space of a few hundred yards. They are, however, exceedingly shy, and forsake their nests very readily if eggs have not been laid. Deserted nests are at once dismantled, and the lining frequently removed, probably to help in the construction of another nest.
A Nightingale was reported to me as singing in the Holly Wood, Snelston, on the 21st, and Mr. W.H. Walton ('Field,' May 25th, 1901) mentions two in full song at Ockbrook, and another at Mickleover. The eggs in a Redstart's nest, taken at Thorpe on May 22nd, were distinctly spotted. This type occurs
