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Early Arrival of TernsAuthor(s): R. Pack-BeresfordSource: The Irish Naturalists' Journal, Vol. 8, No. 6 (Sep., 1944), p. 219Published by: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25533271 .
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Sept., 1944.] The Irish Naturalists' Journal. 219
fed the birds on the water, as they do daily, the Iceland Gull came but remained outside the others, some five or six yards from the bank, and tried to pick up any scraps it could. I fed it on several occasions, always favouring it by throwing the food near it. Soon it learned to catch the scraps in the air, and it gradually came nearer, but it never became quite so tame as the Herring Gulls. While feeding it viciously drove away the immature gulls, but yielded to the mature birds, usually with a loud protest in the form of a petulant scream much like a Herring Gull's, but thinner in volume and more shrill.
Dublin. P. G. KENNEDY, S.J.
YOUNG ROBINS FED BY MALE PIED WAGTAIL. In May, 1940, a pair of Pied Wagtails built within .about three feet
of a Robin's nest. For about a fortnight before the actual building was commenced the wagtails frequented the site (an ivy-clad wall)? courting, toying with building material, and seeking a" place in the
dvy. Just before the final site was selected a pair of robins came on the scene and began building almost at once. The wagtails tried to
drive them off at first, but then commenced building right beside the robins' nest at just the same height above the ground. The young robins hatched out two or .three days earlier than the wagtails and
were fed during these few days by the male wagtail, as well as by their own pai-ents. After the young wagtails had hatched I did not see the male wagtail feed the robins again. I did not see the male
wagtail arrive at the .robins' nest when either of the robins was about; I think he took good care not to ; he used to slip into the robins' nest in a rather furtive way.
It apparently was the hen wagtail that chose the site for the nest and did most, if not all, of the building. I often saw the male with
material in his beak but I did not actually see hirn building. He gave me the impression of toying with the material just to encourage the female to begin building.
" Uplands," Delgany, Co. Wicklow. KEVIN J. O'NEILL.
HOOPOE IN CO. TIPPERARY.
Mr. J. L. Johnston, of Holm Lea, Thurles, informed me that on or about 1st May this year a Hoopoe, Vpupa e. epops L., was frequenting the lawn in front of his house and through his courtesy I had the
pleasure of watching the bird for upwards of 40 minutes on 6th May, from a distance of from 50 to 80 yards.
It appeared to have a fawn-coloured head, neck and mantle, the general appearance of the rest of the body barred black and white ; the eye seen through binoculars appeared black
The crest, which I saw expanded once for a few seconds, was, when closed, brown with horizontal black bars.
The bird, though not shy, seemed to keep an eye upon us while it fed assiduously and in its progress across the lawn tapped or
hammered the ground. The head, with bill and crest, had a "pickaxe" like appearance.
In flight, when approaching a tree and about to alight, the bird reminded me of the Jay. The flight was undulating Though the lawn and grounds are hardly more than 60 yards broad and 200 yards Long, the visitor did not appear to frequent any other place in the neighbour
hood, which is on the edge of Thurles town. We were unable to ascertain where it roosted.
It was a very silent visitor, no call being heard during its stay. It remained for a week. It would be interesting to know if the bird
has been noted elsewhere.
Thurles, Co. Tipperary. LESLIE HUGGARD.
EARLY ARRIVAL OF TERNS. I saw terns (sp. ?) Ashing in the sea in front of my house on
Sunday, 9th April, 1944.
Woburn, Donaghadee, Co. Down. R. PACK-BERESFORD,
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