Common Partridge (Perdrix cinerea) - (12) - England, 1927

Grass under a small patch of brambles and furze. This was just a tiny spot that had been spared by the fire, about 2 yards square, and all around was black ashes. I should not have found it but for the bird leaving.

Saw swallow alight several times on the burnt surface. Could not see what for. Linnet with hard set eggs, song thrush with eggs. These partridge eggs helped to make nice cake.

Studham Common, Studham, Bedfordshire, June 12th.

Whitethroat (Sylvia cinerea) - (4) - England 1927

Blackthorn among furze and brambles. 3ft high.

This is a fine, large common, and Studham is a very small out of the way village. About half of the common has been recently burned and the new bracken shoots are not yet unfolding, so that it looks a dreary fire scorched waste. I saw where the nest of a pheasant had been burned. At junction of _______, Kensworth, Studham, Markyate Roads, I caught a fair specimen of Red Admiral, and took newly emerged Cinnabar Moth from roadside. Saw Small Skipper and Common Blue, and many Silverground Carpet Moths. Found wild strawberries almost ripe. Many nests in hedgerows. Leslie Goodman came with me, and we had a very enjoyable ramble under summerlike conditions.

Studham Common, Studham, Bedfordshire, June 12th.

Song Thrush (Turdus musicus) - (4) - England, 1927

Wild rose in mixed hedge. Gipsy Lane. 2.5ft high.

In this nest were 3 normal eggs and 1 very small egg, about as large as the egg of a yellowhammer. This is the first freak egg I have found of this species. Found the nest of a chaffinch very prettily placed in a fork of maple about 5ft from the ground, which contained 2 eggs.

Sundon, Bedfordshire, June 11th.

Linnet (Linota cannabina) - (2) - England, 1927

Hawthorn in mixed hedge. Deserted nest. Gipsy Lane. 5ft high.

Many blackbirds and song thrushes still with fresh eggs.

Sundon, Bedfordshire, June 11th.

Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) - (5) - England, 1927

Blackthorn. Hedgeside with other rank herbage, mixed hedge, Gipsy Lane (The Icknield Way). 2.5ft high.

This portion of the old Roman Road was a favourite hunting ground of my boyhood, and many a pocketful of speckled treasures have I brought home from it on a Saturday morning. We were always a little bit nervous on account of the gipsies who used to camp along the grassgrown track. Saw wood pigeon nest in maple about 10ft high, and a broken egg on the ground underneath. Many Silverground Carpet Moths on wing, and along the Leagrave-Chalton Road found several nests of linnet etc. from fledge young to fresh eggs.

Sundon, Bedfordshire, June 11th.

Little Owl (Athene noctua) - (3) - England, 1927

Hole in dead trunk of common elm in hedgerow, near to Rangley's Spinney. There is only the stump left of this tree, which was once a large one, and the hole was about 9ft from the ground. The bird sat very close, and had difficulty in making it leave the hole. The little owl frequently nests here in this hole. Gussie got the eggs for me, as my hand was too large to get in the hole, and his just managed it.

One eggs was smalller than the others, and was fresh, one of the others was much incubated, and one slightly. This place is quite near to Markham Hills, on which I found the nest of a green woodpecker in the broken off stump of what had been a large beech tree. Two holes had been bored in the rotting wood, and the bird was sitting in the top hole not many inches away, and about 12 to 14ft high. Could not make the bird leave, and had nothing with which to get the eggs, so had to leave them. On the hill slopes were Green Hairstreak, Griggled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Common Blue, Small Heath, Brimstone, Green Veined Whites, Orange Tip, Wall, Small Copper and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies. Took one Cistus Forester moth and moth caterpillars from wild rose and hawthorn. Rock rose in full bloom, also saw first wild roses in bloom at foot of hills.

Streatley, Bedfordshire, June 5th.

Common Partridge (Perdrix cinerea) - (8) - England, 1927

Grass with one or two stinging nettles, hedgeside. Green Lane leading from the New Bedford - Luton Road to Warden Hills, near foot of Warden Hills, near to Great Bramingham.

Several nests of Greenfinch also found here. In company with Leslie Goodman (Gussie). This seems a very small clutch for this bird.

Warden Hills, Bedfordshire, June 5th.

Redlegged Partridge (Cacabis rufa) - (5) - England, 1927

Under cover of very small hawthorn bush, in thick grass, very well hidden. Apparently deserted. There were 4 normal eggs, and one very small one about as big as a skylark's egg. This was at the Pegsdon end of the Hoo.

There seemed to be a scarcity of small birds' nests here, as the only good one we found was a yellowhammer, although it is apparently an ideal place for small bird. The air was full of some kind of small fly.

Lilley Hoo, Lilley, Hertfordshire, May 29th.

Pheasant (Phasianius colchicus) - (9) - England, 1927

Deserted nest in dead bushes and stinging nettles, in thick wood and bush. Much variation in this clutch.

Also saw another pheasant sitting on nest in open in short grass. The bird did not stir until I poked her with my butterfly net, when we found she had seven eggs which we did not disturb, as we already had sufficient. Found yellowhammer in hawthorn with 3 eggs. Many pheasant and partridge nests seem to be destroyed on the Hoo, all being eaten in the same way.

Lilley Hoo, Lilley, Hertfordshire, May 29th.

Blackbird (Turdus merula) - (2) - England, 1927

Large old mossy hawthorn in thick wood. The tree sloped sharply outwards and the nest was perched on the trunk itself about 10ft high. The nest was almost entirely constructed with green moss, and was exceedingly massive and well-built. It was grass-lined in usual way. There were 3 eggs, but I pinched one in getting down from the nest. Very boldly marked eggs.

It would almost seem sometimes that there are two distinct varieties of blackbirds, as these high tree nests are usually very different from the low ones, and the "bank blackbirds" of the country boys. Saw young song thrush fledged, and found several blackbirds with full clutches. Caught Green Hairstreak butterfly, and Mother Shipton, Wood Carpet and two more as yet unidentified moths. Many Small Heath on wing but very few other butterflies. Hawthorn blossom beautiful. Rock rose commencing to bloom. Leslie Goodman (Gussie) came with me, and we had a good ramble. Weather very nice. Called at "White Lion", Lilley, for refreshment on way home. House martins just building under eaves of "White Lion".

Lilley Hoo, Lilley, Hertfordshire, May 29th.

Chaffinch (Fringilla caelebs) - (5) - England, 1927

Blackthorn, hawthorn, wild rose, brambles and "Old Man's Beard", "Traveller's Joy" or wild clematis. Hedge by roadside. Mill Hill, Sundon - Chalton Road. About 5ft high.

The nest of a greenfinch, from which I obtained 5 eggs some time ago, has now another egg, apparently laid by the same bird, as the type is similar. This is a very rare occurrence in my experience. Saw Brimstone Moth, also numerous other small Geometers. Should be worth doing some "dusking" along hedgerows now.

Sundon, Bedfordshire, May 24th.

Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus) - (1) - England, 1927

Hole in elder in wood. Was able to break away wood with fingers to reach the eggs. There were ten eggs, but I found that when I reached home, and commenced to blow them, that they were too much incubated to clean, the only one I could clean was an addled one. The bird did not go from the nest until I touched it with my fingers. Much disappointed at not being able to preserve the whole of this fine clutch. The nest was 7ft from the ground, on the underside of the sharply sloping trunk, which was about 5 to 6 inches in diameter. I saw traces of two other pheasant nests having met with disaster.

Lilley Hoo, Lilley, Hertfordshire, May 22nd.

Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) - (9) - England, 1927

Among stinging nettles, on edge of hawthorn clump, with brambles and wild rose at base of, and fringing the hawthorn, which had attained almost the dimensions of a timber tree. Should not have found it but for the bird flying out close by my feet.

I started out for the Hoo at 7.45am, and arrived half an hour later, and found this nest almost as soon as I started searching but left them until I was ready to come away, so that I did not have that guilty feeling in case anyone spoke to me. This was a squally day, cold and showery, but with a few bright intervals. Saw not a single butterfly or moth on the Hoo, but saw nightjar and searched for its eggs without success. Saw male redbacked shrike, also turtle dove. Took pair of wood pigeon's eggs from large holly, but was disappointed to find they were too much incubated to clean without damage. This was a well constructed nest, perched on a large bare fork. Several blackbird and song thrush nests, and nightingales making spasmodic efforts at singing, and not succeeding much. Unable to find nightingale nest. Holly blooming. Saw one fine Spotted Orchis. Left the Hoo about 10.45 am, and called to see Laurie at Stopsley on way back. Had cup of tea and sandwich with her and then went on to Sundon by way of Badger's Hill and Old Bedford Road. Caught in storm on New Bedford Road, but arrived at Sundon safely. Aunt Polly there.

Lilley Hoo, Lilley, Hertfordshire, May 22nd.

Blackbird (Turdus merula) - (4) - England, 1927

Bramble, Traveller's Joy (Wild Clematis or Old Man's Beard), and hawthorn. Thick hedge. Roadside, Sundon - Streatley Road. 2.5ft from ground.

This hedge encloses the meadow known as "Home Close", immediately behind the Tythe Farm.

On May 19th I went with L. Goodman (Gussie), up the Hitchin Road and looked out for nests along the roadside. Found blackbird with 2 eggs immediately under, and 2ft from chaffinch with young in short hedge, also several others no eggs, and song thrush with one. Much game, also game-keepers.

Sundon, Bedfordshire, May 18th.

Bullfinch (Pyrrhula europaea) - (5) - England, 1927

Wild rose and hawthorn. High hedge by roadside. Between Gipsy Lane and Dog Kennel Hill. 3ft from ground.

Sundon, Bedfordshire, May 18th.

Greenfinch (Ligurinus chloris) - (5) - England, 1927

Bramble and hawthorn. High ledge by roadside, between Gipsy Lane and Dog Kennel Hill, Sundon - Leagrave Road. 6ft from ground.

This hedge is a favourite one for the hedge building birds to nest in, and is a sure place to find the redbacked shrike nesting. Horse chestnuts in blossom, and bean fields smelling beautifully.

Sundon, Bedfordshire, May 18th.

Greenfinch (Ligurinus chloris) - (3) - England, 1927

Hawthorn and bramble. High hedge by roadside, between Gipsy Lane and Dog Kennel Hill, Leagrave - Sundon Road. The nest was 6ft high.

This nest was deserted and in ruins, and there were four eggs, one of which fell through the bottom of the nest when I touched it. Gipsy Lane is part of the old Roman road "The Icknield Way", which crosses the country from East to West, and is now just a grass grown way in many places, though in others it is incorporated in the modern roads. Along here today I found Greenfinch with 6 eggs much incubated, whitethroat nearly ready for eggs and thrush's nest which had met with disaster. Caught no butterflies, though there were some on the wing, mostly Whites. Herb Robert blooming in quantity in Gipsy Lane. Along roadside found greenfinch with 2 eggs, bullfinch with 2, linnet with 5 much incubated, and blackbird with 1. Saw cock redbacked shrike in usual haunts. Cuckoos, numerous and in full song. Went to Harpenden to tea at Mrs Greenham's in evening.

Leagrave, Sundon, Bedfordshire, May 15th.

Reed Bunting (Emberiza schaenictus) - (2) - England, 1927

Small pollard willow stump. The nest was placed on the stump, among the growing branches, which were about 8ft high, the stump itself 1ft high.

The colour of the nest and eggs harmonized perfectly with the surroundings, and were a perfect example of protective colouration. About 20 yards from the bank of River Great Ouse, between Willington and Great Barford, Bedfordshire, May 8th. I found no other eggs on this trip, which I made on the pillion of Ron's Triumph. A perfect day in every respect. We had lunch on river bank, watched the fish and fed a swan with bread to induce him to come and sit for his portrait, which he did very nicely. 19 swans on river. Saw common sandpiper, yellow wagtail and plenty of moorhens. Everything dry, wanting rain very badly. Lots of Small Tortoishells, a Peacock, and many Whites on wing. Took a few Whites for collection. Saw no kingfishers. We went through Elstow going, and returned via Cardington, Cotton End, Dead Man's Cross and Shefford. I found a warbler nest ready for eggs, and bullfinch nest ready for eggs in hedge near cottage. Hedge garlic in full bloom. Saw first Orange Tip. May 7th, first swifts Winsdon Road. Redbacked Shrike near Gipsy Lane, Sundon, May 8th. Usual place.

River Great Ouse, Bedfordshire, May 8th.

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) - (5) - England, 1927

Old nest of magpie. Ash tree on steep hillside.

There were six eggs in this nest, but Ronald, who did the climb for me, lost one through a hole in his pocket. The nest was 50ft high, and is the same nest from which I obtained a clutch of five eggs of the same species on May 10th 1925, but these eggs are of a different type. It is wonderful how these magpie nests survive the rough winds for so many years with no repairs. Saw first cuckoo near here. Took one Green Hairstreak, no other butterflies on the wing on hills, though several Whites were to be seen in the village, also Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone. Tiger larvae very small yet. Dandelions and cowslips glorious. Fine bright day, but cool wind. Sharp frosts at night recently. In Sundon Church are numerous jackdaws, nesting, and near Harold's grave is a nest of young Song Thrushes. Greenfinch nearly ready for eggs on Blackberry Knoll. Wheatear in field, Harlington Road. The spring migrants not much in evidence yet. Saw no woodpeckers.

Coombes, Sundon, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, May 1st.

Turtle Dove (Turtur communis) - (2) - England, 1926

Hawthorn on edge of thicket, about 8ft from ground.

Took one Grizzled Skipper, and saw few Small Heath. Very bad insect season. Rock-rose in full bloom everywhere on the Hoo.

Lilley Hoo, Lilley, Hertfordshire, June 20th.

Yellow Bunting (Emberiza citrinella) - (3) - England, 1926

Grassy bank of valley, nest built on ground.

Scarcely any insects on wing, one or two Common Blue and Dingy Skipper.

Harlington Hill, Sundon, Bedfordshire, June 13th.

Corn Bunting (Emberiza miliaria) - (3) - England, 1926

Small blackthorn bush and stinging nettles on edge of deep ditch. Roadside between Blackberry Knoll and Gipsy Lane, Leagrave - Sundon Road. A few inches from ground.

Three would appear to be a common clutch with this species, though four is common, but I have never met with a clutch of five. This was a windy, wet and winterly day, hardly a butterfly or moth on the wing, though I took one or two on Harlington Hill by shaking hedges, Silverground Carpets and others unknown yet. Near spring at foot of Harlington Hill were young Sedge Warblers just hatching, and I saw a clutch of 6 whitethroat eggs in brambles along Gipsy Lane. Several cuckoos about the hills.

Leagrave, Bedfordshire, May 30th.

Corn Bunting (Emberiza miliaria) - (3) - England, 1926

Small blackthorn bush on edge of deep dish, roadside between Blackberry Knoll and Gipsy Lane, about 1ft from ground. Leagrave - Sundon Road.

This is a certain spot to find nests of this species.

Leagrave, Sundon, Bedfordshire, May 25th.

Hedgesparrow (Accentor modularis) - (5) - England, 1926

Small blackthorn bush on edge of deep ditch, roadside between Blackberry Knoll and Gipsy Lane, about 1ft from ground. Leagrave - Sundon Road.

Big batch of Tent caterpillars on blackthorn, Gipsy Lane, very small yet. Redbacked shrikes in usual haunt.

Leagrave, Sundon, Bedfordshire, May 26th.

Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) - (2) - England, 1926

On ground in grass.

I took these from nest of 6, the most cleverly hidden nest I ever found. There has been extensive fires on the Hoo, big tracts of bush and heather being spoilt.

Lilley Hoo, Lilley, Hertfordshire, Whit Monday, May 24th.

Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) - (6) - England, 1926

Brambles, about 1ft from ground, on edge of thicket.

Went to Lilley by bus, with Maggie, Glen and Bernard, lovely day, much warmer. Could not get bus home again, so had to walk after waiting three hours for bus. Came on to rain about 7.30pm. Called at "White Lion", Lilley for refreshments, which bucked us up for the homeward trek. Arrived home tired out about 10 o'clock. Caught many Carpet Moths of several kinds, also male Holly Blue buttterfly. Hawthorn very beautiful. Few Orange Tips on wing, and green woodpecker calling in woods.

Lilley Hoo, Lilley, Hertfordshire, Whit Monday, May 24th.

Little Grebe (Podicipes fluviatilis) - (1) - England, 1926

Was told they are common there. There were some gigantic burdocks by the river, and I saw cockchafers eating willow leaves. Ron took photos of river, locks, bridge, and "Anchor Inn". Nearly lost camera.

River Great Ouse, Great Barford, Bedfordshire, May 23rd.

Moorhen (Gallinula cloropus) - (4) - England, 1926

Nest built on crack willow, about 3ft above the water, and 9ft from bank. River Great Ouse between Great Barford and Willington.

In the nest was one egg differently coloured and shaped, which was broken by accident, and was much incubated. Tried to reach nest by way of a fallen log lying in the water, but the log would not bear my weight, so I caught hold of the branch of another willow to swing myself across. This branch broke off and dropped me into three feet of water, and I clambered onto the tree on which was the nest, soaked to above the waist, also one arm. It was a bit of a struggle to get back to the bank again, but managed it without another ducking. Misty morning, rather cool, but cleared a bit later. Went with Ron on motorbike. Caught Carpet Moths, also. Latticed Heath; Small, Large and Greenveined White butterflies. Saw kingfishers (pair). One came and sat on bridge within ten feet of us for some minutes. Saw mute swans on wing and common sandpiper. Found sedge warbler nests with 5, 5, and 3 eggs respectively. River very high.

River Great Ouse, Bedfordshire, Whit Sunday, May 23rd.

Hedgesparrow (Accentor modularis) Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) - (2-1) - England, 1926

Bramble and wild rose, by side of high hedge. Roadside between Gipsy Lane and Dog Kennel Hill, Leagrave - Sundon Road. 1ft from ground.

Hedgesparrow, Cuckoo. Very cold winterly day, only saw 3 butterflies onn wing. Took numbers of caterpillars of Drinker Moth by hedgesides, also Common Tiger caterpillars. Redbacked shrikes building in wild rose in same hedge as hedgesparrow nest. Saw the shrike near. Walked to Sundon with Maggie and little Glen, and back to Luton by bus. Tulips lovely in garden at Sundon.

Leagrave, Sundon, Bedfordshire, May 9th.

Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) - (2) - England, 1926

Top of young Scotch pine in group of pines on hilltop, 20ft from ground.

Very cold East wind, no insects on wing on hills except two or three humble bees. Later in the day, on the way home to Luton, I saw first Orange Tip of the year on Dog Kennel Hill, and a couple of Whites in Leagrave. Saw cuckoo near "Handpost" Streatley Road, and wheatear near Blackberry Knoll, Leagrave Road.

Markham Hills, Sundon, Bedfordshire, May 2nd.

Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) - (4) - England, 1926

Steps leading from belfry to tower of St. Mary's Church.

This church has partly repaired since 1925. I borrowed the key from the vicar (Mr Mundy). The nest was very massively built, and largely lined with scraps of paper, and was very deeply cupped. Rather cold day, not many butterflies on the wing, but saw Large and Greenveined Whites and Small Tortoiseshell. Magpie nest with 7 eggs in beech on Markham Hills. Cowslips coming into bloom, and saw hawthorn almost out at Sundon. Rather winterly aspect generally. Maggie and Glen came to Sundon dinnertime, and we all missed bus at Chalton Cross, and had to walk almost to Luton.

Sundon, Bedfordshire, April 18th.

Whitethroat (Sylvia cinerea) - (3) - England, 1925

Blackthorn bushes on bank, roadside, near Blackberry Knoll, Leagrave - Sundon Road. 1.5ft from ground.

On this day I saw on wing on Harlington Hill, Dark Green Fritillary, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Small Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell and Large White butterflies, also hundreds of cocoons of Six-Spot Burnet Moth, and a few on the wing. Yellow wort, rest harrow, wild thyme, greater knapweed, field scabious, and many other wild flowers blooming.

Leagrave, Sundon, Bedfordshire, July 12th.

Hedge Sparrow (Accentor modularis) - (4) - England, 1925

Blackthorn bushes on bank, roadside near Blackberry Knoll, Leagrave, Sundon Road. 2ft from ground.

Many nests still with fresh eggs in small bushes along roadsides, and many Meadow Brown and Ringlet butterflies. Chicory blooming near here, and recently hatched whitethroats.

Leagrave, Sundon, Bedfordshire, July 12th.

Corn Bunting (Emberiza miliaria) - (4) - England, 1925

Blackthorn bushes by hedgeside. Lower Sundon Road. 1.5ft from ground.

Perfect Six-Spot Burnet moths on wing near the "Handpost", near this nest. Very hot, sunny day.

Sundon, Bedfordshire, July 12th.

Yellow Bunting (Emberiza citrinella) - (1) - England, 1925

Blackthorn bushes, hedgeside, Gipsy Lane. 2.5ft from ground.

This lane is one of the old Salt Tracks, and is just a grass grown way, never used except by the farmers, and used to be a favourite camping ground of the Gipsies.

Sundon, Bedfordshire, June 28th.

Yellow Bunting (Emberiza citrinella) - (1) - England, 1925

Blackthorn and brambles. Roadside, top of Harlington Hill. 2.5ft from ground.

This egg was one of a nest of 4. Large Skipper, (perfect), Dingy Skipper, Small Heath, Ringlet, Small Blue butterflies on wing.

Sundon, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, June 21st.

Corn Bunting (Emberiza miliaria) - (4) - England, 1925

Small blackthorn bush with wild rose blooming among it, on edge of deep ditch by hedgeside, between Blackberry Knoll and Gipsy Lane. 2ft from ground.

Close by were 2 nests of whitethroat with 4 and 5 eggs respectively, also in blackthorn and hawthorn. This is a good time to find nests along the roadsides. Sowthistles and spear thistles growing luxuriantly in hedges and at entrance to Gipsy Lane was large colony of Peacock butterfly caterpillars on stinging nettles.

Leagrave, Sundon Road, Sundon, Bedfordshire, June 21st.

Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus streperus) - (1) - England, 1925

Reed bed between Great Barford and Willington.

(Per Reg Miller)

River Ouse, Bedfordshire, June 19th.

Blackbird (Turdus merula) - (1) - England, 1925

Elder hedge with wild hops entwined in it, by "The Pightle Path" near Sundon Post Office.

Sundon, Bedfordshire, June 14th.

Chaffinch (Fringilla caelebs) - (1) - England, 1925

Blackberry brambles. 5ft high.

On this day Maggie, Glen and I picniced on Lilley Hoo; made a fire and some good tea and enjoyed it immensely. This egg is indistinguishable from the egg of a bullfinch, and was one of 4. I did not take the others.

Lilley Hoo, Lilley, Hertfordshire, June 7th.

Garden Warbler (Sylvia hortensis) - (5) - England, 1925

Blackberry brambles among hawthorn, blackthorn, elder etc. About 3.5ft from ground.

This bird does not seem ever to use hair for a nest lining, only finer grasses and fibres than those of the outer structure. Wild roses coming into bloom. Buff Ermine moth on ground among heather. Young hedge sparrows fledged near.

Lilley Hoo, Lilley, Hertfordshire, June 7th.

Song Thrush (Turdus musicus) - (3) - England, 1925

Elder hedge that divides gardens from The 'Pightle' near Sundon Post Office.

A Sundon man named Charles Marlow, "Mike", has found the nest of a common snipe at Sundon. He saw the bird and is positive of its identity, and I saw one of the eggs, which was broken, and was certain that it was the egg of a snipe. I had no idea of this bird nesting near here before. Dad said these thrush's eggs were those of the "Whistling Thrush". On this day also I found two nests of willow warbler with young on Markham Hills.

Sundon, Bedforshire, June 2nd.

Robin (Erithacus rubecola) - (2) - England, 1925

On ground among grass at root of small, solitary hawthorn. Well hidden nest, richly coloured eggs.

Lilley Hoo, Lilley, Hertfordshire, June 1st.

Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) - (2) - England, 1925

On ground under heather, which in turn was under ash saplings and hawthorn.

These eggs were addled eggs which I found in a nest which had hatched safely off, and which had contained about 10 eggs. Saw nightjar close by, but could not find its eggs.

Lilley Hoo, Lilley, Hertfordshire, June 1st.

Wren (Troglodytes parrulus) - (7) - England, 1925

Blackberry brambles and rank herbage. 2ft from ground.

It seems very rare for the wren to lay more than 6 eggs. The nest of the wren is always a marvellous work, and the way it is fitted into, and blends with its widely differing situation, places it in the fore-front of British bird architecture. I saw one today fitted into the fork of a wild clematis or Traveller's joy stem and two in brambles. Wild roses just beginning to open.

Lilley Hoo, Lilley, Hertfordshire, June 1st, Whit Monday.

Bullfinch (Pyrrhula europaea) - (1) - England, 1925

Pollard willow, bank of River Great Ouse, about 7ft from ground.

The nest was placed on a bunch of twigs which grew outwards from the trunk, near the top, and rested against the trunk. The bird was sitting when I found it, and it contained 1 fresh egg, 1 egg too much incubated to clean, and 1 young one, two or three days old. The tree was one of a wood of pollard willows, which stood ankle deep in a most luxuriant growth of stinging nettles, burdock, and other rank herbage.

River Great Ouse, between Great Barford and Willington, Bedfordshire, May 31st.

Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus streperus) - (5) - England, 1925

Willows, in thick willow, reed and yellow flag patch, near locks on bank of River Great Ouse. About 3ft from ground.

This is a very marshy patch of ground, and I found 2 other nests of reed warbler in it, one in willows and reeds with 5 eggs V.M.I. and one with one egg in willows alone.

River Great Ouse, between Great Barford and Willington, Bedfordshire, May 31st.

Green Woodpecker (Gecinus viridis) - (3) - England, 1925

Ash tree in hedgerow of elder, hawthorn, crab, hazel etc. About 12ft from ground.

This tree had been broken off some long time before, and the nesting hole was almost at the top where the break occurred. Hole was about 15 inches deep, and was commenced the end of April or beginning of May. Appears to be at least two pairs of birds round here. Tree 10 to 12 inches in diameter at nest. To get these eggs I measured the depth of the hole with a piece of wire, and then bored into the bottom of the nest with a brace and bit an inch in diameter, when I was able to roll out the eggs onto my hand with a piece of wire. I then plugged up the hole with a piece of wood, hoping the birds would use it again.

Coombes, Sundon, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, May 24th.

Song Thrush (Turdus musicus) - (2) - England, 1925

Small elder bush among beech undergrowth. 4ft from ground.

These eggs are almost spot-less and formed part of a clutch of five, the other three being normal specimens, which I did not want. Beautiful warm sunny day, many butterflies, and woods almost at their best.

Markham Hills, Sundon, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, May 17th.

Great Tit (Parus major) - (7) - England, 1925

Hole in elder on wooded hillside. 6ft from ground.

On May 10th I found this nest and could not tell whether it had eggs or not, owing to the hole not going straight down, but as there was a small hole at the base of the nest (by which I was able to find the nest), I pulled out the nest with a piece of wire made into a hook, thinking that I could get the eggs that way, but found that the bird had not yet laid, so put the nesting materials all back into the hole, hoping that the bird would not desert. As I secured these 7 eggs a week later, the tit must have laid on the disarranged nest the following morning. I had to bore a hole into the tree with a carpenter's brace and bit to get the eggs, one of which was a little broken.

Coombes, Sundon, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, May 17th.

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) - (5) - England, 1925

Old nest of magpie. Ash tree on hillside. 50ft from ground.

This nest was about on a level with the top of the hill on whose side the tree was situated. The neighbouring ash was tenanted by a magpie who had built again on the old structure. This kestrel had added no lining to the nest, and there were many castings in the nest. This hillside is thickly wooded with elder about the base of the tree on which was the nest and there were numerous fine cuckoo pints among the elder. Saw first butterfly of the year here, Orange Tip.

Coombes, Sundon, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, May 10th.

Blackbird (Turdus merula) - (1) - England, 1925

Grassy bank. Valley on Harlington Hill. This nest was not near a bush at all, but just resting on the ground. As boys we used to call these "Bank Blackbirds", and believed them to be a different species. This egg was a heavily spotted specimen, one of five. The other four were normal.

Sundon, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, May 3rd.

Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) - (4) - England, 1925

Belfry steps in tower of St Mary's Church.

This nest was built on the step opposite a loophole, and was a large pile of sticks and rubbish, dry grass etc. It was impossible to walk up the steps without treading on some of the nest. Lower down was another nest almost ready for eggs, which took up two steps altogether, and almost a third. The church is now unused and ruinous.

Sundon, Bedfordshire, April 19th.

Little Owl (Athene noctua) - (4) - England, 1925

Hollow sycamore tree by field gate leading from Sundon - Leagrave Road to Dane Field. 6ft high.

The first egg was laid on Easter Monday, April 13th and was taken, after which the other three were laid. These owls seem to feed on field mice and have bred in this tree for years. On two occasions I have found half-eaten mice in the hollow. One nest of young at Sundon some years ago must have subsisted mainly on skylarks, as the feet of many larks were found in the nest. I kept two of these owls for two or three years.

Sundon, Bedfordshire, April 19th.

Homing Pigeon - (1) - England, 1924

Luton, Bedfordshire, July

Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa grisola) - (4) - England, 1924

Ivy clad beech, nest was placed on stump of small dead branch, which projected about 6 inches from trunk of tree, and was built against the trunk. This tree was growing on the remains of the old Roman Wall which enclosed the city of Verulam, and is approached along an ancient British causeway, along which St. Alban passed to matyrdom in the year AD303. The wall and moat is now beautifully wooded with a variety of trees and "Trespassers will be prosecuted" notices. (Reg Miller's find). About 12ft from ground.

St. Albans, Hertfordshire, July 6th.

Skylark (Alauda arvensis) - (4) - England, 1924

Grass field, close by E.W. Hudson & Co's cricket pitch.

Found by S. Folks (Tich). Within a few yards was the nest of a partridge with 16 eggs.

Biscot, Bedfordshire, June 27th.

Redbacked Shrike (Lanius collurio) - (1) - England, 1924

Very small freak egg, red variety, only egg in nest. Wild rose near Gipsy Lane, roadside hedge, Leagrave Road. No yolk in this egg. Nest 4.5ft from ground. This road near Gipsy Lane is a regular resort every year of these birds, which generally nest in wild rose.

Sundon, Bedfordshire, June 10th.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) - (1) - England, 1924

Small egg laid on ground of garden, 125 Russell Street, Luton (per Grace Hale).

Luton, Bedfordshire, May 31st.

Whinchat (Pratincola rubetra) - (6) - England, 1924

Grassy side of dell.

Totternhoe Knolls, Totternhoe, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, June 1st.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) - (2) - England, 1924

Under the slated roof of the old home, Sundon Post Office.

Sundon, Bedfordshire, May 26th.

Garden Warbler (Sylvia hortensis) - (3) - England, 1924

Blackthorn and nettle on edge of dense thicket of elder, holly etc. 1.5ft from ground. Holly blossom wonderful on this day.

Lilley Hoo, Lilley, Hertfordshire, May 25th.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) - (1) - England, 1924

Thatch of barns, "The Old Lodge", Sundon Road.

Dunstable, Sundon, Bedfordshire, May 25th.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) - (5) - England, 1924

Thatch of barns, "The Old Lodge", Sundon Road.

Dunstable, Sundon, Bedfordshire, May 25th.

Jay (Garrulus glandarius) - (5) - England, 1924

Ivy-clad hawthorn at foot of Markham Hills. 11 feet from ground.

Saw longeared owl close by.

Markham Hills, Sundon, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, May 11th.

Magpie (Pica rustica) - (8) - England, 1924

Half dead elder with dead brambles on wooded and bushy bank. 11ft from ground. Perfect Green Hairstreak butterflies on wing.

Markham Hills, Sundon, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, May 11th.

Linnet (Linota cannabina) - (4) - England, 1923

Blackberry brambles. Mixed hedge by roadside. 5ft from ground. Wild roses very beautiful on this day.

Leagrave (Sundon Road, near Dog Kennel Hill), Sundon, Bedfordshire, July 1st.

Corn Bunting (Emberiza miliaria) - (3) - England, 1923

Small blackthorn bush, among tall grass and other herbage on roadside, between Blackberry Knoll and Gipsy Lane. 1ft from ground. Many nests with eggs still along this road, including yellowhammer, linnet and redbacked shrike. The shrike's nest, which contained two eggs of the grey type, having a piece of rag woven halfway round the top and was built in blackberry brambles about 4ft high.

Leagrave (Sundon Road), Sundon, Bedfordshire, July 1st.

Turtle Dove (Turtur communis) - (2) - England, 1923

Hawthorn on edge of close thicket. 6.5ft from ground.

Lilley Hoo, Lilley, Hertfordshire, June 17th.

Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) - (2) - England, 1923

Hawthorn on steep hillside, very densely wooded with beech and hawthorn. 7ft from ground.

Markham Hills, Sundon, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, June 3rd.

Nightingale (Philomela luscinia) - (3) - England, 1923

Nettles and dead brambles in tangled thicket of elder, holly, hazel, hawthorn etc. 1ft from the ground.

In many places this thicket is impenetrable. There were 5 eggs, but owing to their being much incubated, 2 were broken in blowing. This was the first nest of this species I have ever found, though there are many of the birds in this place.

Lilley Hoo, Lilley, Hertfordshire, May 27th.

Blackbird (Turdus merula) - (1) - England, 1923

Lying without nest on ground, in tangled thicket of elder, holly, hazel, hawthorn etc.

Lilley Hoo, Hertfordshire, May 27th.

Magpie (Pica rustica) - (2) - England, 1923

Hawthorn. Hedge. 11ft from ground.

Small eggs from clutch of 7. On this occasion Ronald came with me and took 2 young magpies from nest of 5 in top of large ash. They are to be kept as pets at Sundon.

Coombes, Sundon, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, May 22nd.

Magpie (Pica rustica) - (2) - England, 1923

Hawthorn on thickly wooded bank. 11ft from ground.

Large eggs from clutch of 6.

Coombes, Sundon, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, May 22nd.

Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) - (2) - England, 1923

Grassy hillside.

Markham Hills, Sundon, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, May 22nd.

Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) - (4) - England, 1923

Roof of St Mary's Church.

This church is now ruinous and many birds have made a home of it. The belfry floor is thick with owl castings, twigs etc.

Sundon, Bedfordshire, Whit Monday, May 21st.

Hedge Sparrow (Accentor modularis) - (1) - England, 1923

Blackthorn stump in mixed hedge in ditch, roadside, Harlington - Sharpenhoe Road. 3ft from ground.

Harlington, Bedfordshire, May 21, Whit Monday.

Great Tit (Parus major) - (10) - England, 1923

Old nest of magpie. Beech tree in dell. 40ft from ground.

In the year 1921, I obtained 6 magpies eggs from this nest.

Markham Hills, Sundon, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, Whit Monday, May 21st.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) - (5) - England, 1923

Eaves of Sundon Vicarage (per Mr Mundy).

Sundon, Bedfordshire, May 10th.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) - (4) - England, 1923

Eaves of Sundon Vicarage (per Mr Mundy).

Sundon, Bedfordshire, May 10th.

Longeared Owl (Otus vulgaris) - (4) - England, 1923

Old nest of magpie, hawthorn on thickly wooded hillside, 10ft from ground.

Coombes, Sundon, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, May 13th.

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) - (6) - England, 1923

Old nest of magpie, Scotch pine, 30ft from ground.

Reg Miller brought them down in his cap, held in his teeth.

Sharpenhoe Clappers, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, May 6th.

Longeared Owl (Otus vulgaris) - (2) - England, 1923

Old nest of magpie, Scotch Pine, 30ft from ground.

These eggs were in a nest with 3 young owls in different stages of growth. Sharpenhoe Clappers is a steep hill crowned by beech and Scotch pine, and is an ideal home for predatory birds.

Sharpenhoe Clappers, Bedfordshire, May 6th, Chiltern Hills

Skylark (Alauda arvensis) - (1) - England, 1923

Large grass field (E.W. Hudson's C.C. ground)

Biscot, Bedfordshire, May 2nd.

Longeared Owl (Otus vulgaris) - (2) - England, 1923

Old nest of Magpie, Scotch Pine in dell, 40ft from ground.

This nest was built by magpies in the year 1912, when I obtained 4 eggs from it. The following year (1913) I obtained 3 eggs of the kestrel from it, and it has since been rebuilt by magpies, and twice used by longeared owls. In the year 1916 I found one dead young owl in the nest, with a freshly killed field mouse. It is now a two-storey structure. The magpie seems to be a home provider for many other birds, as I have also found both blackbird and great tit occupying their nests.

Markham Hills, Sundon, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, April 22nd.

Missel Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) - (2) - England, 1923

Elder, thickly wooded hillside. 10ft from ground.

Coombes, Sundon, Bedfordshire, Chiltern Hills, April 2nd.

Redbacked Shrike (Lanius collurio) - (1) - France, 1919

Thick bramble patch on bank of small stream among sandhills of English Channel coast, mouth of River Canche. (Red variety)

Etaples, while travelling from Beaurainville to Audruieq, May 19th.

Great Tit (Parus major) - (8) - France, 1919

Hole in Pollard Willow on bank of River Canche, about 7 feet from ground. Secured eggs with a hooked stick.

Marenla, May 17.

Biographical Details

My grandfather was born on 17th February 1891 at Sayell's Farm in Sundon, Bedfordshire. My memories of him stem from the latter part of his life, when he lived in Dunstable, where he died in 1975. He came from Sundon family - my great-grandfather ran the village Post Office at Sayell's Farm until he died. Grandpa Frank had one brother, Harold, who died in 1923.

He married my Grandma Margaret ('Maggie') on 24th January 1917. I don't remember Grandma Margaret at all as she died when I was a baby. Shortly after marrying Maggie, my grandfather joined the Royal Engineers. He was posted to France and Belgium on the 10th March to fight on the Western Front towards the end of the First World War. He still managed to keep up his interest in natural history, collecting eggs and going on many nature rambles during his time in the Department Pas-de-Calais. We still have many of his rambling diaries complete with many pressed flowers and other memorabilia from his time as a soldier. On being de-mobbed on 11th November 1919, he returned to his home stomping ground and spent the majority of his working life at E.W. Hudson & Co Engineering Works in Luton.

Despite his career in Engineering, Grandpa Frank was an academic at heart. In addition to his encyclopaedic natural knowledge, he also quoted Shakespeare at will and had a fondness for Brer Rabbit! He wrote incessantly: nature notes, diaries, articles ... for himself and for others, it wasn't important. He was an extremely talented artist, his drawings accurate to the smallest detail, skills all of his grandchildren have inherited to varying degrees. I can only hope that this is some small way to commemorate those skills.

A Bit of Background

This is a collection of notes made by my grandfather, Frank Horsler, a devoted and meticulous naturalist. They accompany an extensive collection of bird eggs that he made during the earlier part of the 20th Century when this was an accepted form of natural history study. Although, nowadays, the practice of egg collecting seems somewhat barbaric, my grandfather's collection and the notes he made provide a rich record of the wildlife and countryside as it was in a bygone age. In reproducing his writing in the form of a blog (something that would have been beyond conception at the time of his death in the early 1970s, let alone at the time his observations were recorded), I hope to make it more accessible to all his family and also to anyone else who happens upon it and shares an interest in the natural world.