17 JULY 1947, Page 18

Welcome the Immigrants Reports of an unusual influx of the

rarer birds continue to reach me, and all the instances are authentic. One concerns a Golden Oriole watched from nearby on the East Coast. Another concerns that most unmistakable of birds, the Avocet. An utterly surprised observer saw at fairly close quarters, though from the train (often a good observation point), half-a-dozen Avocets at the edge of the estuary by Barnstaple in Devon. For my own part, while in Norfolk I heard much—for all Norfolk people are naturalists—about the arrival of Avocets, Spoonbill and Osprey at various sanctuaries. As to the golden, liquid-throated Oriole, there seems to be no good reason why it should not be a frequent. nester in the South of England.