one to W. Cley and Blakeney, Sept. 15th, E., one shot. _G. cœlestis_,
Common Snipe, Kentish Knock L.V., Sept. 9th, several about, one
caught, were passing W. Cley and Blakeney, Sept. 16th, a considerable
arrival. There was a very considerable rush on to the East Coast in
the last fortnight in October, and again in November, from the Farn
Islands to Yarmouth; three distinct rushes at the dates Nov. 4th to
5th, S.W., half gale; 10th to 14th, S.E. winds; and 23rd to 29th,
N. and north-easterly winds; generally are reported to have been
very plentiful in the Eastern Counties in November and December.
_Limnocryptes gallinula_, Jack Snipe, very few records; the first July
31st, Farn L.H., one at noon to W.; a few at Great Cotes and Spurn last
half of October. In recent years this little bird has become extremely
scarce in the Humber district, and in localities where it was once very
common; compared with former times--twenty years ago--I do not see one
in ten now. Heligoland, Common Snipe and Jack Snipe, Oct. 17th, N.W.,
strong, some; 25th and 30th, some.
_Tringa alpina_, Dunlin.--Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept. 10th, great many,
some flocks containing thousands, and in August many in almost full
summer plumage (H. H. S.) Near Kilnsea, Sept. 26th, at early morning, I
saw an immense migratory flock on the beach which appeared very tired;
many of these still retained the black pectoral patch entire or more or
less broken. Great Cotes, a flight of 1000 to 1500 have resorted almost
daily at high-water, throughout the winter, to a fallow field near the
Humber.
_T. minuta_, Little Stint.--Blakeney and Cley, Sept. 5th, W.N.W., two,
and one Temminck's stint; also, Sept. 12th, E. to N., one Temminck's
Stint, very restless, and constantly uttering its queer cricket-like
notes (F. D. P.). Spurn, Sept. 26th, four Little Stints.
_T. striata_, Purple Sandpiper.--Spring: Farn, March 28th, many all
day on rocks. Autumn: Redcar, Oct. 16th, one; and 20th, four shot.
Blakeney, third week in October, one. Heligoland, Sept. 11th, E.S.E.
some.
_T. canutus_, Knot.--Redcar, July 23rd, S.W., first flock; Aug. 6th,
S. to S.W., a few. Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept. 10th, tolerably numerous,
some examples obtained were in almost full summer plumage; Sept. 26th
and forward through Nov., great many large flights at ebb tide crossing
from Lincolnshire coast to Spurn muds. Heligoland, enormous numbers of
Waders crossed Heligoland from the end of the third week in July to the
middle of September; July 20th, night, enormous numbers to W.; 22nd,
same; 22nd to 23rd, night, and to 25th, immense numbers; Sept. 16th,
flight of _tringa_, _totanus_, _charadrius_, all young.
_T. subarquata_, Curlew Sandpiper. Thanet, Aug. 16th, five. Spurn,
24th, one small flock. Blakeney, Sept. 5th, about a dozen; altogether
exceptionally scarce.
_Machetes pugnax_, Ruff.--Blakeney, Sept. 3rd, one Buff; Spurn, 4th,
about a dozen; Stourmouth, 10th, three; Great Cotes, 12th, twenty or
more; 18th, one Buff and seven Reeves.
_Calidris arenaria_, Sanderling. Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept. 10th, fairly
abundant, in small flocks; some obtained early bore traces of red on
their plumage (H. H. S.); Sept. 26th, a few. Heligoland, Sept. 3rd,
evening, great many over head.
_Tringoides hypoleucos_, Common Sandpiper.--Spurn, Aug. 20th to 26th,
a great many in the drains and also on the shore, but they soon left,
none seen after 26th (H. H. S.). Great Cotes, Sept. 1st, tolerably
numerous on autumn passage. Heligoland, July 22nd to 23rd, thousands.
_Helodromas ochropus._--Green Sandpiper.--Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept.
10th, tolerably common; "generally saw some every day at first, and
once five together, but latterly they were less plentiful" (H. H. S.).
Heligoland, July 22nd to 23rd, Red-shanks, Common Sandpiper, and Green
Sandpiper, thousands.
_Totanus glareola_, Wood Sandpiper.--Mouth of Stour, Aug. 16th, one
seen. Spurn, Aug. 21st, one, a female.
_T. calidris_, Redshank.--Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept. 10th, rare at
first, but rapidly increasing; on Sept. 1st, flock of about 200 (H.
H. S.). Blakeney and Cley, Sept. 6th, tolerably numerous, with other
Waders from 5 to 8.30 a.m. to W. Heligoland, July 1st, 2nd and 3rd,
solitary birds; 22nd to 23rd, thousands.
_T. canescens_, Greenshank. Spurn, Aug. 20th to Sept. 10th, "during the
first fortnight, a pair, or latterly one, at a small pond every day"
(H. H. S.). Cley and Blakeney, Sept. 5th, one, immature, shot; 10th,
S., "very fine, several in two's and three's, flying high and very
restless" (F. D. P.); altogether have been unusually scarce on East
Coast. Heligoland, Aug. 18th, young birds.
_Limosa lapponica_, Bar-tailed Godwit.--Redcar, July 22nd, E. light,
one; 29th, several flocks.
_Numenius phæopus_, Whimbrel.--Redcar, July 1st to 15th, a few passing,
and on to Aug. 13th. Great Cotes, July 30th, first heard on passage.
Cley and Blakeney, Sept. 9th, rather many to W. The last are recorded
from Tees L.V., Dec. 5th, five to N.E. Heligoland, nights of July 20th
to 23rd, W., enormous and countless numbers passing on; 27th to 28th,
great many; August 1st to 3rd, enormous; 10th, some; and on the 31st in
greater or less number.
_Numenius arquata_, Curlew.--Hanois L.H., July 10th, many young all day
about rocks. Flamborough L.H., 31st, during night. Spurn, Aug. 20th
to Sept. 10th, very plentiful. Great Cotes, Sept., first fortnight,
young birds most abundant. Wells, Norfolk, 27th, flock of about 200.
North-east Lincolnshire, October 30th, about sixty old birds in
turnip-field. Heligoland, Aug. 19th, young; 31st, many; Nov. 13th, 10
p.m., astounding numbers passing over.
Sterninæ, Terns.--Sandwich Tern (_S. cantiaca_).--Coquet L.H., April
16th, eight seen. Farn Islands, April 19th, noon, N.N.E., first heard;
30th, fifteen flying about breeding-place; May 18th, collected at
breeding-places; 25th, first eggs; June 13th, first young. Longstone
L.H., Sept. 1st, left and gone to sea. Arctic Tern (_S. macrura_), Farn
Islands, May 5th, first heard; 22nd, assembled at breeding-places;
25th; first eggs; left about the first week in September, a few
lingering to October 13th. _Terns generally._--Redcar, August 20th and
30th, Sept. 1st and 2nd, large numbers to south. Spurn, Sept. 3rd,
large mixed flocks of Arctic, Common, and some Lesser Tern daily to
south; less towards end of month. Redcar, Nov. 7th, one.
Larinæ, Gulls.--Herring Gull (_Larus argentatus_), Whitby L.H.,
Feb. 13th, S. 6, at daylight Gulls first came to cliffs; May 18th,
first young on wing; Aug. 29th, old and young left cliffs for
sea. Heligoland, Dec. 31st, enormous numbers of old birds. Lesser
black-backed Gull (_L. fuscus_), Longstone L.H., March 15th to 29th,
assembling at nesting-haunts; at Farn L.H., on 30th, Black-headed
Gull (_L. ridibundus_), Twigmoor, May 22nd, many young on ponds.
Little Gull (_L. minutus_), Whitby, July 15th, one seen on River Esk
along with Kittiwakes, by Mr. Backhouse. Yarmouth, Nov. 11th, one
shot, bird of second year. Heligoland, Oct. 30th, hundreds to lee
of island. _Gulls generally._--Flamborough, July 4th, great many
grey Gulls and Kittiwakes to S. Whitby, Sept. 9th, many to S. Spurn,
Sept. 25th to 28th, S.W. strong, great many young Herring and Lesser
black-backed Gulls continuously to south; they passed the cliff point
to the north of Easington lane end at the average rate of seventy
in fifteen minutes; the exact proportion of old and young in that
period was nineteen adult and forty-eight immature Lesser black-backed
Gulls, one Kittiwake, and two Terns; occasionally a few young Herring
Gulls passed, but the vast majority were immature _L. fuscus_. On the
average, 280 Gulls passed in the hour, all going south in the teeth of
a strong S.W. wind; rate of progress probably thirty miles an hour, and
average distance from coast 150 yards. This movement was continuous
for at least four days, and for ten hours on each day. Cromer, Oct.
11th, Mr. Gurney writes "We have had another of those strange passages
of Gulls which I have noticed at Cromer before. I reckoned that this
afternoon eighteen hundred passed in three-quarters of an hour, going
W.N.W., and probably ten thousand after 12 o'clock." Redcar, Oct. 20th
to 23rd, Gulls, chiefly young, _L. fuscus_ and _argentatus_, going
N.W. in flocks during morning; 24th, Kittiwakes very common at sea.
Orfordness, Nov. 10th, Gulls all day in flocks of twenty to thirty,
N.E. to S.W. Coast of Durham, 27th, _L. fuscus_ and _argentatus_,
immature birds in flocks of twenty to forty, flying north.
Stercorariinæ, Skuas.--Farn, July 23rd, two chasing Gulls. Grimsby,
Sept. 7th, one Richardson's Skua (_S. crepidatus_). Spurn, 26th, one
Pomatorhine Skua (_S. pomatorhinus_), the black variety. Redcar, Oct.
4th, one adult (black variety) shot at sea; 24th, two at 2 p.m. to E.
Heligoland, Oct. 30th, some.
Procellariidæ, Petrels.--Galloper L.V., Oct. 2nd, one Stormy Petrel
(_P. pelagica_). Coquet L.H., 4th, two caught at lantern. Dudgeon L.V.,
18th, one caught. Longstone L.H., 23rd, two caught "one the large
sort, the other small." Hasboro' L.V., Nov. 6th, one; 13th, three.
Redcar, 17th, 11 a.m., N., one. Heligoland, _P. pelagica_, Oct. 22nd,
one; 29th, two or three; 30th, one; Nov. 3rd, one. _P. leucorrhoa_,
Nov. 10th, one shot. _Fulmarus glacialis_, Fulmar, Heligoland, Oct.
22nd, one; 29th, two or three.
Colymbidæ, Divers.--Farn, April 7th, Great Northern Diver _C.
glacialis_, two to north; July 12th, two to north; Nov. 8th, five to
N.; Jan. 19th, 1885, two off island.
Podicipitidæ, Grebes.--_P. fluviatilis_, Little Grebe, Spurn, Nov.
10th, 8 p.m., one killed at low light. Heligoland, Oct. 25th, several
young shot.
Alcidæ, Auks.--Longstone L.H., Feb. 20th. Guillemot (_Lomvia troile_),
flying about breeding-places, but not settling; on March 22nd they
settled for the first time; but on the 26th, owing to the cold E.
wind, all went out to sea, returning again to the rocks on the 29th
with a W. and S.W. wind. Farn L.H. March 16th, hundreds flying round
nesting-quarters. Tees L.V., July 2nd, "a Guillemot came to the
light-ship and remained three weeks, disappeared suddenly, probably
shot." Redcar, Nov. 12th to 15th, great numbers to E. all day; Nov.
10th, Black Guillemot (_U. grylle_), young bird shot. Longstone L.H.,
April 17th, Puffin (_Fratercula arctica_), first seen. Redcar, Nov.
18th, 19th, 20th, Little Auk (_Mergulus alle_), great numbers at
sea. Farn Islands, Jan. 12th to 26th, 1885, great many off islands.
Heligoland, Nov. 13th, cliff crowded with Guillemots, never so early
before; Dec. 17th, W., thousands on cliffs, as in summer time.
Professor Chr. Fr. Lütken, of the Universitetets Zoologiske Museum,
Copenhagen, again forwards a list of birds killed against the
lighthouse of Stevns, on the projecting part of Zealand, marking the
limit between the Baltic and Oresund. The list has been drawn up by Mr.
Autander, a physician living in the neighbourhood of the lighthouse.
In forwarding the list, Mr. Autander observes that he has every reason
to think it very incomplete, as the interest bestowed upon it by the
officers of the lighthouse is rather indifferent; all birds fit to be
eaten are probably disposed of in this way, and do not always come
under his observation.
Stevns Fyr (Lighthouse of Stevns), 1884.
Night to--
Febr. 16th. Alauda arvensis 1.
" 18th. Ditto 1.
" 19th. Ditto 1.
" 21st. Sturnus vulgaris 1.
March 13th. Erythacus rubecula 1.
" 29th. Scolopax rusticula 1.
" " Tringa alpina 1.
May 1st. Sylvia hortensis 2.
" 6th. Saxicola œnanthe 2.
" 15th. Sylvia cinerea 1.
" " S. curruca 1.
" " Phylloscopus rufus 6.
" " Ruticilla phœnicurus 2.
" " Muscicapa atricapilla 2.
" " Sylvia hortensis 1.
July 23rd. Hæmatopus ostralegus 1.
" 26th. Turdus musicus 3.
" " Emberiza miliaria 1.
" " Fringilla montifringilla 1.
" " Jynx torquilla 1.
" " Saxicola œnanthe 5.
" 30th. Turdus musicus 7.
" " Motacilla alba 3.
" " Saxicola œnanthe 2.
" " Scolopax rusticula 1.
Oct. 5th. Fringilla cœlebs 1.
" 6th. Passer montanus 1.
" " Regulus cristatus 2.
" 11th. Turdus musicus 1.
" 13th. Turdus iliacus 1.
" 17th. Regulus cristatus 2.
" 22nd. Sturnus vulgaris 1.
" " Turdus iliacus 1.
" 23rd. Alauda arvensis 1.
" " Erythacus rubecula 1.
" 25th. Sturnus vulgaris 3.
" " Emberiza citrinella. 2.
" " Fringilla montifringilla 1.
" " Regulus cristatus 1.
" " Alauda arvensis 1.
Nov. 20th. Anas boschas 1.
" 29th. Linota linaria 1.
Dec. 8th. Alauda arvensis 1.
" 10th. Turdus viscivorus 1.
" 17th. Alauda arvensis 1.
" " Turdus iliacus 1.
Notes on Insects at the Lighthouses.
Under date of June 30th, Mr. Owen Boyle, of the Languard L.H., reports,
"a Sky Lark followed by a string of Bees. The plaintive cries of this
poor bird first attracted my attention, it flew so close that I almost
caught it; it was closely pursued by a large number of Bees, and in
its fright took to the water followed by its pursuers. When last seen
it was making for the Essex coast." July 31st, at 10.14 a.m., "a cloud
of mosquitoes pitched in this neighbourhood, similar to those seen in
India; most of them were carried off at noon by a light breeze."
Mr. Charles Williams, of the Hanois L.H., Guernsey, says, under date of
July 10th, "A great quantity of large ants with wings passing. A great
many settled on the rocks and about the lighthouse. I have only once
seen them before like this, when I was stationed at the South Bishop
Rock off the coast of Wales."
Heligoland, by Mr. Gätke.--Night, July 2nd to 3rd, thousands of _Plusia
gamma_; 3rd, myriads of Dragonflies; night, 21st to 22nd, great numbers
of _Bombyx neustria_, east to west; 22nd to 23rd, the same; 27th to
28th, numerous nights passing on.
General Remarks.
The report for the East Coast of England shows that a great migration
was carried on for six months in the autumn and winter of 1884-5. The
schedules returned indicate that no one place had special preference,
and that the inflow of migrants was equally distributed over the entire
coast line.
The southerly movement of migrants was well established in July, and
from this time to the end of the third week in January, 1885, there
has been a steady flow, with slight intermissions, of birds either
passing up the coast to the south or moving directly inland, the vast
majority coming from the east across the North Sea, and moving westward
or in westerly directions. Occasionally there have been heavy rushes or
persistent bird waves continuous for days, and even weeks.
The periods of migration occupied by different species vary greatly,
from four weeks to as many months; no general rule can be laid down in
this respect.
As a rule, the young birds of the year migrate independently of the
old, and some weeks in advance; there are, however, frequent exceptions
to this, more especially late in the season, when the flocks are
sometimes composed of old and young. With some of our shore birds,
as Grey Plover, Knot, Sanderling, a few old birds, still in summer
plumage, arrive very early in the season, some weeks later the main
body of the young, and lastly the bulk of the adults, the latter having
then assumed the ordinary winter dress.
The lines of migration have been those followed in previous years, the
vast majority of immigrants coming either directly from east to west or
from points south of east to others north of west. The records of birds
travelling from points north of east are comparatively exceptional.
There was an immense and continuous rush, a gigantic feathery tide, on
to the coast from the middle of October (15th) to the end of the month,
migrants arriving continuously night and day. This rush was continued
at some of the stations with but slight intermissions to the middle of
November. The last fortnight in October is the average annual period
of what may be called the "great rush" of immigrants on to the East
Coast of England.
In previous reports we have drawn attention to the fact of a migration
in opposite directions going on at the same time over the North Sea.
This is observed more particularly at southeastern stations, on light
vessels moored at many miles distance from the nearest land, where,
during the spring and autumn, the same species of birds, as Crows,
Rooks, Jackdaws, Starlings, Larks, Sparrows, Buntings and Finches,
are recorded crossing the North Sea moving from opposite quarters and
passing both towards the British coast and towards the Continent. This
apparently abnormal movement in opposite directions is again indicated
in the autumn and spring of 1884-5.
In a recent article in the 'Encyclopædia Britannica,' Professor Newton
tells us that "there is scarcely a bird of either the Palæarctic or
Nearctic regions, whose habits are at all well known, of which much
the same may not be said; and hence we are led to the conclusion
that every bird of the Northern Hemisphere is, to a greater or less
degree, migratory in some part or other of its range." There can be
no doubt that in this passage Professor Newton indicates the probable
explanation of the special phenomena attending a double migration as
recorded from time to time in our reports.
With very few exceptions, the vast majority of our British birds, such
as are generally considered habitual residents, the young invariably,
the old intermittingly, leave these islands in the autumn, their
place being taken by others, not always necessarily of the same
species, coming from more northern latitudes, or from districts of
Eastern Europe, where, on the approach of winter, the conditions of
locality and food-supply are found less favourable to existence.
These immigrants on the approach of spring leave, moving back to the
Continent on the same lines, but in the reverse direction to those
traversed in the autumn; at the same time, also, our own birds return
from the Continent to their nesting-quarters in these islands. To
give one instance, out of many which might be cited, that of the
Blackbird:--In the autumn, during September, the young of the year
leave their summer-quarters, and their place is shortly taken by
others, likewise young birds, coming in October and November from
districts which lie directly east or south-east of Great Britain.
Should our English winter prove generally severe, or even partially so,
our old birds will also leave, and in their place we have an influx of
old Blackbirds from the Continent, pushed forward by similar causes.
In the last autumn and winter, which has been exceedingly variable,
with many sudden changes of temperature, our East Coast reports show an
enormous migration of this species to have taken place. This commenced
on September 12th, and was continued at intervals throughout October,
becoming nearly continuous in November; after this intermittent, in
throbs and pulsations, up to the end of the third week in January,
1885. These influxes of old birds correlate with sudden changes of
temperature and outbreaks of severe weather on the Continent. In the
spring the continental visitors disappear, and our so-called resident
Blackbirds come back to their nesting-quarters. In this way we have
a regular interchange of birds in the spring and autumn,--a double
migration, carried on twice a year between the British Islands and the
Continent. As far as our knowledge extends the normal conditions of
locality and climate over the whole area are such as do not necessitate
a regular interchange of the members of their respective _avi-faunas_.
There is apparently no reason why our Rooks, Starlings, Sky Larks, and
Blackbirds should not be able to winter in England just as well as
abroad; their not doing so, but persistently migrating, is suggestive
of a regular succession of bird waves,--as one moves forward another
quickly follows in its wake. The southern limit of autumn migration,
in the individuals of any species, is in direct ratio to the breeding
range; such as nest in southern latitudes move still further south, and
thus make room for those of their sort which have nested further north.
Such are the ordinary phenomena of migration, a movement which is as
regular and persistent as the flow and ebb of the tide.[33]
[Footnote 33: Migration is a voluntary, and not a compulsory, movement;
and it must not be imagined that recurring bird waves actually push
each other forward. Young Blackbirds and Thrushes leave some weeks
in advance of the great rush of their continental allies; and it is
well known that Woodcocks, which breed in Great Britain, leave in the
autumn, before the arrival of the northern flights, a distinct interval
elapsing between the two events--the going and the coming.]
One of the last schedules received, at the time of going to press,
from the Cockle L.V., off the Norfolk coast, records immense flights
of Crows (probably Rooks), passing in a southeasterly direction to the
Continent early in March, 1885, commencing on the 2nd at 7 a.m., in
large numbers on the 6th at 6 a.m., and continuous from 6 a.m. to 8
a.m. on the 8th; large numbers again on the 9th at 5.30 a.m.
The notes under the head of separate species in the East Coast report
for 1884, indicate several movements of special interest. Blackbirds,
as has been already stated, have crossed the North Sea in extraordinary
numbers, commencing on September 12th and throughout October, and
immense numbers in November; on the 11th, 12th and 13th the rush
appears to have been continuous, night, and day, over the whole coast
line; after this intermittent to the end of the third week in January,
1885.
Another very interesting feature is the occurrence of the Arctic
Bluethroat in considerable numbers between September 8th and 16th;
eighty to one hundred were observed in one locality on the Norfolk
coast on the 12th.
The migration of the Gold-crested Wren was very pronounced. The first
are recorded on August 28th, and after this at various stations in
large numbers up to November 22nd. Eighty-seven days against ninety-two
in 1882, and eighty-two in 1883. The visible migration of this little
wanderer across Heligoland has been considerably below the average of
other years.
Pied Flycatchers arrived in large numbers from August 10th to September
17th. Across Heligoland also there was a great migration between August
10th and September 18th.
Immense numbers of Bing Doves are shown to have crossed from the
Continent between the 21st of October and the end of November. This
immigration appears to have covered the coast between Berwick and
Yarmouth. On our northern coasts for nine days, between November the
20th and 28th, the rush was continuous. Large numbers of Stock Doves
also crossed during the same period.
The main body of the Woodcocks generally arrive in two flights, known
to East-coast sportsmen as the "first flight," and after this the
"great flight." In the autumn of 1884 the immigration of this species
was most prolonged, commencing on September 1st, and continued onward
to January 20th, 1885, or 142 days. Four distinct rushes or flights are
also indicated,--October 5th and 6th; another on the 10th to the 16th;
a third, probably the "great flight," on the 28th; and again a very
large flight between November the 11th and 13th. Independent of these
there has been a constant dropping in by two or three together, or
singly, throughout the autumn and winter. Woodcocks have also crossed
Heligoland in the same desultory fashion; and the dates of the chief
flights will be found to correlate closely with the rushes on to our
East Coast.
In the latter part of November and early in December there was a
considerable arrival of Bitterns on the East Coast, probably driven
across by the severe weather on the Continent between November the 28th
and December 2nd.
Besides the Bluethroats, already noticed, several rare and casual
visitants have been recorded during the autumn. Two examples of the
Barred Warbler, one at Spurn Point and another on the Norfolk coast.
The Icterine Warbler, also on the Norfolk coast; and an Ortolan
Bunting, likewise from the same locality. The Lapland Bunting, in
Lincolnshire and Norfolk; Tengmalm's Owl, in Holderness; and a
rose-coloured Starling, near Spurn.