East Coast stations of Isle of May and Bell Rock usually giving heavier
returns than the West Coast stations S. of Clyde, is not far to seek
for. The heaviest rushes at Isle of Man, and all down the West Coast
S. of Clyde, occurred between the 15th to 21st and 26th October (see
under Chickens Rock especially), while at Isle of May, Firth of Forth,
no great movements of birds were visible. The winds on East Coast
of Scotland were N. and E., and rarely W., but at Isle of Man and
West Coast southerly and westerly. The migration on East Coast was
pressed down on to the East English Coast by northerly winds. But on
the West Coast birds travelled with light arid most favourable winds,
concentrating their forces at the central and commanding stations
of the Isle of Man. We regret we have no returns from the other
Isle of Man stations. I hope the men are not disheartened by the
non-appearance for two years of the West Coast of England Report which
was entrusted to Mr. Philip M. Kermode. We earnestly hope they will
now continue to send in schedules, the Isle of Man stations being most
important.
The rapid increase of the Stock Dove in South and Central Scotland
is very remarkable. They appeared commonly in East Stirlingshire in
1884-85, and have been nesting for some years in the Vale of Menteith,
one of the high roads of migration. Many crossed the North Sea this
past season to the East English coasts. Migration undoubtedly has a
great influence upon extension of range, and the process seems easy to
trace out; and it is very interesting also to find a similar extension
of the Stock Dove to the rabbit-burrows of the sandy coast of Moray of
late years (_auct._ Rev. Dr. Gordon and Capt. Dunbar Brander).
It appears useful in this place to speak of the comparative numbers
of Woodcocks in the past six years. At the conclusion of our General
Remarks on the last Report (1883) we called attention to the unusually
large movement of Woodcocks, and to the area which appeared to have
been principally selected by them before their final departure for N.
Europe. As mentioned already (Report 1883), we had very few indications
of their passage over Isle of May or East Coast lighthouse stations;
and all stations returning any mark them as "rare" (see Report, 1882)
or "rare in spring." Pentland Skerries, Bell Rock and Isle of May in
six years have only recorded amongst them an infinitesimal number of
spring records, and almost always with the remark "rare."
In 1879, which was a good Woodcock year in Scotland, we have not
a single lighthouse record from either W. or E. Coasts. Yet I saw
nineteen killed one day near here. In 1880, no records. In 1881,
no spring records and scarce in autumn. Records at Butt of Lewis,
Skerryvore and Lismore. Earliest, Oct. 28th. In 1882, a few spring
records, one at Isle of May, April 9th ("not remembered before at this
season," J. A.) Considerable and steady records, however, in autumn
at five stations, north of Pentland Skerries inclusive, and at Isle
of May. Rush Oct. 20th (twenty shot at Isle of May). In 1883, one
record in spring at Bell Rock, April 7th, and rare in autumn; none till
October, when a few at Monach Isle, Dhuheartach, Lismore, Loch Ryan,
and in November at Kyleakin and Lismore, all between 29th and 31st
Oct., indicating a rush. In 1884, which was a good Woodcock season on
shore, with immense spring returns visible between Firths of Forth and
Clyde, yet only two spring records at Pentland Skerries and Isle of
May, April 3rd and March 30th respectively. In autumn, near this, one
day I saw eighteen Woodcocks killed. The similarity of circumstances of
1879 and 1880 are worth attention. A considerable number of Woodcocks
were killed in October and November, 1884, at Isle of May, and
indications of arrivals very general. The spring records must have been
weakly birds (one was disabled), as they appeared long after the spring
return rush, great numbers being observable on land on 8th, 9th, 10th
to 12th March. Indeed it would almost appear that any records sent from
Island- or East-Coast stations during spring were of probably maimed or
weakly birds, or birds delayed long after the "return of the Woodcocks"
in March. As before remarked, the spring birds were all small russet
cocks, and they rested 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th March between Firths
of Forth and Clyde, "lifted" again, and did not alight till they had
crossed the German Ocean (see 1883 Report, pp. 80, 81). The autumn rush
was considerably later than usual in 1884 (see details).
Regarding the unusually extensive migration of Gulls to our coasts in
1884-85, several suggestions as to the influencing causes are readily
at hand, but the following appears to have the greatest weight and
importance.
As we are informed in 'Nature,' of Feb. 12th, 1885, recent Norwegian
explorations in the Spitzbergen seas show that the year 1884 was a very
remarkable ice year. "The west side of Spitzbergen was blocked by a
belt of land ice the whole summer through, whilst the east side, which
is nearly always blocked with ice, was more open than it had been for
many years. These conditions, there seems little doubt, depend on the
prevailing direction of the winds."
Now, the temperature of water having been lowered by the accumulation
of ice along the W. coast of Spitzbergen, which is comparatively
approximate to the furthest N.E. influence of the Gulf Stream, it
seems natural to suppose that a deflection of the branch of the Gulf
Stream, caused by the colder Arctic ice and current, the accumulation
of which former was caused by the prevailing N. and E. winds on the
Arctic Seas, would reach round past the S. end of Spitzbergen to the
East Coast, and would cause the unusually open sea there. But the main
channel of the Gulf Stream would still be towards the S.W., and would
afford the natural outlet for all manner of ocean life, which requires
certain temperatures; and which, such as Entomostraca, Copepods,
Molluscan larvæ, &c., afford food to other higher organisms.
The great quantity of such food which in ordinary summers and autumns
accumulate around the shores of Spitzbergen, or in the warm shallow
summer seas off the N. coast of Europe, no doubt retire to deeper water
on the approach of winter. In unusually cold seasons the retreat is
continued, following the course of the milder Gulf Stream until more
temperate seas are reached.
In the course of its retreat it is discovered by vast shoals of fish,
which pursue these minute forms of life even to the uttermost limits
of its possible extension, up certain firths arid inlets of our East
Coast of Scotland. Naturally also the last link of the migratory chain
is taken up by the enormous population of Gulls and other species of
sea-fowl, as we know has been the case in the winter of 1884-5 in the
Firth of Forth.
In the log of the steam whaler 'Eclipse,' Captain D. Gray (see Report,
_antea_, p. 7) in summer, repeated mention is made of the unusual
abundance of "whale food" in the Spitzbergen seas, and I am indebted
also to Captain Gray, through Mr. Thomas Southwell, of Norwich, for a
return of sea-temperatures of the same seas.
Mr. Hugh R. Milne, of the Marine Station at Granton, sends me some
temperatures taken from the Firth of Forth, extending over June,
1884, to January, 1885, taken at three points, _viz._, Isle of May,
Queensferry, and near Alloa. These data, in connection with the vast
swarms of sprats or garvies (_Clupea sprattus_) and the attendant
thousands of Gulls, are useful for future comparisons, and I append
them here. It would be interesting to know similarly taken temperatures
of the Tay Estuary, which was completely deserted this season by these
migratory fish, and consequently by the birds also. If we had also
means of knowing the temperatures of the Firth of Forth in 1872-73,
when a similar vast migration of Sprats and Gulls was witnessed, such
data would assuredly lead to most interesting, useful, and scientific
results.
One great difference in the migration of Gulls in 1884-5 from that of
1872-3 is that in 1884-5 there were very few Glaucous Gulls (_Larus
glaucus_) or Iceland Gulls (_L. islandicus_), but in 1872-3 both these
species were in vast numbers, comparatively speaking. It seems to me
possible that the 1872-3 migration indicated by these Arctic Gulls was
of even wider and more extensive influence than that of 1884-5. But of
course there is room here for still further elucidation and collection
of statistics.
Again, while the Tay usually is visited by sprats in great sprat
seasons, equally, or nearly so, with the Forth, and was so visited
in 1872-3 though not to the extent that the Forth was, in 1884-5
it appears to have been almost utterly deserted by fish and bird
alike. The cause was, no doubt, comparative scarcity of entomostracan
life, dependent, most likely, upon certain undefined conditions
of sea-temperatures, affected, possibly, from the river-basin
of Tay and its tributaries. If light can be thrown upon these
not-difficult-to-ascertain data, in a few years, at most, much of our
uncertainty as to causes and effects of migration of Entomostraca,
Sea-fish, and even Salmon and migratory Salmonidæ will be removed.
_Temperatures of the Firth of Forth, June, 1884 to January, 1885._
Isle of May. Queensferry. Near Alloa.
June (1884) 51 53 58
July (52) 58 (60)
August 54 (59) (65)
September (53) 54 58
October 53 52 51
November 49 47 45
December 44 41 (38)
January (1885) (43) 39 35
Range of surface }
temperature } 10° 20° 30°
of the water }
_Note._--The figures in brackets were not observed, but are entered
hypothetically.
Mr. Milne, in writing to me, adds, "I believe that in hot summer days
the temperature at Alloa would be 70° or more, and during severe winter
weather would certainly be down to 32°. My belief is that in October
and April the temperature is uniform all over the Firth, and from
April till October it is higher at Alloa than at the Isle of May, the
difference attaining a maximum between July and August. From October to
April it is lower at Alloa than at the May, the difference attaining a
maximum about the end of the year. The maximum difference between the
two places will be about 10° or 12°, giving a rate of change of 0° 2′
per mile." Suspended matter taken in ten samples at Kincardine on Forth
varied from 5 to 20 grains per gallon, averaging about 10 grains.
_Note._--It was at Kincardine on Forth, the narrowest part of the
Firth, between Alloa and Borrowstoness, that the greatest quantities of
sprats were taken.
I personally visited Kincardine several times both in 1872-3 and
1884-5, and witnessed the extraordinary congregation of Gulls and
the myriads of sprats. In 1884-5 one smack anchored off the pier
at Kincardine took 16 tons of garvies (or sprats) during one tide.
There were, in all, some twenty smacks all lying anchored at this
narrow part of the Firth, but all of these were not fishing with the
small meshed nets; some for herrings only. Hundreds of tons were sold
at from 14_s._ to, latterly, 8_s._ a ton, and were spread over the
adjoining farm lands for manure. Hundreds of tons more were sold for
making up a compost manure--being in themselves considered too rich
in phosphates--to a firm in Alloa. Hundreds of tons more besprinkled
the mud-flats at low tide, or hung by their gills in festoons along
the tangle covered timbers of the piers. The water itself was alive
with them, and every wave that broke on the lower piers left the piers
covered with glittering garvies. A man with a minnow landing-net could
have caught an indefinite number by sweeping each wave as it came in.
Mr. J. T. Cunninghame, of the Scottish Marine Zoological Station,
Granton, in reply to inquiries, tells me that "his notes dating 28th
Nov. show that Copepods were very numerous and varied in the Firth of
Forth, as were also Molluscan larvæ." The temperatures of the water, as
will be seen by Mr. Milne's notes in December and January, 1885, were
lower than at any other time of the year being (38) and 35 near Alloa
(and Kincardine) as compared with 41 and 39 at Queensferry, and 44 and
43 at Isle of May. By the 17th Nov., as is recorded in our Migration
Report, garvies are reported as very abundant around the Isle of May,
at which time the temperature at that point was 49° against 47° at
Queensferry and 45° at Alloa. These shoals were accompanied by great
numbers of Gulls at Isle of May.
As early as March, 1884, vast numbers of Gulls are reported to have
been fishing off N. Unst in Shetland for many weeks together, such an
assemblage never having been observed before by the oldest inhabitant.
I feel convinced that a steady and carefully recorded journal of bird
movements will result in very extensive additions to our knowledge of
the natural laws which govern them.
In conclusion, I may say that in the course of another year's work we
hope to be able to produce some certain data regarding this matter of
relative conditions of the temperatures of the Arctic Ocean in 1884-5,
and the data already given above, from inquiries now being made by
Mr. Alexander Buchan of the Scottish Meteorological Society; also
the connections between such data and the migrations of Entomostraca
and "whales food"; also to institute a comparison with similar or
dissimilar conditions in other years.
* * * * *
Mr. William Evans, a most careful and excellent Field Naturalist, sends
me records of the occurrence of high Arctic birds on the Firth of Forth
in 1884. The Grey Plover, Knot, and Bar-tailed Godwit were seen on the
9th August (which, however, was the first day Mr. Evans visited the
shore). The Sanderling was seen on the 14th August, and the Little
Stint on the 20th.
* * * * *
Anticipatory of our 1885 Report, it may interest our readers here
to learn that the spring migration of 1885 has developed still more
extraordinary results, such as the migration of Pied Flycatchers dining
the first week in May, past Pentland Skerries, Isle of May, and other
stations; and the occurrence of such rarities as Ortolan Buntings,
Red-backed Shrike, &c., at Isle of May about the same time. White
Wagtails also have been commonly observed at land-stations. (_Vide_ R.
Gray, Esq.)
WEST COAST OF ENGLAND AND WALES.
Schedules were sent to the forty-four lighthouses and light-vessels
on the West Coast of England and Wales, and from twenty-five of them
returns have been received.
The following is an enumeration of the stations, taken in order from
north to south, those from which returns were furnished being marked
with an asterisk:--
No. on
Map.
*119. L.V. Bahama Bank John West.
*120. L.H. St. Bees Henry Nott.
*121. L.V. Selker D. Kneale and ---- Cumming.
*122. L.V. Morecambe Bay Henry Clavell.
*123. L.V. Dee S. Woek and J. Clague.
124. L.H. Air.
125. L.H. Menai.
126. L.H. Skerries.
127. L.H. Holyhead Breakwater.
*128. L.H. South Stack William E. Burgess.
*129. L.V. Carnarvon Bay Henry Hughes.
*130. L.H. St. Tudwall's W. Monk.
*131. L.H. Bardsey Island Thomas Bowen.
132. L.V. Cardigan Bay.
*133. L.H. South Bishop A. Hills.
*134. L.H. Smalls Richard Evans.
135. L.H. Great Castle Head.
*136. L.H. Milford George Baker.
*137. L.H. Caldy William Ebben.
*138. L.V. Helwick Thomas Cornell.
*139. L.V. Scarweather P. Frost.
*140. L.H. Nash (E.) Henry Nicholas.
141. L.H. Breaksea.
*142. L.H. Flatholm W. Dale.
143. L.V. English and Welsh Grounds.
*144. L.H. Usk A. Russell.
145. L.H. Avon.
146. L.H. Burnham.
*147. L.H. Bull Point George Knott.
*148. L.H. Bideford Bar Thomas Gilpin.
149. L.H. Lundy.
150. L.H. Hartland Point.
151. L.H. Trevose Head.
*152. L.H. Godrevy Richard Trahair.
*153. L.H. Longships J. W. Watson and Wm. Davies.
154. L.V. Sevenstones.
155. L.H. Wolf Rock.
156. L.H. Scilly.
*157. L.H. Bishop's Rock John W. Froth.
158. L.H. Lizard.
159. L.H. Falmouth Harbour.
*160. L.H. Eddystone William Ainger.
161. L.H. Plymouth Breakwater.
*162. L.H. Start Point William Jones.
The best thanks of the Committee are due to the above-named
observers for their painstaking records and valued aid; and it is
an added pleasure to acknowledge assistance received from several
ornithologists, including Messrs. James Andrews, of Swanage,
Dorsetshire; O. V. Aplin, of Banbury (notes from Barmouth District); W.
Duckworth, of Carlisle; T. E. Kelsall, of Balliol College, Oxford; Rev.
H. A. Macpherson, of Carlisle; and Mr. Arthur Patterson, of Preston.
Special acknowledgment is due to the Rev. H. A. Macpherson for most
hearty and welcome co-operation. The recorder trusts to enlist further
aid from the naturalists of the West of England and Wales, as it will
much enhance the value of the report to include in it observations
made by trained and experienced ornithologists, from whom alone can be
expected notes on critical and rare species.
In dealing with the mass of information received it has been thought
best to treat of it under the following heads.
I.--A few General Remarks on the Report.
II.--Reports on the Migratory-Season of 1884, communicated by several
of the light-keepers and others.
III.--A Diary of the Principal Migratory Movements, which gives an idea
of the importance of each movement, the area covered by it, and also
indicates the species migrating in company.
IV.--A separate Report on each species.
I.--General Remarks.
The great mass of migrants during the past autumn seem to have passed
stations decidedly south of Anglesea. The great movements appear to
have taken place between Oct. 21st and 24th (inclusive), during which
period some dozen species were noted; and again between Nov. 10th
and 14th (inclusive), this being the most important movement, and
applied no less than eighteen species observed at the lighthouses and
lightships alone.
The report embraces notes on some rare or interesting species,
including _Motacilla alba_, _Lanius major_, _Ampelis garrulus_, _Chen
albatus_, _Querquedula circia_, _Phalaropus hyberboreus_, _Machetes
pugnax_, _Hydrochelidon nigra_; whilst the scarcity or entire absence
of _Passer montanus_, _Corvus cornix_, and _Bernicla brenta_, and the
presence of _Bernicla leucopsis_, are of interest to one accustomed
to East Coast observations. The capture, too, of eight _Procellaria
pelagica_ at the South Bishop, on Oct. 14th, is a noteworthy incident.
The lanterns vary not a little in their death-dealing attractions,
those of the Bardsey, South Bishop, Smalls, Nash (E.), Godrevy, and
Eddystone lighthouses being most seductive, occasionally commanding no
less than two hundred victims in a single night.
To be able to offer opinions, or even to speculate on the various
problems connected with the migration of birds on the West Coast of
England, will require much careful study based upon reports for some
years, and it will be much regretted that this coast has been neglected
for several seasons.
Chief attention should, perhaps, be paid to the relationship which
exists between migration as observed on this coast and the great
land mass of Ireland; thus to enable us, if possible, to give some
indication of the lines of route, if any, taken by both summer and
winter visitors and partial migrants on their passages to and from that
country.
To this end a series of careful observations must and should be made,
and special attention be given by observers to the direction taken
by all migratory birds. This, it is thought, has not received the
attention it deserves, and, as it may add a special value to the
observations made, it is hoped that the light-keepers (especially those
on light-vessels) and others, who have so very willingly helped in the
past, will give attention to this request.
II.--Reports from Stations on the Season.
_Carlisle District_ (Messrs. Macpherson and Duckworth).--After a
westerly hurricane on Jan. 26th, land birds (Jackdaw and Moorhen), as
well as Guillemots, Puffins, Gulls, and Sheldrakes were washed ashore,
while Mr. Cook found a large Skua; many Oystercatchers were observed
far inland. February and March were dull; the usual fowl on the Loughs,
including Pintail, Shovellers, Tufted Duck, and Barnacle Geese, were
numerous during the first half of March, and a large flock were seen;
as also a Goosander in mid-April. The general calm of the first week of
April induced the van of our army of summer visitants to push on early;
but the subsequent prevalence of easterly and north-easterly winds
checked the main body. On the afternoon of April 29th the wind changed
from east to west, and we had an immense influx of House Martins and
other birds on the 30th. August was fine, and many Waders arrived
early; but it appeared that the chief arrivals took place between
the last week this month and the second week of September. Geese and
Ducks arrived before the middle of October; and the heavy westerly
winds on the 26th and 27th brought ashore the Pomatorhine Skua and
Leach's Petrel. The weather continued chiefly open until the end of the
year, but most Waders had left by the end of October. In November and
December the Geese and Ducks alone relieved the monotony of the Solway.
_St. Bees_ L.H.--Mr. Henry Nott tells me that birds are generally
few, unless Starlings and Lapwings; Starlings have been exceptionally
numerous during the winter; as for Thrushes and Blackbirds he scarcely
ever sees one.
_Morecambe Bay_ L.V.--Mr. Henry Clavell informs me that very few birds
have passed this station during the past two years.
_Nash_ (E.) L.H. (Mr. Henry Nicholas).--Birds have not been noticed in
such large flocks as last year. The most decided and general movement
took place between the 2nd and 15th of November. Wild Ducks have been
very scarce this year, and Sky Larks and Starlings have not been
observed in such immense numbers as in years past.
_Start_ L.H.--Mr. William Jones notes that in very few instances birds
are observed at his station.
III.--Diary of Principal Movements.
The order of the stations is from north to south. The wind and weather
are given in parentheses. For the weather the symbols of the Beaufort
Scale have been adopted;[35] and the force of the wind ranges from to
12.
[Footnote 35: _Beaufort Scale._--B = blue sky; C, detached clouds; D,
drizzling rain; F, fog; G, dark, gloomy; H, hail; L, lightning; M,
misty; O, overcast; P, passing showers; Q, squally; R, rain; S, snow;
T, thunder; U, ugly, threatening; V, visibility, unusual transparency;
W, dew.]
_September 14th._
_Dee_ L.V.--A Robin killed at 10.30 p.m. (E. by S., 5; B, C, M.)
_Scarweather_ L.V.--Two Swallows at 11 a.m.
Nash (E.) L.H.--Two Landrails and one Starling killed at 2.15 a.m. (E.,
moderate; misty.)
_Eddystone_ L.H.--Several Wheatears, "Flycatcher species" [Warblers],
Wrens, and a few Larks, between 8 p.m. and midnight. Fifteen killed.
(E., 5; O, R, M.)
_Start_ L.H.--A Ring Ouzel killed at midnight. (E.S.E., 4; C, G, V, P.)
_September 15th._
_St. Bees_ L.H.--Numbers of Goldcrests at lantern at 11.30 p.m. (E.,
light breeze; misty.)
_Dee_ L.V.--Titlark and Chaffinch found dead at daylight.
_South Stack_ L.H.--Several Starlings and Wheatears between 9 p.m. and
midnight. Several struck. (E., 4; O, M, R.)
_September 16th._
_St. Bees_ L.H.--Great numbers of Goldcrests from midnight to daylight.
(S.E., light breeze; gloomy.)
_September 17th._
_St. Bees_ L.H.--Large numbers of Fieldfares at 7 a.m. (S.S.E., light;
B, C, M.)
_Bull Point_ L.H.--A Goldcrest at lantern at 1.30 am. (E., 1; bright.)
_September 29th._
_Longships_ L.H.--" A great host of Larks" at 4 am., "a lot striking."
(Drizzling.)
_October 14th._
_South Bishop_ L.H.--"Many Song Thrushes, Missel Thrushes, Blackbirds,
Wheatears, Goldcrests, Linnets, Larks, and eight Storm Petrels, from
11 p.m. to daylight." Ninety killed by striking the glass, and two
hundred taken in a net attached to a stick. Three "Falcon Hawks and a
Large-horned Owl" were also present, "and made sad havoc with them."
(S.E. breeze; mist and slight rain.)
_Helwick_ L.H.--A Lark at lantern at 9 p.m.
_Eddystone_ L.H.--Four Goldcrests and a few common Wrens struck at
midnight. Six killed. (N., 2; C, V.)
_October 18th._
_Bahama Bank_ L.V.--A flock of Crows at 3 p.m., flying S.W.
_Dee_ L.V.--Several flocks of Titlarks at 7.15 a.m. (W., 3; O, D, V.)
_South Stack_ L.H.--Finches, Linnets and Starlings between 7 and 10
a.m. (N.W., 3; clear.)
_Carnarvon Bay_ L.V.--Hundreds of Larks all day, and a large number all
night. (N.N.W., 4.)
_Bull Point_ L.H.--Large flock of Starlings and forty Linnets at 7 a.m.
(W., 2; clear.)
_October 19th._
_Bardsey_ L.H.--One Woodcock killed during night. (S., 5; C, M, D.)
_Helwick_ L.H.--One Lark at 9 p.m.