east to west, and covering the whole of the English east coast, this
is the line mainly followed by the _Passeres_. Taking this line as a
basis, we find birds also occasionally coming from points north of
east; but in the vast majority of instances the migration has had
a decidedly southerly trend, coming from points south of east, and
even direct from the southward. Again, there is in the autumn always
a steady stream of migrants which closely follows the coast-line
from N. to S., composed of birds either moving from more northerly
districts of our islands, or of such immigrants coming from the east
as strike the coast in more northern latitudes and then follow it to
the south. The great wide E. to W. stream of migration is composed
of some few well-known species which regularly come to us in the
autumn, the great body undoubtedly remaining to winter; placed
in order of rotation according to their numerical superiority or
otherwise, we find _Alauda arvensis_, _Sturnus vulgaris_, _Corvus
cornix_ and _frugilegus_, the _Turdidæ_, including two native and two
northern species, with sparrows, linnets, and chaffinches compose
the bulk of the immigrants. Others, as _Ruticilla phœnicurus_, the
_Saxicolæ_, and other soft-billed insect-eaters, although coming from
the eastward, persistently follow the coast-line to the south. All
the _Limicolæ_ and other shore birds, as well as the Geese, Ducks,
Divers, Gulls, and sea-fowl generally, move from north to south as a
general rule, the sea-fowl at some distance at sea, the waders along
the coast. Although so far we have no stations, excepting Heligoland,
on the European coast of the North Sea, we may, I think, fairly
presume that there is similarly another stream of birds passing
down the coast-line of Europe. Migration as observed on that island
for many years points to the undoubted fact that the line followed
by birds is, as a rule, from E. to W., and doubtless some portion
of these Heligoland birds keep moving westward or south-westward,
till eventually they strike our east coast. There are, however,
many species which make Heligoland the western boundary of their
autumn wanderings, and crossing, as they do, that island in enormous
numbers, must eventually follow the coast-line to the south, for
the simple reason that they never occur on our own coast, except as
very rare or occasional wanderers; such are _Motacilla alba_ and
_flava_, _Ruticilla suecica_, _Emberiza hortulana_, _Plectrophanes
lapponicus_, _Anthus Richardi_, and, in a less degree, _Muscicapa
luctuosa_ and _Otocorys alpestris_. These all, then, must pass
southward along the European coast, as do doubtless an immense
majority of those countless Sparrowhawks, Siskins, and more familiar
birds which cross the island in the autumn migration; and just as
occasionally some species, whose line of migration lies farther to
the eastward still, turn up as wanderers to the old rock from the
regular track, so do occasionally now one and now another of the
regular Heligoland immigrants get blown across to one side.
The observations taken at some of our southern stations both in 1879
and 1880 show that, in the autumn, there is what may be called a
double stream of birds crossing each other near the entrance of the
English Channel, that is, from the Essex and Kent coast towards the
S.E. on to the French and Belgian coast, and again in the opposite
direction from the Belgian land to the coast of Kent. During the
severe weather in the early part of 1881, as well as in December,
flocks of birds came to us direct from the French coast, or from the
south to the north. These must be considered purely local migrations,
caused by outbursts of severe weather.
It is a curious fact that in nearly every case of birds passing
the Casquets L.H. in the past autumn, they were travelling in a
N.W. direction, or from the French to the English coast, a line of
migration which does not seem to be in proper accord with what we
should imagine migrating birds would or rather ought to take. On
reference to the chart of the Channel it is apparent that any flocks
leaving the French coast at or near Cape de la Hague, and crossing.
Alderney, when once off the Casquets might as readily and easily
steer for the Start Point on the English side as across the wide
break in the French coast for Port Sillon, each being about equal
distances from the Casquets.
As in 1879 birds have crossed in all hours of the day and night,
and in all winds and weathers, the returns also show, as did the
preceding, that they seldom fly dead to windward, except with light
breezes, and that strong head winds are prejudicial to their passage.
The line of flight mostly adopted is within three or four points
of the wind; they will go on well, even with a beam wind or some
points short of beam, if not too strong. Small birds have often much
difficulty in making head against a strongly-opposing wind. Mr. John
Cutting, writing from the light-vessel on the Galloper Bank, says,
that out of the number of small birds passing that station in October
and November against strong adverse winds, he could not think they
would ever reach land, they made such very slow progress, the wind
being too strong and the distance from land so great. Even such
strong-winged birds as the Grey Crow do not always cross in safety;
I have been told by an old fen farmer that, many years ago, when a
great gale swept the Lincolnshire coast, at the time the Hooded Crow
crossed, the coast was subsequently strewed with their bodies cast up
by the sea.
Birds are noticed at the stations as sometimes flying high, sometimes
low; often it will be observed with northerly and easterly winds they
will fly high, and with winds in opposite quarters, low. The state
of weather at the time of migration has more, we think, to do with
the height at which birds travel than the direction of the wind.
On clear light nights they travel high, as a rule, but in fog, and
thick murky weather, rain or snow, not far above the waves. On thick
nights, indeed, lost birds will wheel for hours round a lightship,
but with the first break in the clouds or streak of early dawn are on
their course again. At the Casquets, which is a revolving light, the
larger birds follow the rays, but do not often strike the glass.
With such favourable passages as light head winds afford, our
immigrants are so little fatigued that they will not alight on
reaching land, but keep on their course into the interior. I have
watched for hours flock after flock arriving on the east coast,
coming directly from westward, Rooks, Starlings, Lapwings, and Snow
Buntings, and keeping on in a direct westerly direction as far as
the eye or a good glass were able to follow. Often, too, when on
the hills, miles from the sea, I have seen migrating flocks passing
inland. Larks in straggling flocks, carrolling cheerily as they pass;
there is no bird which migrates so cheerily and light-heartedly as
the Lark, ever ready to burst into song on the least occasion. At
other times, with adverse winds, I have watched migrants scarce able
to struggle on shore dropping in the first shelter, or even on the
bare wind-swept coast. At Lynn Well light-vessel large numbers of
migrants passed day by day, and for the entire day, during October,
from S.E. or S.S.E., and even S. to N.W. From the position of this
station off Lynn Deeps at the bottom of the Wash, under the shelter
of the north-westerly trend of the coast, these migrants must have
first crossed the northern part of the county of Norfolk, without
alighting, on their way to the fens of Lincolnshire and Cambridge,
and this both by day and night.
"Yet stoop not, weary, to the welcome land,
Though the dark night is near."
It is very remarkable how suddenly the stream of migration commences
running, and how suddenly it stops again. We watch, at early morning,
a flock of Larks or Hooded Crows come to land; others soon follow,
and then for some hours--it may be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.--there is a
constant arrival of migrants; and then migration, at least for that
day, is over, and not a single wanderer will be seen.
As a rule, the young of the year migrate some weeks in advance of the
old birds; this holds good with all orders and species. In the spring
the males often migrate in advance of the females.
The time of migration of any particular species extends over a
considerable period; sometimes it is over in four or five weeks,
in other cases going on for months, and even half a year; for,
practically, such birds as the Lark and Starling are migrating all
the year round. In every case the migration of a set species will
continue, day by day, or week by week, till it attains the maximum
by a "great rush," the main body passing, and then gradually falling
off, till the migration of that species is completed.
Independent of the normal or ordinary migration, we have frequently
local migrations, due to sudden changes of weather, or in search of
fresh feeding-grounds. These "great rushes" of immigrants, coming
helter-skelter on to our east coast, are often accompanied or
followed very closely by outbursts of severe weather; and a sudden
increase of cold in winter will almost clear a whole district of its
birds; in fact, all birds are very susceptible to changes of weather,
and, if closely watched, will indicate by their movements the coming
change. On Jan. 12th, in this year, when in the Humber marshes, I
noticed Larks and Snow Buntings passing from N. to S. from 9 a.m. to
2 p.m., separate flocks for some hours, and after 11 p.m., when the
snow commenced, continuous.
Birds in the early autumn do not, it is evident, migrate for lack
of food, for the young of the _Limicolæ_ are on our coast at a time
when the supply of insect-food in high northern latitudes is the most
abundant; and our own insect-eating birds are often away long before
there is, or can be, any falling off in food. On the same grounds it
is not changes in the seasons which can induce young birds, having no
knowledge from experience, to return south in the heat of the Arctic
latter-summer; as to the _how_ and the _why_ of the whole matter,
we must be content for the present to say nothing, but continue to
collect facts.
In 1880 the main body of the migrants crossed between the 15th and
end of October, the greater number perhaps on the 17th of that month.
WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND.
Printed forms, letters, and remarks were forwarded to thirty-eight
stations on the west coast of Scotland and the Isles, being two more
than in 1879, _viz._, Bahama Lightship and Langness Lighthouse, both
in Isle of Man.[11]
[Footnote 11: Mr. Philip Kermode received the Isle of Man returns,
and forwarded them to me afterwards for incorporation with the
Scottish ones.]
We have received in all returned, filled-in schedules from twenty-six
stations, being two more than last year.
Only four stations have not sent in returns, which sent them in last
year,[12] but, to make up for this, we have gained six from stations
which sent us none last year,[13] besides adding one from one of the
new stations.[14]
[Footnote 12: Devaar; Pladda; Lamlash; Little Ross.]
[Footnote 13: Stornoway; Ushenish; Kyleakin; Lismore; Turnberry;
Douglas Head.]
[Footnote 14: Bahama Bank (L.V.).]
A marked improvement is apparent in these returns, and it is evident
that very general interest is being taken in the work. Altogether,
our west coast returns are quite satisfactory, and it gives us
much pleasure to think that the first year's reports have really
interested our obliging correspondents. We hope that the present
general report will succeed in enlisting the whole body in the
service. We can as yet only repeat, that we believe that interesting
and curious results will in time be arrived at; but we deprecate any
attempt at present to arrive at these, desiring first a firm basis
of facts to build upon, which can only be obtained by continued
attention and careful record, for a few years longer, of a large mass
of statistics.
The stations from which co-operation was asked are the following,
commencing with the most northerly--Cape Wrath. Those from which
returns have been received are marked with a *; those which sent
returns both last year and this have two **; those which sent none
last year but have done so this year have a † prefixed; those which
sent returns last year but none this year are printed in _italics_.
Stations added this year have the date, 1880, preceding them.
West Coast of Scotland.
Mainland.
Height of centre of
light above water.
81. **Cape Wrath. 400 ft. John M'Gill.
82. **Rhu Stoir. 195 William Wither.
Outer Hebrides.
83. **Butt of Lewis. 140 George Edgar.
84. †Stornoway. 56 John Grierson.
85. *Island Glass. 130 William Innes.
86. **Monach Island. { Upper 150 } James Youngclause.
{ Lower 62 }
87. †Ushenish. 176 Peter Carrie.
88. Barra Head. 683
Mainland, Skye, and Inner Hebrides.
89. Rona, Skye. 222
90. †Kyleakin, Rosspire. 53 David M'Culloch.
91. **Isle Ornsay, Skye. 58 James Loughten.
92. **Ardnamurchan Point, 180 David Laidlaw.
Argyleshire.
93. {Hynish Signal Tower, Tiree. } 150 William Crow.
94. {Skerryvore, off Tiree. }
95. **Dhuheartach, S.W. of Ross of
Mull. 145 James Ewing.
96. **Sound of Mull, Mull. 55 William M'Lellan.
97. Corran Ferry, Loch Eil. 38
98. †Lismore Island, Oban. 103 Alexander Murray.
99. *_Fladda, Easdale._ 42
100. **Rhuvaal, Islay. 147 David Spink.
101. *_M'Arthur's Head, Islay._ 128
102. **Skervuile, Jura. 73 John Ewing.
103. **Rhinns of Islay. 150 Andrew Lyall.
104. **Lochindaul, Islay. 50 William Maill.
105. Mull of Kintyre. 297
106. Sanda, Kintyre Sound. 165
107. _Devaar, Kintyre._ 120
108. _Pladda, Arran._ 130
109. _Lamlash, Arran._ 46
110. †Turnberry, Ayrshire. 96 Andrew Nisbet.
111. **Corsewall, Wigtown. 112 Robert Laidlaw.
112. **Loch Ryan, Wigtown. 46 Ralph Ewing.
113. **Portpatrick, Wigtown. 37 James Beggs.
114. **Mull of Galloway, Wigtown. 325 N. Morrison.
115. _Little Ross, Kirkcudbright._ 175
116. *Point of Ayre, Isle of Man. 106 James Blythe.
117. †Douglas Head, Isle of Man. 104 Alexander M'Donald.
118. Chickens Rock, Isle of Man. 122
119. *1880.--Bahama Bank, Isle of Man (L.V.)‡ -- Johns.
120. 1880.--Langness Lighthouse, do.
‡ Light-vessels being only a few feet above the sea, I have not
indicated the exact elevation, which, however, is usually about 30
feet.
SPRING MIGRATION, 1880.[15]
[Footnote 15: In writing out the data of the spring migration, I take
the most southerly stations first, reversing the sequence of the
autumn records.]
SEPARATE REPORT ON EACH SPECIES.
Strigidæ.--At Skerryvore, one Brown Owl appeared on 10th May, at 2.30
p.m., in showery weather.
Falconidæ.--At Douglas Head,[16] one "Black Hawk" (Sparrowhawk?) was
noted at 8 a.m., in clear weather, with light E.N.E. breeze.
[Footnote 16: It is noted on the schedule from this station that
the lighthouse, "being inland, little or any observations on the
migration of birds can be noted accurately."]
Hirundinidæ.--The earliest date on which Swallows are recorded from
any west coast stations is April 7th, and this at one of our most
northerly stations, _viz._, Butt of Lewis. This is followed by April
17th at Douglas Head, one of our most southern stations in the Isle
of Man; seen at 12 noon; wind light S.E. breeze, clear or showers;
these were not again observed. Again, on April 24th, their arrival
is recorded at Rhinns of Islay. Thereafter none are noted until
6th May, at Loch Ryan, in Wigtownshire, when a flight of fifty was
observed, followed by twenty and fifteen on the 8th and 11th: winds
from N.W. through N. to E. and fresh, clear to haze. At Skerryvore,
one was seen on 10th May, in calm, hazy and rainy weather. On 11th,
12th and 13th, eight flew about the Point of Ayre. On 24th, four
were seen _flying south_ past Ardnamurchan station. On 22nd, one at
Monach Island; winds from S.W. to N.W., fresh. The remaining records
are in June. On June 14th, at Ardnamurchan, two again seen flying
southwards; and on 22nd, at Skerryvore; calm, hazy weather. Possibly
these June records of birds flying south may belong to the autumn
migration. It thus appears that a spring _rush_ took place in the
earlier part of May--from the 6th to the 14th. About the same time,
_viz._, May 20th, a flock of "Martin Swallows," _Hirundo urbica_,
appeared at the Butt of Lewis during light W. wind, with haze; they
stopped about three hours and then flew off, going S.W.
_Note._--Swallows and Martins were first observed at Ballina, Co.
Wicklow, Ireland, by Mr. E. Warren, on April 19th.
Swift, _Cypselus_.--First noted at Ballina by Mr. Warren, on May 12th.
Wheatear, _Saxicola œnanthe_.--Records from three stations only in
spring, _viz._, Skervuile, Monach, and Butt of Lewis. Earliest date
at Skervuile (most southern of the three). May 1st, where one was
seen at lantern at midnight; wind light S. Next date is May 4th, at
Monach, when about twenty, mixed with Larks and Wagtails, were seen
and two killed between 8.30 p.m. and 3 a.m.; wind light from N. to W.
The latest and only other record dates May 20th, at Butt of Lewis,
where five were seen; wind light W., clear.
Wagtail, _Motacilla Yarrellii_.--Two stations, _viz._, at Kyleakin
and Butt of Lewis. At Kyleakin, April 1st, twenty-six rested at 4
p.m., wind E.S.E., haze; 2nd, twenty-four rested at 8 a.m., wind
S.E., haze. At Butt of Lewis, April 13th, a flock at 7 a.m., stopped
a few days and left flying south, light E. wind, clear; and a few
days later, "one lighter than the rest" left, going south. At
Kyleakin, April 17th, twelve were seen flying S.E. at 7 a.m., light
breeze, with fog; and on 18th, at 1 p.m., twelve more rested and then
flew off south, wind light S.W., and fog.
Starling, _Sturnus vulgaris_.--I have but few records of the spring
migration, _viz._, from Lochindaul, Fladda, and Dhuheartach. The
earliest at Fladda, April 4th, when twenty-four were seen at 10 a.m.,
breeze fresh, with showers, and clear. At Dhuheartach, April 13th,
between midnight and 8 a.m., three birds rested; night foggy, and
wind light N. At Lochindaul, May 18th, some were seen, wind moderate,
and weather foggy.
Skylark, _Alauda arvensis_.--At Dhuheartach and Monach, April 13th,
ten at night, wind light N., cloudy, seven killed; and May 1st, one
at midnight, wind S., haze; and at these stations, on May 4th,
flock, mixed with Wheatears and Wagtails, from 8.30 p.m. till 3 a.m.,
wind light W. to N., haze and rain.
Cuckoo, _Cuculus canorus_.--The following are the stations where it
was noted as first seen or heard, commencing in the south:--At Point
of Ayre, May 1st, light airs and haze. At Lochindaul, May 16th, E.,
clear; the reporter adds, "but is earlier in Islay." At Rhinns of
Islay, April 21st, wind light W. At Skervuile, May 10th, first seen,
wind N., clear. At Stornoway, May 4th. At Kyleakin, May 5th. At Rhu
Stoir, June 15th, wind light N., haze.
_Note._--First noted at Ballina, Ireland, by Mr. Warren, on May 12th.
Oystercatcher, _Hæmatopus ostralegus_.--At Lochindaul, Dhuheartach,
and Island Ghlais. At Dhuheartach, April 14th and 17th, 8 and 10
a.m., ten and seventeen resting or feeding, wind light N.W., haze or
fog. At Lochindaul, May 20th and 21st, 10 a.m., resting, light wind,
fog. At Island Ghlais, June 30th, 6 p.m., two feeding, calm, and
heavy showers.
Curlew, _Numenius arquata_.--So far as a spring migration can be
separated by the data at command, the whole season has apparently
being occupied by Curlews in moving about, the results are as
follows:--Beginning on 16th, south, we find spring records at
Lochindaul, Rhuvaal, Dhuheartach, Monach, and Skerryvore. The first
note dates March 1st, at Rhuvaal; eight seen, S.W. gale and rain. The
second at Dhuheartach, April 13th, 4 p.m., when three were seen, wind
light, cloudy. Thereafter at Lochindaul, May 14th. At Skerryvore, May
23rd. At Monach, June 13th. At Lochindaul, June 14th. At Skerryvore,
June 23rd. Winds variable E., N.W. to S.W.
Whimbrel.--"May fowl" arrived on Monach, on their way north, upon
May 8th, when three were seen flying about, wind light N., clear. On
May 25th, several parties of from three or four to six seen flying
between Monach and Haskeir rocks, wind fresh S.W., clear. The note is
added, "Arrive in May, leave in July."
_Note._--Mr. R. Warren notes their first appearance at Ballina on May
1st.
Snipe.--At Dhuheartach, April 13th, three Snipe killed, strong N.
breeze, cloudy.
Corn Crake, _Crex pratensis_.--The Corn Crake was heard at Kyleakin
on June 11th, and at Stornoway on May 4th, clear and fine; and at
Lochindaul on May 18th, at night.
_Note._--At Ballina it was first noted by Mr. Warren on May 2nd.
Wild Goose.--At Rhu Stoir, May 12th, 10 a.m., twelve Wild Geese seen,
three males and three females; light N. airs, clear.
Ducks, _Anatidæ_.--At Rhuvaal, Island Ghlais, and Rhu Stoir. At
Rhuvaal, March 8th, great numbers daily seen, where, however, they
became scarcer between April 20th and 30th. At Rhu Stoir, June 18th,
10 a.m., six Eiders, three males and three females, wind light N.,
clear; and July 28th, 8.30 a.m., thirty "Wild Ducks," wind N.E., haze
and rain.
Terns.--Two evidently paired birds seen at Rhu Stoir on May 18th,
light to fresh variable winds. On May 26th, about 2 p.m., some
scores of Terns were seen at Monach during S.W. gale, and were the
first that arrived to breed there; and on June 14th, lots of nests
containing two to three eggs were seen. At Skervuile, May 10th, Terns
were first observed this spring, wind light E., and haze; and by
31st great numbers had passed; some were again seen on June 18th, in
similar weather. At Rhinns of Islay, May 12th, three seen at noon,
fresh E. breeze; and all during June, large numbers of "Tick Terns"
fishing in Lochindaul. At Stornoway, June 5th, they kept arriving at
all hours, and were the first to come to the breeding grounds.
_Note._--Mr. J. T. Garriock notes the spring arrival of Terns
at Lerwick, in Shetland, _from the north_, on May 22nd, in 'The
Zoologist' (_q. v._, 1880, p. 302); and, in a letter to me, he
substantiates his observation. Mr. Robert Warren notes the first
appearance of Sandwich Terns at Ballina, Ireland, on March 24th, and
of Common Terns on May 14th.
AUTUMN MIGRATION, 1880.
SEPARATE REPORT ON EACH SPECIES.
Falconidæ.--Two Sparrowhawks appeared at Rhu Stoir, in attendance
upon flocks of Finches and Larks, on Oct. 20th, during light variable
breezes, with snow. Also at Skerryvore, a Hawk--probably of the same
species, or a Merlin--lived on the small birds on Oct. 14th and 15th;
whilst at Dhuheartach a Hawk makes a regular visit, to prey upon
the birds which rest on the rock. (See our first Report for 1879,
'Zool.,' May, 1880, p. 190.)
Swift.--At Ushenish, North Uist,[17] June 13th, 1 p.m., five Swifts
seen flying south, with S. wind, and haze.
[Footnote 17: Though this dates early, I cannot but assign it here,
and not to a spring movement.]
_Note._--Mr. R. Service notes the species as unusually abundant in
1880. He observed a large flock of Swifts on Aug. 4th, proceeding in
a southerly direction. The most of the local birds, however, still
remained on the 11th.
Swallows, _Hirundinidæ_.--Swallows were no longer seen after July
16th, at the Point of Ayre, Isle of Man, on which day twenty young
were noticed, until again on Aug. 15th, when eight were seen flying
about. At Turnberry, from thirty to forty were seen during the
daytime on Aug. 26th, in light E. airs; and again fifty to sixty on
Aug. 31st, and forty to fifty on Sept. 2nd. Numbers were also seen at
Mull of Galloway and at Loch Ryan. Swallows collected on Oct. 4th and
flew away S.W., whilst at Portpatrick great numbers were seen resting
and then flying off S. on Oct. 15th. This S.W. corner of Scotland
appears to be a point of departure of the species, and of several
others; and I would invite special attention at stations all along
the Wigton coast-line.[18] All the above observations on the autumn
movements of Swallows were made during the daytime, and in light E.
to N.E. winds. A rush appears to have taken place end of August and
beginning of September, and a later one as late as the middle of
October.
[Footnote 18: See R. Gray and Thos. Anderson's 'Birds of Ayrshire and
Wigtonshire,' p. 5.]