of snow and consequent scarcity of food, have been frequently noted
this season. When crossing the Firth of Forth on the 15th December I
saw many large flocks of Larks, both in the morning and afternoon,
flying steadily from N.N.W. to S.S.E. or N.W. to S.E. Many Larks
were afterwards seen feeding near Leith, and notice of the fact sent
to the papers by another witness. The line of flight, as I have
said, was from N. of West to S. of East. I note the fact as having
significance, even in a local migration, at this locality.
Rock Pigeon.--July 10th, sixteen Rock Pigeons at Island Ghlais,
flying S., 8 p.m., light N., haze and showers, refers probably to a
local migration. At Skerryvore two "wild pigeons" (Rock Doves?) seen
during calm hazy weather on June 24th.
Lapwing, _Vanellus cristatus_.--At Rhuvaal, Lochindaul, and
Portpatrick. Aug. 4th, at Lochindaul, large flocks seen all through
the month after this date: resident. Sept. 1st, two killed at
Rhuvaal, 11 p.m., strong S., haze. Sept. 9th, flocks flying S. at 9
a.m. at Portpatrick; wind S.E., hazy. Sept. 15th, Lochindaul, flocks
all day; strong N. wind, clear. One at Monach on Dec. 27th, wind S.,
flying S. More northerly in 1879, _viz._, Rhu Stoir and southwards.
Earliest date Aug. 20th; latest Dec. 11th.
_Note._--In Ireland Lapwings began to assemble on the shores by July
22nd, as observed by Mr. Warren.
Golden Plover, _Charadrius pluvialis_.--Only two records this year
from Island Ghlais and Point of Ayre: Dec. 3rd, twenty to thirty at
9 a.m. flying S.W., light airs, showers, at the former; Jan. 12th,
1881, at the latter, a flock flying E., wind strong E., clear. Two or
three flocks were seen upon Monach on Dec. 27th, at 1 p.m., flying
along to shore, wind S., fresh breeze. A considerable movement
appears to have been observed at Monach on this date. In 1879 three
stations, most northerly being Skerryvore. Earliest date July 27th,
at Portpatrick; latest on Oct. 18th, at Skerryvore.
Ringed Plover.--On Aug. 13th twelve "Dotterels" arrived upon
Dhuheartach. These remain on the rock all winter, unless driven off
by severe weather.
Heron.--Two Herons seen at 2 p.m. at Rhu Stoir, N.W. gale, snow
showers. At Monach four Herons rested on the shore on Oct. 28th,
about 2 o'clock, wind strong N.E., with snow showers; they had left
by next day. Common and of daily occurrence at Kyleakin.
Curlew, _Numenius arquatus_.--Of this species we have many records,
and it does not seem easy to distinguish between migration data and
residence. However, I give the leading points for further comparison.
They occurred, or are recorded, at Cape Wrath, and thence south at
Island Ghlais, Monach, Kyleakin, Skerryvore, Dhuheartach, Rhuvaal,
Skervuile, Lochindaul, Portpatrick. Point of Ayre, and Bahama L.V.
They seemed to fly in all directions, indicating to a great extent
only local migration. From April and May, on through June and July,
and all the autumn months they occur rather distinctly as resident,
or as passing flocks, and it seems almost impossible to separate the
movements in the end of summer which should be assigned as part of
the spring migration from those in the beginning of autumn which more
rightly belong to the autumnal migration. As will be seen, however,
I have attempted to do so, assigning all June records to the former
and July records to the latter. The earliest record, then, in autumn
stands as July 15th, when forty were seen flying W. at 4.20 p.m. at
Island Ghlais, wind light N., clear. The latest recorded are on Dec.
25th, 26th and 27th at Rhu Stoir, flying south; winds N. or light and
variable with showers. The general courses pursued were southerly
or from N.W. to S.E., or from N.E. to S.W., some flying direct W.,
however, and others direct S.; but at Portpatrick, on Aug. 19th and
23rd, flocks were seen flying north and also south, indicating a
local migration. On Aug. 19th the wind was light S., haze, and on
23rd light E., clear. Numbers passed Dhuheartach between Aug. 12th
and 17th, all going in southerly directions, from S. to S.W. and
S.E. On Monach they were unusually abundant this year all September,
and more than a dozen were shot. "Bushes," so far as such data are
of value, appear to have taken place in August, 12th to 17th, or
even later,--say to 23rd,--and locally, at Lochindaul, on Aug. 4th
and 5th, and in September, as 10th and 25th, at Dhuheartach, and
"unusually abundant all September on Monach." In November, on the
3rd, at Bahama L.V., Curlews were flying round the vessel all night.
On Aug. 15th four seen circling round Dhuheartach in calm, clear
weather, and on the 18th two seen flying south in light W. wind and
haze. On Nov. 2nd, at Douglas Head, one was killed on lantern at
10.30 p.m., wing strong S.E. and haze. On Nov. 6th one "Sandpiper"
was killed at lantern at Island Ghlais in a fresh W. breeze. In
1879 most northerly station was Island Ghlais; this year much more
general. Earliest date in 1879, Aug. 3rd; latest Nov. 20th.
Snipe.--I have returns only from three stations, Island Ghlais,
Kyleakin and Douglas Head. The earliest at Kyleakin, Oct. 11th, when
two appeared in light E. wind and rain; at the same station, Nov.
16th, one was killed on lantern at 2 a.m., in light S. wind and haze.
At Douglas Head, Nov. 18th, one killed at midnight in snow, N.E.
breeze. At Island Ghlais, Nov. 27th, one was killed during a W. gale
and haze and rain.
Woodcock, _Scolopax rusticola_.--Commencing in the north we have
records of occasional birds at Cape Wrath, Rhu Stoir, Island Ghlais,
Kyleakin, Ardnamurchan, Lismore, and Point of Ayre. The earliest
occurrence is noted at Island Ghlais, Sept. 23rd, seen half a mile
from lighthouse. Then we have occurrence at Point of Ayre, where
one was killed at the lantern on nights of Nov. 2nd and 3rd, at 7
o'clock, light S.E. wind, very foggy. At Lismore, Nov. 20th, one
seen at 11 a.m., light N.W. wind, clear. The rush appeared most
conspicuous from Dec. 10th, when one was killed at Ardnamurchan, at
5.30 a.m., in strong W. wind, with thick rain; at Kyleakin, Dec.
11th, when two were seen at 2.30 p.m., moderate N.E. wind, snow lying
on the ground; and at Rhu Stoir, Dec. 25th, 26th and 27th; on 25th,
three, flying south, light N. wind, snow; 26th, one, variable, and
light showers of snow; 27th, two, light, variable and clear; lastly,
at Rhu Stoir, Jan. 12th, two, light S.E. wind, clear.
_Note._--Northernmost Station, Island Ghlais, 1879. Earliest record,
Oct. 11th (Rhinns of Islay), 1879; latest record, Dec. 12th, 1879. So
long ago as the date of the "Lays of the Deer Forest," 1848, numbers
of Woodcock are recorded as settling about the lamps of the northern
lighthouses, and evidence is given from Cape Wrath (_loc. cit._,
'Notes,' vol. ii., p. 262).
Wild Goose.--At Portpatrick, Aug. 6th, one was seen flying S.E., in
light E. breeze; at the same station, Jan. 13th, ten were observed
flying S., with a strong N. breeze. At Point of Ayre, Jan. 11th,
about twenty were seen flying S., with light N.E. breeze. At Monach,
Nov. 30th, eight were seen at 8 p.m., flying westward, and settled
on some rocks off the island, wind S.E., fresh, rain; and Jan. 9th,
1881, fifteen at 9 a.m. flying northwards, wind S., light, clear.
At Douglas Head, Dec. 17th, eight Geese were seen flying from E. to
W. at 12 a.m., calm, clear. At Butt of Lewis, Jan. 6th, six Wild
Geese at 9 a.m., light S.W. wind, clear; came to the village about
a mile off, stopped two days; left, going S. At Island Ghlais, Jan.
4th, fifty Wild Geese flying S., 1 p.m.; wind N., fresh, clear. At
Rhuvaal, Dec. 12th, six dozen seen, after stormy weather, in light
S.W. breeze.
_Note._--On Jan. 29th, 1880, four dozen, old and young, resident on
Islay, were by Feb. 15th, 1880, reduced to about two dozen. It is
recorded in the Wernerian Societies Memoirs, in a report from the
light-keeper at Lismore lighthouse (which report was not published in
full), that most birds of a flock of Brent Geese were killed against
the building, and that one bird passed through quarter-inch glass
"like a shot" (Mem. Wern. Soc, read Jan. 24th, 1835).
Swan, _Cygnus_.--At Rhu Stoir, Dec. 25th, 2 p.m., flying S.E., light
N. wind, snow storm. (At Loch Inver, Jan. 1st, 1881, two seen at a
loch there.) At Butt of Lewis, Jan. 16th, two, stayed four days at
a village four miles off and left on 20th or 21st, flying S.; wind
N.E., sleet.
Ducks, _Anatidæ_.--At Monach, Skerryvore and Dhuheartach. At
Dhuheartach, Oct. 12th, nineteen Eiders--sixteen males and three
females, noon, fresh N. wind, clear; engaged in fishing. At Monach,
Oct. 27th, two flocks of Eiders, male and female, 3 p.m., wind N.,
cloudy; "first arrival here from breeding-grounds." At Dhuheartach,
Oct. 28th, forty fishing round, light N.E. wind; Oct. 29th, the same
flock. These remain all the season, usually arriving about Oct. 12th,
but they do not land here; later in arrival this year.
Great Northern Diver.--At Monach, May 25th, two--male and
female--Great Northern Divers seen, wind S.W., fresh, clear. These
birds are seen at intervals all through the year, three being the
largest number Mr. Youngclause has seen at one time; he has shot
three during the last five years.
Red-throated Diver.--At Monach, May 22nd, twelve were seen feeding in
pairs along the shore; wind N.W., fresh, showers.
Rock Birds, _Natatores_.--Razorbills, Guillemots, Puffins. In
speaking of these I believe the simplest way will be to take the
spring and autumn migration together, and I here simply write down
the results as they appear in the schedules. Cape Wrath, April 20th,
about 1000 Razorbills, 2000 Puffins, and 2000 Guillemots arrived
to breed; wind S., showers. Aug. 29th, about 2000 Razorbills, 4000
Puffins, and 4000 Guillemots left; wind S.E., clear. Or in other
words, about twice as many left in autumn as came in spring. "These
birds have building cliffs about three miles east of the Cape.
The time of the day they come is not known, nor the directions
in which they come and go. They come in one night, and go in one
night." At Island Ghlais, July 10th, about ninety Puffins, 4 p.m.,
flying S., haze, doubtless a local migration for food; July 11th,
about 200 Puffins, 1 p.m., wind N., flying S.W., clear; July 22nd,
numbers feeding on herring-soil in shore; Aug. 9th, numbers feeding
on herring-soil in shore. At Ushenish, May 30th, numbers passing;
local migration, strong S. wind. At Kyleakin, May 10th, numbers of
Guillemots passing E. all day; strong E.N.E. wind. At Skervuile, July
21st to 27th, Marrots seen. Those seen at Island Ghlais are almost
undoubtedly bred at the Shiant Isles (see former Report, 1879).
_Note,_--I have no return this year from Dunnet Head, owing to the
absence of Mr. Geo. Maclachlan, the new keeper not having sent me
one, which I much regret.
Gulls.--At Cape Wrath, April 12th, 300 "Sea Gulls" arrived here for
breeding on the cliffs below the lighthouse, between 7 a.m. and 8
a.m., wind E., clear; July 12th, from 300 to 800 Sea Gulls leave and
passed to W., between 3 a.m. and 10 p.m., wind E., haze and rain;
April 20th, 200 Kittiwakes arrived; Aug. 29th, 600 Kittiwakes left,
wind S.E., clear. At Island Ghlais, July 22nd, 500 to 600 Gulls and
Kittiwakes, Puffins, &c., feeding, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; wind S., light,
clear; probably from Shiant Isles. (See Mr. Anderson's notes on Gulls
in Mid-Atlantic, under Thrush, _antea_ p. 80). At Sound of Mull, Aug.
13th, 200 Kittiwakes, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., flying N.W. in flocks of
twenty to thirty; light W. wind, clear. At Rhuvaal, March 1st, about
four dozen, 10 a.m., S.W. wind to gale, rain and sleet; May 1st,
about one dozen, 9 a.m., S.W. wind, clear; Oct. 13th, twelve, flying
S., 7 a.m., variable, light, haze; Nov. 1st, Gulls (and Curlews),
9 a.m., W. wind, clear. At Skervuile, June 8th, one Black-headed
Gull, 9 am., N.W. wind, light breeze, rain, "not often seen here;"
July 17th, "Boatswain Bird," 10 p.m., first seen, also Kittiwakes;
July 21st to 27th, "Boatswain Gulls" seen; Aug. 2nd, great numbers
of ditto seen. At Corsewall, Nov. 1st, one Kittiwake seen, 9.45
p.m.; fresh E. breeze. At Stornoway, July 21st, a flock, apparently
migrating, flying N., 9 p.m., light N.E. wind.
Terns.--At Monach, Aug. 15th to 20th, great flocks were congregating
previous to departure; winds light, clear; and by 20th all were gone,
except a few detained by late young ones (see spring migration,
under Tern). They are also reported to have left the neighbourhood
of Stornoway lighthouse by Aug. 15th. On Aug. 26th, sixteen "Sea
Swallows" arrived at Bahama light-vessel, at 2.20 p.m., in hazy
weather; wind light S.E. by E.
Gannet, _Sula bassana_.--In the same way I give the data as shown in
the schedules. At Cape Wrath, April 14th, 800 to 900 flying E., for
breeding at Souliskerry, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; wind E., clear. At
Douglas Head, April 18th, one, light N.E. wind, clear; July 14th to
Aug. 28th, 60 to 900 daily, flying W., 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. _Note._--I
am informed by Mr. Gray that Mr. Anderson traced the Gannet as far
south as the latitude of South Spain, where one day the ship passed
through acres of them; they seemed dead beat, as if after a toilsome
flight during a succession of autumn gales. At Rhu Stoir, July 1st
to Aug. 31st, large flocks going N. daily along the coast, largest
numbers about end of July; generally passing between 7 and 9 p.m.;
none seen going south. At Butt of Lewis, April 13th, three Solan
Geese seen, 9 a.m., the first seen; May 20th to Sept. 15th, increased
daily till May 20th, and then on till middle of September, it would
be impossible to count them from dawn till dusk: they passed in long
strings of fifty to sixty in a flock at not more than a quarter of
hour's interval between the flocks; they all flew west. A number
(about one-fifth of the whole) fly east, and take no notice of the
others in their flight; these are single birds: not one seen after
Oct. 15th. At Island Ghlais, July 12th, 150 Solan Geese "flying S.
and N.," 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., light airs, W., clear; July 13th, 200
"flying S. and N.," 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., fresh N. wind; July 15th to
31st, 1600 to 2000 flying both N. and S., variable; daily average
about 100. (_Note._--The expression "flying S. and N." probably means
_from S. to N._) At Skervuile, March 1st, at 8 a.m., S.W. gale, rain
and sleet; Oct. 26th, last seen 10 a.m., fresh N.E. wind, clear. At
Lochindaul, May 14th, one seen fishing, wind E., clear, dry.
Cormorants.--At Cape Wrath, April 16th, thirty "Scarts" arrived,
10 a.m., E. wind, showers. At Stornoway, Sept. 14th, seven flying
S.W. at noon, light S.W. wind, clear; Sept. 21st, flock of ditto at
2 p.m., light W. wind, flying S.W., raining; Oct. 26th, flock of
ditto flying W., 11 a.m., N. gale, snow; Dec. 24th, flock of ditto
flying S.E., N. wind, fresh, snow. The above probably refer to local
migrations.
Unidentified.--At Portpatrick, between Oct. 7th and 28th, a migration
appears to have gone on at intervals of small birds: thus on the 7th
"flocks of small birds," at 7 a.m., strong N.E. breeze, clear, flying
S.W.; the same on the 14th, flying S.W., in light easterly wind, and
clear; the same on the 15th, flying W., in light S. winds, clear;
the same on the 28th, light N.E. wind, hazy, direction and flight
not noted. Again, flocks of small birds on Dec. 25th, at the same
station, flying E., were observed, in strong N. breeze; and flocks
flew round all day on 26th, in light E. wind, and clear. In August,
on the 25th, at 5.45 p.m., fifty-two (species unknown) seen flying
S.S.W., at Bahama L.V., light E. by S. wind.
General Remarks.
In our general remarks, in 1879, we took notice of the scarcity of
birds at many important stations, such as the Butt of Lewis, Monach
Island, &c. This season shows a considerable increase upon last
year's returns, and the horizontal lines of migration--or rays of
the fan--seem to have spread out wider and reached farther north in
1880 than in 1879; and this increase of observations on the west
coast, be it noted, is irrespective, apparently, of the scarcity
upon our Scottish east coast. We also receive accounts of immense
numbers of birds being seen this season in Mid-Atlantic, the dates
of their appearance there agreeing very accurately with dates of
observations at the land stations. In the 1879 migration the scarcity
was accounted for by the prevalence of N.W. winds deflecting the
lines, and passing down _upon the right shoulders_ (so to speak) of
the passing birds.[19]
[Footnote 19: Even the strong-winged Wild Geese and Swans are
observed when flying well up in the wind to drift to one side a
little, having the appearance of flying _left-shoulder first_ instead
of head first.]
This year the prevailing winds and gales were from east and
north-east, and while these winds do not appear to have compressed
_the horizontal lines so much_ as the north-westerly did in 1879 the
birds appear to have passed at greater elevations, and been borne
away in the gales far out to sea. The migration does not appear to
have come in such great throbs or rushes in 1880 as in 1879, but
to have been more dispersed and more regular; this, no doubt, is a
natural consequence of the waves being more spread out in 1880 than
in 1879. The great easterly gales continuing for weeks together over
the Atlantic and North of Europe, so disastrous to our shipping,
undoubtedly carried many migrants far to the westward, and the
mortality amongst them must have been very great indeed, if we judge
from the few records that have reached us from sea-going vessels.
These easterly gales also have, no doubt, affected the direction of
the migration to a considerable extent, and indications of its agency
may be found in the occurrence on our shores of certain wanderers
from foreign lands, such as the Esquimaux Curlew, on September
21st, in Kincardineshire (_vide_ Zool., 1880, p. 485); a Red-legged
Hobby, on September 20th; a Turtle Dove in Kincardineshire; and
Great Snipes, Great Grey Shrikes,[20] &c., about the same dates
(_loc. cit._). These gales may be said to have continued almost
without cessation during the whole migrating season, all through
September, October, November, and December. In November a new bird
to our British list occurred,--the Desert Wheatear, _Saxicola
deserti_, Ruppell,--as will be found duly recorded by Mr. John James
Dalgleish.[21] It was obtained near Alloa on November 26th. Its
native haunts are far to the southward and eastward, and in North
Africa, Egypt, Persia and India.
[Footnote 20: Unusually abundant in Heligoland.]
[Footnote 21: Proc. Ryl. Phyl. Soc. Edin., 1880-81, vol. vi., p. 64.]
Mr. Cordeaux has already shown to us the apparently abnormal
statistics on the south coast of England, birds crossing towards
England and flying north-west all through the migratory season
between August 16th and December. I am inclined to look upon
these data as indications of the wide-spread waves of the general
migration, extending both farther north and farther south. According
to the amount of pressure at the starting-points [or possibly the
increased area northward occupied in a particularly fine nesting
season, as in 1880] will the wideness of the area be which is passed
over by the migratory flocks. I think the rules known to apply in the
dispersal and extension of range of species are, in some respects,
applicable also to the greater and more extensive waves of migration.
I could say more regarding the peculiarity of nesting sites being
occupied year after year by the same pairs of birds, or of well-known
sites being vacated for a few seasons, and again occupied; or I might
dilate upon some curious statistics of the continuous recurrence of
foreign species at the same localities, or along the same line of
country, but I fear to occupy space with theory only, until we have a
larger accumulation of solid material.
As regards severity of weather apart from winds, unusually early
winter was reported from Scandinavia, it having begun there in
October (_vide_ 'Field,' Oct. 16th, 1880, p. 590).
Attention should be drawn also to the admirable work being done on
the subject of migration by Mr. J. J. Dalgleish (Bull. Nuttall. Orn.
Club), and by Mr. Percy E. Freke (Sc. Proc. Ryl. Dub. Soc, vol. ii.,
n. s., p. 373, and vol. iii., n. s., separate?). These gentlemen also
now propose to colour, or have already finished, maps showing the
distribution of the occurrences of American birds in Europe recorded
in their papers, which cannot fail to be of much service in our work.
We would like to see not only American species mapped out in Europe,
but rare European occurrences in Great Britain.
Finally, in endeavouring to arrive at conclusions regarding the
causes of migrational phenomena in 1880, we have taken into
consideration--1st. The value of the heights of lanterns above the
sea, as against the colour and intensity of lights in 1879; and we
have taken more account of the vertical area of birds' flight in
1880 than in 1879. 2ndly. We have compared the effects of prevailing
north-west winds in 1879 pressing laterally upon the lines of
migration to those of 1880, which being easterly and north-easterly
have had the contrary effect of spreading out the migration again,
or at least has not deflected it to the same extent; and also, the
effect of causing birds to migrate at greater elevations, and, where
the gales have been most severe, to bear them away above the range of
vision and carry vast numbers out to sea, until, weary and exhausted,
they have ceased to be able to guide themselves, and again,
involuntarily, lowered, to be picked up senseless and stunned on
board the ships, or to perish in thousands in the ocean. And lastly
we have hinted at the wideness of the migratory waves depending upon
the pressure at the starting-points, or upon the larger north and
south area occupied in the breeding-season of 1880, besides some
other minor details.
WEST COAST OF ENGLAND.
Forms of enquiry and letters of instruction were sent to thirty-nine
lighthouses and light-vessels on the west coast of England; from
twenty-nine returns have been received; from five, letters mentioning
the scarcity of birds.
The following are the stations from which co-operation was asked,
commencing with the most northerly. Returns have been received from
those marked with an *, and from those marked with a † letters
without returns:--