south, pass directly from the Spurn to the Lincolnshire coast without
entering the Humber; and there are no indications that they follow
the shores of the Wash in and out, but shape their course from about
Gibraltar Point to the Norfolk coast. To judge from the well-filled
schedules sent in year by year from the Shipwash, Swin Middle, Kentish
Knock, and Galloper light-vessels, a closely packed stream passes
somewhere from the coast of Suffolk across the North Sea in the line
of these stations, both in the spring and autumn, to and from the
Continent. Autumn migrants approaching the Humber from the sea do not
follow the course of that river into the interior--that is from S.E.
to N.W.--the line they take invariably crosses the river diagonally,
and is from E.S.E. to W.N.W. This course is so persistently followed,
that I have observed year by year, on a migratory day, birds cross our
fields at the same angle. Supposing this course to be continued they
would strike the Trent at or near Gainsborough.
Except in one instance no returns have been obtained from any stations
on the south-east coast between the South Foreland and St Catherine's
Point, Isle of Wight. This is much to be regretted, as it is known that
a strong migratory highway runs along the South Coast as well as on the
French side of the Channel.
==============
WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND.
Schedules, etc., were sent to thirty-five stations, not including the
Isle of Man (five more), the schedules for which are under Mr Eagle
Clarke's charge. Of the thirty-five we have received returns from
fifteen stations. From these fifteen stations we have thirty-eight
filled schedules. We have again received two schedules from Monach
Islands; but, as in 1885, they are again written straight across the
schedule, irrespective of columns. To enter all these notes in their
right places and sequence in our Report would cause great additional
labour and loss of time to the working members of the Committee, as
already fully explained in last Report (p. 92), _q.v._
We would be much obliged by our Reporters adhering to the columnar
arrangement.
LIST OF STATIONS.
Note: The names of the Reporters are given under "Diary from the
Stations."
Returns
in 8 years, In
including 1887. List of Stations.
1887. Values. Feet.
Sutherland.
4 81. Cape Wrath, III. 400
4 82. Rhu Stoir, II. 195
Outer Hebrides.
7 * 83. Butt of Lewis, I. 170
3 84. Stornoway (2 Lights), { II. } 56
{ I. }
3 85. Island Ghlais, I. 130
7 * 86. Monach Islands, { I. 150
{ II. 62
2 87. Ushenish, N. Unst, VI. 176
4 88. Barra Head, II. 683
4 * 89. Rona, Skye, IV. 222
7 * 90. Kyleakin, W. Ross, IV. 53
2 91. Isle Ornsay, I. 58
2 92. Ardnamurchan I.
8 * 93. Skerryvore and Hynish
Signal Tower, Tiree, II. 150
8 * 94. Dhuheartach, I. 146
5 95. Sound of Mull, V. 55
0 96. Corran Ferry, IV. 38
4 97. Lismore, Oban, I. 103
2 98. Fladda, Easdale, VI. 42
4 99. Rhuvaal, IV. 147
7 100. M'Arthur's Head, IV. 128
8 * 101. Skervuile, II. 73
8 * 102. Rhinns of Islay, IV. 159
3 * 103. Lochindaul, IV. 50
0 104. Mull of Cantyre, VI. 297
0 105. Sanda,
0 106. Devaar, II. 120
0 107. Pladda, Arran, II. 130
5 * 108. Lamlash, Arran, IV. 46
4 * 109. Turnberry, Ayrshire, IV. 96
4 109b. Ailsa Craig, 1885,
7 * 110. Corsewall, IV. 112
0 111. Loch Ryan, I. 46
7 * 112. Portpatrick, I. 37
7 * 113. Mull of Galloway, II. 325
4 * 114. Little Ross, IV. 176
_Diary from the Stations._
_Butt of Lewis._--Robert Agnew (replacing Mr Edgar, who is now at
Lochindaul, _q.v._). Mr R. Agnew is a son of Mr Joseph Agnew, late
keeper at Isle of May (East Coast), now stationed at Monach Isles,
_q.v._ Mr R. Agnew sends, in all, two excellently well-filled schedules
from the Butt of Lewis. Under date of November 9th, 1886, he writes:
"I send you a schedule. I hope you will find it of use. I would have
sent it sooner, but wrote to my father for the loan of a book to help
me, and waited till I heard from him." [Schedules sent date from August
23d to February 7, 1887.] Mr Agnew continues: "I am surprised to see
that most of the strange birds that I have seen here are _single_. It
must just be occasional stragglers that we get from the flocks that
are passing. It is also strange that there are so few birds coming to
the lantern, but the tower is very high--120 feet--and perhaps that is
the reason." [Mr R. Agnew is right in believing that stragglers are
all that can be expected to appear at Butt of Lewis, though possibly
in exceptional seasons unusual numbers may appear. Birds "catch up" at
Cape Wrath and W. C. of Scotland. Remnants "catch up" again at Butt of
Lewis. But in easterly gales the "catch up" of the land is often lost,
and hundreds or thousands are carried clear away to the Atlantic. See
previous Reports.--J. A. H.-B.] Mr Agnew continues: "I have marked a
Hen Harrier, and by the description in the book" [he having received
the loan of the book from his father--Mudie's "Birds"], "I think I am
right. He remained here for some time, and the poor Rock Pigeons led
a poor time of it. I also found a young Gull he had killed and eaten.
I was surprised to see it, because I did not think that he would have
attacked so large a bird. I measured the wings, and found them to be
4 feet 2 inches from tip to tip." [Mr R. A. sent me the wings, but
they did not reach me, and must have miscarried, but no doubt it was
one of the common species of Gulls; from the measurements, probably a
Herring Gull; or possibly--_i.e._, if the measurements are correctly
taken across the back and wings--an Iceland Gull. (See MacGillivray's
"Manual," under the said species, vol. ii., p. 247.)--J. A. H.-B.] Mr
R. A. says: "I only came here last summer, and did not begin to keep
records till near the end of August, but another year I hope to be able
to do better." [Meanwhile, we can only thank Mr R. A. for his excellent
commencement of the work, which is well done.--J. A. H.-B.]
Later, in the second schedule, Mr R. A. writes: "There has been nothing
to record since the 25th of November." [Last date of schedule.--J. A.
H.-B.] "The Snow Buntings have remained with us all winter. All summer
we had large flocks of Solan Geese, till the first of October; after
that there were a few till the 1st of November; but since then (till
February 7, 1887) _I have not seen one_." [These Solan Geese notes are
always interesting. Perhaps Mr Agnew will devote a separate schedule
to the day-to-day movements of Solan Geese another season.--J. A.
H.-B.] He continues: "On the 24th October I observed very large flocks
of sea-birds, fishing close to the lighthouse. There were all sorts of
them; I could not say how many, but there must have been many hundreds.
We saw them from 9 A.M. till 11 A.M. After that there was not one
to be seen (where did they come from and where did they go?)." [We
believe they simply followed a vast body of fish--young or adult--or
_entomostracæ_, which "showed" on the surface, indicating one of the
strange, or little understood, migrations of fish, or _entomostracæ_.
One or two of the birds shot, and contents of their stomachs examined,
might have explained a great deal. Possibly Mr Agnew may still be able
to supply a note as to the nature of their food at the time.--J. A.
H.-B.]
_Monach Isles._--D. Georgeson sends two closely written schedules, but,
as before stated, straight across the columns. We will give them here
_in extenso_ as the simplest way of writing them in.
Under date of December 1st, 1886, Mr Georgeson writes to us thus: "I
send you my two last schedules, filled up to date of end of October. I
received intimation of my removal from this station to Sound of Mull,
Tobermory. I expect the 'Signal' daily to take me to my new home. I do
not know what sort of a place it is as regards birds, but if you send
me schedules I hope to be able to give you a report, however short."
[_Note._--In January 1887 Mr Harvie-Brown had an opportunity of
interviewing Mr Georgeson, and having a pleasant chat, at Sound of
Mull Lighthouse. No schedules have come from it, but the site is not
good, and is much hidden by high land to the westward. It gave us much
pleasure, however, to make Mr G.'s acquaintance, and thank him for his
hearty co-operation hitherto at Monach Isles.
We have pleasure here in fully quoting Mr Georgeson's last schedules
from Isles of Monach, where he is succeeded by Mr Joseph Agnew, late
of the Isle of May, who we are sure will find Mr Georgeson's notes of
interest and value.--J. A. H.-B.]
Mr Georgeson writes as follows: "Since my last report to you ending
December 1885, I have had little to add in the way of forwarding your
useful work regarding migration, and of the numbers and varieties of
sea birds passing or frequenting this station. I notice a visible
decrease annually in the numbers of both land and sea birds, a decrease
attributed to the island not being so quiet as it was some years ago,
before the lighthouse was built, when the birds had the island all to
themselves, and there was no one residing on it, but was only used by
the natives for grazing purposes. Now the keepers and their families
going round the island, the small birds are disturbed at the period of
incubation.
"In January and February a few Terns, Snow Buntings, Twites, and Rock
Pipits struck the lantern, the wind being south. Of sea birds during
those months I observed a few Solan Geese, Scarts, Kittiwakes, Eider
Ducks, Teal Ducks, etc.; but as the breeding season came on they left.
"In March a pair of Shielducks visited the island, and after remaining
a few days, left, returning again in April (presumably the same pair),
and after nesting and having two young ones, the four left in August.
No Teal nor Eiders bred here this season.
"In June a large flock of Pictarnies, a few Stonechicks, Ringnecks
(?), Sand Larks, and Twites came to the island (but not in such large
numbers as in former seasons). Wind from south to west. They left with
their young in August, the few I saw leaving flying in a north-easterly
direction." [This is somewhat contrary to experiences, and no doubt is
due to local peculiarities of the configuration of the Outer Hebrides
and land communications with the mainland, but our data appear too
scanty to explain this. In this case "the few Mr Georgeson saw flying
in a N.E. direction," was with a wind from south to west. Possibly they
do this to catch up the Skye coast, or sooner reach the shelter of the
east coast of the Outer Hebrides.--J. A. H.-B.] "In June also a pair of
Tysties," continues Mr Georgeson, "came to the island, and left with
the young in August.
"On the 2d September, wind N.E., all the Pictarnies left the island,
flying in a northerly direction." [This again almost seems to indicate
a movement towards the north first, before returning south or in a
south-easterly direction. Future careful reports on directions of
flight here and of winds at the time can scarcely fail to prove of
interest.--J. A. H.-B.] "On the 4th of September four Ravens--a male
and female with their two young--I observed resting on the island,
but, after remaining a short time, they flew in an easterly direction
towards the mainland. On the 9th September we had a severe gale--wind
variable--and the island is quite deserted by land birds, the only ones
remaining being a few Twites. I caught several during the gale dying
from exposure. The only sea birds I can see are a few Gannets fishing
for food; but they too leave in the evening in the direction of Barra.
A few pairs of Curlews and a few Herring Gulls returned with their
young. On the 17th September I observed a solitary Heron feeding around
the shore; and I witnessed a strange incident in connection with it.
On the 22d of the same month, while walking round the island, I heard
strange cries coming nearer and nearer from a southerly direction, when
the Heron got up a few yards from me, and flew in the direction of the
cries, it being hazy at the time, and after the lapse of a few minutes
I noticed three coming out of the mist evidently overjoyed at seeing
one another. They flew round and round, for some time, and then flew
off in a north-easterly direction--the wind E.N.E., fresh.
"On the night of the 4th and 5th October a great number of birds struck
the lantern, strange to say the greater number of them being Snipe;
but there were also Mavises, Blackbirds, 'Marsh' (_i.e._, Meadow)
Pipits and Rock Pipits, and a few Pictarnies, all seemingly young birds
of the year; but I was surprised to see the Pictarnies, as they had
all left, and none had been seen about the island for some time; and
these have evidently been migrating. The island appears to be quite
deserted by land birds in the day time. On the night mentioned the
wind was variable--from S.E. to S.W., with drizzling rain. On the 7th
October I observed a large flock of Shielducks coming from N.E., and
after resting a short time, they got up and flew off south, the wind
being at the time S.W." [Report ending 31st October 1886. Here ends Mr
Georgeson's notes on Monach.]
[Now Mr Joseph Agnew takes up the tale, and we make no excuse for
quoting his letters: "We had to leave the May a day after the time
I expected when I last wrote you, and therefore had not time to
visit you at Dunipace, when passing Larbert on our way to Oban." On
arriving at Monach Mr Agnew expresses surprise at the universal and
populous distribution of the Rock Pipit at all stations, S., E., N.,
and W., where he has been. He then describes the Tystie (or Toistie
of Monach), _i.e._, the Black Guillemot, both in winter and summer
plumage. Mr Agnew sends a schedule dating December 3d to 30th, contents
of which will be found under species further on, and where Monach is
mentioned, any remarks under species may be read as continuous with Mr
Georgeson's Diary.--J. A. H.-B.]
_Rona_ (_i.e._, _South Rona_).--Messrs Dunnet and M'Gaw send two fairly
well-filled schedules, strictly adhering to columnar arrangement.
_Kyleakin._--D. MacCulloch and John Clyne send one well-filled
schedule, but light, dating February 1st, 1886, to January 1st, 1887.
_Skerryvore.-_-Thomas Dawson and William Charleson send three
well-filled schedules, dating January 27th to December 9th, 1886. Mr
D. writes: "Birds scarce here all summer. Not one seen between 7th May
and 13th September. On September 6th a Scart was seen by us fishing
about the rock. Sometimes it came ashore for a short rest, then into
the water again. Did not appear to be a bit frightened. We amused
ourselves casting stones at it for a time, still it did not go away far
from us. It is the first we have seen of the season; not one single
Scart seen here during the breeding season. We left it after a time.
At night, after lighting time, a strange noise was heard on the top
dome. One of the keepers--Mr Charleson--went aloft and found the Scart
sitting very comfortably on the cage for cleaning the chimney, with
his head under his wing, asleep. He never saw Charleson coming to it;
but the latter made a grab at it, but missing his mark, the bird got
clear off. Several Eiders are seen now, mostly males (October 1st,
1886); one flock of thirteen yesterday, and only one female among them.
Numbers of Solan Geese seen every day here fishing." [We would be glad
of a schedule or two devoted entirely to Solan Geese and their daily
movements.--J. A. H.-B.]
_October._--"On the 6th a great 'rush' of small birds here last night.
Never saw anything like it nor so many different kinds. They commenced
to strike the lantern at 8.30 P.M. on the 5th; and continued all
morning of 6th. I cannot give you any idea of numbers, but no doubt
hundreds were flying round the light. Most in number were Skylarks
and Thrushes; Wheatears next; and a great number of Snipes were seen.
I have noted in the schedule the actual number of the different kinds
we saw on the lantern and the time they struck, but no doubt many more
of the same species hovered round the light all night. I saw several
Sand Larks, but only one struck. Wind S.E. to S., rain and haze. They
nearly all struck on the north side of the lantern. I was standing on
the balcony when the Woodcock struck, and it fell stunned at my feet,
and I caught it before it had time to recover. This is the only one
I have ever seen here. I may mention the names of the species seen
so far as recognised: Mountain Thrushes, Common Thrushes, Skylarks,
Titlarks, Wheatears, Blackbirds, Woodcock (first seen here by me),
Robins, Wrens, Redstarts, Ring Ouzels (Mountain Thrushes are therefore
either Fieldfares or Red wings), 'Oxeyes' (and another small bird a
stranger to me)." [The Oxeye--so-called--is really a Gold-crested Wren,
as described: and the other small bird, from description, is probably
a Willow-Warbler (or Willow Wren).--J. A. H.-B.] In the same letter Mr
Dawson encloses an insect [the Silver Gamma Moth.--J. A. H.-B.], and
says: "I enclose an insect. I got it this morning stuck to the side of
the kitchen window. We don't know what it is. It has likely wandered
off here with the rush of birds the two previous nights. It appeared to
be quite dormant when I found it (date of 7th October).
"Great numbers of birds again last night, but not nearly so many as the
previous night, and fewer species. Wind N., and heavy rain all night
and morning. After this Mr Charleson is to take note of the birds along
with myself, so will get on better. The second schedule will be soon
filled up."
Under date of December 19th, Messrs Dawson and Charleson say; "The
Gannets have all left us some weeks back. The scarcity of fish is no
doubt the cause."
_Dhuheartach._--William Davidson and Jas. M'Guffie send us four
well-filled bulky schedules, as Dhuheartach has, along with Skerryvore,
participated in the rush of 5th and 6th October, which appears to have
been so universal all over the East Coast also. By the schedules the
species appear to have been much the same as at Skerryvore--Larks,
Mavis (many young), Goldcrests, Snipe, Fieldfare, Wheatear, Robins,
Firetails (Redstarts), Starlings, Blackbirds, young Swallows, and
several Lapwings--the Larks predominating by hundreds, and the Mavis by
tens over the others, so far as observed.
_Skervuile._--John Ewing sends two well-filled schedules from 7th
February to 26th December 1886. Under 25th March he says; "There has
been an abundance of Gulls and Boatswains' birds up to _October_." On
April 15th Solans are noted as seen night and morning during July,
August, and September. Rush is also distinctly participated in on 3d,
4th, 5th, 6th. (See under species for details.)
_Rhinns of Islay._--Peter Anderson and Mr Ducat.--Besides sending five
regular schedules, fully filled up, Mr Anderson has also, in a very
neat and efficient way, kept a still more minute day-to-day record on
his own plan. We now have these for the month of February. When we have
a schedule of this description for every month in the year, we think
it may prove desirable to publish the series _seriatim et literatim_.
The statistics could not fail to be serviceable. Thousands of Larks
seen passing south for days during the October rush. They write; "We
think if you had been here on the night of 5th and morning of the 6th
October, you would have seen migration to your heart's content. I have
never seen anything like it before. About 7 P.M. they commenced, and
increased until 10, when it was something grand to see, and continued
up to 2 A.M. of the 6th, making a perfect concert of sounds--even the
drums were not awanting--as the small birds striking the lantern and
dome answered for the small drum, and the larger ones at odd times for
the big drum. I will here mention a list of as many of the birds as I
could distinguish, but I will make no attempt at numbers, as they were
simply innumerable:--Redwings, Lapwings, Larks (these three the most
numerous), Thrush, Missel-Thrush, Moorhen, Robins, Goldcrests, one
Blackbird, one Teal Duck (both latter caught), Blackbirds, Water-rail,
Terns, Starlings, and numerous other kinds I did not know. Weather
thick, with haze and rain: wind S.E. to E. The birds seemed all to be
flying against the wind. One Woodcock seen. Last night, 7th October, we
had scarcely a bird, although it was a night of rain; but the wind was
from the north." [This account of the great rush is most interesting
and valuable.--J. A. H.-B.] "The rush continued till 2 A.M. of the 6th,
but then eased a good deal, but numbers kept flying on till daylight.
There were numerous Moths about the lantern on the nights of the 5th,
6th, and 7th." [Schedules give more interesting items.--J. A. H.-B.] Mr
Anderson adds the note: "I forgot to mention that the weather has for
the past few days been very close and warm. On the morning of the 5th,
at 2 A.M., the glass stood outside at 62½°, and has been about 60° for
several days, with very heavy rain." On the 18th December occurs the
following note: "On the 18th I was inland for a mile or so, and saw two
flocks of Larks (about 1000 each), and a flock of Starlings of from
1200 to 1400. I never saw so many Snipe on this island before. By the
22d thaw had set in, and they were all gone." [_Note._--When we were
shooting in Ardnamurchan in January 1887, though Woodcock were fairly
plentiful, we never saw Snipe so scarce in Mingary Park. The suddenness
of the rush, short space of time occupied, and complete departure south
in December at once accounts for this.--J. A. H.-B.]
_Lochindaul._--James Edgar sends three well-filled schedules, and
observes that no schedules appear from our Report to have been sent
for some years back. We are very glad again to receive schedules
from Lochindaul, which appears to be a favourable situation for
observations. Mr Edgar's last station was N. Unst, whence he sent us
schedules. Mr Edgar says of Lochindaul: "Very few birds are attracted
to this light, owing to part of the light being red, and the land
side of the lantern being dark, although there are plenty of birds in
the vicinity of the station. Most of the observations I have made are
during the day time, and I only entered each species the first and last
time seen, and any unusual flocks seen during the season. I gave up
taking notes at end of October, owing to illness, and I was invalided
from then till recently" (dated 17th January 1887), "which accounts for
the lateness of sending in the schedules."
_Lamlash._--David M. Scott and Robert Brown send a light schedule,
except on the 6th October, when they appear fully to have participated
in that extraordinary rush. "We could make out Curlews, Lapwings,
Thrushes, Goldcrests, Linnets, Blackbirds, Wrens--the largest number
ever seen in one night at this station;" further proving the magnitude
and wide-spread character of the 1886 autumn migration, as well as its
singularly compressed nature.
_Turnberry._--Andrew Nisbet and William Begg send three well-filled
day-to-day schedules. Curiously enough, the "rush" of October--which is
quite the feature of our 1886 Report--is only comparatively emphasised
here; but while the emphasis is moderate, it is also quite equally
pronounced when compared with records at the same station. Thus,
whilst only 1, 2, or 3 birds struck, or were seen at the lantern all
through the season, a spring movement was more observable about the
10th February; and the autumn migration rush was emphasised by 13 birds
at the lantern on the famous 5th and 6th October, and 5 the following
night. Thus, comparatively speaking, the rush was also apparent on that
date as elsewhere. All returns at other dates are light.
_Corsewall._--An _unsigned schedule_, well filled and neatly executed,
to hand, dating February 4th to October 29th, shows an early spring
migration, also in February, of Starlings, Thrushes, and Larks; and "a
great rush" of Blackbirds, Thrushes, and Larks (both male and female),
and Goldcrests, began to strike at 9 P.M., and continued till daylight.
A great many killed of all kinds. Upwards of 100 got in the morning.
S.E. fresh breeze, fog and rain. Short, sharp, sudden, and vast, as we
do not find another entry till 23d.