" 15th. 200. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. " E. Haze.
" 16th. 40 to 90. 12 noon to 7 p.m. " E. Haze.
" 22nd. 200 to 400. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. " N.-N.E. Fog, rain.
" 24th. 100 to 200. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. " S.W. Clear.
" 26th. 300 to 400. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. " S.W. Haze.
" 28th. 90 to 100. 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. " S.W. Haze, rain.
" 31st. 60 to 80. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. " S. Haze, showers.
Aug. 1st. 100 to 300. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. " W. Haze, rain.
" 3rd. 300 to 400. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. " E. Clear.
" 4th. 60 to 70. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. " E. Fog, clear.
" 5th. 20 to 30. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. " N.E. Fog, rain.
" 7th. 40 to 50. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. " N. Fog, rain.
" 8th. 20 to 40. 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. " N. Fog, rain.
" 9th. 20. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. " N. Haze.
Thus it will be seen that from 2150 to 3080 were estimated to pass
westward within view of Cape Wrath, between July 14th and August 9th,
during fifteen days occupied on migration. All which were observed
passed during the day--say between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.--and apparently
in all winds and weather. From the Butt of Lewis Mr. Edgar supplies the
general information that the Solan Geese pass the station, arriving
first in May, and leaving in the latter end of October, but giving no
particulars as to direction of flight. At Mull of Galloway Solan Geese
are reported as passing, on July 19th, in flocks. Mr. N. B. Morrison
reports as follows:--"Saw them flying past to W.S.W. in wedge-shaped
flocks as if on a passage, or changing locality." This was during
the forenoon; wind S., light, and haze. "At 1 p.m. it began to rain,
and continued for twenty-four hours; rain guage at 9 a.m. of 20th,
1·72 inches. On 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, very strong breeze, and
showers; wind W.N.W. to S.W." Again at same station (Mull of Galloway)
flocks continued passing all day; wind S.E., fresh, fog, and rain,
flying in same direction. On 8th and 9th, wind S., gale; 10th, wind
W., strong. In a later note Mr. M'Gill believes "that the Solan Geese
strike the land first at Cape Wrath," and that the Geese which pass it
are from Suliskerry.
* * * * *
On the west coast of Scotland, also, many observers make particular
mention of the scarcity of autumnal migrants in 1879. At several
principal and important stations this scarcity is of course most
remarked upon, such as Butt of Lewis, Monach Island, Island Glass,
Skerryvore, and Dhuheartach. During long experience at these and other
stations, the several observers do not remember such great scarcity of
birds during the autumn migration. From other observers' remarks it
would appear that several of the west coast stations are not suitable
for observations being made, from their land-locked situations or other
local influences, such as Kyleakin, Sound of Mull, Corran Ferry, and
others.
Many birds are killed at the lanterns of the more isolated lighthouses
and are blown into the sea. Thus, in 1877, at Skerryvore, in the
month of October, the number of birds killed was six hundred, chiefly
the Common and "Mountain Thrush" (Ring Ouzel), but including also
Blackbirds, Snipes, Larks, and one Wild Duck. The observer, Mr. W.
Crow, was of opinion that about two hundred more were killed and
blown into the sea. They came every night from the 1st to the 6th,
about 8 p.m., and went away at daylight. "I would estimate," he says,
"the number about the light on each of the above nights to be about a
thousand." The direction of the wind was from S.S.E. to S., with haze;
and no migration of birds was observed during the day. On Dhuheartach
lighthouse rock, "two Hawks are seen every morning" while the migration
lasts, which come to prey upon the small birds resting on the rock. A
considerable flight of migrants took place about Oct. 7th, as upon the
east coast.
The direction of the flight of migrants appears to be from east to
west at the north coast stations, but from N.W. and N.N.W. to S.W. or
S.S.W. at the stations farther south; and this is borne out by previous
observations in former years by my west coast observers at Tyree and
elsewhere. Our observers have not usually reported the direction taken
by the migrants, but there are enough data to prove the above lines.
It would appear, therefore, that birds when passing from east to west
often overshoot the land, and are compelled to turn back upon a new
course, according to the direction of the wind. In 1878, Mr. W. Boyd
(since deceased) wrote regarding the migration in Mull as follows:--"In
the month of October I was fishing on Loch Assapol, near Bunessan.
Almost every day I saw flock after flock of little birds--Larks,
Buntings, Robins, and even Wrens--flying across the loch. All these
birds were steering the same course, having apparently come from the
outlying Hebrides, _viá_ Tyree, Iona, up the Rose of Mull, and were
steering for the mainland. Fresh arrivals of different species of Ducks
rested and then passed on. Wild Swans and Geese were seen far up in
the air, all taking a bee-line for the south." On another occasion
Mr. Boyd visited Tyree in December, 1878, and both he and a companion
remarked "the extraordinary scarcity of common birds, and the unusual
number of winter visitors." One day every Snipe they put up, instead
of flying a bit and settling again, rose high in air, and went off
due south-east as far as they could see, right across the sea, to
Mull. The remark was then made, "The sooner we go south for powder and
provisions the better; we are going to have an arctic winter," which,
as is well remembered, was a perfectly correct surmise. It will thus
be seen that the flights of wildfowl almost invariably are from N. to
S. on both coasts, but that the smaller birds--land birds--as they fly
lower, are more influenced by the configuration of the coast-lines, and
also, no doubt, by the direction of the wind at the time. Our data are
at present too scanty to lay down with precision the minutiæ of their
lines of flight, but another year's observations will probably greatly
assist us. The same rules, as to time of day or night at which birds
strike the lantern, holds upon the west coast which also obtain on the
east, and the same remarks as to weather also hold good.
The above remarks upon the direction of the flights upon our west
coast may prove of value in a comparison with Mr. Cordeaux's notes
upon the direction of the flights at the Galloper Bank. We are aware
here that birds pass overland on migration, crossing Scotland between
the Firths of Clyde and Forth, as they have been heard on calm nights
crying as they passed over from W. to E., or from points N. of W. to
points S. of E.; and day-flights have often been observed passing here
from N.N.W. towards S.S.E., or from N.W. to S.W. I would instance here
Bramblings, _Fringilla montifringilia_, natives of Northern Europe.
(See Gray's 'Birds of the West of Scotland,' p. 137. The "column"
of Bramblings there described as on migration were not "proceeding
in a north-easterly direction," however, as stated by Mr. Gray, but
were coming from a north-westerly direction, and were proceeding in a
south-easterly direction.)
* * * * *
Transcriber Note
Minor typos were corrected. Several quotaion closures were missing and
added in the most likely place. Table of Contents added to assist reader.