these occasional visits.
=December.=
1st and 2d, W., violent, open clouds N.W., cirri N.--_T. pilaris_,
a few hundreds on 2d. _Larus marinus_ and _argentatus_, astounding
numbers in lee of Island.
3d, night, S.W. gale. Nos. 8 and 9, moving W., bitter; evening, S.W.,
moderate, cirri, N. by W.--Nothing. Storm warning.
4th, S.W., Nos. 8 and 9, rain and hail squalls.--Nothing.
5th, W. and W. by N., No. 8, hail and rain squalls; afternoon, a little
better.--_Uria_, thousands in the cliffs at breeding places.
6th, Northerly, nearly calm.
7th, Northerly, nearly calm.--During night to 8th, larks pretty
numerous at lighthouse.
8th, N.W., very faint, snow showers; evening, squally, with snow.--_T.
pilaris_ and _merula_, some. _Fr. linaria_, several; _montium_, small
flight, thirty to fifty. _Char. vanellus_, several. _Ch. auratus_
passing on at night during snow squalls.
9th, N. by W., violent, with snow squalls, between squalls
still.--During night _Ch. auratus_ and _Num. arquata_, numerous passing
over.
10th, N. and N.E., fresh, early snow squalls.--_C. cornix_, several.
_T. pilaris_, small flights; _merula_, single birds. _F. linaria_, some.
11th, N.E. and N.N.E., moderate, clear; evening, calm.--_C. cornix_,
pretty numerous.
12th, S.W., fresh, overcast.--_Alca alle_, thousands flying about on
sea.
13th, W.S.W., faint, overcast, upper clouds N.N.W.--Nothing.
14th, W. and N.W., calm, overcast.--Nothing. Some _Lar. glaucus_, jr.,
between _argentatus_ and _marinus_.
15th, W., overcast, no wind.--Nothing.
16th, S.W., fresh; evening, very strong, W., rain.--Nothing.
17th, N.N.W., faint, overcast; evening, thick fine rain; night,
fog.--Nothing.
18th, calm, fog; evening, faint, east.--_Larus minutus_, pretty
numerous on sea.
19th, S.E. and S., faint, thick fog.--_Al. arvensis_, great many
passing on, some alighting. Some _Al. alpestris_.
20th, 21st, 22d, S.W. and W., almost uninterrupted thick fog.
23d, N.E., very weak, cloudy.--_T. pilaris_, a flight of from 100 to
150. _F. montium_ and _Emb. nivalis_, some.
24th and 25th, W., fresh, overcast; during night foggy.
26th, north, still, fine.--_T. merula_, eight to ten, mounting after
sunset from my garden on migration.
27th, W., fresh, clear; evening and night, stormy. No. 8,
S.W.--Nothing. Great many _Lar. minutus_.
28th, S.W., stormy. No. 8, storm warning.--Nothing. Great many _Lar.
minutus_.
29th, W., violent, hail and snow squalls.--Nothing. Great many _Lar.
minutus_.
30th, northerly, fresh to violent; evening, N.W., little wind.--_Al.
alpestris_, pretty numerous, flights of twenty and thereabout passing
on the whole day.
31st, S.S.W., violent, thick; afternoon and all night, thick
fog.--Nothing.
_Heligoland--Spring, 1886._
March 19th, S.E., 4 deg. below zero.--_Corvus frugilegus_, pretty
numerous; _cornix_, a few. _Sturnus_, do. _Al. arvensis_, great many,
enormous passage over sea.
_Mem._--At Hanover astounding numbers of "Crows," and great flights of
_Ch. vanellus_.
20th, S.S.E., little wind, overcast; afternoon, thawing; evening,
fog.--_F. æsalon_ and _tinnunculus_, some. _C. frugilegus_, thousands;
_cornix_, less. _Sturnus_, _merula_, _musicus_, _iliacus_, all
passing on. _Al. arvensis_, hundreds of thousands; _alpestris_ and
_arboreus_, a few. _Anth. pratensis_, great many; _rupestris_, less.
_F. cannabina_, some flights. _Ch. auratus_, _vanellus_, _hiaticula_,
all great many. Fr. alpina, less. Scol. gallinago, several. Col.
_palumbus_, some. Enormous masses passing on across the sea.
Hanover.--Crows, Larks, Wood Pigeons, _Ch. vanellus_, all in enormous
numbers. _Ch. auratus_, less.
21st, fog.--Larks and Plover passing on above fog, their voices heard
in great profusion.
22d, 23d, 24th.--All like 20th, passing over in enormous masses,
particularly during night.
25th.--Crows, Rooks, Daws, passing on in millions. _Sturnus_,
astounding numbers. All the above also in full swing passing on, joined
by _rubecula_. Wagtails, _accentor_. _Sax. ænanthe_, _F. cœlebs_,
_montium_, _Emb. citrinella_, _Syl. titys_, and a few Gold-crests,
etc., etc.
In previous years the Heligoland notes have been incorporated with
the returns from the East Coast of England, and they are now printed
separately for the first time. The special thanks of the Committee are
due to Mr Gätke for his interesting and valuable contributions to their
report.
WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND.
Schedules, etc., were sent to thirty-four stations, not including the
Isle of Man (five more), the schedules of which are passed on to Mr
Eagle Clarke for incorporation with the West Coast of England. Of the
thirty-four we have received returns from seventeen.
Additional interest and more painstaking schedule-work is evident at
the more productive stations. From Monach Islands three schedules have
been sent, but they are written straight across the columns, making
it extremely difficult for the committee to tabulate the contents. As
far as possible, the columns should be used for the purposes given in
the headings, as otherwise the labours of members of committee is very
largely increased. All the scheduled items must be passed first into
a ledger for the purpose, under species in each month, in the season,
and then only can the report be written out. We give prominence to this
explanation, as we are very desirous that our reporters adhere to the
columnar arrangement.
Here follows the list of stations:--
List of Stations.
Note: The names of the Reporters are given under "Diary from the
Stations."
Returns
in 6 In
years. 1885. Values. Feet.
Sutherland.
4 81. Cape Wrath, III. 400
4 82. Rhu Stoir, II. 195
Outer Hebrides.
5 * 83. Butt of Lewis, I. 170
3 84. Stornoway, 2 lights, { II. } 56
{ I. }
3 85. Island Ghlais I. 130
5 * 86. Monach Isles, { I. 150
{ II. 62
2 87. Ushenish, N. Uist, VI. 176
2 * 88. Barra Head, II. 683
0 * 89. Rona, Skye, IV. 222
5 * 90. Kyleakin, W, Ross, IV. 53
2 91. Isle Oronsay, I. 58
2 92. Ardnamurchan, I.
6 * 93. Skerryvore and Hynish
Signal Tower, Tiree, II. 150
6 * 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
6 * 100. M'Arthur's Head, IV. 128
6 * 101. Skervuile, II. 73
6 * 102. Rhinns of Islay, IV. 159
2 103. Lochindaul, IV. 50
0 104. Mull of Kintyre, VI. 297
0 105. Sanda,
0 106. Devaar, II. 120
0 107. Pladda, Arran, II. 130
3 * 108. Lamlash, IV. 46
2 * 109. Turnberry, IV. 96
109B. Ailsa Craig, 1885,
5 * 110. Corsewall, IV. 112
5 111. Loch Ryan, I. 46
5 * 112. Portpatrick, I. 37
5 * 113. Mull of Galloway, II. 325
2 * 114. Little Ross, IV. 175
Diary from the Stations.
_Butt of Lewis._--Alexander Thompson and Gilbert Mackinnon, one
schedule from March 24th to November 17th, carefully filled. On the
15th and 16th, large whales seen close to lighthouse, going S.E. on
the flood tide. Starlings, Rock Doves, remain all the year round,
and "Sandlarks" arrive in May, and stay till end of August. During
July, "great flocks of Gannets continually going to and fro in search
of fish." An amusing incident was witnessed by Mr Mackinnon. On
the evening of the 10th August, a Gull got hold of a large "saith"
fish[12]; was unable to rise with it, so it towed it to the rocks, and
allowed the sea to wash it up on the rocks. Some boys went after it,
when it took to the water again, and pulled the fish to another rock,
and again allowed the sea to wash it up, where it eat its supper in
peace.
[Footnote 12: _Gadus virens_, Lin.]
_Monach Isles._--Donald Georgeson--Three quarterly schedules. Mr
Georgeson's schedules are able and masterly; and if we could have _all_
our schedules returned in a similar epitomised condition, no doubt much
time might be saved; _but_ in the meantime, schedules coming from a .
few stations out of so many stations, so epitomised, whilst the rest
adhere rigidly to the columnar arrangement, makes it more troublesome
to arrange details. Uniform attention to the columnar arrangement is
simplest for the ledger work.
The following is an abstract of Mr Georgeson's three quarterly
schedules, and may be referred to under _species_ in the next portion
of the report:--
Mr Georgeson writes--"This is an island little frequented by either
land or sea birds. The only birds that struck the lantern were a few
Snow Buntings and the Common Tern [Arctic Tern _vera_?.--J. A. H. B.]
Towards the end of January we had a severe gale from the S.W." Mr G.
found several Terns and Snow Buntings "dead from exposure." "_The S.W.
is the prevailing wind here._" (Explaining, perhaps, the above stated
scarcity of birds, as pressing them more easterly on their S.E. course
after doubling Butt of Lewis.--J. A. H. B.) A single Snipe appeared
among the "marshy pools" of the islands. "In January and February
I observed a large flock of Wild Geese, coming from the U.E., and
after resting on the outlying rocks here, they rose and flew west in
the direction of St Kilda." Shieldrakes--Two males and one female,
in February, seen feeding on the island, and three Common Gulls and
two Black-Backed Gulls. 1st March. Fifty Linnets (Twites?) paid a
visit,--wind south--stayed only a short time. A few Sandpipers remained
a week, but departed when the weather broke. Rock Doves visited the
island, but soon left. Sea birds observed from January 1st to March
31st are--Common Duck, Eider Duck, Northern Diver, and a few Scarts,
but these also disappeared with a gale on the 20th March from quarters
between S. and N.W.
In Mr Georgeson's next six months' bulletin, he reports:--
April 3d, wind S.W. Three Ravens and two Hooded Crows, and one _Golden
Plover_--local migration. He also mentions Sand Larks arriving to breed
about the 5th April. "The only land birds that remained the winter
are a few Rock and Meadow Pipits, which breed here in large numbers;
also about a dozen pairs of Wheatears and a few "Linnets" (_i.e._,
Twites.--J. A. H. B.) Two nests of the Eider Duck on the island in May.
Early in May the wind was light and variable. The only birds I saw were
three Black-Backed Gulls and five Herring Gulls, and a few Eider Ducks,
but as the breeding season advanced they left the island. Two pairs of
Shielducks came to the island _from the direction of St Kilda_--wind
light, N.E.--and were seen flying away in spring with their young in
a N.E. direction. There are no Scarts here in the breeding season.
They and other rock birds leave for more suitable rocks as the season
advances. Large flocks of Pictarnies arrive here in June, and breed in
great numbers, the island being covered with their nests.
In the last quarterly schedule Mr Georgeson tells us ;--By the 24th
August the land birds had all left, except a few "Linnets" (_i.e._,
_Twites_--J. A. H. B.), a few Rock and Marsh (_i.e._, "_Meadow_")
Pipits. A _Corncrake_, a very unusual bird here, came to our garden
on 11th August, but left on the corn being cut. September 7th, a few
_Scarts_ returned, and fifty to sixty Kittiwakes. Many _Solan Geese_.
Two Herons seen feeding on rocks on September 8th flew off on the 10th
seaward. October 5th, large flock of Snow Buntings part of the day, and
then flew off in a N.E. direction. On the 20th October a large flock
of Wild Geese came from N.E. with a N.E. wind, lighted to rest, and
then flew off _west_ (_i.e._, out to sea). Snipe usually remain over
the winter at Monach, but leave in the breeding-season. On night of
November 10th to 11th a Woodcock--a rare bird here--struck, along with
Terns, Mavis, and Blackbirds. Another rare bird was found dead same
morning, the name of which I do not know. "Exact colour of a Kittiwake,
the size of a Stormy Petrel. (No doubt the Grey Phalarope, young bird
of the year.--J. A. H. B.) A large flock of "Pictarnies" (_i.e._,
Terns) came from E., rested, and then flew away west, wind N.E. at the
time, on same day.
_Barra Head Lighthouse._--William Irvine. One short schedule from
February to June. Mr Irvine writes:--"Bernacle Geese last seen on
the 24th April on this island." There is some little confusion about
Bernacle and Brent Geese. Could Mr Irvine send us a head of the
so-called "Bernacle Geese?"--J. A. H. B.
Marten Swallows (_Hirundo urbica_) were seen on June 10th hawking over
the surface of the ground. Major H. W. Feilden and Harvie-Brown visited
Barra Head in 1871, and it is easily understood why it should _not_ be
a favourable observatory of land birds. (See "Barra Head and Its Bird
Life," and previous Reports.)
_Rona_, Skye.--Messrs Dunnet and M'Gaw send a short schedule--March
20th to November 17th. The contents appear under Species. Northern
Divers seem to be often seen about this district of coast, and also at
Kyleakin Ferry (_q.v._).
_Skerryvore._--Mr Thomas Dawson sends three carefully-filled schedules.
Rush of Thrushes, &c., on 12th March, continuing on 15th to 16th.
Several birds have been named from the wings sent by Mr Dawson; and
from description and drawing the _Pomatorhine Skua must_ have been
observed on the 25th May. Later Mr Dawson writes:--"Not one land bird
seen here since 28th November till to-day." Date of last schedule,
January 19th, 1886. Even the Eider Ducks have deserted us for months
past. Yesterday, continuous flocks of either Marrots or Razorbills
passing south. Fresh, variable.
_Kyleakin._--Messrs D. M'Culloch and John Clyne write, with two
well-filled schedules.
This is an exceptional year here. On the 16th November, at 2.30 A.M.,
with fresh (?) breeze and haze, two "Mavises" and six Starlings
struck--_the first birds known to strike the glass for the last eight
years_--and others seen in the rays of light. More birds have been
observed this season in a few minutes than have been noticed for years.
On the 27th November, wind S.W., fresh, gale with snow all night, and
two hours after the gale took off, great flocks of Starlings passed
from 10 A.M. till dark, only a few inches from the ground. These birds
had either been driven out of their course with the gale and snowstorm,
or had taken a new course of their own accord.
_Dhuheartach_, S.W. of Iona.--Mr William Davidson sends two schedules
carefully filled under correct columns--a practice which cannot be too
highly commended.
_Skervuile._--Mr John Ewing also sends us four capital schedules,
strictly adhering to the columnar arrangement.
_Rhinns of Islay._--Messrs Peter Anderson and James Ducat send eight
excellent schedules, clearly proving, as has been done before, the
superiority of this observation station; and I think in our first
Report we give prominence to the situation as intercepting the S.E.
flow of returning migrants from the Outer Hebrides.
Messrs Anderson and Ducat are much interested in the work, and many
birds have been sent us by them for identification. They write:--"The
last date on which we saw Solan Geese last year was on the last day
of November, and the first day this year was on 29th February. Birds
resident in the vicinity are, amongst others, Starling, Curlew, Snipe,
Jack Snipe (?),[13] Twites or 'Rock Linnets,' Sparrows, and Larks.
Later in summer Gannets or Solan Geese are seen daily 'flying east and
west,' and 'circling about fishing, from an odd pair to 100 in all
weathers,' A vast congregation of Marrots and Puffins fishing around
the island on 19th August, and some hundreds of Gannets, old and
young, 'floating along with the tide, so full they cannot rise.' All
disappeared on 21st."
[Footnote 13: Does not breed in Britain: probably the Dunlin?--J. A. H.
B.]
_N.B._--We would be obliged if Mr Anderson and Mr Ducat would adhere
to the columnar arrangement, and not write across the red lines, or as
little as they can help.
Hundreds of Moths also are reported "of various sizes flying about the
lantern on 7th September." A great Skua?--("Dirty Allan of the largest
size")--seen on 7th September. Also on the night of the 3d September
Messrs A. and D. write:--"We have had enormous numbers of what is
locally called 'Jenny Long-legs' about the station for the past three
or four weeks, and in the mornings there are great numbers of their
legs and wings lying on the pavement. This morning, after putting out
the light, I watched, when I saw about twenty Mosscheepers (_i.e._,
Pipits) working hard to make their breakfast off them. _I never before_
saw so many Long-legs in the fall. There is a usual _run in April!_"
From Mr Peter Anderson we have the following earnest appeal to other
stations:--
Rhinns of Islay Lighthouse,
_23d December 1885_.
Sir,--I beg to return you the concluding schedule for this
year, and most likely I have put a lot of remarks into it and
previous ones that are of little account, and some of the wings
I sent to you were most likely very common ones to you, although
they were strange to me, or I had some doubts about them; but
as I have now got the names of some of the odd ones in this
locality, I will not likely trouble you with so many again. If
my suggestion of including assistants as well as principals in
filling up the schedules has been of any advantage this year,
I would further suggest for 1886 that you should make a strong
appeal to all stations to try for one year to give you all the
information (and especially those who have not as yet sent in any
or meagre returns) they can. First, what birds--or as many as
they can ascertain--breed in then' near locality. Second, when do
Stonechicks (which I believe are all over Scotland), Snow Buntings,
Robins, Wrens, and several other small birds arrive which make
their appearance only at certain seasons. In looking over the
Report for 1884, the point that annoyed me most was, that I could
not make out the names and terms of all the different species; but
at John o' Groat's School thirty-five years ago there was no word
of Latin. In '84's Report I expected to have seen better reports
from some stations that I know, such as North Unst, Start Point,
and Noss Head. At North Unst there are several migrants which build
on the rock, and I wondered to see no account of Mother Carey's
Chickens, as they breed on the rock, and at the end of August they
annoyed us a good deal by striking the lantern and emitting an oily
substance on the glass. At Start Point the Sheldrake breeds, and
I have seen the Stock Duck breed on it also; and I was told there
were thirteen species of Ducks frequented that locality, and I have
seen Teal and Widgeon there in hundreds. Also at Noss Head there
are various classes of birds which visit it in the breeding season.
I once knew of a Grebe got in a small pond there. Trusting you
won't feel annoyed at the above remarks, I am, etc.,
Peter Anderson.
_Lamlash._--Messrs David Scott and Robert Brown send us one schedule.
The remark occurs that "the Thrush is becoming very scarce here."
_Turnberry._--A carefully-filled schedule--dating March 11 to November
10--sent by Messrs Andrew Nisbet (principal) and Wm. Beggs (assistant).
Species well distinguished.
_Corsewall._--A good schedule also from Mr Robert Laidlaw, and all the
species apparently well distinguished.
_Portpatrick._--Mr James Beggs sends a short but good schedule, with
the remark: "Migration of birds this season has been very slight, and
we think the cause is owing to so much prevailing winds from the west
occurring on this coast [_i.e._, taking the birds further west at
further north points.--J. A. H. B.]. Flights of Black Crows [Rooks.--J.
A. H. B.] come and go to this vicinity all the winter through.
[_Note._--Ravens are known to congregate on this coast at certain
points.--J. A. H. B.] Great flights of Gannets in July, August, and
September, and then cease till early spring. Fly both ways--north and
south."
On November 10, _Red-legged Kaw_ seen flying south at 3.40 P.M., close
to lighthouse. (Is this still of the native breed, or a migrant from
further north?--J. A. H. B.)
_Mull of Galloway._--Two well-filled schedules from Messrs Alex. Murray
and John M'Quarrie. "A large Grey Owl. picked up one of the small birds
on the grating on the 17th October, plucked it, and swallowed it whole.
I tried to catch it, but it flew off."
_Little Ross._--Mr James Ferrier I have to thank for two
excellently-prepared schedules; and we feel sure that this station,
though it may not yield large numerical returns, will give returns of
considerable interest, whether negative or positive.
Separate Report under Genera and Species.
Turdidæ.--_In Spring_, a few odd birds--Blackbirds and Thrushes--passed
93 (Skerryvore) and 114 (Little Ross). In March, these increased in
numbers at both these stations on 7th, 11th, 12th, and 15th, and odd
birds were also noticed at 109 (Turnberry) on 11th and 13th. Apparently
almost a rush noticed at 93, with wind light N.W. on 12th, but S.W. and
haze on 15th. Fieldfares also noted at Little Ross on 24th, with strong
S.E.; one killed. On April 14th, a rush of Thrushes at 94 (Dhuheartach)
all night, light variable wind and haze; also Redwings and Blackbirds
at Rhinns of Islay on 12th, and two Ring Ouzels all night at Little
Ross. Blackbirds seen flying S.W. at 94, on 17th June, complete the
spring records.
_In Autumn._--Scarcely any movement in September, but in October,
considerable numbers of _Turdidæ_. Earliest record in autumn, one
Thrush on 1st September at 109, and one Ring Ouzel on 15th at 102
(Rhinns of Islay); and latest record November 16th [if we except
two records on 22d and 23d January 1886, which really belong either
to local influence, or is a beginning of the spring migration of
1886]. Thus the migration of _Turdidæ_, in 1885 is almost unique
amongst our records for the shortness, suddenness, and rapidity with
which it was accomplished, occupying limits strongly defined in time
by the above dates, _viz._, in all--leaving out the two solitary
September records--only from 9th October to 16th November, or 38
days. The stations participating in the rush are 93 (Skerryvore), 94
(Dhuheartach), 101 (Skervuile), 102 (Rhinns of Islay), 108 (Lamlash),
109 (Turnberry), 113 (Mull of Galloway), and 114 (Little Ross). More
specialised rushes were:--On 17th, of _Thrushes_ and _Missel Thrushes_
at 94, and of _Redwings_ at Rhinns of Islay; on 10th and 11th November,
of Missel Thrushes and Fieldfares, with few Mavises, at 93, 94, and
of the same species in small numbers, with large numbers of Thrushes,
Blackbirds, and Redwings, on 9th, 10th, 11th, up to 16th, at all
stations. Most at 93 and 94, but movement extensive and general at all,
and suddenly over by the 16th, if we except one solitary record of five
Mavises on the 21st at (Kyleakin) 90, the only record from that station
of _Turdidæ_. Prevailing wind strong S.S.E. to S.E., and back to S.,
all these two months; sometimes northerly in October, but never for
long.