and immature on coasts of N.E. Lincolnshire and Holderness. Teesmouth,
in the autumn, not so plentiful as usual; common in other localities.
Oystercatcher, _Hæmatopus ostralegus_, Linn.--At Teesmouth (Redcar),
Aug. 18th, 6 a.m., three or four hundred, N.N.E., light, dull and
showery. Hunstanton L.H., flocks S.W. at ebb, and E. at flood,
throughout August.
Red-necked Phalarope, _Phalaropus hyperboreus_ (Linn.).--One near
Grimsby, Sept. 26th; one Spurn and one Withernsea, Oct. 9th; two on
Suffolk coast, same month ('Field,' Oct. 29th, 1881).
Grey Phalarope, _Phalaropus fulicarias_, Linn.--Teesmouth (Redcar),
Oct. 15th, two, in adult plumage, only a few grey feathers on back,
N.N.W. gale; one seen near Redcar same day.
Woodcock, _Scolopax rusticula_, Linn.--May 24th, Outer Dowsing
L.V., one, 10.30 a.m., E.S.E. (4), passing from W. by N. to E.S.E.
At numerous stations in the autumn [principally in the north and
mid-east], from Inner Farne L.H. to East Godwin L.V. First at Spurn, on
Sept. 4th; last at Heligoland, Nov. 30th, "a few Woodcocks and Snipe"
(first and only occurrence there in 1881). Greatest flight on English
coast night of Oct. 28th, N.E., snow and sleet. Woodcocks have dropped
in very irregularly throughout the autumn, by two's and three's during
October, and not in those great rushes which usually characterise their
immigration. Migrate generally during the night; frequent exceptions
to this rule. Casualties against the lanterns of lighthouses and
light-vessels from midnight till daybreak.
Double Snipe, _Gallinago major_ (Gmel.).--One, Sept. 15th, was shot
in a clover field about fifteen miles from Redcar. One, Sept. 4th, at
Spurn, killed against the telegraph-wire; another, same locality, 16th;
one, Seaton Carew, Durham, 27th same month.
Common Snipe, _Gallinago cælestis_ (Frenzel).--Some few last week in
July, main body last week of October to first week in November, rapidly
passing on. Nov. 23rd, Gull L.V., 10.30 a.m., about 100 to. W. Spring
migration, 1882, second week in March.
Jack Snipe, _Gallinago gallinula_ (Linn.).--The only occurrences
recorded at Inner Farne L.H., from Sept. 23rd to Nov. 4th. Mouth of
Deben, Suffolk, both this and the former are recorded from Sept.
30th to Oct. 1st, at full moon, with E. wind, in large quantities,
continuing to arrive for some time; remarkable by its entire absence
from its ordinary winter quarters.
Dunlin, _Tringa alpina_, Linn.--Spurn, May 25th, very large flocks,
composed of birds some in summer plumage, others having no appearance
of changing from ordinary winter garb. Enormous flocks were seen at
some north-eastern stations in October. Great number at Teesmouth
(Redcar), from Sept. 15th to Oct. 12th, all going W.N.W., towards the
Tees.
Little Stint, _Tringa minuta_, Leisl.--In small flocks on Humber
foreshores, from Sept. 2nd to as late as Oct. 8th. Fresh arrivals
easily recognisable by their extreme tameness. Comparatively plentiful
on coasts of Holderness, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk during the same
period.
Temminck's Stint, _Tringa Temmincki_, Leisl.--One early in September,
near Yarmouth; a few regularly occur at this season on the east coast,
although rarely obtained, and probably also frequently overlooked.
Pigmy Curlew, _Tringa subarquata_ (Güld.).--First at Spurn, July 21st,
two in summer plumage. Flocks of young, thirty to fifty, numerous
through September and October in the same districts as the Little Stint.
Knot, _Tringa canutus_, Linn.--Spurn, June 7th, 6 p.m., "Plover-Knot"
from N. to S. Some, birds of the previous year, and which do not
acquire the summer dress, remain on the east coast during the summer.
The first arrivals of young Knot occurred during the first week in
August; great rush (young birds) first week in September, the old
coming during the last week, in October. Mr. Winson, the captain of
the Spurn life-boat, picked up a Knot on Nov. 7th, which was killed
by flying against the telegraph-wire; this bird was in faded summer
plumage, the upper parts nearly black, with edgings of buff on the
margins of the feathers.
Ruff and Reeve, _Machetes pugnax_ (Linn.).--On Sept. 3rd, two shot from
a flock of nine on Cowpen Marsh, near Redcar, N.E., stormy. One Ruff
and two Reeves were also obtained at Spurn early in September.
Sanderling, _Calidris arenaria_ (Linn.).--May 25th, some at Spurn,
young of previous year, and in immature plumage. Aug. 1st, flock of
nine; and henceforward in large numbers during August and September,
many remaining on the coast till end of the year, and into 1882. At
Teesmouth (Redcar) they are reported scarcer this season than they have
been for many years.
Common Sandpiper, _Totanus hypoleucus_ (Linn.).--May 14th to 20th,
North-east Lincolnshire, flocks passing along the coast northward,
returning first week in September.
Green Sandpiper, _Totanus ochropus_ (Linn.).--July 30th, returning.
Wood Sandpiper, _Totanus glareola_ (Linn.).--Aug. 6th, one shot near
Redcar; small flock seen.
Common Redshank, _Totanus calidris_ (Linn.).--Scarce near Teesmouth in
the autumn. At Spurn, July 31st, many.
Spotted Redshank, _Totanus fuscus_ (Linn.).--Teesmouth, about Sept.
15th; one, a fully-matured bird, obtained.
Greenshank, _Totanus canescens_ (Gmel.).--Comparatively numerous in
Humber district in September and October, more than have been seen for
many years.
Bar-tailed Godwit, _Limosa lapponica_ (Linn.).--Passed the Tees in
considerable numbers first week in September. Very common in Humber
district in September and October. At Redcar (Teesmouth), between July
4th and 7th, about thirty passed each morning to W. On Sept. 22nd, a
slight "rush"; several large flocks with Knots, both in morning and
afternoon, going W.; E. gale, stormy, with heavy rain.
Whimbrel, _Numenius phæopus_ (Linn.).--At Spurn, May 25th, three seen.
Teesmouth (Redcar), July 4th to 7th, each day a few seen in morning,
S.W., fine. Aug. 17th, continuous flocks with Curlews and Godwits from
6 to 9 a.m., and also the preceding night, W., calm; and at intervals
to Sept. 23rd, all flying W. or N.W. Last occurrence Oct. 22nd. 5 Buoy
Tees L.V., at 11 a.m., twenty to S.W.
Curlew, _Numenius arquata_ (Linn.).--On May 1st and 18th, at Inner
Farne and Flamborough, round lanterns during night. At various
localities in the autumn, from July 17th to end of September. Great
rush, with Whimbrels and Godwits, on Aug. 17th.
Terns, Sterninæ.--At the Farne Islands, in 1881, the Sandwich Terns
returned on May 6th, the Arctic Terns on the 9th; they left again
in a body, both old and young, on Aug. 21st. From Sept. 2nd to 5th,
hundreds of both species revisited and settled upon their breeding
grounds. After this, from Sept. 16th to the end of the month, two to
three hundred Arctic Terns, both old and young, were observed daily
fishing near island (Inner Farne L.H.), leaving again at night. Three
Arctic Terns, two old and one young, were seen fishing off island on
Oct. 27th, and on 29th a single young bird. A flock of about thirty
Common Terns were to be seen in front of Redcar daily up to Oct. 14th,
when the great storm evidently drove them south. Both at Redcar and
Flamborough, throughout September, great numbers of Terns were noticed
passing south. At Spurn, in May, 1881, small parties of Black Terns
were passing north, a few returning southward by the same route in
August. The Lesser Terns returned to their nesting quarters at Spurn
in the third week in May. At Coquet Island L.H., on the night of Aug.
22nd, fog. Terns with Curlews were all night beating about the lantern.
In 1882, March 29th, Spurn, two Terns [sp. ?] seen passing north.
Gulls, Larinæ.--The Herring Gulls returned to their breeding stations
at Whitby on Feb. 14th; they left the cliffs with their young on Aug.
26th. Lesser Black-backed Gulls were observed congregating at their
nesting quarters, on the Farne Islands, on April 13th. At Flamborough,
on July 4th, great numbers of Kittiwakes were passing to the south all
day. Unusual numbers of Herring Gulls and Little Gulls (_L. minutus_,
Pall.) were seen off Flamborough in September. At Spurn, on Oct. 26th,
two Little Gulls were seen; and about the 22nd two immature Sabine's
Gull, _Xema Sabinii_, procured on the Norfolk coast, some Little Gulls
being seen at the same time. At Teesmouth (Redcar), on Sept. 22nd,
continuous flocks of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, young
birds, passed from daylight to dusk, all going N.W., strong E. gale,
rain. On Oct. 23rd, and for several days previous. Great Black-backed
Gulls had been passing to N.W., forty to one hundred in the course of a
day, E.S.E. winds, all mature birds. It is many years since so large a
number of Great Black-backs had been seen passing. At the Cockle L.V.,
on Nov. 11th, continuous flocks of Gulls were passing westward all day;
and on Dec. 29th, at Lynn Wells L.V., flocks all day from E. to W.
Skuas, Stercorariinæ.--On July 12th, a flock of one hundred (probably
_S. crepidatus_) passed at 8.30 p.m. to N.W., high over Redcar, wind
W. On Sept. 16th a great many Skuas were seen on the fishing grounds,
five to six miles out, Richardson's, Pomatorhine, and Buffon's busily
engaged chasing the Gulls and Terns; and again on Sept. 29th, a great
many Richardson's, Pomatorhine, and a few Buffon's Skuas seen from four
to twelve miles at sea by fishermen similarly employed. On Oct. 14th,
during the gale from N.N.W., great numbers of Pomatorhine came down
from north, passing Redcar and going off inland, mostly flying high.
The same day a large mixed flock of Pomatorhine and Buffon's Skua was
seen near the Breakwater, crouching on the ground to get shelter from
the tempest of wind and rain. Great numbers of Skuas passed Flamborough
in September; on Oct. 4th, four Richardson's Skuas were seen off
Yarmouth; and on Nov. 23rd, at Southsand Head L.V., great numbers
("Bonxie's and chasers") with Gannets.
Petrels, Procellariidæ.--During the gale on Oct. 14th, several Storm
Petrels seen coming past Redcar from the north; they also occurred
from Aug. 10th to Nov. 20th at several stations, not unfrequently
striking the lanterns of lighthouses and light-vessels on clear as
well as on foggy nights. The Fork-tailed Petrel (_P. leucorrhoa_)
occurred at various stations, both on the coast and inland, between
Oct. 24th and Nov. 28th, one at Heligoland, in December, being only the
second obtained during Mr. Gätke's long residence in the island. It is
probable that this, being a west coast species, is driven in the autumn
by heavy gales right across the island on to our east coast--that is,
from N.W. to S.E.; its rarity at Heligoland in the autumn supports this
view of the line taken by stragglers occurring inland, and on our east
coast after heavy N. and S.W. gales. _Puffinus anglorum_ and _P. major_
passed Flamborough, in September, in considerable numbers.
Alcidæ.--At Flamborough, on April 28th, great numbers of Guillemots
arrived during the day; and on the 29th the Puffins returned for the
season. At the Farne Islands a white Guillemot was seen in June and
July. The Guillemots and Puffins left their breeding stations between
Aug. 20th and 28th. At Whitby, on Aug. 17th and 21st, very large flocks
of Guillemots were seen passing north.
Colymbidæ.--From Aug. 13th to Nov. 8th, at intervals, many Great
Northern and Red-throated Divers seen off Redcar. At the Inner Farne
L.H., from Oct. 5th to 17th, both species common; two of the former,
shot Dec. 8th and 10th, off the Inner Farne Island, weighed 12 and
12-1/2 pounds.
Podicipitidæ.--At the Inner Farne L.H., in February, 1881, an unusual
number of Grebes and small Divers were observed.
General Remarks.
The results of the observations taken along the East Coast of England
in the spring and autumn of 1881 have been satisfactory; it is true
that, as already mentioned, the returns sent in have been less than
in the previous year, yet what has been lost in quantity has more than
been made up in the quality of the work. The observers have become
trained by experience, and have learnt not only how to observe, but
what to observe.
As in previous years, the main line of migration has been a broad
stream from E. to W. or from S.E. to N.W. this year, covering the whole
of our east coast in comparatively equal proportions; the occurrences
of migrants coming from northerly directions, or from points anything
north of east, are few and far between, and in these cases are
consequent on birds striking the coast in more northern latitudes and
following it to the south. Thus, north of Flamborough, Larks pass up
the coast from north to south; at Spurn and south of Spurn they come
in directly from the sea. The closeness with which both migrants and
immigrants follow the coast line has also been verified in a remarkable
degree,--an observer taking up his position at a short distance
from the coast would see or know nothing of migration, yet within
half-a-mile or less there might be a constant stream of birds, hour by
hour and day by day passing to the south.
In the spring birds also return on the same lines they travelled in
the autumn, from W. and N.W. to E. and S.E. A reference to the spring
notes in the report on each separate species observed will show this.
Our spring immigrants also arrive from the sea, and are first seen on
or near the coast, gradually moving inland. Migration has been earlier
than in 1880, in many cases birds arriving considerably in advance
of recent years; this has been notably the case with some of the
_Limicolæ_, such as have the widest ranges and where nesting grounds
are circumpolar--that is, confined to lands surrounding the North Pole.
Also in the case of the _Anatidæ_, which arrived fully a month before
their average period.
It may be said the general features of migration, having reference
to lines of flight, time, height of travelling, favourable winds
or otherwise, circumstances of greatest casualties at lanterns of
lighthouses and light-vessels, are the same as set forth in previous
reports; yet in 1881 we find several important variations from the
normal phenomenon, consequent on the directions of the wind and
general character of the season. From the commencement of August to
the end of October the prevailing winds have been from northerly and
easterly directions, blowing more or less directly on to the coast,
and therefore, as also shown in previous reports, unfavourable passage
winds--for it may be laid down as an axiom that, with southerly or
westerly winds, not amounting to gales, normal migration is the
rule, but with winds in the opposite direction, the results are
very opposite; such winds, more especially if strong, weary out the
immigrants and compel them to drop on the first coast they make, often
completely exhausted by the passage. The consequence has been that,
on our east coast, with the prevailing winds, it has been a most
favourable season for the observer; and generally the number of birds
recorded is considerably in excess of any previous records.
The winter of 1881-82 has been remarkable for its high temperature, no
such uniformly mild season having occurred for many years in England.
The same has been the case over the whole of Northern Europe north of
latitude 50° N. As might be expected, so exceptional a season has not
been without its effect upon our immigrants. Fieldfares have crossed
in very limited numbers, and have everywhere been remarkably scarce
in localities along our east coast. Large numbers of birds which
regularly arrive in the autumn, as the Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Tree
Sparrow, Snow Bunting, and others, and which remain for a few days only
and then pass on, have this winter continued for many weeks, and even
months, resorting in immense flocks to the stubble-fields near the
coast, where, with no severe weather to drive them away, they found an
inexhaustible supply of food in the large quantity of grain dashed out
in harvest-time by the great gale from S.W. to W. on August 26th. Snow
Buntings have been considerably in excess of anything known for many
years, the proportion of old birds not more than one in a hundred.
Another consequence of the mildness of the winter is the desultory
fashion in which birds have migrated; there have been less of those
great "rushes," when for days together one species after another
rush helter-skelter on to our coast. Migration has also been greatly
prolonged, and the latest returns received show Rooks, Starlings, and
Larks still crossing the North Sea in February. The last week in August
and first in September Wheatears and Redstarts passed as usual up the
coast from N. to S., the line of migration being confined to the chain
of sandhills. Also during the first week of September, and again about
the 20th, there was an immense migration of the _Sylviinæ_ in the same
direction. Migration appears to have reached its climax on or about
Sept. 22nd, an enormous number of various immigrants coming in from
this time to the end of the month. Not the least remarkable was the
influx of the larger raptorial birds crossing Heligoland on Sept. 22nd
and two following days, and were about the same period seen along the
entire range of our eastern coast. From this date to the end of October
ten Ospreys were procured from localities contiguous to the east coast
of England, between the Tyne and the Thames. Again, the third week
of October there was another large immigration of birds of various
species. On the night of Oct. 24th great numbers of Mealy Redpoles
came in on the Holderness coast; the same flight was also traceable as
far north as the Farne Islands; the Mealy Redpoles appear to have been
accompanied or closely followed by a flight of Siskins. Hooded Crows
came with their usual regularity, almost to a day; this autumn the
great flight crossed Heligoland on the afternoon of Oct. 17th, and on
the 18th. There was a corresponding arrival along the whole of our east
coast on the night of 17th or early morning of 18th, and on the 19th.
Short-eared Owls, Golden Crested Wrens, and Woodcocks arrive with great
punctuality during the first fortnight in October, and are invariably
associated in their migration--that is, coming at the same time; it
is a curious fact that, in the last autumn, all three arrived in
conjunction five weeks in advance of their average period; this perhaps
may have been a local and coast movement from North Britain, and not
across the North Sea.
In August and early in September, Knots, Grey Plovers, Sanderlings,
Curlew Sandpipers, and Little Stints--all circumpolar in their
nesting--had returned in large number, being unusually abundant and
early in their movements up the coast.
The _Anatidæ_ have been remarkably scarce in shore and within our
river estuaries, and it has been an almost blank season for the
wildfowl-shooter; yet we find, in the returns from some light-vessels,
they have occurred in extraordinary numbers out at sea, the weather
having never been sufficiently severe to drive them inland or near the
coast.
With a dry hot summer in Northern Europe migration is always earlier
than in years of rain and low temperature, birds breeding sooner in
the former, and the nestlings, like all other young things, with dry
weather and sunshine, developing more rapidly.
Nothing is more remarkable in the phenomenon of migration than the
punctuality with which certain species return in the autumn, one
species regularly taking precedence of another; also in respect to the
date of the arrival year after year. In the _Limicolæ_ and _Anatidæ_
the date of autumn migration varies--often considerably--from year to
year. In some species, as the Wheatear, Redstart, Fieldfare, Redwing,
Hooded Crow, Goldcrest and Woodcock, and others, we may almost predict
to a day the time of their first appearance.
The period of the migratory flight in the autumn of any particular
genus or species is most probably referable to two causes: the first
one of temperature, affecting the time of nesting; the second is the
period at which the young arrive at maturity, or rather that period
when they throw off paternal control or are thrown off themselves.
When able to act independently and procure food on their own account,
they flock together and migrate in a body. We know that, with rare
exceptions, the young of the year migrate some weeks in advance of
the parent birds; thus we can readily conceive the whole of the large
raptorial birds nesting about the same time over widely extending
districts in Northern Europe; when the many young arrive at a
self-dependent stage there would be a simultaneous movement, ending in
a universal migratory rush. This period of self-dependence is arrived
at much more quickly in some birds than in others, for species like
the Knot, Grey Plover, Godwit, and Sanderling, nesting in very high
latitudes, leave our shores the last in the spring of any of the
migrants, and their young are amongst the first to return in autumn.
The order of migration, more especially in connection with the shore
birds, is the occurrence very early in autumn--July or August--of a few
_old_ birds in summer plumage, either barren or such perhaps as have
been prevented nesting, then the young in large flocks, and some weeks
subsequently old birds.
The season of 1881-82 will long be remembered by east coast
ornithologists for the number of rare visitants which have appeared
from time to time, driven to westward of their ordinary migration
lines by the prevailing winds from N. and N.E. to E. and S.E.,
generally strong and frequently increasing to a severe gale. The fact
of ten Ospreys having been seen or procured has already been mentioned;
there were two occurrences of Tengmalm's Owl; the Rustic Bunting at
Spurn; Lapp Bunting at Tetney, on Lincolnshire coast; White-spotted
Blue-throat at Cley, in Norfolk; Glossy Ibis, five occurrences;
Sabine's Gull, two on Norfolk coast; Kentish Plover, Lincolnshire;
Blue-winged Teal, Teesmouth; and numerous other occurrences of scarcely
secondary interest. These, as well as the rarer occurrences in
Heligoland, have been separately treated in the notes on each species
observed.
WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND.
Schedules, &c., were sent to thirty-eight stations, the same number as
in 1880. We have received filled-in schedules from twenty-six stations,
being same as last year.
Generally the returns are light, and the scarcity of birds is accounted
for by the reporters, and borne out by comparison of statistics, by
the prevalence of westerly gales and winds (see General Remarks). The
schedules show the same careful work as in former years.
The dates upon which the various stations have sent us returns are
shown in the following list of the stations by the positions of the
asterisks preceding the consecutive numbers. Stations added have the
dates preceding the names. As will be seen, the work done will compare
favourably with the East Coast returns, and also with that of previous
seasons.
West Coast of Scotland.
Mainland.
1879, '80, '81.
* * * 81. Cape Wrath, Sutherland 400 ft. D. Sinclair.
* * * 82. Rhu Stoir, W. Cromarty 195 " W. Wither.
Outer Hebrides.
* * * 83. Butt of Lewis 170 " { G. Edgar and
{ Alex Thompson.
* * 84. Stornoway 56 " John Grierson.
* * * 85. Island Glass 130 " W. Innes.
* * * 86. Monach Island { 150 " } J. Youngclause.
{ 62 " }
* * 87. Ushenish 176 " Peter Carrie.
88. Barra Head 683 "
Mainland, Skye, and Inner Hebrides.