waves breaking upon the entrance to the Firth of Forth, at the Isle of
May station, and again at Pentland Skerries. Bell Rock came in also
for a share, though apparently, from the schedules, a much smaller one
than at the Isle of May. The easterly winds prevailed all along our E.
coast, generally strong to gales, and the successions of south-easterly
and easterly gales in October, between the 8th and 23rd, occurring as
they did, just at the usual time of the principal migration, brought
vast numbers of land-birds to our shores. From Faroe in the north to
the extreme south of England this is found to have been the case, but
the usual blank on our Scottish coast occurs, over a large extent of
shore-line, from Dunnet Head, in Caithness, all the way to Bell Rock.
From all this great stretch of coast, embracing no less than ten
lighthouse stations, I have only two schedules returned. These two
schedules respectively are from Cromarty, a closely landlocked station,
and the other from Chanonry, a still more completely landlocked
station,--both absolutely sheltered, as it were, from the track of the
great S.E. and easterly gales; I may therefore say that I have not a
single statistic of direct value, between Dunnet Head and Bell Rock,
as regards the general migration. My thanks are none the less due,
however, to Mr. Ritson, of Cromarty, and to Mr. McGill, of Chanonry, as
their notes will, without doubt, prove of value if continued, and will
assist us in arriving at conclusions regarding more local movements of
birds, dependent upon food and shelter, which may prove none the less
interesting because of their connection with landlocked positions.
The absence of returns from this great stretch of coast-line is much
to be deplored, and at present I am perfectly unable to state whether
it is due entirely to absence of birds at all these stations every
season, which, however, I can hardly think is the case, or if it is
lack of interest at some of these stations. If the latter, we can only
say we regret that we have failed to arouse sufficient interest in
our subject. I cannot pass over this without the one further remark,
that if the lighthouse-keepers at these stations would only return the
schedules, with even a _negative_ statement, _every year_, it would
facilitate our work. _The absolute knowledge, that year after year no
birds are seen at these stations would be as valuable to us as positive
data._ By a chance visit to Buchan Ness--one of these stations--on the
Aberdeenshire coast, I learned that a Manx Shearwater was once captured
at the lights, and saw the specimen, and thus it was added to the
Aberdeenshire fauna, besides being an extremely rare visitant to any
portion of the E. coast. Had this been returned in a schedule, I would
have been doubly grateful for dates and circumstances of the occurrence
at the time. While I am on the subject of addressing our reporters _let
me once more earnestly request them, in every case where possible,
to state the directions in which migratory flocks of birds are seen
flying. This would greatly facilitate our deductions from year to year;
and especially would I ask attention to this at all the more northerly
stations, and all the west coast stations_.
Perhaps not the least remarkable migration was that of _Regulus
cristatus_ (the Golden-crested Wren), extending in one broad wave from
Faroe southward along the whole coast, coming with S. to S.E. to E.
winds, reaching the Scottish stations by Aug. 27th, and continuing to
November 12th, but apparently not reaching Faroe till Oct. 21st, when
a great rush took place. It is worthy of remark also that they were
unusually abundant at Isle of May in spring, a rush taking place in
March, and of females on March 10th. The stream in autumn, on the
Scotch coasts, lasted from 8th to 23rd, but did not begin in Faroe till
20th or 21st. A vast general rush of many other species reached our
coasts also between Oct. 8th and 23rd. The great waves of _Turdidæ_
scarcely seem to have reached Faroe, as we have only a few records of
them thence in December, and the same remark may be held to apply to
many other species mentioned.
It is also important to note, that while so abundant at the outlying
station of Isle of May and Bell Rock on the E. coast, there should have
been an almost complete absence of any of these species at the next
station, a little higher up the Firth of Forth, _viz._, at Inch Keith;
and to record that it appears to be always with westerly winds that
birds occur there. While there were hundreds of records at Isle of May,
there were none with the same winds at Inch Keith, and only about ten
records in all. Its somewhat landlocked position accounts for this, and
its being sheltered from the S.E. winds places it on a similar footing
with Chanonry and Cromarty, in the Moray Firth. Weather.--Upon our E.
coasts, easterly and south-easterly winds prevailed throughout the
greater part of the migratory seasons, both in spring and autumn, and
reached forces of from fresh to gales. On the W. coast the wind was for
the most part westerly and north westerly, rarely S. during spring, at
the greater part of the stations, and was easterly and south-easterly
in autumn, seldom reaching fresh or strong, or gales, as on the E.
coast, usually light, or from light E. or S.E. to variable. The above
facts will be considered, whilst we state next the distribution of the
migratory waves on the W. coast, in relation to those on the E. coast.
As in 1881, records on the W. coast begin to bulk more largely towards
the southern stations. All north of Rhinns of Islay and MacArthur's
Head the records of land-birds are very scanty, and the lighthouse
keepers remark upon the scarcity. At usually (normally) crowded
stations, such as Skervuile, they are reported as yielding "fewer birds
than for many years back." Even at Rhinns of Islay the records are not
large, but they begin to show an increase at this point. Unfortunately
I have no autumn returns between Rhinns of Islay and Corsewall, which
latter is south of the Firth of Clyde.
Now, if anything additional to the general bulk of the records is
required to show the line of migration of 1882, it is the significant
record of the Golden-crested Wren at Rhinns of Islay on Oct. 10th, and
at Corsewall and stations to the south, but nowhere to the north of the
former station. Now, it seems that the strong easterly to S.E. gales on
our E. coast, which brought over such streams (rather than rushes) of
birds,--such countless thousands,--did not carry them forward across
the breadth of Scotland to any appreciable extent, but that the birds,
tired and storm-tossed, rapidly sought rest and shelter on arrival; and
that we have only on the W. coast indications that such a great stream
broke upon the E. coast. These indications, however, are strong enough
to enable us to mark out, with some degree of certainty, the lines and
turning-points of the stream.
If we do this, by comparing the records of the various schedules, we
find that, south of the Firth of Clyde, the records bulk most largely;
and we also find that the dates agree with those of the E. coast.
MacArthur's Head and Rhinns of Islay appear to me, from the bulking
of records, similarity of dates, continuance of light E. winds, and
species occurring, to represent the turning-point of the autumn
migration from E. to W. Rhinns of Islay is a salient angle, catching
glimpses of passing birds from N.W. to S.E. Otherwise, if the strong
gales did not cause all birds to drop for shelter on Scotland, it
must have carried many far out over the Atlantic, as in 1880. Isle of
May sends in 19 schedules, and Pentland Skerries 8. Bell Rock sends
2--thickly filled--and North Ronaldshay 3, but bulking less than Bell
Rock. What has become of the many birds passing through the Pentland
Firth? We find little indication of them at the nine northerly W.
coast stations. Have many overshot the land and passed out over the
Atlantic?
Another point worth noting, is the occurrence of many birds in spring
at the same stations frequented by the species in autumn. Thus, at Mull
of Galloway on March 8th and 9th, with westerly winds. Goldcrests were
abundant, and at the same station on Oct. 15th and 16th, an autumn-rush
took place, with easterly and N.E. wind and haze. The same double
records occur at Bell Rock and Isle of May as regards many species, and
especially _Turdidæ_ and _Regulus cristatus_. This "returning" upon old
lines has already been remarked upon by my colleague, Mr. J. Cordeaux,
in our Third Report (p. 38). Since these last sentences were written,
I have received the first of the 1883 schedules from the Isle of May,
and may here state what the effects of the succession of N.E. gales in
March have been on the spring migration, leaving however the details
of Mr. Agnew's schedules to be worked into our next--1883--Report. I
give this in Mr. Agnew's own words, as I entirely coincide with the
opinions expressed. Mr. Agnew writes on the back of the schedule as
follows:--"With reference to your note on the schedules sent, as to the
effect of the N.E. gale of March 6th, 7th, and 8th, 1883, you will see
from the entries inside that the effect of that gale was almost to stop
migration at the Isle of May. Migration that had set in pretty briskly
on the 2nd almost ceased on the 5th, and from that date we had only a
few stragglers of the strongest wings, up to the 19th. I believe the
effect of that gale was to drive the birds that should have come this
way, away to the southward. Had the gale been from the S.E. it would
have been different here."
In fact, a N.E. wind reaching such strengths as those of March 1883
did, acts very much in the same way upon spring migrants, pressing them
more to the southward, as north-westerly strong winds and gales act
upon the autumn migrants, whose normal course is from E. to W., or S.
of E. to N. of W. It will be interesting to trace this further from the
schedules returned from other stations, when they come in for 1883.
Another point to note in spring migration of 1883, will be the greater
westering of the return migrants, if we may use the expression, partly
consequent upon the greater westering of the autumn migrants, caused
by the long-continued and strong south-easterly winds of the preceding
autumn, and partly upon the north-easterly winds of March pressing them
down and deflecting their course to more inland and sheltered lines.
In this connection I would speak here of the great assembly of the
Pied Wagtails on the narrow stone horizontal moulding above the upper
windows of the General Post Office, Edinburgh, where, upon March 17th,
1883, A. B. H., who recorded the facts in the 'Scotsman' of that
date, counted more than sixty; and he adds, in a subsequent letter
to me, "there was at least one in every niche of the carved capitols
of the columns. I think I am quite within the mark when I say there
were 150 birds altogether." This flock roosted there on March 17th
and 18th, but disappeared on the 19th, owing, Mr. H. thinks, to a
rise of temperature and the wind going round from N.E. to S.E. Mr. H.
was informed that numbers, probably the same birds, were seen feeding
at Duddingstone Loch on the 18th. Now, several years ago, a similar
assemblage was noted at the same locality, by a well-known Edinburgh
ornithologist, but it occurred, not in spring but in autumn, and a
general movement was at that time also noted by Mr. H., and recorded
in the Proc. Ryl. Phyl. Soc. of Edinburgh, on Jan. 15th, 1879, from
which last noted records of autumnal migration it would appear that he
saw about seventy Pied Wagtails on the roof a house in Edinburgh, in
the middle of September, 1878, and Mr. Scot Skirving, of Edinburgh,
on a previous occasion, saw some 300 at the General Post Office, but
the exact date of this latter record has unfortunately been lost or
mislaid, as we are unable, of course, to find out definitely the
meteorological phenomena accompanying the record.
Further, my friend Mr. Eagle Clarke, notes the arrival of the same
species in the neighbourhood of the Ure River, near Masham, Yorkshire,
as early as Feb. 5th, 1883. Though resident in the lowlands about
Leeds, it is migratory to and from the higher lands. Mr. Eagle Clarke
has often seen as many as 200 in a flock, on a large lawn near Leeds.
Mr. Agnew informs me, that with a S. wind there is little migration
past the Isle of May, and that S.E. is the best wind in spring to
permit of observations being made. Five Wagtails were seen at Isle of
May on the 29th and 30th, however, during a gale from the S.
The Spring Migration of 1883 seems to me to indicate the direct effects
of the N.E. gale, causing these Wagtails to keep inland by a more
sheltered route, which Wagtails in ordinary weather would probably
have passed up the coast-line and crossed the entrance of the Firth of
Forth, showing themselves at Isle of May and Bell Rock stations. Mr.
Robert Gray has, I believe, frequently observed the spring arrivals of
this species on the west coast--in Ayrshire; and it will be interesting
to see if we can trace the movement up the west coast, _on the
returning lines_, when schedules are returned for 1883, from Mull of
Galloway and other west coast stations.
I have dwelt upon these facts because I believe that our appreciation
of the general lines and of the laws regulating the great annual
migrations can be very greatly assisted by the study of individual
species on their migration, and good opportunities are in this report
afforded us of doing so by the records of several species. One more
remark:--It seems also worthy of note that very possibly these Wagtails
were finding their way _across_ Scotland from the Solway or the Clyde,
and, resting on the General Post Office buildings, repaired _south_
for daily food--as I have noticed birds do during the spring migration
on the Petchora, at Ust Zylma, and Habarika, in N. E. Russia; and
on the advent of a more favourable temperature and change of wind,
pursued their course northward. If these are correctly recorded as
Pied Wagtails,--as there is no reason to suppose is not so,--then
their destination would be the North of Scotland; but if they were the
White Wagtail or continental form, then, as far as general records
of migration guide us, they would probably _shoot off_ again at Isle
of May or Bell Rock--towards the Continent. Mr. Agnew's note of
"very white Wagtails" at Isle of May should be borne in mind in this
connection (_antea_, p. 12).
That a line of migration does occur across Scotland both in spring and
autumn between Forth and Clyde, I think, needs little demonstration
beyond what we have already stated in previous reports; both from data
and by referring to General Remarks this seems perfectly obvious. The
evidences of the sea having at one time advanced inland a long distance
past the very spot in which I now live can scarcely be gainsaid; and
Forth and Clyde--by two separate branches--must at one time have
approached one another very much more closely than they now do, and
a comparatively narrow isthmus have been formed by at least one of
these two branches. As already remarked, it is curious to find rare
American and rare eastern species occurring so frequently at localities
on that line; witness as the latest record of importance that of the
Pectoral Sandpiper, _Tringa maculata_, Vieillot, at Loch Lomond, after
continuous and scarcely failing easterly winds, on Nov. 24th, 1882.
Sir Geo. Leith Buchanan informs me that he believes that the wind was
north-west at the time he shot the Pectoral Sandpiper, but this was
local, as prevailing winds were easterly at that time. Sir George also
tells me of the other birds of rare occurrence which he has met with at
the same locality, but no notes at the time were taken of wind. These
are as follows:--
"Buonapartian Gull, in April 1851 or 1852. Black-tailed Godwit,
April, about same date. Shoveller found breeding, and two since shot
by keeper. Two Wood Sandpipers, one in August and the other on Oct.
4th. One Little Stint in October, seen in company with two others.
The Spotted Crake must breed, as every autumn I meet with them when
Snipe-shooting. The Shrike I obtained once in December, 1866, and I
saw another two or three winters since." I think if we thus endeavour
to group together rare occurrences, and collect lists from various
localities, we cannot fail to arrive at some conclusions regarding
the highways of migration. We are thus working from data up to facts,
without an undue amount of theorising.
It is well known to naturalists that Swallows cross the Alps by certain
passes, as is also done by other species, regularly year after year.
People have often marvelled at the punctuality of appearance of the
Swallow and other species at certain favourite resorts. There is
nothing marvellous in it. When the great general movement takes place,
and the flights of birds pass over old frequented and well-known
spots, these are recognised and promptly occupied by the hereditary
occupants, or, if found unoccupied by later migrants, they are then
filled up. This remark applies both in spring and autumn. In a former
Report I have instanced the arrivals of Wood Pigeons on the Fife coast,
and I have also instanced breeding-sites of birds occupied for many
years, unoccupied for two or more years, and then reoccupied again.
I am informed by Mr. A. B. Herbert that some of the favourite alpine
passes for the annual migration of birds are the Albula and Bermina
Passes into the Adda Valley and Lake Como, returning the same way in
spring. If this regularity occurs during the passage of the bulk of
migratory birds, I think there are good reasons for believing that a
similar regularity appears in the distribution along certain lines
of rare visitants, even if travelled all the way from America or the
Asiatic steppes and tundras. No doubt they get into the groove--so to
speak--and carry on in company with the main flocks of other species,
joining issue with them along the great highways of migration, which
I think have been well pointed out in many cases by Palmén and Herr
Weissmann. Though the article by the latter has been abundantly
criticised and even pooh-poohed, I venture to record my firm belief
that there is more in it than appeared on the surface, and that the
more we know of migration the more fully will his theory be borne out.
It is known to naturalists that some species which are known to breed
in the highest northern latitudes travel on migration to the furthest
southern localities. Let us instance the Knot (_Tringa canuta_).
Temperature has to do with this directly. What a vast breeding-ground
of this species, as yet undiscovered, must there be somewhere in the
far north if we witness the great streams on their annual migration
along our coasts. In spring they travel on and on towards the north
until they find a temperature cool enough for the successful hatching
and rearing of their young, reaching their far off summer quarters even
before insect-life has begun to show itself, after the long Arctic
winter; and, with the strength and vigour of a far northern-bred
species, they adapt themselves to the only food existing--the fronds
of lichen laid bare by the first melting of the snow. The hardiness
of the race, bred thus on the shores of the Arctic seas, induces the
vigour and "fitness" which enables them to travel so far again to the
southward in autumn and winter; and it is the annual overflow of their
vast numbers, pressing behind those in the van, which--as it were--adds
impulse to the ability, and carries them forward. They press forward in
autumn to fresh feeding-grounds as those behind are taken up by others
succeeding them.
* * * * *
The Report for the West Coast of England, although frequently applied
for by the Secretary, has up to this date not been received.
_August 26th, 1883._
* * * * *
IRISH COAST.
In the spring of 1882 forty schedules were forwarded to the
light-keepers, and in the autumn forty-one. Thirty-one stations
returned answers in the spring, and thirty-two in the autumn.
The same stations were selected as in the autumn of 1881, with the
exception of Dursey Island, which was substituted for the Calf Rock;
and Dungarvan, which was added in the autumn of 1882.
Some improvement in filling the schedules is apparent. A few errors in
the identification of species probably have been made, but no blame is
attached to the light-keepers, who gratuitously observe for us to the
best of their ability.
In accordance with a desire expressed by the other members of the
Committee, and for the sake of uniformity, the observations have been
arranged under each species instead of under the day of the month,
and the light-stations are arranged geographically, beginning at the
Fastnet, in Cork, and going round by the east and north to the west
coast. The entries in the spring schedules are placed first under each
species.
The severe frost which visited these islands for about ten days,
beginning on December 6th, caused a local migration of many land-birds
to the sea-coast, and several entries occur in the schedules at this
time.
The weather observations taken by the light-keepers, when of an
ordinary character, have been sometimes omitted; but with scarcely an
exception every entry in the schedules, which refers to the occurrence
of a particular species on a given date, is recorded.
The name given by the light-keepers to the birds is always adopted, and
generally without comment; but occasionally inverted commas are used
when it appears advantageous to insert them.
Looking through the records, and comparing them with reports from
the English coast and elsewhere, it is evident that Ireland lies
comparatively out of the track of migrants, and its western stations
are especially poor.
The Tuskar Rock, on the Wexford coast, is certainly the best station.
Large numbers of migrants strike the lantern there, and many are
killed. Being the nearest land to the Welsh coast, and the extreme
south-eastern point of Ireland, the Tuskar is well situated for
observation.
A Snowy Owl was shot on the Island of Innishtrahull, off the coast
of Donegal, and forwarded by the light-keeper there to the Museum of
Science and Art, Keldare Street, Dublin.
Observations on Gulls and Gannets are numerous, and it is difficult
to estimate their value, as some light-keepers have given them much
attention, while others have scarcely noticed these species owing to
their frequent occurrence.
The presence of the Gannet all round the coast during the breeding
season would seem to show that a large proportion do not breed.
The little Skellig Rock, off the Kerry coast, is the only Irish
breeding-place of the Gannet; and when visited in 1880, by Mr.
Barrington, there were scarcely thirty pairs breeding.
In the returns many entries occur which probably do not refer to
migrating birds, but it has been thought prudent not to omit any from
the printed report.
It is remarked by some light-keepers that more birds strike fixed than
revolving or flash lights.
Attention is called to the great scarcity of Starlings in 1882 in
several schedules.
Conclusions are premature for a year or two, and it is as well to let
the observations of the light-keepers speak for themselves.
Great results are not anticipated from this enquiry, but few
satisfactory ones will be forthcoming unless it be continued; it is
therefore essential that the light-keepers should assist us for some
years longer, and we trust they will do so.
To Captain Boxer, R.N., Inspector of Irish Lights, we are again
indebted for friendly aid; as well as to the Commissioners of Irish
Lights, who were good enough to take forty copies of last year's
report, and distribute them to the various observers.
Alexander G. More.
Richard M. Barrington.
List of Light-stations.
Miles
from
Sp. Au. shore. Names of Observers.
1. Fastnet, Co. Cork o o 8
2. Galley Head, do. x x - John Whelan.
3. Old Head, Kinsale, do. x x - George Dunleavy and
Martin Kennedy.
4. Mine Head, Waterford x o - Joseph Hammond.
5. Dungarvan, do. - x - Wm. Higginbotham.
5. Coningbeg Lt.-ship, Wexford x x 10 Patrick Cullen.
6. Barrels Rock Lt.-ship, do. o x 4 Michael Doyle.
7. Tuskar, do. x x 7 Richard Hamilton.
8. Arklow S. Lt.-ship, Wicklow x o 7 William O'Shea.
9. Wicklow Head o o -
10. Kish Bank Lt.-ship, Dublin x x 7 William Daly.
11. Howth Baily, do. o x - William Dunne and
James Higginbotham.
12. Rockabill, do. o x 5 Joseph Hammond.
13. Copeland Island, Down x x 3 John Walsh.
14. Maidens, Antrim x x 5 Patrick Keenan.
15. Rathlin, do. x x 6 John A. Murray.
16. Innishtrahull, Donegal x x - W. H. James.
17. Dunree Head, do. x x - John Stapleton.
18. Lough Swilly, do. x x - Henry Redmond.
19. Tory Island, do. o x 9 Thomas Sweeny.
20. Arranmore, do. x x 5 Henry Williams.
21. Rathlin O'Birne, do. o x 2 Joseph Hill.
22. Killybegs, do. o x - Daniel Hawkins.
23. Oyster Island, N. Sligo x x 1 John Young.
24. Broadhaven, Mayo x x - Joseph Williams and
Michael Duffy.
25. Eagle Island, E., do. x o 2 Robert W. Redmond.
26. Eagle Island, W., do. x x 2 Matthew Healy.
27. Blackrock, do x o 9 Martin Kennedy.
28. Blacksod Point, do. x o - J. Williams.
29. Clare Island, do. x x 4 J. Reilly and G. H.
Brownell.
30. Slyne Head, N., Galway x x 3 John Gillan and Robert
Tyrrell.
31. Slyne Head, S., do. x o - William Callaghan.
32. Arran Island, N., do. x x 9 John Kelly.
33. Straw Island, do. x x 9 Charles Boyle.
34. Straw Island, S., do. o x 6 John O'Donnell.
35. Loop Head, Clare o o -
36. Samphire Island, Kerry x x ½ Michael O'Donnell and
J. Williams.
37. Tearaght, do. x x 9 Edward McCarron.
38. Valentia, do. x x - Thomas McKenna and
Joseph Williams.
39. Skelligs, do. x x 9 Henry Gardiner.
40. Dursey Island, Cork x x ½ James Keenan.
Abbreviations
Sp. = Spring; Au. = Autumn; o = No reply; x = Schedule returned partly or
wholly filled.
General Remarks of Light-Keepers.
_Galley Head._--"Spring: There is a total absence of land-birds at
this station. Autumn: Sea-birds passing are, I may say, the only birds
to be seen. The Curlew and 'Small Black Crow' are here all the year
round."--John Whelan.
_Old Head, Kinsale._--"Spring: No migration of birds observed this
spring."--George Dunleavy.
_Dungarvan._--"Autumn: With very rare exceptions no birds strike this
lantern."--William Higginbotham.
_Coningbeg Light-ship._--"Autumn: Very few birds killed against lantern
since the light was changed from steady to flash light."--Patrick
Cullen.
_Barrels Rock Light-ship._--"Autumn: This is a very quick red
light, flashing 30"; no birds ever struck the lantern. I believe the
quick revolution frightens them away, as in fog and thick weather no
birds ever stay about the light like the ships that have the bright
light."--Michael Doyle.
_Tuskar Rock._--"Spring: Not many birds this spring: a good deal more
last year. Autumn: The 'Black Diver' leaves about May 1st, and returns
in October."--Richard Hamilton.