Part 3

Starling, _Sturnus vulgaris_.--Next to the Lark, the Starling occupies the most prominent position in the reports. It is noticed both north and south of the Humber at seventeen stations:--the Longstone, Coquet Island, Teesmouth, Outer Dowsing, Inner Dowsing, Leman and Ower, Cromer, Newarp, Cockle, Galloper, Kentish Knock, Nore, North Foreland, Goodwin, Gull-stream, East-side, and South-sand Head. Enormous numbers passed the southern stations in October, November and December. Sometimes in separate flocks, sometimes mixed with other birds. They crossed at all hours of the day and night, and in all winds and weather. Earliest recorded, Cromer, June 10th, 2 a.m., "quantity"; the Newarp, 7 a.m., on July 4th, going E. to W.; these were young birds.[13] Leaving out the earliest dates as referring to the migration of the young, we find that the regular immigration on to our east coast commenced on Sept. 22nd, when four were killed against the lantern of the Longstone at 3 a.m., to Dec. 16th at the Leman and Ower--eighty-six days; migration E. to W. The Starling, like the Lark, appears to have a particular facility for immolating itself against the lanterns. At the Leman and Ower large nmnbers of Starlings, along with Larks and Chaffinches, were taken in October; at the Galloper (see Sky Lark); also at the North Foreland, and many other instances too numerous to mention. At Heligoland this year there have been no young Starlings during July; Mr. Gätke says he may perhaps have seen a hundred, and this is all.

[Footnote 13: This bears out Mr. Gätke's observation in a letter dated Heligoland, 1879, when he says, "Hundreds of thousands of young Starlings from end of June to end of July. Hundreds of thousands of old birds during October, November, and later; young and old strictly divided in their migrations."]

Hooded Crow, _Corvus cornix_; Rook, _C. frugilegus_; Daw, _C. monedula_.--The migration of Rooks is not noted on the English coast north of the Humber; south of this they were noticed at nearly every station as either Rooks or "Black Crows," to distinguish them from the Hoodie or Grey Crow. Immense numbers of both Rooks and Grey Crows crossed on Oct. 16th from daylight to dark, travelling from E. to W. Noticeably at the Inner Dowsing, on Oct. 16th, large number of Crowds, from N.E. to W.; at Hunstanton, on the 17th, Hooded Crowds and Rooks all day; at the Newarp, on the 16th; at the Cockle, the same day "height of rush," Crows and Rooks, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., going W., and again on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th, large numbers of Crows, Rooks, Starlings and Larks, from daylight to dark, passing W.; again on Nov. 8th, large flocks of Crows. At the Corton, on Oct. 16th and 22nd, continuous flocks of Crows, Daws and Larks all day, E. to W., also Nov. 8th and 11th and Dec. 27th. At the Shipwash, Oct. 15th and 16th, constant on 15th, till 12 a.m.; on 16th, 9 a.m. to 3.20 p.m., from S.S.E. to N.N.W. At the Goodwin, Oct. 15th to 21st, Crows "in shoals." At the South-sand Head, Oct. 16th, Rooks, 9.30 a.m., going W.N.W. and N.W.; and seven other stations. In the returns it is impossible in many cases, under the general entry of "Crows," to separate the Hooded Crow from the Rook. It appears, however, that immense numbers of the _Corvidæ_ crossed the North Sea; Rooks at stations south of the Humber, and Hooded Crows at both northern and southern stations from Oct. 15th to Nov. 19th. Both Rooks and Hooded Crows appear to have started simultaneously on Oct. 15th, and passed across the North Sea from E. to W. in almost continuous flocks on the 16th and 17th; and after these dates in more scattered detachments, less and less to Nov. 19th. And again during the latter, part of December; the last entry is on Dec. 27th at the Corton, Crows passing E. and W. in afternoon and Larks in hundreds. Daws are only mentioned at two stations; the Corton on Oct. 10th and 2:2nd, continuous flocks of Daws and Crows all day; also at the Shipwash on the 16th. At the Inner Dowsing on Oct. 22nd four Crows remained all night on globe above the lantern, and five took up their position in the same quarter on the night of Nov. 8th, leaving at daylight for the Lincolnshire coast. The wind on the North Sea on Oct. 16th was N. to N.E., force 4 to 7.

Cuckoo, _Cuculus canorus_.--On Sept. 17th, 10 p.m., at the North Foreland, wind E., overcast, misty a Cuckoo struck the south side of the lantern, but was not killed.

Swallow, _Hirundo rustica_.--The spring migration was noticed at two stations--the Cockle, June 8th, 9.20 a.m., five Swallows passed towards land; also on July 1st at 4.30 a.m., ten passing to W.S.W.; at the South-sand Head, July 6th, twenty at 3.30 a.m., flying towards N.N.W. The autumn migration was observed at several stations both north and south of the Humber. At Coquet Island, Aug. 15th, midnight, S.E., three Swallows struck glass of lantern, but were not killed; on the 20th great numbers were seen flying about, two striking glass after dark, but were not killed. At Whitby, on Oct. 4th, 9.30 a.m., flock going south. At Hunstanton, on Sept. 10th, 2 p.m., a flock alighted on lantern and gallery; and on Oct. 12th, 3 p.m., fog, twelve came up to light and dispersed in various directions. At the North Foreland, on Sept. 9th, 10th and 11th, about forty passed each day; and on the 21st, about one hundred flew round the lantern top for an hour. At the South-sand Head on Sept. 28th, twelve. Swallows passed. Migration extending from Aug. 15th to Oct. 12th--fifty-nine days.

Swift, _Cypselus apus_.--The autumn migration of Swifts, so remarkable in 1879 for the great numbers seen at various places on the north-east coast (see Zool. Jan. 1880, p. 8), was observed at only two stations. At Teesmouth, great numbers flying about during the last three days of August. At the Nore, on Aug. 1st and 2nd, between 6 and 7 a.m., and again on the 20th; last on Oct. 10th, 9 a.m., Swifts mixed with Larks. At Heligoland, Martins and Swifts, "rather great numbers during August; particularly noted on the 10th, wind S.E., Swifts a great many; on the 20th, the same."

Charadriidæ.--The burst of severe weather during the early days in December brought an immense influx of Plovers to our east coast from the north; large flocks are noticed at this time at the more northern stations, more particularly at Coquet Island on Nov. 26th and Dec. 6th, northerly and westerly winds, force from 6 to 8. There is only one notice south of the Humber, and this early in the season. At the Shipwash, Oct. 12th, flock of thirty Lapwings, going westward.

Woodcock, _Scolopax rusticola_.--Was observed at the Farn Islands, Oct. 22nd, 30th (great flight), Nov. 1st, Dec. 2nd, N.E. to N.N.E. At Coquet Island, Sept. 29th, S.W., strong, one; and Oct. 24th, also one; about noon on both days. At Teesmouth, Nov. 2nd, three at daylight. At the Outer Dowsing, a station more than fifty miles from the nearest land, on Dec. 12th, two flying W. At Heligoland, Oct. 30th, N.N.W., early at dawn, great many Woodcocks; about 100 killed. Great numbers were shot on the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire coast on the morning of Oct. 31st, sixty at Spurn Point alone; wind very fresh from N.E. on the previous night with drizzly rain. The migration of Woodcocks extended from Sept. 29th at Coquet Island to Dec. 12th at the Outer Dowsing--seventy-five days. The "great flight," at Heligoland on the morning of Oct. 30th; east coast of England, on the night of the 30th.

Snipe, _Gallinago media_.--At the Longstone, Sept. 17th, 2.30 a.m., misty, one struck the lantern and was killed. At the Farn Islands, on Dec. 2nd, 10th and 19th. At the North Foreland, on Nov. 14th, 1.30 a.m., N., moderate gale, and again on the 21st, at 5 a.m., snow. Snipe were killed. Very large numbers arrived in Holderness and North Lincolnshire, from the middle to the end of November, just preceding the outbreak of severe weather in December. They left the district again, almost to a bird, before the middle of the month.

Curlew, _Numenius arquatus_.--Curlews were in large flocks at Teesmouth on Sept. 27th. At the Inner Dowsing, Sept. 1st, three going from N.E. to S.W. At Hunstanton, on Oct. 13th, 4 a.m., fog, one struck glass of lantern and was taken. At the South-sand Head, Aug. 13th to 29th, large flocks, 100 to 200 in a flock, going S. and S.W. The Curlew migrates early in the autumn, Aug. 13th to Sept. 29th. Most of these entries will probably refer to young birds, the old Curlews coming later in October and November. At Heligoland, Oct. 30th, many passed over.

Anatidæ.--Between Dec. 4th and 20th Swans passed the Teesmouth from N. to S. in some numbers; on the 4th, six; the 8th, five (four old and one young); 14th, nine (eight old and one young); 15th, forty-three; 16th, three; 18th, two; the 20th, ten at 10 a.m., and ninety-five at 11 a.m. On the 18th a flock of thirty was seen near Spurn, one old white bird acting as pilot, the remainder all young, in the brown plumage. Two Bewick's Swans were shot on the Humber on the 8th. Four passed the Kentish Knock, on Dec. 4th, 2.15 p.m., N.E. to S.W. Two Swans, which may have been "escaped birds" from some private waters, passed the Teesmouth on Sept. 30th, 10 a.m., flying S.E. Geese were observed at several stations both north and south of the Humber, going south from Aug. 18th to Dec. 13th, the main body passing south during the last half of November and in December. Brent or "Black Geese" are noted at the Corton, going south, July 18th, twelve; July 30th, two flocks of from thirty to forty; on Sept. 17th, thirty. These are very early dates for Brent Geese,[14] Mr. Cotton, the observer, might have possibly been led into an error by passing flocks of black Scoters. As, however, "black ducks" are frequently mentioned in his return, this could hardly be the case, and he appears very well able to discriminate between the two. At the Corton, Dec. 4th, hundreds of black geese from N.E. to S.W. from sunrise to noon--_i.e._, towards the mouth of the Thames or Essex coast. As might have been expected, large flocks of Ducks are constantly noted, so frequently indeed, as to defy repetition; this is more particularly the case in the returns from the lightships. They are noted sometimes flying S., from the land or to the land, and in fact in every direction. Many of these would be local flocks going to and from their feeding grounds. Immense numbers, however, coming from the north, passed along the coast in November and December. At Coquet Island, on Dec. 14th, 3 a.m., N.W., blowing a gale, two Eider Ducks (spelt phonetically, "Ida" in the report) struck lantern and one was killed.

[Footnote 14: Major C. Russell, writing from Essex, says, "The earliest occurrence of Brent Geese on our coast I ever remember hearing of was Sept. 29th, when many years ago one of our coast gunners, still living, killed ten at a shot."]

Red-throated Diver, _Colymbus septentrionalis_.--Red-throated Divers and Mergansers are mentioned in the report from Teesmouth during November. With regard to the first of these, Mr. Gätke sends the following curious note, dated Dec. 22nd, 1879:--"_Colymbus septentrionalis_, almost by the million. During the last forty years there have never, during a single autumn, been a fiftieth part of what we see here now every day--all passing along, principally during the forenoon, east of the island in an E. by N. direction, which I think they continue till coming to the Holstein coast, then strike off in a northerly course up to the extreme north of Jutland, and from thence cross over to the Dutch coast, perhaps next morning to renew the trip. There are constantly so many that one scarcely can believe them always to be fresh birds."

Procellaridæ.--At the Longstone, on Sept. 18th, at 3 a.m., two Petrels were caught against the lantern-windows. At Coquet Island, on Nov. 4th, 3 a.m., one killed against the lantern. At the Goodwin, Oct. 11th, five were seen with many Larks and Starlings round the lantern at night. Greater numbers of Procellaria glacialis have been seen off Heligoland during the autumn than has been the case for the last twenty years.

* * * * *

Independent of the notes of each species, as already given, numerous flocks of small birds were seen passing the stations, but too far distant to determine the species. This was specially the case at the Spurn, on Dec. 3rd and 8th; at the Cockle, on Oct. 9th; and at the South-sand Head, on Sept. 20th. At the Kentish Knock, on Nov. 20th, half-a-dozen small birds came on board at midnight, which, from the written description in the margin, were probably Greenfinches. It is, however, impossible to give even a guess at another species which visited another lightvessel on Sept. 20th, "Fifty very small birds--in fact, the smallest of British birds--like a Sky Lark, but a deal smaller." From the date, they may have been either Titlarks or Flycatchers.

No rare migrants have been noticed, but this was scarcely to be expected. In this respect the budget of notes supplied by that veteran ornithologist Herr Gätke bears a striking contrast to our east coast reports. On that small island, so favourably situated for observation, Mr. Gätke has trained up quite a host of practical observers, and any rare visitant will have to be very sharp if it succeeds in escaping detection. Quoting from Mr. Gätke's letter dated Dec. 22nd, we have, on Sept. 17th, _Sylvia fuscata_, though not got; _Anthus Richardi_ on the 18th; _A. cervinus_ on the 20th; _Picus leuconotus_ on the 21st; then some days S.W. with rain and no birds; 26th, calm and clear, _Emberiza pusilla_; 27th, E.N.E., _Anthus Richardi_, _Emberiza pusilla_ (two shot), _E. aureola_ (seen); 28th, _E. pusilla_ (two seen), _E. rustica_ (one shot); 29th, _Sylvia superciliosus_ (one); 30th, _Emberiza pusilla_ (one); Oct. 1st, _E. pusilla_ (one); Nov. 2nd, 3rd and 4th, westerly winds and nothing, but daily some _Parus ater_; on the 5th, again, _Anthus cervinus_ (seen and heard); northerly winds, sometimes N.E. on the 8th, a Leaf Warbler seen at close quarters, but not procured by Aeuckens, the Heligoland birdstuffer, which Mr. Gätke feels tolerably certain was a very rare visitant; the same day there were two or three _E. rustica_, and one each of _A. pusilla_ and _A. cervinus_. The rare Leaf Warbler was again seen on the 9th, but could not be obtained; an _Emberiza rustica_ was also seen. On the 10th, _E. pusilla_ shot and _E. rustica_ seen. On the 12th, _Muscicapa parva_ and _Motacilla lugubris_, which latter comes there rarely in autumn. On the 14th, _Sylvia superciliosus_ was shot by Mr. Gätke's eldest son, and two more were seen by Aeuckens in a garden where shooting was not permitted. On the 18th, one very fine _E. pusilla_ shot. On the 20th _Lestris affinis_ was seen close by, but not shot, as it would have fallen in the sea and drifted away. This is the third, if not the fourth, known occurrence of the Siberian Herring Gull at Heligoland. On the 24th a large Redpoll was shot, which Mr. Gätke thinks can only be the Greenland bird, _Linota Hornemanni_.

A summary of the various returns show that four species, Larks, Starlings, Rooks and Hooded Crows, in the order given respectively, far outnumber any other, and of these four the Lark far exceeds the rest in migratory numbers. As a rule, the lines of migration followed have been from E. to W., or S.E. to N.W. direct on to the English coast. To the middle of October we find birds rarely coming from points north of east; after this date they appear to come occasionally from directions north of east, between east and due north. The line of migration of the _Anatidæ_ has been from north to south, crossing the line of the _Insessores_ at right angles.

There is one remarkable exception to the general rule of an east to west route in the case of the lightvessel on the Galloper Bank, forty miles S.S.E. of Orfordness. All entries in this return show birds passing to the E. or S.S.E. or S.E. during October. We can only account for this anomalous line by supposing the birds which cross the Galloper have previously struck the English coast at some higher latitude, and after skirting the coast line shot off again somewhere near Orfordness and crossed the North Sea to the Belgian and French coasts between Nieuport and Dunkerque. On Nov. 24th a great quantity of Larks and Starlings passed the Galloper towards the N.N.E, a line which if persevered in would eventually bring them to the Dutch coast.

At the East-side from the 2nd to the 5th of November flocks of "Crows" were observed passing from the S. to the N., or from the French to the Suffolk coast. The great body of the immigrants during 1879 have crossed at the more southern stations, the four lightships on the Goodwin Sands, also the Nore, the Shipwash and Kentish Knock showing a constant and continuous stream on to the south-east coast. These birds would all cross at the narrowest part of the North Sea directly from E. to W. to the English coast. The long prevalence of north-westerly winds in October and November may to a great extent have deflected the lines of migration much farther to the south than is generally the case.

Migrants have passed the stations at all hours of the day and night, flying at no great altitude and in almost all winds and weather. When the nights are dark and cloudy, no stars appearing, in rain, fogs and snowstorms, flocks of birds during the night migrations will crowd round the lanterns of the lightships; many strike the glass and are killed, falling on deck or pitching overboard. On these nights birds will often remain for hours in the vicinity of a light, circling round and round, evidently having lost their way; at the first break in the clouds, the stars becoming visible, or the first streak of early dawn, they will resume their flight to the nearest land.

The "great rush" of immigrants was from the 12th to the 23rd of October. The "final rush" took place just preceding and during the first burst of winter, early in December.

The occurrences when birds travel dead to windward are very rare indeed, and then only with light winds. In the great majority of cases birds migrate flying within two to four points of the wind, sometimes with a "beam" wind, or even a point or two "abaft of beam." If the wind changes during the actual passage, birds will change the direction of their flight to suit the wind. Thus at the Shipwash, on Oct. 16th, from 9.50 a.m. to 1.20 p.m. the wind was N.N.W., flocks constantly passing from S.E. to N.W. from 1.20 to 3.20 p.m. the wind blew from N.N.E., and the birds passed S.S.E. to N.N.W. If subsequent observations should prove the correctness of this rule, it will go far to account for all the irregularities of migration--the "why" birds are seen in great numbers in one year in any locality, and perhaps absent altogether in following seasons.

Subsequent to the writing of this report I have received several communications showing a large and very remarkable influx of immigrants on to the east coast of England in January and the first fortnight in February, 1880. On Jan. 24th great numbers of Fieldfares were seen near Spurn Point, between Easington and Kilnsea, and since this date they are reported as very numerous in the locality; with the Fieldfares came many fine old cock Blackbirds. In North-East Lincolnshire, also, during the last fortnight in January I saw many very large flocks of Fieldfares, apparently entirely composed of old birds; before this time scarcely any had been seen. Mr. Gätke writes from Heligoland:--"_T. pilaris_ all January, through night from 10th to 11th, great many; also Oystercatchers and other waders coming from the E; also from 21st to 24th, the same." These dates agree very well with the time of their arrival on our east coast. Short-eared Owls arrived in some numbers at Spurn in the last week in January. A very large flock of Snow Buntings was seen on the 8th February. On the Lincolnshire side I noticed an immense flock of the same species, fresh arrivals, on the 5th; and on the 11th thousands, also hundreds of Larks. This final and third "rush" of immigrants so late in the winter is curious, and may perthaps be explained by the comparatively milder winter over Northern Europe, compared with what we have experienced in the central and southern zones of Europe. We have indeed a recent precedent for this in the winter of 1877-78, when, after a long continuance of mild weather in Scandinavia, a sharp and sudden outburst of real winter drove the Fieldfares, as Mr. Gätke says, over Heligoland, on the night from the 27th to 28th January, in "countless flights."

_WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND._

Printed forms of enquiry and letters of instruction were forwarded to thirty-eight lighthouses on the west coast of Scotland and the Isles. Twenty-four stations have sent in returns, and fourteen have either sent none, or have returned blank forms, owing to the scarcity of birds. The stations from which co-operation was asked are as follows, commencing with the most northerly and those from which returns have been received are marked with a *:--

*Cape Wrath, Sutherland; white and red alt., rev. every minute. J. M'Gill. *Rhu Stoir, W. Cromarty; white, interval 1 minute. William Wither. *Butt of Lewis, Lewis; white, fixed. George Edgar. Stornoway, Lewis; 2 lights, white, rev. ½ m., & white, fixed. R. Murray. *Island Glass, Harris; white, fixed. William Lines. Ushenish, North Uist; red, fixed. *Monach Island; same tower, upp. white fl., low. red, fixed. J. Youngclause. Barra Head, Barra; white, interval 2½ minutes. Rona, Skye; white fl., every 12 seconds. David Dunnett. Kyleakin, Rosshire; white and red, fixed. David M'Culloch. *Isle Ornsay, Skye; white, fixed. David Ross. *Ardnamurchan Point, Argyleshire; white, fixed. David Laidlaw. *{Hynish, Skerryvore Signal Tower, Tyree; no lights.† William Crow. {Skerryvore, off Tyree; white, revolving every minute. " *Dhuheartach, S.W. of Ross of Mull; white, with red sector, fixed. J. Ewing. *Sound of Mull, Tobermory; red, green, & white sectors, fixed. W. M'Lellan. Corran Ferry, Loch Eil; red and white sectors, fixed. Thomas Tulloch. Lismore Island, Oban; white, fixed. *Fladda, Easdale; white, with a red sector, fixed. James Langton. *Rhuvaal, Islay; white, with red sector, fixed. David Spink. *M'Arthur's Head, Islay; white and red sectors, fixed. Thos. Sutherland. *Skervuile, Jura; white, revolving every ½ minute. John Ewing. *Rhinns of Islay, Islay; white fl. every 5 seconds. Andrew Lyall. Lochindaul, Islay; white and red sectors, fixed. William Mail. Mull of Kintyre; white, fixed. James Thompson. Sanda, Kintyre Sound; red, fixed. *Devaar, Kintyre; white, revolving every ½ minute. Charles Black. *Pladda, Arran; 2 lights 8 yards apart, white, fixed. Thomas Grierson. *Lamlash, Arran; green, fixed. David Waters. Turnberry, Ayrshire; white fl. every 12 seconds. Charles Black. *Corsewall, Wigtown; white and red alternate every minute. R. Laidlaw. *Loch Ryan, Wigtown; white, fixed. Ralph Ewing. *Portpatrick, Wigtown; white, fixed. James Beggs. *Mull of Galloway, Wigtown; white, intervals. M. Morrison. *Little Ross, Kirkcudbright; white fl., every 5 seconds. W. A. Mackay. Point of Ayr, Isle of Man; white and red alternate every min. J. Blythe. Douglas Head, Isle of Man; white, fixed. Alexander M'Donald. Chickens Rock, Isle of Man; white, revolving every ½ minute.

† This station included by mistake, but retained for convenience, bracketed with the next.

Thanks are due to the various observers for the careful way in which the schedules have been filled in. Excluding the Natatores, notes have been taken on about thirty species.

SEPARATE REPORT OF EACH SPECIES OBSERVED.