Part 9

31st, E. to S.E., very fresh, cloudy, cold; in evening, wind again more easterly.--_F. nisus_ and _buteo_, some. _C. cornix_, very many; _monedula_, some flights. _Sturnus_, few. _T. merula_, few; _viscivorus_, some; _pilaris_, many. _Lan. major_, one fine male. _Sy. rubecula_, scattered. _Anth. pratensis_ and _rupestris_, tolerable. _Accentor_, the same. _Al. arvensis_, pretty many; _alpestris_, in masses. _Emb. citrinella_ and _nivalis_, pretty many; _miliaria_, some. _Par. major_, many. _F. cœlebs_, extraordinary many passing on overhead; _linaria_, a few flights; _cannabina_ and _montium_, some. _Col. palumbus_ and _Scol. rusticula_, several.

_Note._--In course of the month, almost no curruca at all; no _Reg. pyrocephalus_; very few _Accentor_; _Lar. trydactyla_, already early very numerous on the sea; _Sula alba_, the same; almost no _Strix brachyotus_ at all.

=November.=

1st, E. by N., fresh, clear, cold; P.M., light clouds from N. by W.; in evening, cloudy, light easterly.--Not particularly much migration. _C. cornix_, few flights. _Sturnus_, the same., _Turdus_, none at all. _Rubecula_ and _Accentor_, pretty many. _Al. arvensis_, few; _alpestris_, very many passing on overhead. _Emb. nivalis_ and _Fr. montium_, pretty many. _Par. major_ and _cæruleus_, some. Woodcocks, few.

2nd, S.W., pretty violent, overcast; P.M., fine rain.--Nothing.

3rd, S.W., pretty violent, overcast; P.M., clear, little high clouds N.--Nothing; at Cuxhaven, fog.

4th, S.S.W., fresh, quite clear; in night, thick.--Nothing. _T. pilaris_, a little flight. _Emb. nivalis_ and _F. montium_, several small flights. _Par. major_, ten to fifteen in the garden.

5th, S.W., fresh, thick, with rain; afternoon, sun through.--Nothing; a few _merula_, _Par. major_, _Regulus_, _E. nivalis_, and _F. montium_.

6th, southerly, still, clear; evening, S.S.W., nearly calm.--Early, heavy dew; Bremen, fog; scarcely any passage. _T. pilaris_, some. _Al. alpestris_, pretty numerous; _arvensis_, few; _E. nivalis_, _F. montium_, and _Par. major_, some. _Lestris catarrhactes_, a very fine specimen obtained; waited thirty years for it!

7th, southerly, still, clear; 9 A.M., fog whole day and night.--Nothing: one Firecrest. 10 P.M., when for a short time clear, great many _Num. arquata_ passing overhead.

8th, E., early, morning, fog; A.M., S.E., thick, with clouds; evening clear.--Nothing. Early in the morning, _T. torquatus_ passing overhead. Towards evening, great many _F. cœlebs_ and _cannabina_, alighting from great height.

9th, E.S.S., fresh, hazy clouds, cold.--_T. pilaris_, _Al. arvensis_, pretty numerous; _arborea_, a few.

_Fr. cœlebs_, _chloris_, _spinus_, _linaria_, _cannabina_, _montium_, all great many. _E. citrinella_ and _nivalis_, also great many.

10th, S.E., fresh, hazy clouds drifting along; evening clear, still.--During night some Woodcocks and Ring Ouzels at lighthouse.

_T. torquatus_ and _pilaris_, pretty numerous. _Al. arvensis_ and alpestris, less. _F. montium_, many; _linaria_, some. A few Woodcocks.

11th, S.E., moderate, clear, fine; evening, fog.--_St. otus_, one in thrushbush. _C. cornix_, pretty numerous early in the morning. _Sturnus_, less so. _Al. arvensis_, not many; _alpestris_, great many; _arborea_, ten to fifteen. . _Emb. miliaria_ and _citrinella_, pretty numerous. _F. cœlebs_, great many; _cannabina_, _chloris_, _montium_, _linaria_, many. _Col. palumbus_, some.

12th, southerly, fresh; night and all day, fog.--Nothing. During night, _T. torquatus_ and _pilaris_, _Ch. auratus_, and _Num. arquata_, heard at lighthouse.

13th, S.W., moderate, thick.--Nothing. Some _T. torquatus_ and _pilaris_. _E. miliaria_, a few.

14th, W., windy, rain.--Nothing. _T. pilaris_, rather numerous; perhaps east wind approaching.

15th, N.E., fresh; early, rain and hail squalls; from noon, clear.--_C. cornix_, a few small flights; _merula_ and _pilaris_, rather numerous, particularly the latter; _musicus_ also. _A. arvensis_, flights; also during night at Lighthouse. _A. alpestris_, small flights. _F. montium_, a party of from eighty to a hundred; _E. nivalis_, less.

16th, N. still, clear; during night some frost; evening calm, clouds from E.N.E., clear.--_C. cornix_, small flights. Sturnus, forty to fifty. _T. pilaris_, some flights. _Al. arvensis_, some; _alpestris_, great many; _arborea_, a few. _E. nivalis_, scattered; _F. montium_, twenty to forty. Woodcocks, about ten. _Col. palumbus_, some.

17th, S., faint, clear, somewhat below zero; evening, S.E., fresh.--Nothing; not a bird.

18th, S.S.E., still, clear, some frost.--Nothing. A few _C. cornix_, early passing overhead. _P. major_, a few flitting about.

19th, N., faint, scattered clouds, about zero; evening, E.N.E.--Nothing. Very few _C. cornix_, _Al. arvensis_, and _E. nivalis_. _F. linaria_, ten; _carduelis_, one. _Par. major_, some.

20th and 21st, S.E., windy, cloudy, below zero.--Nothing. _C. cornix_, about ten. _F. linaria_ and _E. nivalis_, a few.

22d, S.E., little wind, thick.--Nothing. _F. cannabina_, eight to ten. _Strix otus_, one.

23d, E. still, very thick; noon, N.E.; evening, E. by S., faint.--_T. pilaris_, several large flights, from 300 to 500. _C. cornix_, also many. _E. nivalis_, considerable numbers. _Ch. vanellus_, great many.

24th, E., windy, overcast; during night, S.E., very hard.--_C. cornix_ and T. pilaris, some flights. Accentor, some. _Cinc. aquaticus_ (_melanogaster_), one. _Anser_ and _Anas_, great many passing on.

25th, S.E., very hard, thick, some snow, a degree below zero.--Nothing. _T. pilaris_, a few. Some _Scol. gallinago_. _Anser_ and _Anas_, great many passing on over the sea.

26th, S.E., blowing hard, cloudy; night, stormy.--Early and forenoon, hundreds of _C. cornix_ passing overhead westward; otherwise, nothing.

27th, S.S.E., blowing hard, rain and snow; afternoon, S.W,--Nothing. Storm warning. Magnificent fall of stars, uninterrupted.

28th, S.S.W., windy, thick; night, stormy.--Nothing.

29th, N.W., somewhat better, windy, cloudy; evening, still, rain.--Nothing.

30th, W., fresh, clear.--Guillemots in the cliffs; rather early for 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_.