Part 2

+-------------------------------+---------------+--------------------- | | | | Number, Name, or | | Force and Direction Date. | Species of Bird. |Time when seen.| of Wind. -------+-------------------------------+---------------+--------------------- Aug. 24| 3 Curlews | 7 a.m. | Ely., Vble., 1 to 4 " "| 3 Curlews | 7.30 to 8 a.m.| Ely., Vble., 1 to 4 | | | | | | | | | " "| 4 Sandpipers (Common) | 7 to 9 a.m. | Ely., Vble., 1 to 4 " 25| 1 Yellowhammer | 9.30 a.m. | E., 4 " 26| 1 Sandpiper (Common) | Noon. | N.E., 3 to 4 " 26| 1 Sandpiper (Common) | 9 a.m. | N.E., 4 to 5 " 31| 23 Curlews | 5.30 p.m. | N.W., 3 Sept. 2| 1 Sandpiper | 7 a.m. | W., 1 to 2 | | | " 14| 1 Rook (or Carrion Crow) | 6 a.m. | E., 4 " "| 2 Small birds | 9 a.m. | E., 4 " "| 4 Sandpipers | 5.30 p.m. | E., 4 " "| Several small birds heard about the ship during the night. " "| 3 flocks of Scoters | 7 a.m. | E.S.E., 4 " "| 1 Skylark | 7 a.m. | E.S.E., 4 " "| 4 Starlings | 8 a.m. | E.S.E., 4 " "| 1 large flock of birds | 8 a.m. | E.S.E., 4 " 19| 1 Wheatear | 8 a.m. | N., 2 " "| Several birds (prob. Wheatears) 8 a.m. | N., 2 " "| 1 Rock Pigeon |10 a.m. | N.N.E., 2 " 28| 1 Hobby | 6 p.m. | N.W., 3 Oct. 2| 2 Black Terns | 7 a.m. | N.E., 5 " "| 1 Swallow | 4 p.m. | N.E., 4 to 3 " 3| 1 Swallow | 7 a.m. | Nly., 1 to 2 " "| 1 Wagtail | 5 p.m. | W.N.W., 2 " 4| 1 Black-crested Grass Warbler | 5 p.m. | W.N.W., 2 " "| 3 Black Terns | 8 a.m. | Variable, 1 " "| Several flocks of Terns seen at times. | Variable, 1 " "| 1 Curlew | 9 a.m. | Variable, 1 " "| 1 Turnstone | 9 a.m. | Calm " "| 3 Swallows | 4 to 6 p.m. | Calm " 5| 1 Swallow | 6 p.m. | S.S.W., 2 Nov. 16| 2 Pigeons (?) | 8 a.m. | N.W., 2 " "| 1 Pigeon | 9 a.m. | N.W., S " "| Sandpiper | 9 to 10 a.m. | N.W., S " "| Small bird | 1 p.m. | N.W., a " 21| 1 Snipe | -- | N.E., 4 " 24| Small bird | -- | N.N.W., S -------+-------------------------------+---------------+--------------------- -------+--------------+--------------------------+------------------------- |Weather, Clear| | | or Fog, Rain,| Ship's Position at Noon.| Date. | Snow,&c. | Lat. Long. |General Observations. -------+--------------+------------+-------------+------------------------- Aug. 24| o. c. r. | 11° 25′ N. | 17° 28′ W. |Flying E. " "| o. c. r. | 11° 25′ N. | 17° 28′ W. |2 flew round the ship | | | | for ½ hour, when they | | | | were joined by another, | | | | and flew S.W. " "| o. c. r. | 11° 25′ N. | 17° 28′ W. |Flying E. " 25| b. c. | 16° 19′ N. | 17° 33′ W. |Alighted on board. " 26| b. c. | 21° 01′ N. | 17° 21′ W. |Flying E. " 26| b. c. | 25° 20′ N. | 16° 53′ W. |Flying E. " 31| b. | 41° 16′ N. | 10° 44′ W. |A flock flying S. Sept. 2| b. c. | 49° 00′ N. | 7° 00′ W. |Markings very bright; | | | | not common species. " 14| b. c. | 52° 31′ N. | 3° 30′ E. |Flying E. " "| b. c. | 52° 31′ N. | 3° 30′ E. |Flying E. " "| b. c. | 62° 31′ N. | 3° 30′ E. |Flying E. " "| | | | " "| b. | Off Heligoland. |Flying S. " "| b. | Off Heligoland. |Flying S.E. " "| b. | Off Nieuwarke. |Flying E. " "| b. | Off Nieuwarke. |Flying E. " 19| c. | Off Terschelling Lt.-Sh. |Flying E. " "| c. | Off Terschelling Lt.-Sh. |Flying E. " "| c. | 18 miles S.W. of do. |Flying E. " 28| b. c. | 41° 53′ N. | 11° 06′ W. |Flying S. Oct. 2| c. | 22° 59′ N. | 17° 34′ W. |Black plumage. " "| b. c. | 22° 59′ N. | 17° 34′ W. |Flying about ship. " 3| b. | 17° 32′ N. | 17° 54′ W. |Flying S.E. " "| b. | 17° 32′ N. | 17° 54′ W. |A greyish species. " 4| b. | 17° 32′ N. | 17° 54′ W. |Alighted on board. " "| b. | 12° 19′ N. | 17° 30′ W. | " "| b. | 12° 19′ N. | 17° 30′ W. | " "| b. | 12° 19′ N. | 17° 30′ W. |Flying W. " "| b. | 12° 19′ N. | 17° 30′ W. |Flying round ship. " "| b. m. | 12° 19′ N. | 11° 30′ W. |One caught on board. " 5| b. c. | 7° 40′ N. | 15° 18′ W. | Nov. 16| c. r. | 12° 47′ N. | 17° 50′ W. |Plumage grey, white. " "| c. r. | 12° 47′ N. | 17° 50′ W. |Similar to Blue Rock. " "| c. r. | 12° 47′ N. | 17° 50′ W. | " "| c. r. | 12° 47′ N. | 17° 50′ W. |Alighted on board. " 21| c. | 35° 35′ N. | 15° 20′ W. |Flying round ship. " 24| b. c. | 47° 33′ N. | 7° 37′ W. | -------+--------------+------------+-------------+-------------------------

Thanks to Mr. T. Southwell, of Norwich, I have the following returns from the Polar Seas:--

_Voyage of Steamship 'Eclipse' in Polar Seas, from the Log of Capt. David Gray._

The 'Eclipse' left Peterhead on Feb. 28th, 1884, and Lerwick on March 12th. On that day Bottlenose Whales were seen hurrying northward, as well as a few "Mallemauks." Lat. at noon 60° 25′ N., long. 0° 41′ W.; wind true S.; force 4[5]; temp, of air 42°, of sea 44°. At 8 p.m., temp, of water 47°.

[Footnote 5: The strength of the wind is according to Beaufort scale.--D. G.]

March 14th.--Lat. at noon, 66° 4′ N., d. r., long. 3° 50′ W., d. r. South. Force 9. Temp, of air 42°, of water 40°. Numbers of "Mallemauks," and one or two "Looms."

March 17th.--Noon. Lat. 72° 23′ N. d. r., long. 5° 44′ W. d. r. E. ½ N. Force 5. Temp, of air 25°, of water 29°. Made the ice at 11.30 a.m. Slight sludge. Saw several "Snow Birds" (Ivory Gulls), as well as a flock or two of "Rotges" (Little Auks).

March 20th.--Noon. Lat. 73° 0′ N. d. r., long. 5° 30′ W. d. r. N. 6 E. ½ E.; force 10. Temp, of air 20°, of water 29°. Young ice. "Snow Birds" and "Burgomasters" were flying N.N.E., which was significant, as these birds are always present in vast numbers where a large herd of seals is.

April 25th.--Noon. Lat. 73° 28′ N., long. 2° 50′ E.; S. ½ W.; force 5; temp, of air 36°, of water 29·5°. We passed through the sealing grounds (where on the 4th to 7th the young brood of seals had been killed). Many crangs [skinless bodies of the young seals] covered with snow were still visible, and around them flocked myriads of "Snow-birds" and "Burgomasters."

April 26th.--Noon. Lat. 73° 25′ N., long. 5° 6′ E.; N.N.W.; force 4; temp, of air, 24°, of water 29°. Saw many flocks of Eider Ducks going N.E.; and "Mallemauks" numerous.

April 27th.--Noon. Lat. 74° 15′ N., 4° 30 E.; W.N.W.; force 4; temp, of air, 17·5°, of water 29°; at the pack-edge. Several "schools" of old Saddle-back Seals seen going N.E.; and "Rotges," "Looms," and "Dovekies" also on their northward journey.

May 3rd.--Noon. Lat. 78° 36′ N., long. 1° 13′ E.; N.E. by N.; force 8; temp, of air 15°, of water 29°; at the pack-edge. "Rotges" very numerous to-day and yesterday.

May 9th.--Noon. Lat. 78° 35′ N., long. 0° 10′ W.; W. ½ S.; force 3; temp, of air 24°, of water 30·5°; among floes. At five o'clock got into a large water surrounded with floes. A few "Unicorns" were sporting about in the still water; flocks of "Rotchies" and "Looms" were flying hither and thither, and some were swimming about engaged in diving for "whales'-food," upon which they subsist. A bear or two seen on the floe.

May 12th.--Noon. Lat. 78° 47′ N., long. 2° 41′ E.; N.N.W.; force 2; temp, of air 18°, of water 29°; among floes. Got into the land-water of Spitzbergen. Saw many "Mallemauks."

May 15th.--Noon. Lat. 79° 20′ N., long. 2° 55′ E.; S.E.; force 3; temp, of air 26·5°, of water 29·5°; at pack-edge. A few "Unicorns" seen; and a Hawk came on board, apparently dying of hunger.

May 16th.--The Hawk seemed to be recovering, but on May 17th fell overboard and was drowned.

May 27th.--Noon. Lat. 77° 40′ N., long. 3° 20′ E.; S. ½ W.; force 6; temp, of air 27°, of water 31° The water is very rich with "whales' food"; "Unicorns" are numerous, and birds in thousands.

June 6th.--Noon. Lat. 77° 53′ N., 4° 25′ W.; temp, of air 35°, of water 31°. "Whales' food" abundant, and birds numerous. A few "Unicorns" seen, and one bear.

June 7th.--Noon. Lat. 77° 57′ N., 4° 52′ W.; N.W. ½ W.; force 1; temp, of air 36°, of water 33·5°; floes and loose ice. Narwhals have been numerous; also birds, chiefly "Rotchies"; and one or two bears.

June 10th.--Noon. Lat. 78° 3′ N., long. 0° 24′. W.; S.W. by S. ½ S.; force 3; temp, of air 33°, of water 33·5°. Many birds. Quantities of whales blowing, and greasy water. "Rotchies," "Looms," and Narwhals numerous.

June 11th.--Noon. Lat. 73° 38′ N., long. 0° 4′ E.; S. ½ W.; force 3; temp, of air 35°, of water 35°. Birds and Seals numerous; a few "Unicorns" seen; and some bears in sight at 12 p.m.

_Steamship 'Persia.'_

Mr. John S. Alston writes under date of November 4th, 1884,--a date as will be noted correlating with date of a great rush on our E. Coast of Britain (J. A. H. B.),--as follows:--"We hope to make Port Said to-morrow, after a very fair run all the way from home. During the last three days we have been visited by more little birds than I ever saw before at sea. So far as I can judge, they were mostly Finches; but we saw two Quails and, of all birds in the world, a Robin-redbreast, who most characteristically seemed quite at home; and when he was frightened by a Hawk, which was in close pursuit of this flock of birds, Robin quietly hopped down the 'companion' into the engineers' quarters. I had seen another Robin off Tarifa, the southern point of Europe, but I was much struck to see this little fellow come on board flying due south, the nearest land being Cape Matapan, hundreds of miles away. Of course he may have been blown off shore by a northerly gale, but when we met him he was flying against a southerly breeze. The Hawk followed these birds, hovering about the ship all day, but took his departure in the night. He was a small one--a Merlin, I think."--(Signed) John S. Alston.

EAST COAST OF SCOTLAND.

The usual schedules were distributed to thirty stations on the East Coast of Scotland, Faroe, and Iceland. Twelve stations on East Coast of Scotland have sent in forty-one schedules out of the twenty-eight stations, including Faroe and Iceland.

From the Isle of May we have, as usual, the heaviest returns--fourteen schedules in all. Pentland Skerries again comes second with twelve schedules, and Bell Rock is the next in weight of returns.

In the following List of Stations, we indicate in Arabic type the number of years in which each station has returned records, and the consecutive numbers of the stations, as these coincide with those on the map. Hitherto we have indicated by asterisks, under each year as a heading, these particulars of returns, but after the fifth year these become cumbrous, occupying too much room. This year's returns, however, will again be indicated by asterisks. As will be seen below in an analysis of the returns for the past six years (see General Remarks end of W. C. of Scotland), the character of the lights at each station appears to have considerable influence on the bulking of records, the _white-fixed-lights_ having the largest as a rule. We mark in the list of stations therefore their different values as migration stations. The numerals indicate the true _migration values_, though the class of light may not _always_ correspond; and it remains to be seen if their character be kept up in the future. These are indicated by the following Roman numerals:--

First Class.--I., usually _fixed white lights_, but may be otherwise, if the situation is particularly favourable, as in the case of Bell Rock (see below).

Second Class.--II., usually white-revolving, also intermittent.

Third Class.--III., white and red revolving

Fourth Class.--IV., white flash, and red and white sectors.

Fifth Class.--V., bad situation, or exposure, combined with other disadvantages; _red fixed_; landlocked. All considerations bad.

EAST OF SCOTLAND.

Shetland.

3 * 4. North Unst, Shetland IV. 230 T. Edgar. 3 5. Whalsey Skerries, Shetland II. 143 1 6. Bressay, Shetland III. 105 5 * 7. Sumburgh Head, Shetland. I. 303 D. M. Scott.

Orkney.

4 * 8. N. Ronaldshay IV. 180 9. Start Point V. 80 5 10. Auskerry I. 110 11. Hoy Sound (Low) V.(_a_) 55 12. Hoy Sound (High) V. 115 13. Cantick Head III. 115 5 *14. Pentland Skerries I. 170 J. Gilmour. 5 *15. Dunnet Head V.(_a_) 346

Mainland.

16. Holborn Head, Caithness V. 75 1 17. Noss Head, Caithness V.(_a_) 175 18. Tarbat Ness, East Ross V.(_a_) 175 R. S. Ritson. 3 *19. Cromarty, East Cromarty V. 60 John McGill. 2 *20. Chanonry Point, Elgin V. 40 1 21. Covesea Skerries, Elgin V. 160 *22. Kinnaird Head, Aberdeen V. 120 23. Buchan Ness, Aberdeen V. 130 1 *24. Girdleness, Aberdeen V. 185 25. Montroseness, Forfar V. 124 5 *26. Bell Rock, Fife I. 93 James Jack. 5 *27. Isle of May, Firth of Forth I. 240 Jos. Agnew. 4 *28. Inch Keith, Firth of Forth IV. 220 R. Grierson. 29. St. Abb's Head, Berwick V. 224

Note.--Read in this place part of the General Remarks at the end of West Coast of Scotland.

(_a_) Notwithstanding the favourable description of light.

_Diary from the Stations._

_N. Unst._--Mr. James Edgar--formerly at Butt of Lewis--has sent useful schedules embracing from Feb. 15th to 21st Sep. and to Nov. 28th. "We have plenty of Ravens and Hooded Crows all the year, therefore I only notice uncommon flocks." "One pair of Hoodies, which has been about the rock for years, attends regularly at dinner time (1 p.m.) to eat up scraps. Their right is sometimes disputed by a half-tame Sea Gull. I had a good opportunity of examining 'Jenny Wren' this season. She remained for a fortnight."--_In lit._

_Sumburgh Head._--The old natives say they never before have seen such vast numbers of Gulls as during this year, around this station all the season onward from 8th March, 1884.[6]

[Footnote 6: Mr. D. M. Scott has removed to Lamlash, Arran, since the date of his last schedule, Sept. 15th, 1884, and is succeeded by Mr. Youngclause from Monach Islands. Mr. Youngclause sends a light schedule from Sept. 19th to Nov. 16th, of interest in showing the northerly extension of the migration of Linnets and Turdidæ (see General Remarks under Gulls).]

_N. Ronaldshay._--Mr. John Tulloch sent one schedule embracing the whole season from July 5th to Sept. 21st. I did not receive this till the first week in March. In future I would always like to have schedules returned immediately after last day of January, or as soon as possible after that date, as it is more difficult to work in stray schedules after the Report is written out.

_Pentland Skerries._--Mr. J. Gilmour was called away from August 13th till Sept. 1st on a Board of Trade inquiry. During that interval a Solan Goose struck the Lantern Dome, and was found, but not killed ("this is very unusual"). A few Wheatears and one Goldcrest were seen also, during this interval. Gulls (a pair) bred on the island--a very unusual circumstance.

Easterly and southerly winds prevailed from March 10th to April 12th, with occasional S.W., varying to N.; 12th to 19th, N.E., fresh; 19th to May 4th, again S.E. and E., and N. on latter date, and so on till August with very slight variations, or light, variable.

In autumn, winds continued to prevail easterly, till about the 20th Sept., when they changed to westerly and northerly, and this appeared to be characteristic along the whole E. coast, thus making a visit paid by me to Isle of May, for three weeks in September and October, rather unproductive of visible migration. This N. & W. prevalence caused migration to be much dispersed, and no great rushes are recorded at Pentland Skerries or other stations. But on the 14th Oct., during mod. E., after N.N.E. and N.W. gales, a rush of Thrushes and Woodcocks will be found recorded. Between Oct. 17th and Nov. 7th winds very variable round three-fourths of compass, but almost never entering the fourth quarter between S. and E.--indeed only on three days. Strong N.E., weather cloudy and clear, very little haze. This continued till Nov. 30th, except on Nov. 11 a S. gale, on 8th S.W. gale, and on 20th a N. gale.[7]

[Footnote 7: Read the above in connection with General Remarks.]

_Dunnet Head_ gives a light return. The daily to-and-fro migration of Gannets is spoken of in _general terms_, and the dates of arrival and departure of rock birds were "about the same dates as stated in last year's report."

_Cromarty._--The prevailing wind at this land-locked station at the times of records, given between March 24th and Dec. 26th, were from W. and S.W. Dates of arrivals in spring and departures in autumn given. As before remarked, such land-locked stations give abnormal returns as compared with freely exposed stations, and the S.W. or W. winds were local.

_Chanonry._--Practically blank as regards actual migration, all movements being local, Mr. J. McGill finding Scarts and Cormorants flying up and down the Firth, Wild Ducks feeding in frosty weather, and many Larks on Jan. 17th, 1884. Local movements of Green Plover in November and December. No certain migration discernible.

_Kinnaird Head_ returns a blank schedule, with the positive statement "No birds." I am obliged to the head lighthouse-keeper for returning this schedule. Such if regularly returned would enable me to give always, year by year, a positive statement of negative value. I wish others on the Aberdeenshire coast would follow his good example.

_Girdleness._--A light return during November 14th to 17th and December 1st to 12th. "Birds at this lighthouse very scarce, the situation being very exposed." A record of a Fork-tailed Petrel (seen by me on 15th August, J. A. H. B.) is of considerable interest. Dead calm and hazy; on E. side of lantern; about 12 p.m. Stomach contained only an oily matter (Geo. Sim) _vide_ Proc. Ryl. Phyl. Soc. Edin. 1884. Bell Rock sends excellent schedules as usual. The early advent of a swallow--March 13th and 14th--is commented upon by letter. "It seemed much exhausted." Mr. Hutton, Bank Manager, Royal Bank, Arbroath--a gentleman much interested in ornithology--gave a full account of the occurrence in the 'Dundee Advertiser' of April.[8]

[Footnote 8: "About four o'clock in the afternoon of the 13th and 14th March the light-keeper on duty at the Bell Rock Lighthouse observed a swallow fluttering in front of the kitchen window. After watching it for some little time he opened the window and stood aside to see if the bird would come in. This in a minute or two it did, and alighted on the inside of the windowsill. So exhausted did the little wanderer appear from its long flight and the buffetting of the weather that it allowed itself to be lifted up and put into a cage. It immediately lay down on the bottom of the cage and instantly fell fast asleep, remaining in this state till next morning about eight o'clock (sixteen hours). So sound were its slumbers that the keepers watching it as it lay could scarcely detect any signs of life in it, and at times they were almost certain that it had died. On awakening at the hour mentioned the swallow was taken out by one of the keepers and given a drink of water. It was put back into the cage again, where it lay in an apparently dormant condition till 10 a.m., when it was supplied with more water, under the influence of which and the rays of the sun it became quite lively and strong. The kitchen window was now lifted up and the bird taken out and laid on the open hand of Mr. Jack, principal light-keeper. Resting there for a moment, it gave one cheery twitter, and, springing upwards from the outstretched palm, it winged its way in the direction of the land and was lost sight of in the space of a minute or two. The appearance of the bird so far north at such an early season is remarkable. The swallow migrates to Africa at the end of October, and it is not till the middle of April that the flight northward begins, so that the one which surprised the light-keepers before March was half run was several weeks earlier than the usual time for their appearance here. It may be added that, the Swallow being an insectivorous bird, the lighthouse keepers were unable to supply it with its ordinary food, and abstained from giving it any other for fear of injuring it."]

Between April 9th and Sept. 3rd scarcely any migration was observed at Bell Rock--only four records in that time on April 28th, April 30th, May 7th and 9th. But before and after these dates in spring and autumn, considerable migration is recorded in comparison, but decidedly slack, as compared with other seasons, in autumn, owing to northerly and westerly winds. This, however, was followed by a great rush in November, for particulars of which the reader is referred to the details under Species. The marvellous congregations of Gulls and their prey the Sprat or Garvie (_Clupea sprattus_) are commented upon. (General Remarks).

_Isle of May._--In January, 1884, intermittent migration continued. The great gale of 27th to 29th produced nothing of any consequence--one Yellowhammer, however, being the first of the species seen for some time.