Part 8

Podicipitidæ, Grebes.--_P. fluviatilis_, Little Grebe, Spurn, Nov. 10th, 8 p.m., one killed at low light. Heligoland, Oct. 25th, several young shot.

Alcidæ, Auks.--Longstone L.H., Feb. 20th. Guillemot (_Lomvia troile_), flying about breeding-places, but not settling; on March 22nd they settled for the first time; but on the 26th, owing to the cold E. wind, all went out to sea, returning again to the rocks on the 29th with a W. and S.W. wind. Farn L.H. March 16th, hundreds flying round nesting-quarters. Tees L.V., July 2nd, "a Guillemot came to the light-ship and remained three weeks, disappeared suddenly, probably shot." Redcar, Nov. 12th to 15th, great numbers to E. all day; Nov. 10th, Black Guillemot (_U. grylle_), young bird shot. Longstone L.H., April 17th, Puffin (_Fratercula arctica_), first seen. Redcar, Nov. 18th, 19th, 20th, Little Auk (_Mergulus alle_), great numbers at sea. Farn Islands, Jan. 12th to 26th, 1885, great many off islands. Heligoland, Nov. 13th, cliff crowded with Guillemots, never so early before; Dec. 17th, W., thousands on cliffs, as in summer time.

Professor Chr. Fr. Lütken, of the Universitetets Zoologiske Museum, Copenhagen, again forwards a list of birds killed against the lighthouse of Stevns, on the projecting part of Zealand, marking the limit between the Baltic and Oresund. The list has been drawn up by Mr. Autander, a physician living in the neighbourhood of the lighthouse. In forwarding the list, Mr. Autander observes that he has every reason to think it very incomplete, as the interest bestowed upon it by the officers of the lighthouse is rather indifferent; all birds fit to be eaten are probably disposed of in this way, and do not always come under his observation.

Stevns Fyr (Lighthouse of Stevns), 1884.

Night to--

Febr. 16th. Alauda arvensis 1. " 18th. Ditto 1. " 19th. Ditto 1. " 21st. Sturnus vulgaris 1. March 13th. Erythacus rubecula 1. " 29th. Scolopax rusticula 1. " " Tringa alpina 1. May 1st. Sylvia hortensis 2. " 6th. Saxicola œnanthe 2. " 15th. Sylvia cinerea 1. " " S. curruca 1. " " Phylloscopus rufus 6. " " Ruticilla phœnicurus 2. " " Muscicapa atricapilla 2. " " Sylvia hortensis 1. July 23rd. Hæmatopus ostralegus 1. " 26th. Turdus musicus 3. " " Emberiza miliaria 1. " " Fringilla montifringilla 1. " " Jynx torquilla 1. " " Saxicola œnanthe 5. " 30th. Turdus musicus 7. " " Motacilla alba 3. " " Saxicola œnanthe 2. " " Scolopax rusticula 1. Oct. 5th. Fringilla cœlebs 1. " 6th. Passer montanus 1. " " Regulus cristatus 2. " 11th. Turdus musicus 1. " 13th. Turdus iliacus 1. " 17th. Regulus cristatus 2. " 22nd. Sturnus vulgaris 1. " " Turdus iliacus 1. " 23rd. Alauda arvensis 1. " " Erythacus rubecula 1. " 25th. Sturnus vulgaris 3. " " Emberiza citrinella. 2. " " Fringilla montifringilla 1. " " Regulus cristatus 1. " " Alauda arvensis 1. Nov. 20th. Anas boschas 1. " 29th. Linota linaria 1. Dec. 8th. Alauda arvensis 1. " 10th. Turdus viscivorus 1. " 17th. Alauda arvensis 1. " " Turdus iliacus 1.

Notes on Insects at the Lighthouses.

Under date of June 30th, Mr. Owen Boyle, of the Languard L.H., reports, "a Sky Lark followed by a string of Bees. The plaintive cries of this poor bird first attracted my attention, it flew so close that I almost caught it; it was closely pursued by a large number of Bees, and in its fright took to the water followed by its pursuers. When last seen it was making for the Essex coast." July 31st, at 10.14 a.m., "a cloud of mosquitoes pitched in this neighbourhood, similar to those seen in India; most of them were carried off at noon by a light breeze."

Mr. Charles Williams, of the Hanois L.H., Guernsey, says, under date of July 10th, "A great quantity of large ants with wings passing. A great many settled on the rocks and about the lighthouse. I have only once seen them before like this, when I was stationed at the South Bishop Rock off the coast of Wales."

Heligoland, by Mr. Gätke.--Night, July 2nd to 3rd, thousands of _Plusia gamma_; 3rd, myriads of Dragonflies; night, 21st to 22nd, great numbers of _Bombyx neustria_, east to west; 22nd to 23rd, the same; 27th to 28th, numerous nights passing on.

General Remarks.

The report for the East Coast of England shows that a great migration was carried on for six months in the autumn and winter of 1884-5. The schedules returned indicate that no one place had special preference, and that the inflow of migrants was equally distributed over the entire coast line.

The southerly movement of migrants was well established in July, and from this time to the end of the third week in January, 1885, there has been a steady flow, with slight intermissions, of birds either passing up the coast to the south or moving directly inland, the vast majority coming from the east across the North Sea, and moving westward or in westerly directions. Occasionally there have been heavy rushes or persistent bird waves continuous for days, and even weeks.

The periods of migration occupied by different species vary greatly, from four weeks to as many months; no general rule can be laid down in this respect.

As a rule, the young birds of the year migrate independently of the old, and some weeks in advance; there are, however, frequent exceptions to this, more especially late in the season, when the flocks are sometimes composed of old and young. With some of our shore birds, as Grey Plover, Knot, Sanderling, a few old birds, still in summer plumage, arrive very early in the season, some weeks later the main body of the young, and lastly the bulk of the adults, the latter having then assumed the ordinary winter dress.

The lines of migration have been those followed in previous years, the vast majority of immigrants coming either directly from east to west or from points south of east to others north of west. The records of birds travelling from points north of east are comparatively exceptional.

There was an immense and continuous rush, a gigantic feathery tide, on to the coast from the middle of October (15th) to the end of the month, migrants arriving continuously night and day. This rush was continued at some of the stations with but slight intermissions to the middle of November. The last fortnight in October is the average annual period of what may be called the "great rush" of immigrants on to the East Coast of England.

In previous reports we have drawn attention to the fact of a migration in opposite directions going on at the same time over the North Sea. This is observed more particularly at southeastern stations, on light vessels moored at many miles distance from the nearest land, where, during the spring and autumn, the same species of birds, as Crows, Rooks, Jackdaws, Starlings, Larks, Sparrows, Buntings and Finches, are recorded crossing the North Sea moving from opposite quarters and passing both towards the British coast and towards the Continent. This apparently abnormal movement in opposite directions is again indicated in the autumn and spring of 1884-5.

In a recent article in the 'Encyclopædia Britannica,' Professor Newton tells us that "there is scarcely a bird of either the Palæarctic or Nearctic regions, whose habits are at all well known, of which much the same may not be said; and hence we are led to the conclusion that every bird of the Northern Hemisphere is, to a greater or less degree, migratory in some part or other of its range." There can be no doubt that in this passage Professor Newton indicates the probable explanation of the special phenomena attending a double migration as recorded from time to time in our reports.

With very few exceptions, the vast majority of our British birds, such as are generally considered habitual residents, the young invariably, the old intermittingly, leave these islands in the autumn, their place being taken by others, not always necessarily of the same species, coming from more northern latitudes, or from districts of Eastern Europe, where, on the approach of winter, the conditions of locality and food-supply are found less favourable to existence. These immigrants on the approach of spring leave, moving back to the Continent on the same lines, but in the reverse direction to those traversed in the autumn; at the same time, also, our own birds return from the Continent to their nesting-quarters in these islands. To give one instance, out of many which might be cited, that of the Blackbird:--In the autumn, during September, the young of the year leave their summer-quarters, and their place is shortly taken by others, likewise young birds, coming in October and November from districts which lie directly east or south-east of Great Britain. Should our English winter prove generally severe, or even partially so, our old birds will also leave, and in their place we have an influx of old Blackbirds from the Continent, pushed forward by similar causes. In the last autumn and winter, which has been exceedingly variable, with many sudden changes of temperature, our East Coast reports show an enormous migration of this species to have taken place. This commenced on September 12th, and was continued at intervals throughout October, becoming nearly continuous in November; after this intermittent, in throbs and pulsations, up to the end of the third week in January, 1885. These influxes of old birds correlate with sudden changes of temperature and outbreaks of severe weather on the Continent. In the spring the continental visitors disappear, and our so-called resident Blackbirds come back to their nesting-quarters. In this way we have a regular interchange of birds in the spring and autumn,--a double migration, carried on twice a year between the British Islands and the Continent. As far as our knowledge extends the normal conditions of locality and climate over the whole area are such as do not necessitate a regular interchange of the members of their respective _avi-faunas_. There is apparently no reason why our Rooks, Starlings, Sky Larks, and Blackbirds should not be able to winter in England just as well as abroad; their not doing so, but persistently migrating, is suggestive of a regular succession of bird waves,--as one moves forward another quickly follows in its wake. The southern limit of autumn migration, in the individuals of any species, is in direct ratio to the breeding range; such as nest in southern latitudes move still further south, and thus make room for those of their sort which have nested further north. Such are the ordinary phenomena of migration, a movement which is as regular and persistent as the flow and ebb of the tide.[33]

[Footnote 33: Migration is a voluntary, and not a compulsory, movement; and it must not be imagined that recurring bird waves actually push each other forward. Young Blackbirds and Thrushes leave some weeks in advance of the great rush of their continental allies; and it is well known that Woodcocks, which breed in Great Britain, leave in the autumn, before the arrival of the northern flights, a distinct interval elapsing between the two events--the going and the coming.]

One of the last schedules received, at the time of going to press, from the Cockle L.V., off the Norfolk coast, records immense flights of Crows (probably Rooks), passing in a southeasterly direction to the Continent early in March, 1885, commencing on the 2nd at 7 a.m., in large numbers on the 6th at 6 a.m., and continuous from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. on the 8th; large numbers again on the 9th at 5.30 a.m.

The notes under the head of separate species in the East Coast report for 1884, indicate several movements of special interest. Blackbirds, as has been already stated, have crossed the North Sea in extraordinary numbers, commencing on September 12th and throughout October, and immense numbers in November; on the 11th, 12th and 13th the rush appears to have been continuous, night, and day, over the whole coast line; after this intermittent to the end of the third week in January, 1885.

Another very interesting feature is the occurrence of the Arctic Bluethroat in considerable numbers between September 8th and 16th; eighty to one hundred were observed in one locality on the Norfolk coast on the 12th.

The migration of the Gold-crested Wren was very pronounced. The first are recorded on August 28th, and after this at various stations in large numbers up to November 22nd. Eighty-seven days against ninety-two in 1882, and eighty-two in 1883. The visible migration of this little wanderer across Heligoland has been considerably below the average of other years.

Pied Flycatchers arrived in large numbers from August 10th to September 17th. Across Heligoland also there was a great migration between August 10th and September 18th.

Immense numbers of Bing Doves are shown to have crossed from the Continent between the 21st of October and the end of November. This immigration appears to have covered the coast between Berwick and Yarmouth. On our northern coasts for nine days, between November the 20th and 28th, the rush was continuous. Large numbers of Stock Doves also crossed during the same period.

The main body of the Woodcocks generally arrive in two flights, known to East-coast sportsmen as the "first flight," and after this the "great flight." In the autumn of 1884 the immigration of this species was most prolonged, commencing on September 1st, and continued onward to January 20th, 1885, or 142 days. Four distinct rushes or flights are also indicated,--October 5th and 6th; another on the 10th to the 16th; a third, probably the "great flight," on the 28th; and again a very large flight between November the 11th and 13th. Independent of these there has been a constant dropping in by two or three together, or singly, throughout the autumn and winter. Woodcocks have also crossed Heligoland in the same desultory fashion; and the dates of the chief flights will be found to correlate closely with the rushes on to our East Coast.

In the latter part of November and early in December there was a considerable arrival of Bitterns on the East Coast, probably driven across by the severe weather on the Continent between November the 28th and December 2nd.

Besides the Bluethroats, already noticed, several rare and casual visitants have been recorded during the autumn. Two examples of the Barred Warbler, one at Spurn Point and another on the Norfolk coast. The Icterine Warbler, also on the Norfolk coast; and an Ortolan Bunting, likewise from the same locality. The Lapland Bunting, in Lincolnshire and Norfolk; Tengmalm's Owl, in Holderness; and a rose-coloured Starling, near Spurn.

Mr. Gätke's Heligoland notes, from June 28th to the end of the year, comprise 118 species, including, as usual, several rare visitors to the ornithological observatory:--Icterine Warblers on Aug. 18th; _Anthus richardi_, Sept. 3rd to Oct. 12th; _A. campestris_, Sept. 4th; _Carpodacus erythrinus_, Sept. 9th; _Anthus cervinus_, a great many, from Sept. 15th to Oct. 12th; _Lanius major_, in most unusual numbers, from Sept. 17th to Nov. 4th; _Alauda cristata_, Sept. 30th and Oct. 1st; _Saxicola stapazina_ (?), Oct. 2nd; _Turdus varius_, Oct. 3rd, 12th and 23rd, one each day; _Emberiza pusilla_, Oct. 5th, two; _Turdus migratorius_, one on Oct. 14th; _Fringilla rufescens_, our English Redpoll, one on Nov. 22nd. Besides these large numbers of continental species, which are classed amongst the rare and occasional visitants to the British Islands, and whose line of migration is normally far to eastward of these islands, as _Emberiza hortulana_, _Motacilla flava_, _M. alba_, _Sylvia suecica_, _Anthus rupestris_, _Calcarius lapponicus_, _Otocorys alpestris_, _Nyctala tengmalmi_, _Ruticilla titys_, _Regulus ignicapillus_, and _Larus minutus_.

The great rush of birds crossed Heligoland during the last fortnight in October, and appears to have come directly across to our eastern shores. Mr. Gätke remarks, under date Oct. 24th, S.E., clear, fine, early rather cold, _C. cornix_, _frugilegus_, and _monedula_, monstrous numbers; _cornix_ and _monedula_ mixed in uninterrupted flight of ten and twelve minutes each, continued with but short interruptions or gaps; width as far as the eye could reach in northerly and southerly directions; and thus from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. _Sturnus_, "a succession of clouds sweeping past overhead."

Speaking generally of migration during the month of October, "weather exceptionally fine; nearly no _curruca_; very few _rufa_; few _rubecula_, _accentor_, _regulus_; and _fringilla_ but small numbers. Thrushes the same; not a single _Parus major_ nor other Tits; Pipits also far below the usual numbers."

"Marvellously many _Anthus cervinus_, _Lanius major_ and _excubitor_, and particularly _Corvidæ_ and Starlings. In December, Greenfinches, enormous numbers all the month, more than ever been seen here."

* * * * *

Since the completion of the Report Mr. J. H. Gurney informs me that he has received from Mr. J. Barrett, of the Swin Middle L.V., the wing of a Garganey Teal with the date July 22nd, 1884. Dunlin, March 21st, 1885, and that of a Wheatear with the extraordinary date of Feb. 4th attached.

From the Dudgeon L.V. comes a schedule signed by Mr. T. W. Harrison, the entries ranging from Nov. 10th, 1884, to March 6th, 1885. On Nov. 10th about forty Carrion Crows going from S.E. to N.W.; considerable numbers of Larks on the nights of the 11th and 12th, about twenty being killed; on the 13th, two Woodcocks at 6.40 p.m., N.N.E. 3, misty, one killed; the same night a great rush of Larks, Blackbirds, Fieldfares and Starlings; "Black Crows" and Larks, also a few Thrushes, at intervals through January, all coming from easterly and going in westerly directions. On the night of Feb. 15th, E., Knot, Stint, Lapwing and other birds round the lantern all night. Night of March 4th, E.S.E., Lapwings and Starlings about lantern, and eight of the latter killed; on the night of the 5th, several Carrion Crows between 7 and 12 p.m., three killed. The Dudgeon L.V. is about thirty-five miles east of Skegness on the Lincolnshire coast.

WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND.

Schedules were sent to thirty-four stations as before. We have received returns from fifteen.

Generally the returns are as well filled up as in previous years.

We have notes on about thirty-one species of land birds from this coast; about sixteen species of water birds; and of a few species of littoral or wading birds.

I have kept the spring and autumn movements distinct.

In the following list of stations we indicate the numbers of years in which each station has sent in returns, and the consecutive numbers of the stations, in the same way, and for the same reasons, that we have shown those in the report of the East Coast, and we also indicate the value and brilliancy of the lights at each.

List of Stations.

Returns in 5 1884. years. Feet. 3 * 81. Cape Wrath, Sutherland III. 400 { W. Wither { & H. Morrison. 3 * 82. Elm Stoir, Do. II. 195 Wm. Wither.

Outer Hebrides.

5 83. Butt of Lewis I. 170 { T. Edgar. { A. Thompson. 3 84. Stornoway, 2 lights { II.} { I. } 56 J. Grierson. 3 85. Island of Ghlais I. 130 5 * 86. Monach Isles { I. } 150 } { I. } 62 } J. Youngclause. 2 87. Ushenish VI. 176 1 * 88. Barra Head II. 683 Wm. Irvine.

Mainland, Skye, and Inner Hebrides.

0 * 89. Rona, Skye IV. 222 Frazer. 4 * 90. Kyleakin, Ross IV. 53 D. M'Culloch. 2 91. Isle of Ornsay, Skye I. 58 2 92. Ardnamurchan I. 5 { 93. Hynish Signal Tower, } { Tyree } { * 94. Skerryvore, off Tyree } II. 150 T. Dawson. 5 * 95. Dhuheartach, S. of } Ross of Mull } I. 146 W. Davidson. 5 96. Sound of Mull V. 55 W. McLellan. 0 97. Corran Ferry, Loch Eil IV. 38 4 98. Lismore I., Oban I. 103 2 99. Fladda, Easdale VI. 42 3 *100. Rhuvaal, Islay IV. 147 G. Boreham. 4 *101. M'Arthur's Head IV. 128 Wm. Maill. 5 *102. Skervuile, Jura II. 73 John Ewing. 5 103. Rhinns of Islay IV. 159 P. Anderson. 2 104. Lochindaul IV. 50 0 105. Mull of Kintyre VI. 297 0 106. Devaar, off Kintyre II. 120 0 107. Pladda, Arran II. 130 2 *108. Lamlash IV. 46 D. M. Scott. 2 109. Turnberry, Ayrshire IV. 96 Andr. Nisbet. 4 *110. Corsewall, Wigtonshire IV. 112 R. Laidlaw. 5 111. Loch Ryan, do. I. 46 5 112. Portpatrick, do. I. 37 4 *113. Mull of Galloway, do. II. 325 Alx. Murray. 1 *114. Little Ross, Kircudbright IV. 175 Jas. Ferrier.

Isle of Man.

3 115. Point of Ayre, I. of Man III. 106 2 116. Douglas Head, do. I. 104 *117. Chickens Rock, do. II. 122 2 118. Bahama Bank (L.V.), do. ? ? *119. Langness, do. ? ? Robt. Clyne.

Notes from the Stations.[34]

[Footnote 34: Only the notable events, or anything of particular interest, are here taken notice of. Such may be useful for faunal purposes.]

Mr. Morrison, at Cape Wrath, Bays birds are scarce at this station: the coast being so wild they keep more inland. Gamuts frequent the coast all the year from February to November. The Peregrine Falcon is on the coast almost all the year.

From Stoir Head Mr. Wither sends a few notes on land birds. Arrival of Swallow noted May 11th, rather an early date for the West Coast of Sutherland. Gannets were passing north continuously in August.

Mr. Youngclause, after a long residence on the Monach Isles, has removed to an E. Coast station, but sends a last schedule from the former, dating March 30th to April 7th. Wrens seem scarce here, and the Goldcrest he saw this year, but never on any previous occasion. A robin had not been seen before for ten years until April 7th, 1884. Snow Buntings on April 4th are noted as unusual.

Mr. Youngclause adds "There has been a great scarcity of birds at this station for a number of years back, and unless the winds happen to be off the mainland, with hazy weather at the time of migration, we scarcely see a bird. Even Eider Ducks have deserted this place of late years, ever since we had the fearful storm of Nov. 15th, 1877, but I am told they have been very abundant about the Sound of Barra, and the sheltered places on the east side of the island."