[15]We shall refer to these under "Birds unknown," but we have thought it advisable to enter them here also; they can easily be erased in future comparisons if better data come to hand.
[15]We shall refer to these under "Birds unknown," but we have thought it advisable to enter them here also; they can easily be erased in future comparisons if better data come to hand.
Blackbird.—The northernmost locality is Rhuvaal, where one struck on Dec. 1st, at 2 p.m., wind N.E., fresh; thence southwards at M'Arthur's Head, Skervuile, Pladda, Lamlash, Corsewall, Mull of Galloway and Point of Ayr. The earliest date is Aug. 26th, at M'Arthur's Head. The latest date is Dec. 1st, at Rhuvaal. The time thus occupied by the migration was ninety-seven days. The rushes took place between 13th and 21st Oct., and the most favoured locality recorded is Point of Ayr, where on Oct. 21st two hundred "mixed Thrushes and Blackbirds" were seen at 1.30 p.m.; wind N.N.W., strong, and clear, with occasional showers. They were visible at the various stations in all winds, apparently from W. to E. and from S. toN.N.W. They appeared at all hours of the day and night, but most of the records apply to night migration.
Starling.—The records of the Starling are very general; the most northern station given is Butt of Lewis, where the remark is made that they generally strike. This year, however, the most northern is Ardnamurchan Point, thence southward at Dhuheartach, Sound of Mull, M'Arthur's Head, Skervuile, Rhinns of Islay, Corsewall, Portpatrick, Mull of Galloway, and Point of Ayr. The earliest date on record is Aug. 11th, at M'Arthur's Head and Loch Ryan; at the former, one struck at 10 p.m., in S. wind, fresh, with haze; at the latter, two struck at 11.30 p.m.; wind E., light, with fog. The latest date is Dec. 18th, when one was caught at Skervuile at 11 p.m.; wind S.W., fresh, with haze. Thus the time occupied in passage was one hundred and thirty days, but the last date may have been due to local influence and keen frost at that time registered. The next latest date is Nov. 23rd, which would make the time spent in passage one hundred and four days. Rushes took place more frequently than with most species noted; thus, Sept. 19th, Oct. 12th to 25th, and Nov. 11th and 17th, may all be characterised as dates of rushes. The most favoured localities were Corsewall and Portpatrick, for frequency of records; and Ardnamurchan Point, Dhuheartach, Portpatrick, and Point of Ayr, for numbers of individuals. Starlings do not seem to have any choice of wind, as far as returns show. We find them migrating with N., W., and S.E. winds in almost equal proportions, with a preference—but very slight—to W. winds. They also pass or strike in E., S., and N.W. winds, but in fewer numbers. We do not think any deductions can be drawn from these data. But Starlings breed at many of the lighthouses or in their vicinity, so it is not always easy to determine whether, in every instance, they are on migration or not (as remarked by more than one reporter,e.g., Mr. Edgar, at the Butt of Lewis, &c.). Out of seventeen dates reported on, only three show migration to have taken place during the day,viz., at Portpatrick (in two instances), and Ardnamurchan Point (3 p.m. in a gale).
Finches.—At Dhuheartach on Aug. 24th, one hundred were seen and twenty killed between p.m. and 2 a.m., wind N.N.W., with haze; on Oct. 4th, six seen in afternoon, wind light and variable, with clear weather; again, on Oct. 8th, two were killedat 7 a.m., calm, with fog. The above are all the returns of "Finches."
Linnet.—Only two records. At Rhuvaal on Sept. 9th, thirty to forty old and young, were seen around the lantern at 10 a.m.; wind E. to N., breeze to stormy, with haze; and at Lamlash on same date and at same hour, fifty were seen; wind fresh breeze from W., and clear.
Yellowhammer.—At Lamlash on Aug. 17th, one struck at 10 a.m., in light W. wind, and fog.
Snow Bunting.—At Monach Island, farthest north recorded, and at Dhuheartach and Corsewall. Earliest appearance Sept. 19th, when a flock was seen at Monach Island at noon, with S.W. light wind, and clear weather. Latest date Dec. 10th, when one was caught at Corsewall at 10 p.m.; wind variable, light, and haze; thus, time occupied was eighty-two days. A. rush took place probably about Sept. 19th, when a flock was seen at Monach Island,—but our data are scanty,—and another about Nov. 10th, when a flock passed Corsewall. Other dates of record are Oct. 10th and 18th; they passed in N.W. and N. winds, in clear or cloudy weather; also in September in S.W., with clear weather, and variable wind, with clear or haze. All the records are during the night, except one at 12 noon, at Monach Island on Sept. 19th; wind S.W., clear.
Lark.—The most northern station noted this year was Dhuheartach, and thence southward they are noticed at M'Arthur's Head, Skervuile, Rhinns of Islay, Lamlash and Corsewall. The earliest date is Aug. 17th, when twenty struck at Dhuheartach between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m.; wind W., with haze. The latest date is Dec. 6th, when one struck at 9 p.m.; wind S.E., fresh, and haze, at Corsewall; the time thus occupied was one hundred and twelve days (but the last was no doubt due to the severe frost inland at that time). The previous date is Nov. 18th, which would make the time only seventy-nine days. The greatest rush appears to have been in October, about the 12th to 24th, but the numbers observed are so small that it is difficult to judge. The locality most favoured was Dhuheartach, whence I have returns on eight different dates, between Aug. 17th and Nov. 24th. An earlier rush took place about Aug. 17th to 21st, at Dhuheartach and Skervuile. A later rush about Nov. 15th to 18th at Dhuheartach, Skervuile, and Rhinns of Islay,but of small dimensions. Larks appear to migrate principally when the wind is W. to S.W., or late in the season, when still more southerly, say S. Exceptions occur at Dhuheartach on Nov. 24, when wind was N.E., fresh, and weather clear; at Rhinns of Islay on Nov. 7th, wind N.W., light breeze; at Skervuile on Oct. 10th, when wind was N.; they migrate in calm, variable, light, or fresh winds, and are noticed at lanterns principally in haze and fog. They migrate mostly at night, at all hours, but the majority pass between 7.30 p.m. and 4 a.m. Those passing during the day were travelling when the wind was N. or N.E.; those passing at night when the wind was S. to W. So the returns show; but whether this indicates anylaw of migrationor not remains to be proved by further observation.
Lapwing.—The most northern station which they were observed to pass at this season was Rhu Stoir; thence southward, they are reported at Isle Ornsay, Lochindaul, Devaar, Pladda, and Portpatrick. The earliest date given is Aug. 20th, when "flocks" were seen during the day in N. wind and clear weather; the latest is Dec. 11th, when one was killed at Pladda, at 2 a.m., wind S.E., light breeze, with haze. The next latest date given is Nov. 14th, when twenty-two were seen at 8.30 a.m. at Portpatrick, wind S.E., and haze. The time occupied, therefore, this year is from eighty-six to one hundred and thirteen days. Rushes took place about the 20th to 25th August, when several flocks passed Isle Ornsay and Lochindaul; again, Sept. 16th to 25th, a flock at Devaar, Portpatrick and Chickens Rock; another rush at Rhu Stoir, Portpatrick and Lochindaul about Oct. 27th. Lapwings travelled in clear or haze, rain, or showers, principally in S. and S.E. winds, on the west coast; but also in N. wind on Aug. 20th, and in W. and S.W. at Rhu Stoir and Lochindaul on Oct. 23rd and Nov. 1st respectively They appear to travel equally by day and night.
Plover.—Three stations give returns of this species,viz., Skerryvore, Rhinns of Islay, and Portpatrick. The earliest date is July 27th, at Portpatrick. The latest date is Oct. 18th, at Skerryvore. The time thus occupied by the migration was fifty-three days. The principal rush took place about the beginning of September, and the favoured station was Portpatrick, where they were always observed prssing inland with a S. to S.W. wind, light or strong breeze, during the daytime. Individuals strucklantern of Rhinns of Islay at night, when wind was N., N.W., or S.E.
Oystercatcher,Hæmatopus ostralegus.—At Isle Ornsay on Nov. 18th, one struck at 10.30 p.m.; wind S., light, with haze, and rain.
Heron.—At Dhuheartach on Oct. 8th, one seen at 7 a.m.; calm, fog. At Rhuvaal, Oct. 1st to 30th, "Storks" (afterwards identified as Herons) passed at 9 a.m.; wind variable, light, with showers.
Curlew.—Island Glass is the most northern station noted for this species; southwards at Dhuheartach, Pladda, Portpatrick and the Mull of Galloway. The earliest date recorded is Aug. 3rd, when eighteen were seen passing Portpatrick at 10 a.m., wind E.S.E., strong breeze, with haze; the latest date is Nov. 20th, when eight were seen passing Island Glass, flying southward, at 2 p.m., wind light S.W., with clear weather Thus the time occupied was one hundred and nine days. A rush took place in August—say 3rd to 26th—and again in November, 15th to 20th. Dhuheartach seemed to be a favourite station. Curlews migrated in all winds, and "boxed the compass" from E.S.E., through S. to S.W., W. and N.N.W.; they passed mostly at night. Two exceptions were at 10 a.m. on Aug. 3rd, and 2 p.m. on Nov. 20th, at Portpatrick and Island Glass respectively.
Whimbrels("Small Curlews"),Numenius phæopus.—At Lochindahl on Sept. 20th, seen for several days in flocks; wind S. to W., and rainy.
Sandpiper(sp.?)—At Rhinns of Islay on Aug. 22nd, one struck at 1 a.m.; wind S.E., light, and haze.
Turnstone,Strepsilas interpres.—At Rhinns of Islay on Nov. 8th, one struck at night; wind S.W., fresh, and haze.
Snipe.—At Isle Ornsay, a single Snipe takes position as the northernmost recorded at the lighthouses of the west coast in 1879, as late as Oct. 20th, killed at 10 p.m.; wind N., clear. Thence, records at Skerryvore, Dhuheartach, Rhinns of Islay, Pladda, Mull of Galloway, and Douglas Head. The earliest date, Aug. 20th ("sp. not known"), 4 a.m. at Pladda; wind S.E., strong breeze, and haze.[16]As a doubt occurs, next earliest date—a long jump later—is Oct. 11th at Rhinns of Islay when one was killed between 12 p.m. and 3 a.m.; wind N., light, with haze.The latest date is Nov. 15th, when, at Rhinns of Islay, sixteen were killed between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m., wind S., breezes and haze; and another record occurs at Pladda. Thus from Oct. 11th to Nov. 15th marks thirty-five days for passage. Snipe are thus seen to make a rapid passage. (Local migrations occur earlier from moors to lowland marshes in Scotland, September always producing home-bred birds in our lowland marshes.) Rush of foreign birds middle of November, 1879, as far as we can judge; but on Oct. 18th "numbers" kept about all night round lantern of Skerryvore; wind S.E., light breeze, fog, and rain. Migration mostly at night, judging from records, but also by day.
[16]This may have been a Sandpiper.
[16]This may have been a Sandpiper.
Woodcock.—The northernmost station on west coast in 1879 is Island Glass; thence southwards at Dhuheartach, Rhinns of Islay, Lochindaul, Devaar, Corsewall, Mull of Galloway, and Douglas Head. Small numbers recorded in all cases, except at Lochindaul, when about forty passed during the daytime on Dec. 12th, when the wind was variable, light, and the weather clear. The earliest date was Oct. 11th; one killed at Rhinns of Islay at 10 p.m., wind N., light, clear; the latest Dec. 12th. Too few data to fix rushes, except the one in December, which no doubt was directly caused by the severe frosts then recorded; wind N. and W., except on two occasions, on Oct. 7th at Douglas Head, wind E.; and on Oct. 30th at Mull of Galloway, wind E.; and on two others,viz., variable and light, when (in the hard frost) the forty were seen.
Corn Crake,Crex pratensis.—Heard for first time at Lochindaul, June 2nd; at Kyleakin, June 9th, wind S.W., clear; and at Skerryvore, June 20th, wind strong S.E., with fog.
Wild Geese(sp.?).—At Monach Island a flock "mixed old and young" passed south at 10 a.m. on Dec. 13th, wind S.S.W., fresh breeze, with haze; this is the most northerly station noted. Thence southward they were seen at Kyleakin (passing N.W.) at 8 a.m., wind N.W., fresh breeze, and clear weather; also at Sound of Mull, M'Arthur's Head and Devaar. The earliest date is Aug. 17th (passing N.W.), and the latest Dec. 15th (twenty-four passing W., at Sound of Mull). A migratory movement is thus seen to have extended over one hundred and nineteen days. A rush took place on Oct. 20th and 21st, at Sound of Mull and M'Arthur's Head; and again on December 18th, 14th and 15th, at Monach Island, M'Arthur's Head, and Sound of Mullrespectively; the direction of their flight was usually W. or N.W. On Dec. 13th a flock passed S.; most passed with a S., S.S.W. or S.W. breeze, in cloudy or clear weather; in two instances with a N.W. wind. They were observed during daylight.
Wild Swan.—At Devaar on Dec. 11th, six seen at 4 p.m., light airs, with haze; and on Jan. 4th, three were seen flying south, in clear weather, at Rhuvaal lighthouse. We say nothing of the reported occurrence ofCygnus americanuson our coasts, but think the record (p. 111) premature.
Wild Duck.—At Butt of Lewis a Duck was killed on Dec. 1st, at 8 p.m., wind E., light and clear. Others occurred in November and December at Rhuvaal and Devaar. At Rhuvaal, between Nov. 1st and 30th, three or four hundred Ducks passed between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.; wind variable, light, and showery weather. Most of the migration seems to have been observed through the day. In none of the reports are the species identified, being described as either "Ducks" or "Wild Ducks."
Widgeon,Anas penelope.—At Monach Island on Oct. 27th, a few were seen at 12 noon; wind S.S.E., fresh, and clear.
Sheldrake,Tadorna vulpanser.—At Pladda, on May 23rd, six (two males and four females) seen at 1 p.m., wind N.E., light, and haze; remained on the island till the middle of June.
Eider Duck.—At Rhu Stoir on June 30th, two males and two females seen at 11 a.m.; wind S., fresh breeze, showers. At Dhuheartach on Dec. 3rd, twenty seen at 10 p.m.; wind N.E., light, clear. At Devaar on Dec. 13th, twelve seen at 1 p.m.; wind N.N.W., light breeze, haze.
Storm Petrel.—At Butt of Lewis in July, August, and September, an occasional bird at the glass, always at night, always in hazy or rainy weather, generally "haze and rain" together; wind in three out of four instances S.W., and once on July 3rd, W.N.W., stormy. At Rhu Stoir a good many were observed "not on passage" between 17th and 20th Aug. between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., wind N. to E., light, haze and rain; and at Rhinns of Islay on Sept. 17th, one struck at 2 a.m., wind S., light, and haze.
Sea-fowl.—The following notes upon sea-fowl as observed at several stations—notably at Cape Wrath—will, we think, prove interesting:—At Cape Wrath, Mr. M'Gill reports all the sea-fowl as deserting their breeding-haunts there on Aug. 16th, and bothold and young flying westwards. He roughly estimated the numbers which passed within his ken as follows:—300 to 400 Guillemots, 800 to 900 Razorbills, 800 to 900 Puffins, 100 Scarts, and 300 Sea-gulls. This was performed in an east wind, during hazy or rainy weather (see also under Solan Goose), and all left Cape Wrath in one day and about the same time,viz., 10 a.m. The Gulls passed continuously between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Notes from other stations can hardly be considered as applying to anything but local daily migration in search of food, as is constantly witnessed at any rock-bird station on the coast; thus, at Rhu Stoir large numbers passed towards S.W., and are specially noted on June 12th to 15th; also at Kyleakin, a large flock passed southward at 2 p.m., wind S.E. When at the Shiant Isles this summer, at the end of June, I witnessed a regular departure of thousands of Puffins to their feeding-grounds in the Little Minch, about 9 to 10 a.m.
Sea Gulls.—At Cape Wrath on Aug. 10th, three hundred passed west between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.; wind E., haze, and rain. "Sea Gulls bred at the station, and all left on the same day, both young and old. The migration goes all to the west."
Kittiwake,Rissa tridactyla.—At Skervuile on May 31st, two at noon flying north; calm, clear.
Tern.—At Dhuheartach, six seen on the evening of Aug. 27th, wind S., cloudy; and four at the same station on the morning of Sept. 4th.
Birds unknown.—At Portpatrick on July 12th, a flock of small birds passed overhead at 8.30 a.m., wind S.S.E., fresh, and rainy; and on Oct. 13th a flock passed inland at 4.20 p.m., wind S.W., and rain; on Nov. 13th "a flock of birds not known" passed inland, wind E. by N., and clear. At Pladda on Aug. 20th, one Snipe, species not known, at 4 a.m., wind S.E., strong, and haze; and another on Nov. 15th. At Skervuile, on Nov. 14th, a number from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., wind variable, light, and haze; and others on Oct. 7th at Skervuile; "many killed and fell into the sea."
Red-breasted Merganser.—At Corsewall, on July 20th, a "strange Duck" (since identified as a Red-breasted Merganser) was killed at glass at 2 a.m.; wind E., light, with haze.
Solan Goose,Sula bassana.—At Cape Wrath and other stations upon our coasts, an extraordinary annual migration ofSolan Geese is witnessed. Mr. M'Gill has reported to me specially on that of 1879, and kept as accurate a record as possible of the numbers which he estimated to pass westward. He writes as follows:—"The number of Solan Geese that migrate past Cape Wrath is beyond anyone's power to number, but I have come as near to it as possible. The first half of July the flocks were composed of old birds, and the rest of the time they were mixed old and young." Mr. M'Gill then gives the following list of Solan Geese seen passing west on fifteen days, between 14th July and 9th August, which I reproduce here:—
Thus it will be seen that from 2150 to 3080 were estimated to pass westward within view of Cape Wrath, between July 14th and August 9th, during fifteen days occupied on migration. All which were observed passed during the day—say between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.—and apparently in all winds and weather. From the Butt of Lewis Mr. Edgar supplies the general information that the Solan Geese pass the station, arriving first in May, and leaving in the latter end of October, but giving no particulars as to direction of flight. At Mull of Galloway Solan Geese are reported as passing, on July 19th, in flocks. Mr. N. B. Morrison reports as follows:—"Saw them flying past to W.S.W. in wedge-shaped flocks as if on a passage, or changing locality." This was during the forenoon; wind S., light, and haze. "At 1 p.m. it began to rain, and continued for twenty-four hours; rain guage at 9 a.m. of 20th, 1·72 inches. On 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th,very strong breeze, and showers; wind W.N.W. to S.W." Again at same station (Mull of Galloway) flocks continued passing all day; wind S.E., fresh, fog, and rain, flying in same direction. On 8th and 9th, wind S., gale; 10th, wind W., strong. In a later note Mr. M'Gill believes "that the Solan Geese strike the land first at Cape Wrath," and that the Geese which pass it are from Suliskerry.
On the west coast of Scotland, also, many observers make particular mention of the scarcity of autumnal migrants in 1879. At several principal and important stations this scarcity is of course most remarked upon, such as Butt of Lewis, Monach Island, Island Glass, Skerryvore, and Dhuheartach. During long experience at these and other stations, the several observers do not remember such great scarcity of birds during the autumn migration. From other observers' remarks it would appear that several of the west coast stations are not suitable for observations being made, from their land-locked situations or other local influences, such as Kyleakin, Sound of Mull, Corran Ferry, and others.
Many birds are killed at the lanterns of the more isolated lighthouses and are blown into the sea. Thus, in 1877, at Skerryvore, in the month of October, the number of birds killed was six hundred, chiefly the Common and "Mountain Thrush" (Ring Ouzel), but including also Blackbirds, Snipes, Larks, and one Wild Duck. The observer, Mr. W. Crow, was of opinion that about two hundred more were killed and blown into the sea. They came every night from the 1st to the 6th, about 8 p.m., and went away at daylight. "I would estimate," he says, "the number about the light on each of the above nights to be about a thousand." The direction of the wind was from S.S.E. to S., with haze; and no migration of birds was observed during the day. On Dhuheartach lighthouse rock, "two Hawks are seen every morning" while the migration lasts, which come to prey upon the small birds resting on the rock. A considerable flight of migrants took place about Oct. 7th, as upon the east coast.
The direction of the flight of migrants appears to be from east to west at the north coast stations, but from N.W. and N.N.W. to S.W. or S.S.W. at the stations farther south; and this is borne out by previous observations in former years by mywest coast observers at Tyree and elsewhere. Our observers have not usually reported the direction taken by the migrants, but there are enough data to prove the above lines. It would appear, therefore, that birds when passing from east to west often overshoot the land, and are compelled to turn back upon a new course, according to the direction of the wind. In 1878, Mr. W. Boyd (since deceased) wrote regarding the migration in Mull as follows:—"In the month of October I was fishing on Loch Assapol, near Bunessan. Almost every day I saw flock after flock of little birds—Larks, Buntings, Robins, and even Wrens—flying across the loch. All these birds were steering the same course, having apparently come from the outlying Hebrides,viáTyree, Iona, up the Rose of Mull, and were steering for the mainland. Fresh arrivals of different species of Ducks rested and then passed on. Wild Swans and Geese were seen far up in the air, all taking a bee-line for the south." On another occasion Mr. Boyd visited Tyree in December, 1878, and both he and a companion remarked "the extraordinary scarcity of common birds, and the unusual number of winter visitors." One day every Snipe they put up, instead of flying a bit and settling again, rose high in air, and went off due south-east as far as they could see, right across the sea, to Mull. The remark was then made, "The sooner we go south for powder and provisions the better; we are going to have an arctic winter," which, as is well remembered, was a perfectly correct surmise. It will thus be seen that the flights of wildfowl almost invariably are from N. to S. on both coasts, but that the smaller birds—land birds—as they fly lower, are more influenced by the configuration of the coast-lines, and also, no doubt, by the direction of the wind at the time. Our data are at present too scanty to lay down with precision the minutiæ of their lines of flight, but another year's observations will probably greatly assist us. The same rules, as to time of day or night at which birds strike the lantern, holds upon the west coast which also obtain on the east, and the same remarks as to weather also hold good.
The above remarks upon the direction of the flights upon our west coast may prove of value in a comparison with Mr. Cordeaux's notes upon the direction of the flights at the Galloper Bank. We are aware here that birds pass overland on migration, crossing Scotland between the Firths of Clyde andForth, as they have been heard on calm nights crying as they passed over from W. to E., or from points N. of W. to points S. of E.; and day-flights have often been observed passing here from N.N.W. towards S.S.E., or from N.W. to S.W. I would instance here Bramblings,Fringilla montifringilia, natives of Northern Europe. (See Gray's 'Birds of the West of Scotland,' p. 137. The "column" of Bramblings there described as on migration were not "proceeding in a north-easterly direction," however, as stated by Mr. Gray, but were coming from a north-westerly direction, and were proceeding in a south-easterly direction.)
Transcriber NoteMinor typos were corrected. Several quotaion closures were missing and added in the most likely place. Table of Contents added to assist reader.
Transcriber Note
Minor typos were corrected. Several quotaion closures were missing and added in the most likely place. Table of Contents added to assist reader.