[4]"Shot from flagstaff, as seen when ray of light came round and illuminated it."
[4]"Shot from flagstaff, as seen when ray of light came round and illuminated it."
[5]"Great numbers on board in afternoon, and died from exhaustion. The survivors took off along with some Crows, coming from E. and going N.W. (4,B. C.)"
[5]"Great numbers on board in afternoon, and died from exhaustion. The survivors took off along with some Crows, coming from E. and going N.W. (4,B. C.)"
[6]Mr Thomas Littlewood says—" These four species on deck at sunrise too weak to fly."
[6]Mr Thomas Littlewood says—" These four species on deck at sunrise too weak to fly."
Summary and General Remarks.
In January depressions of very considerable size passed by our north-western and northern shores after the 2d, with very sudden changes of temperature of an unusual character and great magnitude; showers of cold rain, sleet, and hail from day to day, and very severe frosts at night. There are very clear indications in the diary of Migration, that the atmospheric disturbances were concurrent with a great rush of birds going south along the coast. Those chiefly noted being Fieldfares, Blackbirds, Thrushes, Redwings, Larks, Chaffinches, Linnets, Starlings, and some Crows.
In the latter part of February and throughout March there are indications of the passage of Crows, Rooks, Daws, Starlings, Larks, and others to the Continent, also in the opposite direction to the S.E. Coast of England. Great numbers of Starlings, Thrashes, and Larks were also observed at the lanterns at night, the particular direction of their flight being not apparent.
A Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) is recorded at the CockleL.V.on March 31st, after which the first actual indication of the Spring migration is the occurrence of. Swifts (Cypselus apus) at the Spurn on April 5th, arriving at 6P.M., and resting on the window sills all night; on the same day at Great Cotes several male Wheatears were seen. The Spring migration of the Wheatear (Saxicola ænanthe) is last recorded at the FarnL.H.on the night of May 30th, several round the lantern; and at the TeesL.V.on June 5th, two to N.W.
Puffins (Fratercula arctica) arrived at their breeding quarters on the Farn Islands on March 30th, a very early date. Continuous flocks with Wild Ducks were seen at the Outer DowsingL.V.on April 12th, going S.S.E.; at the same date a Woodcock was killed at the SwinL.V.The Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is first seen at the GalloperL.V.on April 11th, going N.W. Many at the HanoisL.H., Guernsey, on the same day, with Willow Wrens and Whitethroats. At the ShipwashL.V., Swallows were observed at intervals passing from S.E. to N.W. up to June 4th.
Snow Buntings (Plectrophanes nivalis) were last seen at the Spurn on April 20th. The Cuckoo is first recorded at the Isle of Thanet on April 24th, and the Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla raii) on the 25th.
There appears to have been a heavy rush of the smaller summer visitants on the S.E. coast, from the Isle of Thanet to Hunstanton, at early morning of the 29th of April. A very strongly pronounced movement was also observed at HanoisL.H., Guernsey, on May 2d. The weather, in the first instance, being rainy and unsettled in S.E., and very cold over England with N.E. winds. On the 30th, thunderstorm in S.W. of France, with very cold, unsettled, and rainy weather generally in the south.
Various shorebirds and waders were observed passing down the coast from S. to N., on May 12th and subsequently.A Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) was killed at the CockleL.V.on the night of May 21st; another at the GoodwinL.V.on the night of October 16th.
A Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus) was seen at the LanguardL.H.on February 16th at 7.40A.M.; and from Yarmouth on November 13th is the note, "nice lot of Bearded Tits, are said to have come in at a great height, and from the E."
The autumn movement commenced early in July, but did not become very distinctly pronounced before the beginning of August. One of the most interesting features of the autumnal migration has been the simultaneous occurrences of the Pygmy Curlew (Tringa subarquata) and the Little Stint (Tringa minuta) on the East Coast, between the Tees and Yarmouth. The former species is first recorded from Redcar on August 16th and from the Spurn on August the 23d. The Little Stint in the same locality on the 25th. Both were present there in very large numbers on September 2d, with a S.W. gale. The Pygmy Curlew was seen last on the Norfolk coast on October 8th, and one, Farn Islands, on November 18th.
The Woodcock is first recorded at Seaton-Carew, Durham, on September 19th, and at CromerL.H.on September 25th, from 12.30 to 2.30A.M.(S.E., 4.) Our observer, Mr Comben, says, "never saw so many Woodcock at one time before, there seemed to be a constant stream flying round lantern, none struck." Woodcocks appear to have come in at irregular intervals between September 30th and November 3d. The greatest number perhaps on the 9th, 10th, and 11th of October. Throughout September there was a steady and almost daily increasing migration observed at East Coast stations, but from the 29th and throughout October to November 3d, there was an almost continuous night and day rush of immigrants, the chief of those recorded being Crows, Rooks, Daws, Starlings, Larks, Chaffinches, Linnets, and Sparrows. In fact, during this time much the greater proportion of the entries in the schedules consists of a weary reiteration of these readily distinguished species. The weather during the period of this great invasion was up to the 25th of October mainly anticyclonic, cold, quiet, and dry. The prevailing wind N. and N.-easterly. After the 25th, cyclonic with W. and S.-westerly winds, wet, rough, andmilder. The average temperature of the month was much colder than the corresponding months in the two preceding years. It does not appear that the change of weather and of the wind after the 25th, had any influence on the migratory movements, birds continuing to pour in with undiminished numbers. Indeed, the direction and force of the wind appears to have little to do in controlling these great autumnal rushes, for when the time for crossing the North Sea has come, birds cross independent of weather. It must be admitted, however, that the prevailing wind at the time is an important factor in governing the direction in which migrants travel, and the angle at which the line of flight will intersect the line of coast. To changes of temperature either sudden or gradual, rather than the force and direction of winds, we must probably look for the impelling cause of these seasonal phenomena.
After the 3d and to the 19th of November, birds continued to arrive, but in greatly reduced numbers, the throbs and pulsations of the great inrush becoming daily more feeble and less sustained. After this date to the end of the year, migration was more or less spasmodic, the entries in the schedules being chiefly confined to the occurrences of various birds seen in the vicinity of the stations.
Swans and Grey Geese have been remarkably scarce. Brent Geese (Bernicla brenta) fairly numerous. All accounts agree that it has been an extraordinary Duck year, large numbers of various species frequenting all favourable localities along the East Coast. The Common Scoter (Œdemia nigra) has occurred in enormous flocks, also a fewŒ. fusca. Considerable numbers of the Long-Tailed Duck (Harelda glacialis) have visited the coast from the Farn Islands to Yarmouth.
Amongst the rarer and more interesting species we may notice the occurrences ofTringa temmincki(three) at the Spurn, alsoPodiceps nigricollisat the same place.Anthus richardiat Tetney.Cypselus melba,Recurvirostra avocetta, andTringa maculataat Yarmouth, alsoPandion haliaëtusat the Cromer lighthouse.
It is unfortunate that we do not know more about those smaller night wanderers which are usually entered in our schedules under the general name "Flycatchers" or "various small birds." The wings occasionally forwarded are alwaysvery interesting, and, what is most important, give definite and reliable results. As a rule all these small insect-eating species get lumped together as "Flycatchers," a result not to be wondered at considering the circumstances under which they are seen, helplessly fluttering against the lanterns, or dancing like gnats in the yellow glare. Those "hundreds of Flycatchers," from midnight to 4P.M., seen at the SwinL.V.on the night of April 29th, no doubt represented many species of our small summer visitors, and the Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa grisola) was not seen in the Isle of Thanet before May 4th.