Redbreast, Erithacus rubecula,—At Heligoland, from Sept. 9th to Oct. 9th, great numbers passing over island. At Coquet L.H., Sept. 10th and 16th, 10 a.m., one each day. Oct. 23rd, 5 p.m., one caught on glass. Dec. 28th, noon, one. At Whitby L.H., Sept. 27th, 10 a.m., a large flock of small birds containing many Robins remained a few hours and then went S. At Hunstanton L.H., Sept. 5th, one. At Northrepps, Norfolk, Oct. 14th and 15th, many noticed, evidently immigrants. At Hanois L.H., Guernsey, Aug. 14th, midnight. Redbreasts with many other birds, some killed.
Bluethroat, Ruticilla suecica.—At Heligoland, Sept. 9th, E., fine, several; 17th, N.E., wind, much rain, many.
Redstart, Ruticilla phœnicurus.—At Heligoland, Aug. 12th and 13th, young birds. Sept. 3rd, 11 a.m., N.W., great many; 8th, many; 9th, great many; 16th, many, about half old birds; 17th, enormous numbers, same; 25th and 26th, many. At Longstone L.H., Sept. 15th, several on reef. At Farne Inner L.H., Sept. 15th, many "fly-catchers" with Wheatears (see notes, Flycatcher, M. grisola). At Teesmouth, many amongst the bents which grow upon the Tees breakwater early in September (not previously noted in this locality). At Flamborough, last week in August, great many. At Spurn, Sept. 3rd, many, left to a bird night of 3rd. At Northrepps, Aug. 30th and 31st, "swarming." At Yarmouth, large numbers first week in September. At Shipwash L.V., Aug. 30th, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., large numbers to W.N.W. The immigration of this species is very interesting from the large and unusual numbers which can be traced along the east coast from the Farne Islands to the Shipwash L.V., off the mouth of the Thames. They arrived along the entire length of the coast during the latter part of August and early in September. At the Shipwash L.V., the most southern station, they were going W.N.W., and at all other stations, after touching land, evidently followed the coast-line to the south. The migration was confined very closely to the coast, the birds going but a short distance inland. In nearly every case they migrated in company with or at the same time as the Wheatear.
Stonechat, Saxicola rubicola.—At Heligoland, Aug. 11th, young. Sept. 3rd, 11 a.m., great many; 9th, same. Oct. 1st, 2nd and 3rd, old birds.
Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra.—At Heligoland, Aug. 23rd, great many young birds, the first of them; 24th, also great many. October, first week, old birds. Mouth of Deben river, Suffolk coast, Nov. 1st.
Wheatear, Saxicola œnanthe.—At Heligoland, July 5th, small flights, young birds; 24th, same. Sept. 16th, great many, about half old birds. At Farne Inner L.H., Aug. 10th, several. Sept. 15th, forty to fifty. At Teesmouth 5 Buoy L.V., Aug. 30th, 10 a.m., fog, two came on board. Sept. 10th, great many Wheatears from S.E., and "several small birds of a dark green colour" (Redstarts?), some on deck. At Teesmouth, Sept. 10th, an unusually large number along the banks between Hartlepool and Sneaton Snook, also Redstarts. At Flamborough, last week in August, in great numbers, with Redstarts. At Spurn, Sept. 3rd, with some Redstarts. Oct. 27th, last seen, an old bird. At Great Cotes, September, first fortnight, very great many. At Northrepps, Aug. 30th and 31st, great numbers and Redstarts. Altogether there was a very large immigration on the east coast from the Farne Islands to Yarmouth the last week in August and early in September.
Saxicola deserti, Rupp.,[7] a fine old male, in perfect summer plumage, occurred at Heligoland on June 23rd, wind W., calm, warm. Saxicola leucura, Aug. 11th, E., fine, one, undoubtedly, but not shot.
[7] It is worthy of note that on the same day a fine example of Papilio podalirius, the scarce Swallow-tail, was taken on the island. This butterfly was added to the British list on the authority of Haworth, but no authenticated British specimen is known: its occurrence on Heligoland adds to the probability of its capture in England, [Saxicola deserti also occurred at Alloa, in Scotland, on Nov. 28th, 1880.—J.A.H.B.]
Sylviidæ.—Of the small warblers, Hypolais icterina, a fine male occurred in Heligoland on June 3rd; the same day some Willow Wrens and one Sylvia viridanus, a fine female, shot in Mr. Gätke's garden, making the third Heligoland example. On July 13th, Whitethroats; 24th, young Willow Wrens. On Aug. 24th, great many, also some Whitethroats and Garden Warblers; 27th, Willow Wrens in less numbers, and again in increased numbers on Sept. 3rd; on the 9th Chiffchaffs commenced migrating, also a great many Willow Wrens and Whitethroats came; on the 15th, forenoon, Willow Wrens and Sedge Warblers, great many in potato-fields; again, on 16th, S.E., calm, sunny, warm, Willow Wrens, Chiffchaffs and Garden Warblers, great many, less numbers of Blackcaps; 17th, Willow Wrens, Chiffchaffs and Garden Warblers, less of the latter; 25th, westerly. Willow Wrens, and great numbers of Chiffchaffs, Garden Warblers, Blackcaps and Whitethroats; the same day, P. superciliosus, one fine bird shot; besides this a large Phylloscopus, with very conspicuous wing-bar, was seen. Again, on the 26th, another P. superciliosus, and in the evening many Chiffchaffs, Garden Warblers and Blackcaps; 27th, Chiffchaffs, Garden Warblers, Blackcaps and Whitethroats; 28th, some Chiffchaffs; 30th, Chiffchaffs, Garden Warblers, one P. superciliosus seen, a grey Phylloscopus seen, tristis ? Some more Chiffchaffs, with many other birds, Oct. 8th, and one P. superciliosus; Chiffchaffs again on 9th, 10th and 11th; 13th, Willow Wrens, great numbers all this latter time also. After the middle of October the migration of the Sylviidæ appears to have ceased. At Flamborough a Willow Wren was caught on the morning after the great storm on the night of Oct. 28th, and at Spurn on morning of 28th a female Blackcap was shot by Mr. W. Eagle Clarke.
Golden-crested Wren, Regulus cristatus.—At Heligoland, Sept. 9th, great many, first comers; 25th, some; 27th, 29th and 30th, some. Oct. 4th, great many; 5th, also many with some R. ignicapillus, Fire-crested Wrens, first comers; 8th, great many Golden; 11, also great many; 22nd, daily some. At Longstone L.H., Oct. 22nd, one. At Farne Inner L.H., Sept. 15th, 9 a.m., E.N.E., six. Oct. 12th and 13th, several all day. At Coquet Island L.H., Oct. 14th, N.W., one. Nov. 9th, 11 p.m., N.W., gale, one caught on glass. At Flamborough L.H., Oct. 8th, hundreds seen. At Spurn L.H., Sept. 15th, E.N.E., first seen. Oct. 5th and 7th, plentiful; 15th, about a dozen, one caught; 17th, several; 26th, one seen. At Hasbro' L.V., Oct. 17th, 3 p.m., E.S.E. to W.N.W., two. At Cockle L.V., Aug. 18th, one caught on deck. Oct. 9th and 18th, one each day also. On Suffolk coast, mouth of Deben, Nov. 1st, Goldcrests. At Kentish Knock L.V., Oct. 1st, one; 10th, two on board. At Shipwash L.V., Sept. 1st, 6 to 8 p.m., large numbers to N.W. Dec. 8th, 10 a.m., flock to W.S.W. At Hanois L.H., Aug. 14th, o.m., N., Goldcrests, some killed. First observed at the Guernsey lighthouse, Aug. 14th; last at Coquet Island, Nov. 9th. Migration extending over eighty-eight days.