The observers at the various stations are deserving of thanks for the pains they have taken to keep an accurate record of the facts coming under their notice. The reports are all interesting, those which show a paucity of birds equally with those that record the passing of many. Excluding the Anatidæ, notes have been taken of about fifty-two different species.
SEPARATE REPORT ON EACH SPECIES.
Of the Raptores we have heard but little. A male Falcon (Peregrine ?) was seen at Sevenstones Oct. 13th, at noon, flying S.W., before a moderate breeze from N.E.; at Smalls, Oct. 7th, a Kestrel was observed flying round the tower; in Morecambe Bay Oct. 4th, 7.30 a.m., a Sparrowhawk flying from N.N.E., a gentle E.N.E. breeze, rested on board the light-vessel. At St. Bees a hawk or two, we are told, may be seen occasionally; "they build on the cliffs thereabouts."
Owl, Otus brachyotos.—At North Stack, Oct. 13th, an Owl, probably the Short-eared, was seen, at 8.55 a.m., flying S.W., before a mod. N.E. breeze. At Smalls, Oct 15th, a little Horned Owl was observed resting on the rock; Nov. 6th, at 4 p.m., another on the S.E. rock.
Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris.—Distinguished on one or two occasions; possibly some of the notes on "Thrush" may refer to this. From Bishop Rock, Oct. 13th, Fieldfares were seen at 10 a.m. passing W. before a mod. E. breeze. At Smalls, Oct. 15th, from 1 a.m. to daylight. Grey Thrushes were noticed, with Redwings, Starlings, and Blackbirds; breeze gentle to moderate, E.S.E. to S.E. At Air (River Dee), Nov. 7th, "large quantities passed at sunrise."
Song Thrush, Turdus musicus.—Recorded from five stations. At Caernarvon Bay, Oct. 1st, two were killed; hazy. At South Bishop, Oct. 5th, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., a mod. N.N.E. breeze, rain and mist. Thrushes and Blackbirds were passing, and, of the former, seven killed. At Morecambe Bay, Oct. 8th, 10.20 a.m., one Song Thrush passed S.S.W., very tired; a strong N.E. breeze. At Nash (E. or high), Oct. 13th, one was killed; afresh N.N.E. breeze, with mist. At Bull Point, Oct. 14th, 3 a.m., overcast and misty, light air S.S.W., one female is reported as striking. At Caernarvon Bay, Nov. 2nd, a young Thrush and Lark were killed at 9.10 p.m.; gentle E.S.E. breeze, hazy. At Bull Point, Nov. 3rd, two struck at 2 a.m.; fresh E. breeze, clear. At the same time there appears to have been a rush farther south. At South Bishop, Nov. 2nd, from midnight to morning, a fresh S.E. breeze, very misty, a very great quantity of Thrushes, with Blackbirds, Starlings, and Larks, of which many were killed; and, with breeze still S.E., but moderate, continuous flocks of same all day flying towards N.E.; Nov. 3rd, from 9 p.m. to midnight, a gentle E. breeze, rather misty, large quantities, with Larks, Blackbirds, and Starlings (many killed). At Nash (E. or high), Dec. 1st, one was killed; fresh W. breeze, but clear. At Godrevy, Jan. 14th, 12 to 4 p.m., Thrushes were seen, with Lapwings and Starlings: this is the only instance recorded in afternoon, the others being at night, the weather in most cases misty or hazy, and the wind ranging from N.N.E. to S.E.
Redwing, Turdus iliacus.—Separately noticed at one station only—Smalls. Oct. 8th, 7.30 p.m., some were seen among Starlings and Larks, N.E. to E., misty; twenty of the birds killed. Oct. 9th, from midnight to 5 a.m., several, with Larks and Starlings; eleven struck; breeze mod. to strong E. to E.N.E., clear. Oct. 15th, from 1 a.m. to daylight, large numbers, with Starlings, Blackbirds, and Greenfinches. Oct. 29th, one was caught. Nov. 2nd, several, with Sky Larks, Starlings, and Blackbirds; sixteen struck and were caught. Nov. 3rd, three males and five females were distinguished among Blackbirds, Starlings, and Larks. Nov. 5th, one male; mod. N. breeze. Except the first, the instances occurred from midnight to sunrise, with moderate N.E., E., and S.E. breezes, and generally with clouds, mist, or drizzle.
Blackbird, Turdus merula.—Reported from ten stations. The earliest date is Aug. 12th, when one was seen at Scarweather at 1 p.m., mod. S.S.E. breeze; the latest at Skerries, Dec. 4th, when Blackbirds and Snipe appeared, and a few were killed. The one occurrence only is noted in August, and we do not again hear of its appearance till at Skerries, Sept. 27th, 29th, and 30th, when Blackbirds were seen (the two later dates in company with Starlings). At Caernarvon Bay, Oct. 1st, Blackbirds and Thrushes were seen, and two killed; light westerly breeze, hazy. At S. Bishop, Oct 5th, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., N.N.E., rain and mist. Blackbirds and Thrushes struck, and seventeen Blackbirds were killed. At Helwick, Oct. 8th, one was killed. At Caldy, Oct. 10th, one male was discerned flying about the lantern; a mod. E. by S. gale, squally and cloudy. At Bull Point, Oct. 12th, two females struck, but were not killed; a mod. E. breeze, clear; and, on Oct. 14th, one female. At S. Bishop, Oct. 13th, nine were killed, with five Larks. At Helwick, Oct. 14th, one and a Linnet. At. Smalls, Oct. 15th, numbers struck, with Starlings, Thrushes, and Finches; and, at Godrevy, two, with two Starlings and one Thrush, not killed. At Helwick, Nov. 2nd, several killed, with Larks and Starlings; and, from midnight to morning at S. Bishop, a fresh S.E. breeze and very misty, a very great quantity of Blackbirds, Larks, etc. (see Song Thrush). At Godrevy, Nov. 3rd, one struck, not killed. At Smalls, Nov. 2nd, two were seen at midnight; 3rd and 5th six (two males and four females), and one female. At Nash (E. or high), Dec. 1st, one was killed. At Skerries, Dec. 4th, a few. The time of the occurrences noticed, except of the three in report, which were at sunrise, was from midnight to morning, and they took place almost always in cloudy or misty weather, with generally a mod. breeze more or less easterly, viz., N.N.E., through E. to S.S.E. The greatest number of instances noticed is in October, when we have returns from seven stations, but the birds are only seen by ones or twos; they seem to have appeared in numbers from Nov. 1st to 3rd; in December we have only two instances.
Then the Turdidæ have been noticed from Morecambe Bay (from St. Bees we have the general remarks that an occasional Blackbird or Thrush is to be seen) to Godrevy. The movement appears to have been pretty evenly distributed, perhaps to have spread gradually from N. to S., and to have lasted from Aug. 12th to Jan. 14th, being most active from Sept. 27th to Nov. 27th, with a decided rush on Nov. 2nd and 3rd. The direction of flight is seldom given, the notices almost all referring to birds killed or striking. The greatest slaughter occurred at S. Bishop on Nov. 1st, when, of Blackbirds, Thrushes, Larks, and Starlings, 162 were immolated, and on Nov. 3rd 172. The time when the occurrences were observed lies between twilight and sunrise, but is chiefly about midnight, the weather being generally hazy, misty, or overcast, with mod. breezes from E.N.E. through E. to S.E. In the majority of instances the birds were accompanied by others of their own family, or by Starlings or Larks.
Stonechat, Saxicola rubicola.—At Morecambe Bay, Aug. 29th, 4 p.m., moderate breeze E. by S., one came on board. The note is added that it is "very seldom Seen here." This is the only occurrence noted.