Cypselidæ.—One record only at Sumburgh Head, on Aug. 23rd; light airs N., clear.
Cuculidæ.—We had no entries under this head anywhere on east coast of Scotland in 1881. At Cromarty, Cuckoo first heard, April 4th, light E. breeze, clear; and on June 23rd two Cuckoos were all day on Isle of May, both of which Mr. Agnew secured for the Isle of May collection, and they were old and young. Stated by Mr. Agnew to be very rare on Isle of May. One species. Land Notes.—A Cuckoo was shot on Aug. 30th, at Glasslaw, Bruchlay, Aberdeenshire (vide W. Horn).
Strigidæ.—Earliest July 4th, at Pentland Skerries, one "Horned Owl" (rare). In Sept., at Auskerry, two Short-eared Owls seen at noon, light variable wind; and in October a pair remained at same place three days after 28th. One seen at Pentland Skerries on 12th. Fresh E.S.E. breeze. On Nov. 18th, at Bell Rock, one Long-eared Owl rested on balcony, fresh S. breeze; and on 9th one Short-eared Owl seen asleep in grass on Isle of May, and afterwards shot for Isle of May collection. On Dec. 19th, at Pentland Skerries, one Grey Owl. Probably only two species, but possibly three.
Falconidæ occur in almost every month of the year, but fewer records in spring than in autumn. Many visits are the result of only local migration in search of food; indeed such are the great majority of instances, although these must also come to be distinguished as far as possible from the birds of actual passage. In spring, frequent in February at several stations, always on predatory excursions, notably at insular stations, as Whalsey and Isle of May. In March only two records at some places, and in April two at the same places, both on the same day—the 23rd. At Whalsey a game Hawk rested, apparently much fatigued, wind E. and haze. In May one record on 25th, at Isle of May. In autumn, at Whalsey, Sumburgh Head, Auskerry, Bressay, Pentland Skerries, Bell Rock, Isle of May. Records numerous, though not so great as in 1881. Greatest aggregate in any one month in October. Most numerous at Pentland Skerries and Isle of May. Earliest July 29th, at Isle of May, one small Hawk. Latest through December into Jan., 1883. Rush, if any can be said to be appreciable, in October. Thus, such species as game Hawks, large Hawks, large brown Hawks, dark grey Hawks, &c., appear in the records more abundantly in October than at other times, whilst Sparrowhawks, Merlin and Kestrel appear more frequently at other times. The following species are included, but it would be more satisfactory to obtain specimens:—Kestrel, Merlin, Sparrowhawk (max.), and those mentioned above. On Oct. 12th two Hawks were hunting small birds all night, in the zone of light. Buzzards and Harriers are also probably included.[3]
[3] Difficult to say how many species are intended, but probably at least six.
WATER-BIRDS.
Pelecanidæ.—In spring, in May, at Sumburgh Head, ten Gannets were seen, flying S., at 9.30 a.m., with S.S.E. breeze, and on 4th thirty-five, also flying S., with S.E. breeze. In autumn, at Sumburgh Head, Pentland Skerries and Dunnet Head, observations taken; earliest July 5th, three flying S.E., mod. N.W. at Sumburgh. On 17th, flying E. all day, fresh S. showers. Pass and repass Dunnet Head every day till Sept. 15th in threes and dozens. One species. Other Notes.—From Mr. T. Anderson, S.S. 'Marathon,' Dec. 27th, 1882.—"This has not been a very good trip for observations oh birds, the southerly migration being past; but when off the coast of Portugal, on our way home, I saw from 150 to 200 Solan Geese in company, and occasionally finding a shoal of fish. All their movements were in a northerly direction; when they were done with a shoal 01 fish, they never proceeded S., but always N."
Ardeidæ.—Common Herons: Stragglers at almost all times; most records in autumn. That local migration is principally indicated is seen by the very various directions of flight noted at some stations, often coming from and returning to the same points of the compass. These are given in detail in sixteen schedules and in the ledger from which this report is written. In spring, April 11th, record at Isle of May, one at Sumburgh Head, marked "rare," light S.E. airs; and Herons frequented the shore off and on at Isle of May, from the date of May 1st to the first week in September. On 24th three were seen; these flying N. On June 19th one addition was seen there. In July two recorded, one flying N. on 31st. In autumn, Aug. 16th, at Sumburgh Head, one flying W., light E. airs; on 17th three flying N., light S.E. airs; and on 19th one flying W., light E. airs. In Sept., at Whalsey, on 14th, one flying W., marked "very rare so early," wind N., fresh, and at Cromarty "seen daily since first week in May." At Isle of May on 22nd, in calm and haze, one "screaming as if lost." Then in October we find on different dates Herons recorded as flying in all directions: 13th, "came from S. and returned S.;" 23rd, flying W., wind S.W.; flying S.W., gale S.E., all night at Bressay, when many other species struck unseen; 24th, at Isle of May, flying S., and similar records at various stations all through November. N.B. These ledger entries may be useful later. One species.
Anatidæ.—Wild Geese: In spring, on March 1st, two were seen, flying very fast, 1000 feet in the air, crying loudly, before an E.S.E wind, and settled on the land at Sumburgh Head to rest. A Brent Goose seen at Isle of May on March 20th, and a large flock of Geese flying E. accompanied by Curlews at Isle of May, on April 21st. One Brent ("Sly Goose") at Pentland Skerries, in June (marked "rare"), flying E. In autumn, at Chanonry, Sumburgh Head, North Ronaldshay and Isle of May. Earliest noted, but probably local movement after the birds had taken up their quarters on Aug. 26th, at Chanonry, when 100 Grey Geese were seen, fair S.W., clear. Here the general flight is N. or S., being the "lie" of the Firth; on 28th also 100 seen. Latest records into January, 1883. Bushes imperceptible, but very large flocks are mentioned at Isle of May, on December 23rd and 24th, flying from S.W. to N.E. "Sly Geese" (Brent) are noted on Oct. 14th, at Sumburgh Head; at Isle of May, thirteen Wild Geese, flying W. in a single line, on Oct. 2nd, light S. wind, clear. Two species of Wild Goose. Eider Duck arrived at breeding haunts at Whalsey Head on March 29th; wind N. and haze. At Isle of May twenty-three, about equal male and female, first seen on March 1st, after a gale which had lasted for twenty-four hours from E. to S.E., and which brought over Redwings, Lapwings, Rooks, Hoodies, &c. (see [Turdidæ]). First record at Sumburgh Head is not till April 17th; three seen; fresh E.N.E. wind. In autumn, at Pentland Skerries, continuous flocks flying S.E., mostly females, on Oct. 6th (compare with Report 1881, p. 12). Again, at Sumburgh Head, three (the first seen), on Nov. 5th, fresh W.; and at Pentland Skerries, on 22nd, a flock, mixed male and female, flying S.; and on 28th a large flock, mostly males, about the rocks all day. Of other Ducks scattered records only: a few Teal, seen on March 1st, at Isle of May; at Pentland Skerries, Sept. 3rd; and seven on pools on Island, on Dec. 6th. Grey Ducks (probably Scaup or Pochard) at Chanonry, where some 400 flying W. were noted. The records of Anatidæ not so voluminous this season as last; three or four species. On March 23rd fifteen White Swans came from S., rested on the sea at Sumburgh Head, and flew on N.; wind fresh, S.W. breeze. Again at same place. Swans flying N. and crying loudly on April 10th. On May 9th one was shot at same place. It alighted in a vöe three miles from station, and was no doubt a weakly bird so late in the spring; fresh S.S.E. In autumn, records at Sumburgh Head, N. Ronaldshay, Chanonry, and Isle of May. Earliest Sept. 18th, at Chanonry, when six were seen; light S.W. and cloudy. At same place, two on 25th and ten on 26th; haze and rain, variable and light N.E. In November, six flying W. at N. Ronaldshay, strong N.E. and snow. In December four seen at N. Ronaldshay, fresh E., and on 28th two seen at N. end of Isle of May. Note.—Look out always for two sizes of Wild Swan—the large Common Wild Swan and the lesser Bewick's Swan. If together the two species are easily distinguishable. Land Notes.—Brent Geese unusually abundant on the Tay this year, 1881-82 (P. D. Maloch).
Columbidæ.—Note.—We had no records of Pigeons on E. coast last season, 1881. This year we have them both in spring and autumn. We would like to know if all records of "Wood Pigeon" are strictly correct, and if no veritable Stock Doves passed on migration.[4] In spring, at Bell Rock, on April 9th, one "Wood Pigeon" struck and was killed at 10.30 p.m., light S.S.E.; and at Isle of May one struck and was killed at 2 a.m., light S.E. Again, on May 22nd, one seen at Isle of May, S.E. clear; and on 29th one, at 6 p.m., seen flying S., light W., clear; and on June 28th one again, at Isle of May, at 3 p.m., light E., fog. In autumn, on Sept. 26th, at Isle of May, one, light S.E., hail and rain; and Nov. 2nd, at Isle of May, one flew S., after coming to the light; and on 26th another was seen. At Pentland Skerries one rose off the island and flew W., gale from S.E. In December, Wood Pigeons occurred at Isle of May under the following circumstances and dates:—On 3rd, one; on 6th, thirteen flying S., severe snow-storm; on 12th, thirty, light W. wind, thick fog; on 13th, fifty-one in lighthouse garden, eating ravenously; severe snow-storm from the 6th to 9th, and hard frost until 16th; on 14th-15th, hundreds seen. A rush caused by local stress of weather, or they may have come directly across seas. (Note.—I have elsewhere noted the arrivals of Wood Pigeons from Norway, as seen by me on the Fifeshire coast, and the S. trend of their flight, as soon as they came over the land; and I have given the above records in detail, as I think they will be useful again.) Besides Wood Pigeons, I have two records of Rock Doves,—one at Pentland Skerries, seen flying N., with light S. wind, at 3 p.m., on Nov. 8th; and one on Dec. 1st, at midnight, at Dunnet Head, fresh S.S.E., thick haze and rain; probably only local movements. Two species recorded. Land Notes.—About a dozen "Small Pigeons," which "may," Mr. Garrioch thinks, "have been Wood Pigeons," were seen in the Island of Yell at the end of October, and from other quarters. Mr. Garrioch was informed of flights of "strange birds seen from the off-lying islands flying off in a southerly direction."