Report on the Migration of Birds in the Spring and Autumn of 1882. Fourth Report

by J. A. Harvie-Brown; Richard Manliffe Barrington; John Cordeaux; Alexander Goodman More

Generally the returns are light, lighter than last year.

We have notes upon thirty-two species of land birds from this coast, and about fourteen species of water-birds, whilst the species of Waders or Littoral species may be placed at eight.

The Spring Migration I have kept distinct in this report. Weather notes included in General Remarks.

Here follows the usual list of stations, with asterisks which point out the annual returns from the beginning of the scheme, from each station.

West Coast of Scotland.

Mainland.
1879,	'80,	'81,	'82.
*	*	*		81.	Cape Wrath, Sutherland	400	ft.
*	*	*		82.	Rhu Stoir, W. Cromarty	195 "
Outer Hebrides.
*	*	*	*	83.	Butt of Lewis	170	"	Alex. Thompson
	*	*		84.	Stornoway	56	"
*	*	*		85.	Island Glass	130	"
*	*	*	*	86.	Monach Island	150 " J. Youngclause. 62 "
	*	*		87.	Ushenish	176	"
				88.	Barra Head	683	"
Mainland, Skye, and Inner Hebrides.
				89.	Rona, Sye	222	"
*	*	*	*	90.	Kyleakin, Rosshire	53	"	D. McCulloch.
	*	*		91.	Isle Ornsay, Skye	58	"
*	*			92.	Ardnamurchan, Pt. Argyle	180	"
*	*	*	*	93. Hynish Signal Tower, Tyree 150 " Alx. McEachern. 94. Skerryvore, off Tyree
*	*	*	*	95.	Dhuheartach, S. of Ross of Mull	145	"	John Ewing.
*	*	*	*	96.	Sound of Mull	55	"	W. McLellan.
				97.	Corran Ferry, Loch Eil	38	"
	*	*	*	98.	Lismore Island, Oban	103	"	A. Murray.
*	*			99.	Fladda, Easdale	42	"
*	*	*		100.	Rhuvaal, Islay	147	"
	*	*	*	101.	Mac Arthur's Head	128	"	W. Maill.
*	*	*	*	102.	Skervuile, Jura	73	"	John Ewing.
*	*	*	*	103.	Rhinns of Islay	159	"	Andrew Lyall.
*	*			104.	Lochindaul	50	"
				105.	Mull of Kintyre	297	"
				106.	Sanda, Kintyre Sound	165	"
				107.	Devaar, Kintyre	120	"
				108.	Pladda, Arran	130	"
		*		109.	Lamlash, Arran	46	"
	*	*		110.	Turnberry, Ayrshire	96	"
*	*	*		111.	Corsewall, Wigtown	112	"
*	*	*	*	112.	Loch Ryan, Wigtown	46	"	Ralph Ewing.
*	*	*	*	113.	Portpatrick, Wigtown	37	"	Jas. Beggs.
*	*	*	*	114.	Mull of Galloway, Wigtown	325	"	H. Morrison.
		*		115.	Little Ross, Kirkcudbright	175	"
				116.	Point of Ayr		Isle of Man.
				117.	Douglas Head
				118.	Chickens Rock
				119.	-1880. Bahama Rock L.V.
				120.	Longness L.V.

The last five stations are now placed at the head of the W. of England stations under Mr. P. Kermode. We are sorry to find a falling off in the returns this year and would have liked to know if any reason can be assigned for the same.

We have to thank Mr. McCulloch, at Kyleakin, for the careful records of directions of flight of the species observed. These are important, and a great assistance at arriving at conclusions.

At Skervuile, owing to an accident to his hand, no notes were kept by Mr. Ewing for some time between July and September, but fewer birds were seen than for many years back.

Turdidæ.—In autumn, at Monach, Kyleakin, Skerryvore, Dhuheartach, Rhinns of Islay, Corsewall, Loch Ryan, Mull of Galloway. No records at any stations till Oct. 11th, when three Fieldfares were killed at Monach. An indication of a rush was apparent all through October after that date of Turdidæ and other species, more especially at Rhinns of Islay. Latest records on Nov. 22nd, prior to which date many Blackbirds and Thrushes frequented Corsewall for a week during a covering of snow; therefore probably only a local movement. At Kyleakin Song Thrushes and Blackbirds resided all winter up to January, 1883. In October no great rush observable, but indications of the same migration observable on the E. coast were noticed at Corsewall on the 14th, and at Dhuheartach and Rhinns of Islay on 17th; and a few Blackbirds and Thrushes showed at Skerryvore on 13th. Eight Song Thrushes were killed one night also at MacArthur's Head, and a single male Blackbird was seen in the garden at Monach on Nov. 1st. A rush of "small birds" took place during October, but in no large masses, at MacArthur's Head and Rhinns of Islay, and at Corsewall and southward. Three species of Turdidæ noticed.