Notes have been kept upon about 25 species of waterfowl and about 50 species of land birds by our reporters on the east coast. Spring migration I have not kept distinct in this Report. Obituary at each station, inappreciable at Scottish stations, will be noticed where necessary under General Remarks.
Owing to Mr. T. Anderson having been almost entirely sailing to and fro in the Mediterranean, I regret that I can show no returns this year from Mid-Atlantic, which is to be regretted, as it would be instructive to learn what are the results of a contrary prevailing wind to that of 1880. Possibly, however, Mr. R. Gray may yet be able to give us some returns of interest culled from the Mediterranean log, which may raise other points of interest.
The following short notes on weather are compiled from the 'Times' Register for 1881, and checked by my own schedules:—A sudden change of temperature at the beginning of August, colder by about two degrees than July. Rainfall excessive over all Scotland, except northern half where it was less than average; cold and wet all August, about six degrees colder than corresponding period of 1880. Prevailing wind W., seldom veering to E., until Aug. 23rd; thereafter in Scotland prevailing E. and N.E.; on Aug. 31st N. winds prevailed, N.E., and continued till about Sept. 6th; thereafter W. and N.W. till 16th; then S. and S.E. till 21st; from 22nd to 24th E.; 24th to 30th S. to W.; Oct. 1st to 10th S.; 10th to 13th strong W.; 14th gale from E., and continued E. and S.E. to end of month. S.E. to S. strong winds and gales, or light from Nov. 1st to 11th; S.W. strong and a gale 15th and 16th; frost on 17th; 22nd S. to S.W. and W., heavy gales in N. and W. Unsettled, with frequent changes of wind and weather, many W. gales till end of month, and till Dec. 8th. N. and E. on both coasts from Dec. 9th to 12th, S. on 13th, and S. and W. on 14th; S. and W. till 20th, when E.; and W.N.W. on 21st. Prevailing W. and S.W. till end of month.
Notes.—Prevailing winds at the time of the rush of Falconidæ were W., veering from S.W. to N.W. in Aug.; after 23rd E.; on and after Aug. 31st till Sept. 6th N. At XIV., on Aug. 19th, a Sparrowhawk was seen sitting on the ground, and almost daily for some time after. The nearest breeding-place I know of is at Tongue, N. Sutherland; wind at the time was light S., and weather clear. No doubt it is difficult to discriminate often between local and general migrations of Hawks by our data; thus at XIV. also, on Aug. 23rd and 24th, a Sparrowhawk was seen flying south on the former date, and N.E. on the latter; on the former date the wind was light S., on the latter N.E.; this would therefore appear like a local migration.
The only addition to the list of stations is Fair Isle, No. 7 b.
In all spring records the numbers of stations begin at the most southerly, or with the higher numbers. In all autumn records the numbers of stations begin at the most northerly, or with the lower numbers. The maximum station, or station sending most returns of the species, is indicated when thought necessary.
Turdidæ.—Autumn: Records at Sumburgh Head, Pentland Skerries, Girdleness, Bell Rock, and Isle of May (maximum). Earliest at Isle of May, Sept. 22nd; latest at Sumburgh Head, Dec. 8th. Rushes at Isle of May, Sept. 22nd to 30th (see notes infra); also Oct. 20th. Redwings and female Blackbirds migrating between 14th and 24th. Great S.E. gale on 14th. At Pentland Skerries, Fieldfares, Thrushes, and Blackbirds, Nov. 5th and 6th, flying N.E. all day; also smaller rushes at Sumburgh Head, Dec. 1st to 8th. Time of day: Mostly daytime, but night of 13th to 14th at Bell Pock. "Storm burst at 10.10 a.m. on 14th." Notes: A great rush of migrants took place at the date of 22nd to 23rd Sept. at Isle of May (station 27), but no corresponding rush is recorded at Bell Rock (station 26). At Isle of May it continued all day. The weather was thick haze, approaching to fog, with a continuous downpour of rain; wind S.E. "All the birds seen to-day appeared perfectly bewildered." The following species occurred on 22nd alone: Thrushes, Redstarts, one Robin, one Blue-throated Warbler (C. Wolfi), Swallows, Chaffinches, one Nightjar (the first ever captured or seen here, and sent to me along with the Blue-throated Warbler and others), one Corn Crake (seldom seen here). Golden Plovers (large flock), Ringed Plovers, Lapwings, "rush" of Curlews, two Snipe, Sandpipers and Waders, and Dunlins. This great migration continued more or less all the latter part of September at this locality, during which time there appeared Yellow Buntings, Bramblings, Wheatears (or Stonechats), Pipits, and Wagtails; numbers of Robins on 23rd. N.B. Later in the report under these species I will refer back to this note.
Saxicolinæ.—Spring: Bell Rock, and Whalsey Skerries. Wheatears. Earliest at Bell Rock, April 14th; latest at Bell Rock, May 2nd. Rush on May 2nd, at Bell Rock. General Notes:—Accompanied by many other species not recognised; on that day also a large bird struck, rebounded, and fell into sea.—Autumn: Whalsey Skerries, Sumburgh Head, Pentland Skerries, Bell Rock, Isle of May, and Inch Keith. Wheatears. Earliest at Sumburgh Head, Aug. 14th; latest at Pentland Skerries, Sept. 30th. Rushes scarcely appreciable, Aug. 22nd and 28th, at Whalsey Skerries, Sumburgh Head, and Pentland Skerries; and Sept. 24th and 30th, at Pentland Skerries, Isle of May, and Inch Keith. Rushes at Pentland Skerries on several dates. Besides Wheatears, Redstarts. Earliest at Isle of May, Aug. 22nd; latest at Isle of May, Sept. 22nd. Whinchats (or Blue Janets), also at Isle of May, Sept. 21st. Prevailing winds E. and S.E. General Notes (see under [Turdidæ]).
Sylviinæ.—Spring: Robins at Cromarty and Montroseness; only two records. Earlier at Cromarty, March 20th, but left same date; later at Montroseness, April 14th, flying about rock.—Autumn: Tarbat Ness, Cromarty, and Isle of May. Robins. Earliest at Cromarty, Sept. 16th, and were the first seen since March 6th (see Spring); latest seen Dec. 15th. At Tarbat Ness first seen Oct. 10th. Rush Sept. 22nd and 23rd, at Isle of May (see Notes under [Turdidæ]); also Oct. 21st, at Isle of May ("appear to be very small specimens.") Mr. Agnew preserved one for me in spirits on Dec. 15th, but whether one of these small specimens I cannot as yet say. N.B. Spanish examples are known to be very much smaller than British (vide Howard Saunders and H. E. Dresser).
Phylloscopinæ.—Autumn: Gold Crests at Sumburgh Head, Tarbat Ness, and Isle of May. Earliest at Tarbat Ness, Sept. 10th (two seen); latest at Isle of May, Sept. 27th. Rush, a small one, Oct. 24th, 25th, and 27th, at Isle of May. General Remarks:—Mr. Agnew says, "I expect more," but no more appeared in his later schedules. A general movement of this species appreciable also about Sept. 10th to 18th.