Mr. Gätke's Heligoland notes, from June 28th to the end of the year, comprise 118 species, including, as usual, several rare visitors to the ornithological observatory:—Icterine Warblers on Aug. 18th; Anthus richardi, Sept. 3rd to Oct. 12th; A. campestris, Sept. 4th; Carpodacus erythrinus, Sept. 9th; Anthus cervinus, a great many, from Sept. 15th to Oct. 12th; Lanius major, in most unusual numbers, from Sept. 17th to Nov. 4th; Alauda cristata, Sept. 30th and Oct. 1st; Saxicola stapazina (?), Oct. 2nd; Turdus varius, Oct. 3rd, 12th and 23rd, one each day; Emberiza pusilla, Oct. 5th, two; Turdus migratorius, one on Oct. 14th; Fringilla rufescens, our English Redpoll, one on Nov. 22nd. Besides these large numbers of continental species, which are classed amongst the rare and occasional visitants to the British Islands, and whose line of migration is normally far to eastward of these islands, as Emberiza hortulana, Motacilla flava, M. alba, Sylvia suecica, Anthus rupestris, Calcarius lapponicus, Otocorys alpestris, Nyctala tengmalmi, Ruticilla titys, Regulus ignicapillus, and Larus minutus.
The great rush of birds crossed Heligoland during the last fortnight in October, and appears to have come directly across to our eastern shores. Mr. Gätke remarks, under date Oct. 24th, S.E., clear, fine, early rather cold, C. cornix, frugilegus, and monedula, monstrous numbers; cornix and monedula mixed in uninterrupted flight of ten and twelve minutes each, continued with but short interruptions or gaps; width as far as the eye could reach in northerly and southerly directions; and thus from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. Sturnus, "a succession of clouds sweeping past overhead."
Speaking generally of migration during the month of October, "weather exceptionally fine; nearly no curruca; very few rufa; few rubecula, accentor, regulus; and fringilla but small numbers. Thrushes the same; not a single Parus major nor other Tits; Pipits also far below the usual numbers."
"Marvellously many Anthus cervinus, Lanius major and excubitor, and particularly Corvidæ and Starlings. In December, Greenfinches, enormous numbers all the month, more than ever been seen here."
Since the completion of the Report Mr. J. H. Gurney informs me that he has received from Mr. J. Barrett, of the Swin Middle L.V., the wing of a Garganey Teal with the date July 22nd, 1884. Dunlin, March 21st, 1885, and that of a Wheatear with the extraordinary date of Feb. 4th attached.
From the Dudgeon L.V. comes a schedule signed by Mr. T. W. Harrison, the entries ranging from Nov. 10th, 1884, to March 6th, 1885. On Nov. 10th about forty Carrion Crows going from S.E. to N.W.; considerable numbers of Larks on the nights of the 11th and 12th, about twenty being killed; on the 13th, two Woodcocks at 6.40 p.m., N.N.E. 3, misty, one killed; the same night a great rush of Larks, Blackbirds, Fieldfares and Starlings; "Black Crows" and Larks, also a few Thrushes, at intervals through January, all coming from easterly and going in westerly directions. On the night of Feb. 15th, E., Knot, Stint, Lapwing and other birds round the lantern all night. Night of March 4th, E.S.E., Lapwings and Starlings about lantern, and eight of the latter killed; on the night of the 5th, several Carrion Crows between 7 and 12 p.m., three killed. The Dudgeon L.V. is about thirty-five miles east of Skegness on the Lincolnshire coast.
WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND.
Schedules were sent to thirty-four stations as before. We have received returns from fifteen.
Generally the returns are as well filled up as in previous years.