At Turnberry (S. of Clyde) records date 2d, 3d, 5th, 6th, and 18th, but all are quite light, and no rush whatever is apparent on 5th and 6th October, only records of one, two, three, or four Thrushes, Blackbirds, and Ring Ouzels being entered.
At Corsewall (S. of Clyde), 2d and 3d of Thrushes (only three or four each time), but "great rush" of Blackbirds on 5th, and of the latter single records on 23d and 29th. Winds as generally—easterly. [Note.—Thus routes of Blackbirds and Thrushes appear to have been rather different in 1886. Compare with reports from other stations.—J. A. H.-B.]
At Mull of Galloway.—Bush indicated pretty distinctly, and striking all night of 5th, mingled with a few Blackbirds, some of which were killed at light. Large flocks seen all day of 6th. Dropping in up to 28th.
At Little Boss, on 3d October, four Thrushes—S.E., fresh—three killed; haze.
So much for the October rush at all stations yielding returns; and we have enlarged upon items here as illustrative of the whole general character of the autumn migration of 1886.
In November, migration of Thrushes (vera) almost nil. Solitary returns on 24th from Skerryvore, and from Turnberry and Little Boss. But a few more records of Redwing, Fieldfare, and Blackbird at same station. In December one single Thrush on 8th at noon at Dhuheartach; and a few Blackbirds and Redwings on 17th, 18th, and 20th at Rhinns of Islay. No returns of Turdidæ S. of Clyde. No returns of Turdidæ anywhere in January 1887.
Saxicolinæ.—Wheatears (often called "Stonechats;" a name more correctly applied to another species of the group), Stonechat (a small bird having the head black in the male and dark-brown in the female), Whinchat, Redstart, etc.
In Spring, Stonechats (?) arrived at Rona, Skye—[no doubt these are Wheatears; but it is hard to say in all cases which are intended.—J. A. H.-B.]—on the 24th March, and on same date at Skervuile—S.S.E. breeze, hazy; also on the same date at Turnberry. On 4th of April, one pair arrived to breed at Rhinns of Islay, followed by several pairs on the 5th and 6th, which remain to breed. On 30th April, and one or two other dates, straggling birds seen at Dhuheartach, and again at Turnberry.
In Autumn.—Wheatears are recorded by name (correct name) at Butt of Lewis and at Little Ross; and what are also all probably Wheatears, but called (erroneously) Stonechats (see also last Migration Report, p. 100), at Rona, Skye, Dhuheartach, Turnberry, and Mull of Galloway, all on dates between 18th and 31st August. Rushing on 21st and 22d South of Clyde, continuing all through September, with a rush at Skerryvore; but only two at Dhuheartach on 13th. Migration continued up to, but not beyond, the 7th October, and participated in the rush of 5th and 6th at Skerryvore, and also at Skervuile, thus apparently taking a different route from that chosen by the Thrushes (see antea, Turdidæ). The only other species mentioned are a few Whinchats; a Redstart at Dhuheartach on 23d May, three ditto at Mull of Galloway on 27th August, two ditto at Little Ross on 13th September, and one ditto at Skerryvore on 6th October.
Silviinæ.—Robins, Blackcap, Blue Throated Warbler, Whitethroat, "Redbreast."—In Spring, two records only, at Rona, Skye, and Skervuile on 24th and 25th March. [All through this Report there seems to be a similarity of dates of occurrences at these two stations, even in single records. Why they should apparently be so much in touch with one another is not easily understood at present; unless it is simply similarity of positions affecting local migrations in a similar way.—J. A. H.-B.]