The names of the Reporters are given under "Diary from the Stations."
| Returns in 8 years including 1886. | 1886. Actual returns. | Values. | Feet. | |||
| Shetland. | ||||||
| 6 | * | 4. | N. Unst, | IV. | 230 | |
| 5. | Whalsey Skerries, | II. | 143 | |||
| 6. | Bressay, | III. | 105 | |||
| 6 | * | 7. | Sumburgh Head, | I. | ||
| Orkney. | ||||||
| 7 | * | 8. | N. Ronaldshay, | IV. | ||
| 9. | Start Point. | V. | ||||
| 6 | 10. | Auskerry, | I. | |||
| 11. | Hoy Sound (Low), | V. | ||||
| 12. | Hoy Sound (High), | V. | ||||
| 13. | Cantick Head, | III. | ||||
| 8 | 14. | Pentland Skerries, | I. | |||
| 8 | * | 15. | Dunnet Head, Caithness, | V. | ||
| 16. | Holborn Head, Caithness, | V. | ||||
| 1st | * | 17. | Noss Head, Caithness, | V. | ||
| 18. | Tarbat Ness, East Ross, | V. | ||||
| 6 | * | 19. | Cromarty, East Cromarty, | V. | ||
| 4 | 20. | Chanonry Point, Elgin, | V. | |||
| 21. | Covesea Skerries, Elgin, | V. | ||||
| 22. | Kinnaird Head, Aberdeen, | V. | ||||
| 23. | Buchan Ness, Aberdeen, | V. | ||||
| 1st | * | 24. | Girdleness, Aberdeen, | V. | ||
| 25. | Montroseness, Forfar, | V. | ||||
| 8 | * | 26. | Bell Rock, Fife Coast, | I. | ||
| 26B. | Carr Rock Light-ship, Fife Coast, | ? | ? | |||
| 5 | * | 27. | Isle of May, Firth of Forth, | I. | ||
| 7 | * | 28. | Inchkeith, Firth of Forth, | IV. | ||
| 2 | * | 28B. | Fidra, Firth of Forth, instituted 1886, | ? | ? | |
| 29. | St Abb's Head, Berwickshire, | V. | 224 | |||
Diary from the Stations.
N. Unst.—John Nichol (principal) sends in seven well-filled schedules. Mr Nichol has the following notes: "March, 25th.—I am told the Black Crows were not seen in former years. Although a severe winter time, birds are much earlier seen, also of various kinds. August.—Stormy Petrels do not breed on this rock, but do so among the rocks on shore. Puffins, Razorbills, Tysties, Kittiwakes, and a few Gulls, also one pair of Seapies breed on the rock. Puffins are fewer in number this year than in former times. September.—Much greater movements in September 1886 than has been in former years. I am told that on an island four miles to the west of us Pictarnies breed in great numbers. None ever come near us." Mr J. N. sends one schedule devoted entirely to Solan Geese, and adds the note: "We do not see greater numbers together than twenty at a time, and down to one. General occupation is fishing; but flocks on 11th, 13th, and 14th October were supposed to be migrating right away." Mr J. N. then adds: "Since filling up this schedule (to date of 25th October), have been told that on 29th October three large Swans rested on the Loch of Cliff on their way south. November 5th.—One Eagle shot near Holderswick measured across the wings seven feet. A Woodpecker seen at Baltasound. When fish seem plentiful about the rock, Common Gulls are in abundance; occasionally Herring Gulls and Iceland Gulls, Black-backed Gulls, Common Skua Gull, of which a few breed at Unst. On shore at the Loch of Cliff, throughout the autumn, a Herring Bird, some Plovers, Curlews, Snipes, and Wild Ducks. A few of the latter breed at the Loch of Cliff. At Lerwick, on 10th October, two large flocks of Swans passed over the town, flying in a southerly direction; and one flew very low while near the town. Up to the date of 30th October 1886, no Wren has been seen; should I get one, shall not fail to send it on. One seen on 2 2d November; could not be caught." At date of December 20th, Mr J. N. writes: "All birds have now deserted us. None seen since the 1st December, except in favourable weather, such as are mentioned in the schedule for December 1885, viz.:—Starlings, Sparrow Hawks, Crows, and Gulls. We had no great rushes of birds in the night time this year like last year; but a greater number seen in the day time. On November 18th sixty Bottle-nosed Whales, the largest about twenty-two feet long, were captured at Cullivoe, Unst. Five boats (manned) put off and gave chase. Boats having got to seaward, they were turned for the shore, and were getting well in, when they suddenly turned about and put to sea again. Boats, after a hard struggle, again got the off-side of them, and slowly commenced to shorten the distance between them and the shore. Not until 6 P.M., after six hours' chase, were the boats successful in reaching the 'school.' After the monsters were stranded the scene was very animated, as they lashed the water to foam with their tails in their frantic efforts to get away again. It was not till late at night that killing operations were accomplished. On 24th November sixty whales were exposed for sale, and realised a sum of £119. The number of buyers was limited, but the competition was keen." On January 11, 1887, Mr J. N., in a letter, records the occurrence of one Snowy Owl seen on the summit of Hermann's Hill; and an Eagle, flying high over, came down and gave the shepherd's dogs chase, but sheered off when it saw the shepherd.
Sumburgh Head.—Sends one schedule, but adds: "Birds are very scarce here." Sent me a specimen of a rare bird, which I knew at once to be a specimen of Phylloscopus superciliosus, and which has already been recorded [Proceedings Royal Physical Society, Edinburgh, vol. for 1885-86, p. 298], and was exhibited at a meeting of that Society. Writing in reply to inquiries of mine, under 16th October, to Mr Youngclause, he writes: "I was after a small bird to-day about the dykes, very similar, but it got away."
North Ronaldshay.—John Tulloch. One well-filled schedule, ranging from March 18 to September 15.
Pentland Skerries.—John Gilmour (principal) sends nine heavily-filled schedules. In a letter of 1st October, Mr Gilmour speaks of great numbers of Twites on the island. "Of course they breed here; but I think their numbers have been increased of late, as there is a great flock of them." Later he adds: "I may mention that the Rock Pipit is resident here; and also the Lark, Starling, and Rock Dove are scarcely ever absent from the station." A little earlier—viz., 29th September—Mr G. writes: "The autumn migration is not yet quite commenced, although there have been a few birds seen; but should the wind work round to the east we will likely have a rush. I send you the names of all the birds that bred here this season (1886), viz.:—Stormy Petrel, Puffin, Tern [two species,—J. A. H.-B.], Black Guillemot, Oyster-Catcher, Eider Duck, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Lapwing, Corncrake, Rock Dove, Starling, Lark, Twite, Wheatear, and Rock Pipit. The above are the only species which breed regularly here. The Herring Gull and Grey Crow build some seasons, but not this year. I have heard it said the Snipe breeds also, but I have never seen the nest during the last five years—the time I have been at this station.
"I take little notice of Solans in the schedules, as I may say they have been going past all season in all weathers, and I still see some going east yet (29th September)." (See also under Mull of Galloway, West Coast, visited by Mr G. on his holiday, 16th August to 6th September.) A day-to-day return of Gannets or Solan Geese desired, and a separate schedule devoted to the species.
Writing again on 21st October, Mr G. says: "I again beg to send you two schedules. Since the 4th we have had a great rush of migrants. The prevailing wind being from the east, as soon as it shifted round to the west birds began to leave; but were back again as soon as the wind shifted to east. I send you wings and feet for identification, and will be much obliged by an early reply if I have named the species correctly."[1] Later he has the note: "Solans ceased going east about the end of September; only a straggler seen now and again during this month (October)." Besides the above, Mr Gilmour has many interesting notes, which, however, come to be more easily worked from the schedules into the text under species.
[1] Correctly named:—Blackcap and Great Spotted Woodpecker [Recorded Proc. Roy. Phys. Soc. Edinb., vol. for 1885-86, pp. 298, 299.—J. A. H.-B.]. Also immature Pied Flycatcher, 7th October.