In Autumn.—Goldcrests numerous on October 24th at Isle of May; and numbers at Pentland Skerries, from 17th to 27th, all day long. Seems to have been pretty general, as it is spoken of at Noss Head, also on 24th; at Inchkeith, in small numbers, 7th, 8th, and 9th (light E. breezes). Numbers all day on Fidra on 8th October, and also at Sumburgh Head on 7th and on 20th, and at Girdleness on the 21st. Numerous at Isle of May up to 30th.
"Chiffchaff"—a solitary record of one at Isle of May on 27th August. A great number (rush) of Willow Warblers at Isle of May on 1st September—light W., fog—along with Sedge Warblers. "Chiffchaff" is also recorded from North Unst by Mr Charles Youngclause—light N.E., haze—a single bird. Numbers again of "Chiffchaffs" at Isle of May on 19th. Those who have their doubts about the occurrence in any number of the Chiffchaff (vera) can read the above together with the entries of Willow Warbler.
The migration of Phylloscopinæ is thus compressed into October, with one rush in September of Willow Warblers, which appears to have been preceded by one example of "Chiffchaff" four days before. In preceding spring very pronounced on 18th and 19th May at same station, Isle of May, of Willow Warblers.
Accentorinæ.—Hedge Sparrows.—Spring.—Only two records on 12th April at Isle of May (resident all winter); and at Pentland Skerries on 19th, two—S.E., haze; and on 18th May, at Isle of May, a brood of young "now flying." In Autumn—only record at Pentland Skerries, one seen all day—light S.W.; "seldom seen here."
Acrocephalinæ.—Sedge Warbler.—No spring notice. In Autumn—only two in August at Isle of May. Sedge Warbler, one, on 20th—calm, clear; and on 23d, two—light S.E. wind; but large numbers (in company with Willow Warbler rush) at Isle of May on 2d September. The Willow Warbler rush came on the 1st, the Sedge Warblers on the 2d; the former at 2 A.M. of that day—light W., fog; the latter at 11 A.M. of the next day—light W., and clear.
Troglodytidæ.—Wren.—Nests on Fidra. No spring records.
In Autumn.—At Dunnet Head two—strong W. breeze—"young birds," on 31st August. And at Inchkeith, Firth of Forth, one caught on lantern, wind light south. [The above are the only records in August,—what connection appears again between N. of Caithness and Firth of Forth?—J. A. H.-B.] No more movements on record till October. "Great numbers" at Isle of May on 21st and 24th. No other records, except at Pentland Skerries—a single bird on the 28th. Latest record, one bird at N. Unst on 22d November.
The above notes tend to accentuate, along with many other parallelisms, what we already consider the chief routes across Scotland (see last Report, p. 23).
Motacillidæ.—Wagtails.—In Spring.—Earliest record is on 24th March of Wagtails at Isle of May, two seen—light to fresh S.E., and haze. A few scattered records in April, on 13th and 19th, at Pentland Skerries. One record at N. Ronaldshay on 6th May, and one on 20th at Pentland Skerries. Nests found on Fidra, 15th June. Whereas in 1885 Report Wagtails were recorded in every month except July, this season we find all the following blank of records:—February, March, April, July, November, and December (see Autumn).
In Autumn.—Records bulk largest in September, both in number of records (6) and bulk of numbers (rush of old and young on 3d and again on 15th at Isle of May, and a few from 8th to 11th at Pentland Skerries, and a few from 8th to 9th resting all day at N. Unst). Again in October, a few (5) records of smaller numbers, 3d to 24th, at N. Ronaldshay, Pentland Skerries, and Isle of May.