The marked feature of 1886 has been the number of legs and wings forwarded—numbering about one hundred—cut from birds killed striking the lanterns. In some cases specimens were received in the flesh; and it is to be hoped that in all cases of rare birds this will be done in future. Generally speaking, the legs and wings can be identified with certainty, and they have been all carefully preserved for reference. Any doubts which may exist about a species will be removed if the light-keepers send a leg and wing of every bird killed striking, with the schedule, in the envelopes provided for this purpose.
The stations sending most specimens were the Tuskar, Rockabill, and Mine Head; but they were also received from eleven others. The rarities received were numerous. Mr Thomas Fortune sent the second Irish specimen of the Wryneck from Arran Island, N., Co. Galway, killed striking at 2 A.M. on October 6th. The first specimen was shot at Dunmore, Co. Waterford, October 5th, 1877. From Mr Francis Ryan, of the Tearaght, Co. Kerry, only four wings and legs were received; but two of these proved rarities, one belonging to the Pied Flycatcher, caught at lantern September 21st, and the other to the Reed Warbler, found dead October 4th. Both species had only once before been recorded from Ireland. The Pied Flycatcher occurred at Ballina, Co. Mayo, in April 1875. The Reed Warbler is said to have been shot near Dublin on December 21st, 1843, but no specimen exists. Another leg and wing of the Pied Flycatcher, killed striking October 5th, was sent by Mr George Dunleavy from the Fastnet, Co. Cork. From Coningbeg light-ship, Co. Wexford, a leg and wing of the Reed Warbler was forwarded by Mr Patrick Cullen and Mr William Clydesdale. It was killed striking October 4th, the same date as the Tearaght specimen.
These three species—Wryneck, Pied Flycatcher, and Reed Warbler—are examples of birds which breed in Great Britain, and have only been met with in Ireland during the autumnal migration, except the Pied Flycatcher, which once occurred in April. All the birds were observed on the south or west coasts.
Taking the other legs and wings in order. The Missel Thrush was sent from the Tuskar, being the only specimen yet received. A male and female Redstart were sent from Rockabill, Co. Dublin, by Mr Joseph Hammond, having been obtained on April 24th and May 9th respectively. The Redstart has quite recently been discovered to breed in Ireland, at Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow. The Black Redstart was received from the Fastnet, Co. Cork, found dead October 30th. It is recorded at four other stations on the south coast. Its regular occurrence in the south and east of Ireland has been established by this inquiry. On July 10th a "Blackstart" is reported at Rockabill, Co. Dublin; but no specimen having been sent, this unusual date requires confirmation. The Whinchat, which is in Ireland a local bird, was killed striking Coningbeg lantern on May 7th. Several Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats were received from Rockabill, the Tuskar, and other stations. A rush took place on May 9th. These Warblers were not previously recognised—"Tits," "Wrens," "Flycatchers," and "Sally-pickers" doing duty for them, and other allied species. The Grasshopper Warbler (rare and local in Ireland) was obtained at the Tuskar, having been correctly identified by Mr Richard Hamilton, from a copy of Morris' "British Birds" supplied to that station by the Irish Lights Board. The Blackcap was killed striking on Eagle Island, off Mayo, as late as October 31st, the leg, wing, and head being forwarded by Mr Daniel Hawkins. A fine old male Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla Raii) was killed at the Tuskar on May 3d. It is rare and local in Ireland, occurring on the east and south coasts. The wing and leg of a Skylark, caught striking at Mine Head on 26th February, was of a much paler colour, and had shorter toes than the ordinary form. A very large leg and wing of a Skylark was received from Arklow South light-ship, killed October 28th. The October immigration of the Chaffinch was evidenced by the production of legs and wings, and extended to the lighthouses, several miles from land, off the west of Ireland. A Turtle Dove was received from the Tuskar in May, and some entries of "Doves" in the autumn, which have been placed under the heading "Pigeons," are perhaps referable to this species. The repeated occurrence of the Corncrake, several miles from shore—killed striking against lanterns between 100 and 200 feet above the sea-level—must satisfy the sceptical that this bird can fly long distances and at a high level with great power and velocity. The Water Rail, which seems so unwilling to fly, was received from the Fastnet and Tuskar, and the Water Hen from Rathlin O'Birne, both having been killed striking on 26th and 28th October. The first two stations are seven or eight miles from the nearest land, and the last, two miles. The Water Hen is stated by Mr Macginley of Rathlin O'Birne to have struck "with tremendous force" at 11.30 P.M. This lantern is 116 feet over sea.
The words "Sand Larks," and "Sea Larks," so vague, and signifying almost any of the smaller Sandpipers, is now better understood by the production of legs and wings—those of the Curlew Sandpiper, Purple Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, and Turnstone having been sent. A leg and wing of the Fork-tailed Petrel was forwarded from Eagle Island, W., off Mayo, caught at lantern in second week of October.
An egg of this species is recorded to have been found on the Tearaght, Co. Kerry (Zoologist, 1886, p. 367). Most of the legs and wings were obtained at the autumnal migration. The autumn rush of Thrushes, Starlings, Blackbirds, and Larks took place October 20th to 28th, on the E. and S.E. coasts, there being little evidence of it on the W. coast. From 27th February to 1st March another great movement took place on the S.E. coast, and again about March 27th. At the N.W. stations a great rush of Fieldfares, Blackbirds, Thrushes, and Starlings occurred December 17th and 24th, under the influence of a sudden pinch of cold. The Fieldfares were noticed in great numbers at Innishtrahull, a rocky islet six miles north of Donegal. Mr M. S. Kennedy "never saw the like." There was snow, with a very strong wind. At Rathlin O'Birne (West Donegal) immense flocks of birds—Starlings, Thrushes, and Fieldfares—passed west December 18th to 23d. The nearest land to the west of this rocky island is America, and one is puzzled to know where the birds were going; but this is not an isolated occurrence—the westerly flight of land birds at stations off the west coast of Ireland has been noticed on other occasions. The movement is apparently as reckless as that of the Lemmings. The Ring Ouzel is again stated to have been seen in the winter (January 15th) at Mine Head. It is strange that not a single leg and wing of the Grey Linnet, or the Twite (birds, doubtless, included under the name of "Linnets"), has yet been received. They seem rarely to strike. There are two or three instances of the Golden Plover having been killed striking in 1886. The "Cream-coloured" Gulls seen off Blackrock, Mayo, November 5th, and also seen in August 1881, April and May 1882, and October 11th, 1884 (see Report, 1884, p. 181), were probably Iceland Gulls. The Gannet is well known to every light-keeper, and its movements are not likely to be confounded with any other bird. The entries, therefore, under it may be examined with confidence. Species which are ill-defined, or named with doubtful accuracy in the Report, are put in in inverted commas. In Ireland birds are far less numerous than in Great Britain, and their movements are less distinctly marked. Few entries have, therefore, been omitted, for their value cannot be estimated until a number of Reports have been compared. It is proposed next year to analyse all the Irish observations.
To all the light-keepers forwarding schedules our best thanks are due; to those sending legs and wings, and specimens in the flesh, we are under still further obligations. The interest evinced when three, four, and five schedules are filled with careful notes, shows the desire to further knowledge for its own sake, and speaks well for the intelligence of such observers. The Commissioners of Irish Lights, and their secretary, Mr Owen Armstrong, continue to give us their very necessary assistance; and Captain Boxer, E.N., in his frequent visits to the lighthouses, is ever ready to further the objects of this inquiry.
Richard M. Barrington.
Alexander G. More.
List of Light-Stations.