October commenced with an anticyclonic stage—cold, dry, and fine, with westerly breezes in the north, easterly ones in the south. This lasted until the 9th, and during its prevalence not unimportant movements occurred from the 5th to the 9th, when Larks, Thrushes, Ring Ouzels, Finches, Warblers of several species, Swallows, and Gold crests appeared at the lanterns. After the 9th a period of very unsettled cyclonic weather ensued; the wind became northerly and increased in force, and showers of snow, sleet, or cold rain continued to fall over the United Kingdom; and cold and unsettled weather continued with us until nearly the middle of the month, with no migration. On the 15th the depression had disappeared, being replaced by an anticyclonic stage lasting until the 22d. During this favourable interval there were important and general immigrations and transient movements of winter birds. There followed a decided alteration in the stability of the meteorological conditions over the British Islands and their neighbourhood. Various systems appeared of a transitory nature, and the changes of wind and weather were consequently both sudden and frequent. The movements of birds recorded in our Diary for this changeable period which witnessed the close of the month were neither many nor important.
November.—The month commenced with a spell of exceedingly changeable, unsettled weather, which lasted uninterruptedly until about the 8th. During this period the only movement worthy of mention was the not unimportant one recorded for the S.W. stations on the 7th. On the afternoon of the 11th an anticyclonic period commenced, and prevailed, with little break, until the 17th. There were important general movements on the 11th (on which date a great many—Saxicola isabellina—was obtained at Allonby in Cumberland), 13th, 14th, with interesting observations on the 17th and 18th, at S.W. stations.
There were no other movements of importance up to the close of the year.
Diary of the Migratory Movements as Observed at the various Stations.
The sequence of the stations is from north to south. The wind and weather, as observed at the stations, are given in parenthesis: for the weather, the symbols of the Beaufort scale have been adopted;[8] while the force of the wind ranges from 0 to 12.
[8] Beaufort scale:—B. blue sky; C. detached clouds; D. drizzling rain; F. fog; G. dark, gloomy; H. hail; L. lightning; M. misty; O. overcast; P. passing showers; Q. squally; R. rain; S. snow; T. thunder; U. ugly, threatening; V. visibility, unusual transparency; W. dew.
The diction of the observers has been closely adhered to. The identification of the species marked thus * has been verified by the wings sent.
JANUARY.
January 1st.—Bahama Bank L.V., large number of Starlings and Thrushes at 9.40 A.M., flying W. (4, S.W.; B. C. M.)
January 5th.—Bahama Bank L.V., number of Starlings, Thrushes, and Larks flying round lantern from 10 P.M. till 4 A.M. Four Starlings, six Thrushes, and two Larks killed. (S., 5; snow.)