The autumn rushes of most species were on a larger scale than usual, and between the 10th and 13th of November the greatest migratory movement yet recorded on the Irish coast took place. As usual the S.E. stations experienced the rush most, but it was felt on the W. coast also. At the Tuskar countless numbers of Blackbirds, Thrushes, and Starlings passed. Chaffinches and Larks and other birds in smaller numbers accompanied them. The spring movements in February and March were also better defined than usual, but only a careful mapping out of the various entries all round the coast would enable one to make an accurate comparison with previous years.
As far as Waders are concerned, there is no evidence derived from the light-stations to show that they arrive in greater numbers on our N. coast in the autumn than on our S. and S.E. coasts.
One or two instances of Gulls chasing and killing small birds are given in schedules. (See under Skylark and Greenfinch.)
There are several entries of birds killed striking on clear nights, which is not usual.
At the conclusion of the preface to every Report it has been usual to express our thanks to the Irish light-keepers for their assistance and co-operation. This year such thanks were never better deserved. It may be that at times the letters of inquiry, legs and wings and specimens received from the light-keepers have remained unacknowledged for a long time. If this has been the case, it is only due to the great pressure of private business, between the intervals of which this Report alone can be written, and not from any wilful negligence or failure to appreciate the gratuitous services of the observers, for whom this apology is intended. To Mr Owen Armstrong, the secretary to the Irish Light Board, and to Captain Boxer, R.N., inspector of Irish Lights, we are under many obligations. Their co-operation is as necessary as the sanction of the Irish Light Board to the continuance of this inquiry, and for both we express our gratitude.
Richard M. Barrington.
Alexander G. More.
| List of Light Stations. | Schedules Filled. | Legs, Wings, etc., Received. | Remarks on Schedules. | Sp. | Au. | Miles from shore. | Names of Observers. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Fastnet, Co. Cork, | 5 | 15 | excellent, | x | x | 8 | George Dunleavy. |
| 3. | Old Head, Kinsale, Cork, | 2 | 0 | good. | x | x | — | Robert Tyrrell. |
| 4. | Mine Head, Waterford, | 2 | 7 | very good, | x | x | — | Edward M'Carron. |
| 5a. | Hook Tower, Wexford, | 1 | 3 | fair. | x | o | — | Richard Hamilton. |
| 5.* | Coningbeg Lt.-ship, Wexford, | 5 | 24 | excellent, | x | x | 10 | Patrick Cullen and Wm. Clydesdale. |
| 6. | Barrels Rock Lt.-ship, do., | 4 | 4 | very good, | x | x | 4 | Charles H. M'Cabe. |
| 7. | Tuskar Rock, do., | 6 | 32 | excellent, | x | x | 7 | P. Page, E. M'Kenna, J. M. Leary, and Patrick Corish. |
| 7a. | Lucifer Shoals Lt.-ship, do., | 1 | 1 | good. | o | x | 9 | James Byrne and Michael Ansel. |
| 8. | Arklow Sth. Lt.-ship, Wicklow, | 3 | 12 | very good, | x | x | 7 | Patrick Clancy and Alfred B. Wall. |
| 8.* | Arklow North Lt.-ship, do., | 3 | 0 | very good, | x | x | 8 | William Daly. |
| 11. | Howth Baily, Dublin, | 1 | 1 | fair. | o | x | — | R. Armstrong. |
| 12. | Rockabill, Dublin, | 5 | 2 | fair. | x | o | 5 | Henry Kelly. |
| 12b. | South Rock Lt.-ship, Down, | 1 | 0 | good. | o | x | 3 | Thomas Cooney and Henry Thompson. |
| 14.* | Maidens, South Antrim, | 1 | 0 | fair. | o | x | 5 | B. Sole and J. Corish. |
| 14. | Maidens, North do., | 1 | 1 | fair. | o | x | 5 | Richard Hamilton. |
| 15. | Rathlin, Antrim, | 1 | 0 | poor. | o | x | 6 | Patrick Keenan. |
| 16. | Innishtrahull, Donegal, | 2 | 2 | very good, | x | x | 6 | M. S. Kennedy. |
| 17. | Dunree Head, do., | 2 | 0 | good. | x | x | — | Jervis Brownell. |
| 19. | Tory Island, do., | 2 | 7 | very good, | x | x | 9 | Henry Kelly. |
| 20. | Arranmore, do., | 2 | 0 | very good, | x | x | 5 | Henry Williams and Thomas Fortune. |
| 21. | Rathlin O'Birne, do., | 2 | 2 | very good, | x | x | 2 | J. C. M'Ginley. |
| 22. | Killybegs, do., | 7 | 0 | very good, | x | x | — | Joseph Hill. |
| 24. | Broadhaven, Mayo, | 2 | 0 | fair. | x | x | — | John A. Murray. |
| 26. | Eagle Island, W., Mayo, | 1 | 1 | poor. | x | o | 2 | Hugh Keeney. |
| 27. | Blackrock, Mayo, | 2 | 5 | very good, | x | x | 9 | Edward Rohu. |
| 31. | Slyne Head, S., Galway, | 3 | 0 | very good, | x | x | 3 | Richd. Widdicombe. |
| 32. | Arran Island, Is., do., | 2 | 0 | very good, | x | x | 9 | Thomas Fortune and Henry Williams. |
| 34. | Arran Island, S., do., | 1 | 0 | very good. | o | x | 6 | Charles P. Page. |
| 36. | Samphire Island, Kerry, | 1 | 0 | poor. | o | x | — | R. Phelan. |
| 37. | Tearaght, Kerry, | 3 | 13 | very good, | x | x | 9 | Francis Ryan. |
| 39. | Skelligs, Kerry, | 3 | 9 | very good, | x | x | 9 | James Walshe. |
Legs, wings, etc., received, 142. Eagle Island, East, sent no schedule, but forwarded a rare bird—the Hoopoe. Galley Head, Dungarvan, Kish Light-ship, Copeland or Mew Island, Oyster Island, N., Blacksod Point, Clare Island, Slyne Head, N., Straw Island, Valentia, and Dursey Island—sent neither schedules nor legs or wings of birds, and are therefore omitted from the list; and four new stations—Hook Tower, Lucifer Shoals, South Rock Light-ship, and Maidens, North—have been added. As a whole the schedules were never better filled.
o = No reply. x = Schedules returned partly or wholly filled.
Sp = Spring, replies received, 23. Au = Autumn, replies received, 28.
Legs, Wings, etc., Received.
| Species. | How Received. | How Procured. | Date. | Name of Station. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenland Falcon, | Rec'd. in flesh, | Shot, | 28/ 9 mo., | Great Skellig. |
| Merlin, | " | " | 19/10 mo., | Tearaght. |
| Long-eared Owl, | Leg and wing, | " | 13/11 mo., | Tuskar. |
| Spotted Flycatcher, | " | Killed st.,[11] | 1/ 6 mo., | Barrels Rock Lt.-ship. |
| " | " | " | 21/ 9 mo., | Coningbeg Lt.-sh. |
| " | " | Shot, | 2/10 mo., | Tearaght. |
| Red-breasted Flycatcher, | Rec'd. in flesh, | Killed st., | 23/10 mo., | Arklow S. Lt.-sh. |
| Missel Thrush, | Leg and wing, | " | 12/11 mo., | Tuskar. |
| Thrush, | " | " | 12/11 mo., | Fastnet. |
| " | " | Found dead on deck, | 10/ 3 mo., | Coningbeg Lt.-sh. |
| " | " | Killed st., | 19/ 3 mo., | " |
| " | Rec'd. in flesh, | " | 6/11 mo., | " |
| " | Wing, | " | 19/ 2 mo., | Tuskar. |
| " | Leg and wing, | " | 21/10 mo., | " |
| " | " | " | 21/ 3 mo., | Arklow S. Lt.-sh. |
| " | " | " | 11/11 mo., | " |
| " | " | Shot, | 28/10 mo., | Tearaght. |
| Redwing, | " | Killed st., | 12/11 mo., | Fastnet. |
| " | " | " | 11/11 mo., | Barrels Rock Lt.-ship. |
| " | " | " | 17/10 mo., | Tuskar. |
| " | " | " | 12/11 mo., | " |
| " | " | " | 22/12 mo., | " |
| " | " | " | 12/11 mo., | Innishtrahull. |
| " | " | " | 16/10 mo., | Tory Island. |
| Fieldfare, | " | Shot, | 19/12 mo., | Mine Head. |
| " | " | Killed st., | 7/11 mo., | Tuskar. |
| " | " | " | 9/11 mo., | " |
| " | " | " | 16/10 mo., | Tory Island. |
| " | Rec'd. in flesh, | " | 10/11 mo., | Eagle Island, W. |
| Blackbird, | Leg and wing, | " | 16/ 7 mo., | Hook Tower. |
| " | " | " | 20/ 2 mo., | Coningbeg Lt.-sh. |
| " | " | " | 3/ 3 mo., | " |
| " | " | " | 20/ 3 mo., | " |
| " | " | " | 6/10 mo., | " |
| " | " | " | 12/11 mo., | Barrels Rock Lt.-ship |
| " | " | Caught at lantern, | 14/11 mo., | Arklow S. Lt.-sh. |
| " | Wing, | Killed st., | 19/ 2 mo., | Tuskar. |
| " | Leg and wing, | " | 21/10 mo., | " |
| " | " | Caught at lantern, | 7/11 mo., | " |
| " | " | Killed st., | 16/10 mo., | Tory Island. |
| " | " | Caught, | 10/11 mo., | Blackrock, Mayo. |