Anas strepera [Gadwall].
Another great rarity, so far as I am aware; one, a female, procured in the Deveron by Dr. Leslie, about the time the shoveller above alluded to was picked up, is the only one I know of.
Anas acuta [Pintail Duck].
I remember being roused rather early one morning, many years ago, by a loud knocking at the street door, and a person calling at the top of his voice, “Rise, man, Tam! I’ve brought a rare bird t’ ye—a Duke.” Being awake, I immediately jumped up. On seeing the bird, I was delighted to observe a beautiful male pintail. It had been shot that night on the Deveron.
Anas boschas [Wild Duck].
Plentiful, especially in winter. Among the sandy bents almost close to the ocean’s verge, and on the tops of our heath-clad hills and moors, I have found this species breeding; as well as on a tree about thirteen feet from the ground, and on a rock in the craigs of Alvah. This latter nest was placed on a ledge fully thirty feet above the water, and had eight or nine feet of perpendicular rock above it. There is a hill near here, which I believe they used frequently to nestle on, but which they have now quite deserted—viz. Fern or Whin Hill, better known as Gallow Hill. It was on this hill,—or rather piece of ground, for it hardly deserves the name of hill,—that the celebrated free-booter M’Pherson finished his earthly career. It is a rough and stony place where he lies, covered with heath and whin. The pheasant and wild duck used not unfrequently to breed on his very grave. On a small island on the Deveron stood a tall old poplar. About five feet from the ground it divided into two arms, one stretching upwards, whilst the other bent over the river, and it is with this one that I am now concerned. In 1839 the Deveron, like the other rivers in Scotland, rose far above its usual height, so far indeed that it reached the arm of the tree alluded to, on which it deposited a good deal of rubbish. A female wild duck built her nest, a few years afterwards, amongst the debris thus left, and succeeded in rearing a brood of thirteen young ones. Neither nest nor bird, though known of by some salmon-fishers who had a station close by, was disturbed. One morning the female was observed by these men to leave her nest and fly up and down the water in an unusual manner. Presently she was joined by the male, and both disappeared beneath a bank a little above where the nest was. The fishermen, who had watched them, observed the female reappear alone, and, after flying up and down once or twice, again settled down on the water, just below the tree which contained the nest. After sailing about for a few minutes, she was heard to give a “quack,” when down went something into the water, and presently a young one was seen by her side. Away she swam with it to the bank referred to, consigning it to the charge of the male; after which she returned, and, having again sailed about for a short time, gave another “quack,” when down came another youngster, which she also led away to the bank. In this way she continued until all were safely removed. The female never gave more than one “quack,” and she never carried more than one young one at a time; nor did she return after taking away the thirteenth.
Anas querquedula [Garganey].
Two specimens of this species were shot in December 1840; and one is said to have been obtained at Cullen, in the spring of 1841.
Anas crecca [Teal]. Occasionally met with in winter.
Anas Penelope [Wigeon].