Earliest southward movement of Redstart at XIV. on 14th August—a single bird—wind N.W.; seen on island. At IV. (N. Unst) a "rush" of Redstarts and Wheatears at night, wind light S.W., on 9th September. At XXVII. a few old males on 18th September, followed by mixed old and young on following day. Redstarts at IV. on 3d October, and a rush of Whinchats at Isle of May at 1 A.M.—wind S.E., haze. Single record of Whinchat in November at XXVII., and "Stonechats" at XXVIII. B. The new station of Fidra, in the Firth of Forth, a single bird. On 22d July most of the old Wheatears had left Isle of May—"an early date for them to leave."—J. A.
Silviinæ.—In Spring, earliest Robin record on 13th and 17th February at XXVII. (Isle of May)—"the first for a long time." Latest spring record, also at XXVII., on 15th May. Most seen on 13th April, at XXVII., N.N.E.; and several all day on XIV. (Pentland Skerries), strong S.E., on 8th April. Cromarty sends one return of Robin on 2d May. Willow Warbler—earliest, 29th April, at Isle of May; and Wood Warbler at same place on 2d May, with strong S.E., fog and rain. Whitethroat at Isle of May, with light S. and S.E., between 13th and 24th—an indication of a rush lighting on S.E. side of lantern, with light N.W., and rain on 24th.
Autumn.—Species observed were Robin and Whitethroat; Robin most prevalent, Whitethroat next. Earliest Robin at N. Unst, 26th July; latest, 28th November, at I. of Fidra (but as this might only be local, take latest at Dunnet on 14th, or Isle of May on 12th). If any rush noticeable, about the 17th September.
Phylloscopinæ.—Gold Crests are recorded in April 12th and 13th, and 20th and 23d at XXVII.; few on the two first dates, rush on the last, with W.S.W., and fog and drizzling rain. No other records from any part of E. Coast in any spring month. Wood Warblers, 8th to 24th May; a "great rush" all night on the 9th, with snow and hail showers, and wind N.W. to N.E.; and again all night on 18th, with rain, hail, and snow from N.E. [We can remember, on the 10th May, snow lay on the banks of Spey two inches deep at Aberlour.—J. A. H. B.] Two Chiff-Chaffs are also noted on 20th. All the above at XXVII. (Isle of May), and no other spring records of Phylloscopinæ.
In Autumn.—Earliest Chiff-Chaff, 27th July, at XXVII., 11 A.M., E., light fog; and again between the 12th and 24th August. Numbers on 13th, and number of males on 24th. On 13th, N.W. wind, strong, clear. Also, on 15th, a Willow Warbler—light haze, struck S.E. side, light W. wind; and a Wood Warbler on the 24th—a fine male. In September, a single Willow Warbler from N. Unst, light N.W., on 15th; and a few Gold Crests at XXVII. on 1st, and again on 17th and 19th—the latter amongst the rocks on the E. side—light S.W. A rush of Chiff-Chaffs on 17th October at XXVII., light E., haze and rain—and Willow Warbler; and then, on 18th and 19th, Gold Crests all night. Latest date of autumn migration of Phylloscopinæ is of Chiff-Chaffs, on November 4th, at XXVII.
Accentorinæ.—The only records are in October 1885, at XXVII., on 7th and 19th. Two or three pairs are breeding there this summer, and of late years it has become resident, "a good few having been here all the winter."—J. A.
Acrocephalinæ.—In September, on the 5th, between 8 and 10 P.M., there was a rush of many species over the island of XXVII., amongst which were Reed and Sedge Warblers striking, also Whitethroats. [What were named with a query "Immature Blue-Throated Warblers" turned out to be immature Redstarts—J. A. H. B.] Of the Reed Warblers recorded, when asked, Mr Agnew, distinguishing from the Sedge Warbler, says: "I have your card about the Reed Warblers, and should they appear again, I will try and procure specimens; but there seems no doubt as to their presence here during the rush of Warblers reported in the last Schedule."
Troglodytidæ.—Autumn of 1884, a few still seen on Isle of May in beginning of January 1885. Spring of 1885, one at XXVII. (Isle of May) on 10th, and at XIV. (Pentland Skerries) reported as being about the rocks there all winter.[4] At VII. (Sumburgh Head), one all day going about dykes—no doubt, a resident of the adjoining mainland. (A "Yellow Wren," also at same place, may be either Willow Wren or Willow Warbler, or a Gold Crest?) This was on 31st March.
[4] It does not appear whether the Wren is resident in Pentland Skerries every winter, but it was certainly so in 1884-5. (See above.)
In Autumn.—Earliest record at Pentland Skerries, September 20th, seen in garden. In October, records from N. Unst, 27th—S.W., light breeze (!!), clear—flying round rocks. [N.B.—This record seems to us to make it very desirable that specimens of the Common Wrens, or their feet and wings, but better the whole birds, be sent us for examination from this Station. We would like to see specimens, shot or otherwise, obtained in summer, and also specimens obtained in October or during the Autumn Migration. It might settle a very interesting question. A little carbolic acid would preserve them quite well, if dried after in the sun, or in the oven, or gradually in the kitchen.] A good few records run through October, but no large numbers—at Unst (XIV.) and XXVII.; and the same remark applies in November. The last noted is in January 1886 at XXVII.—"a few"—and the one before, at XIV., on 27th December, "seen on island." It is always remarkable to observe the near proximities of dates between occurrences at Isle of May and Pentland Skerries.