Report on the Migration of Birds in the Autumn of 1879. [First Report]Harvie-Brown, J. A. (John Alexander)
Science
Report on the Migration of Birds in the Autumn of 1879. [First Report]
Harvie-Brown, J. A. (John Alexander)
Birds -- Migration -- Great Britain -- Periodicals
Titmice.--The negative information that Mr. Edgar never saw any Titmice
at the Butt of Lewis lighthouse is worthy of record. I have notes of
their occurrence at M'Arthur's Head and Lamlash; in each case a single
bird struck the lantern, Nov. 16th and Aug. 17th, at 6 p.m. and 10 a.m.
respectively; both during west wind, and light air.
Fieldfare.--Occurred at Monach Island and Douglas Head, and is reported
as usually seen at Butt of Lewis, though not this year. At Monach
Island a number struck, and fifteen were killed, between 8 p.m. and 4
a.m., on Oct. 21st and 22nd; wind S.W., fresh, and drizzling rain. At
Douglas Head one was seen on Oct. 16th, at 10 a.m.; wind N., moderate
breeze, and cloudy.
Thrush.--The most northern station is, for 1879, Isle Ornsay. Mr.
Edgar; however, adds the general information that in most years the
Butt of Lewis yields large numbers at the lantern; thence southward
at Skerryvore, Dhuheartach, Rhinns of Islay, Lochindaul, Lamlash,
Corsewall, and Point of Ayre. The earliest date is Sept. 19th, when a
mixed flock of Thrushes and Blackbirds passed in variable winds, and
clear, at Lamlash. The latest date is Dec. 3rd, when "Thrushes" passed
Lochindaul in the "daytime." But this may be due to local influences
and hard frost then registered. The next latest date is Nov. 24th,
when one was seen in the daytime, 2 p.m.; wind N.E., fresh, clear;
this would give sixty-six days for the passage, or, taking the later
date of Dec. 3rd, seventy-six days. The rushes were on Sep. 19th (_ut
sup._); a "great rush" Oct. 21st to 28th. On Oct. 21st at Point of Ayr,
two hundred "along with Blackbirds" seen at 1.80 p.m.; wind N. and
N.W., strong, clear, with occasional showers. Also at the Rhinns of
Islay, five seen, and so through records of Oct. 22nd, 18th to 28th,
when three hundred "dark grey birds larger than a common Thrush!!?"
(probably Missel Thrush, _Turdus viscivorus_) were seen at Point of
Ayr; wind S.S.E., light, and hazy; and at Skerryvore about forty
(of which ten killed) at 7 p.m.; wind S.E., light breeze, and haze.
Thrushes travel with winds from S.E. to S.W. by preference, but also
with winds from W. to N.E., through N.; observed most, as with most
other species at lanterns, in hazy and rainy weather, but the great
rush took place in "clear, with occasional showers," and "hazy and
fine." Returns show that out of sixteen dates reported upon, only three
show a diurnal migration, but one of these three is the rush of three
hundred "dark grey birds larger than a common Thrush"[15] on Oct. 28th,
at Point of Ayr.
[Footnote 15: We shall refer to these under "Birds unknown," but we
have thought it advisable to enter them here also; they can easily be
erased in future comparisons if better data come to hand.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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