Report on the Migration of Birds in the Autumn of 1879. [First Report] — John Shaqi
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
Lark, _Alauda arvensis_.--Pretty generally recorded, but scarcer than
usual; the northernmost station Pentland Skerries. They are also noted
at Tarbet Ness and Girdleness. The most counted was thirty-six at
Pentland Skerries between 5 p.m. and 4 a.m. on October 13th-14th, and
the next largest number was sixteen, on Sept. 15th, between 8 and 10
p.m. Their earliest appearance was on August 16th, when four struck
at midnight at Tarbet Ness, wind light S.E. and haze; the latest Nov.
19th, when nine struck (four killed) at the same station at 8.10 p.m.,
wind S.W., light and haze. The time occupied is thus between August
16th and Nov. 19th. A rush took place between Oct. 13th and 14th, or
say about the middle of October, and again about November 19th at
Pentland Skerries, Tarbet Ness, and Girdleness.
Larks migrated or came most under notice in S.W. winds, but also in
S.E., N.E. (as at Pentland Skerries, when thirty-six were seen), and W.
Our data from the Scotch coasts are too limited this year to admit of
conclusions, unaided by the English returns. Haze and fog are recorded
on all the days noticed. All records give hours of passing at night
from 6 p.m. in October, and from 8 10 p.m. in November till 4 or 5 a.m.
Woodpecker, _Picus (major?)_.--At Inch Keith two struck and an adult
bird was killed at 9 p.m. on Sept. 15th, wind W., light breeze and fog.
Lapwing, _Vanellus cristatus_.--Reported to have left the vicinity of
Hoy Sound in the third week of September. At Auskerry thirty or forty
were seen about 3 p.m. on Sept. 11th, wind light W. and haze, and at
Tarbet Ness a large flock was seen at 11 a.m., when the wind was N.W.,
light and haze on Oct. 12th.
Plover, _Charadrius pluvialis_.--At Pentland Skerries a flock was
seen at 1.15 a.m. on Sept. 3rd, wind S.W., almost calm, with fog,
and another flock at 2 p.m. on Dec. 7th, wind N.W. and clear. These
represent earliest and latest dates. At Dunnet Head about 160 Plovers
passed with S.E. wind and rain. At Tarbet Ness a large flock seen
at 4 p.m., wind N.W., fresh and haze on Oct. 12th. Plovers remained
unusually late on the high hills of Perthshire this autumn. On Oct.
15th I saw three on the hills around Glen Queich, and two flocks on
the 16th. On the 14th was a snowstorm and ice a quarter of an inch in
thickness on hill puddles.
Heron, _Ardea cinerea_.--At Girdleness on October 23rd two Herons were
seen at 3.30 p.m., wind S.W., clear.
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