25. _Eagle Island, East._--No entry in schedule. Remark:--"Up to the
present no birds are visible, only on occasions when fish are seen on
the surface of the water, and these are Gannets and large-sized Gulls.
I have not noticed any kind of birds pass or rest at this station in
their flight of migration."--Robert Redmond.
26. _Eagle Island, West._--No entry in schedule. Remark:--"This island
is very small, and the adjacent shores being all bog for miles inland
very few birds alight on island. The Stonechatter is to be seen here
all the year round. In May the sea-fowl come round the island in great
numbers; as a rule they go gradually to the south, following shoals
of fish, and very few are to be seen during the winter months. To-day
(Jan. 15th, 1882) I have seen a few Gannets and Sea Gulls flying about.
No birds have struck the lantern since my arrival at this station
eighteen months since."--Mathew Healy.
27. _Black Rock (Mayo)._--No daily entry, but schedule filled by
following general remarks:--"Gannets seen passing south all the year
round, most seen in calm weather, ten to twenty in each flight. Puffins
from April 15th to Aug. 15th; build on the Rock. Cormorants here all
the year round; build on the Rock. Kittiwake Gulls build on an island
three miles away; also Royal Gulls. Small Gulls, commonly called
'Wheelons,' build on the Rock. Barnacles here from October to March.
Two 'Falcon Hawks' build on an island three miles away; here all the
year round. Two 'Sparrowhawks' seen in the mornings. Rooks, in flocks
of 100 to 500, mostly seen in snow and frosty weather. Starlings from
September to March, morning and evening, 1000 to 5000 in a flock, seen
with all winds, mostly in frosty weather; hundreds killed against
lantern. 'Missel Thrushes' from November to March, 50 to 100 in each
flock, most in frosty weather; seen at all hours; a large number
killed. Snipe from November to March in flocks of two to four, in frost
and snow; some killed. Woodcocks from November to March in frost and
snow; some killed. Curlews, twenty to thirty in a flock, from daylight
till dark; seen all the year round. Wrens seen very seldom in the
spring. Blackbirds only seen in frosty weather; some killed by striking
lantern. 'Titmouses' seen in all weathers; build on the Rock. Stormy
Petrels from March to September, at all hours of the night; build on
the Rock. Larks in flocks of 100 to 300, only seen in frosty weather; a
large number killed by striking glass. I have seen some strange birds
rest here on their passage to the mainland, but do not know their
names. I have seen a Hoopoe on one occasion rest here. There has been
a species of Sea Gull of a deep cream-colour on the coast last August,
supposed to be a North American bird. I have seen large flights of
Rooks rest here after coming in from the sea in a S.W. direction, which
seemed so much fatigued that they would fall over after resting, and
remain to be caught."--Martin Kennedy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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