_Land Notes._--Swallows seen by me in some numbers at Kirkmichael
House, Dumfries, on evening of April 13th, flying over the artificial
ponds. Also seen at Morningside by A. B. Herbert, on 15th. I have
the following notes from Dr. John Grieve, at Bridge of Allan, which
locality is famed in spring for the shelter afforded from east winds.
Dr. Grieve's notes refer however to autumn notes. In 1880 Swifts left
the Bridge of Allan on Aug. 10th. In 1879 Swifts left between 8th and
17th, and in 1882 on the 8th. "Previous to leaving they always chase
one another round the houses until two days before leaving; then they
appear to keep to higher air." In 1881 two were seen on May 3rd, being
the first arrivals. In 1880 about 200 "Martins and a few Swallows
collected on two houses in Bridge of Allan on Aug. 22nd, and similar
congregations took place in smaller numbers on 27th to 31st, and on
Sept. 8th. On Oct. 4th, frost; and in afternoon some twenty-five seen.
On Oct. 6th, five to one hundred seen hawking over the wood behind
Bridge of Allan. On 8th, six seen. On 8th, hard frost and fog; four
seen flying about _in silence_; next morning, hard frost. On 20th, 15°
frost; on 21st, 6°; 22nd, 10°; and 23rd, 2°. But on 23rd two Swallows
seen. These were the last that year." In 1882 great numbers of Swallows
and Martins were seen flying eastward, outside the cliffs of Beachy
Head on Oct. 4th, and a good many remained along the undercliff of the
Isle of Wight at Ventnor.
The above notes by Dr. Grieve are quite to the point, and if we could
continue to receive land notes such as these from all parts of the
country they would be sure to prove most useful, even if confined to
one or two species of regular migrants.
Fringillidæ.--Both in spring and autumn, one of the features of the
1883 migration is the number of records of Finches (also of Thrushes,
and to a less extent of Buntings), whilst Thrushes--of sorts--and
Finches, seem usually to travel together; there seems, if we may
so call it, more uniform action in the formers' movements in 1883.
The Thrushes' movements are more compressed: those of Finches more
extended in time; or, in other words, the spring and autumn migrations
of the _Turdidæ_ are more strongly defined than those of the Finches.
Thrushes (including Blackbirds and all species) are totally absent
during June and July (not including residents of course), and almost
absent during August and September, and again the same in December and
January (1884). But, though the migrations of the Finches are easily
defined, still they do spread out more over the whole year, and, with
the exception of July, occupy considerable space in the schedule. These
remarks are intended to apply only to 1883, not as a general statement.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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