† Mr. D. McDonald removed from Pentland Skerries to Skervuile (W.
C.) about July 26th, up to which time he sent returns from Pentland
Skerries. Thereafter Mr. J. Gilmour took in hand the returns at the
latter station.
‡ I have to thank Mr. W. Davidson for the first schedule received
from Tarbat Ness. Between Aug. 15th and Oct. 30th there are only
eleven entries,' all light, of ten different dates only. This schedule
is valuable for its negative evidence, just as other more favoured
localities for migrants give valuable positive evidence. Can I not
induce others to return even empty schedules at the end of the year,
with the simple remark "No Birds" or "Few Birds" attached, if such is
the case? Then our Committee would have certainty to go by, not merely
hypothesis. Mr. Davidson gives me the further information regarding
this station, that he observed no further migration since Oct. 30th,
the weather being so mild. It is usually before any changes in the
weather that we see any birds passing here besides the birds which
frequent the locality. The situation of Tarbat Ness is a very high
tower, 175 feet, and is joined to farmhouses. It is not much sheltered,
the tower being on the bare point. At some seasons great quantities of
birds are seen (_in lit._, Jan. 20th, 1884).
§ At Chanonry lighthouse the schedule, again kindly returned by Mr.
McGill, pretty clearly indicates and illustrates the action of local
migrations. Thus he tells us:--"There are plenty of Black Crows, which
fly between this and Nairn every day for feeding in the morning, and
fly back at night. A great many grey ducks come down on this Firth for
the purpose of feeding. It would seem they do not migrate. There are
several flocks of birds which seem to fly north the one day and in a
few days to fly back to the south; they seem to be the same flocks
that have been feeding." From Chanonry Mr. McGill writes:--"Only one
bird has struck the lantern since I came here in the summer of 1882,
and only two lighted on the lantern. None killed." The returns from
this station almost all relate to local movements, but are not on this
account less valuable, but rather more so, as giving good opportunity
of making comparisons and deductions. Most of the occurrences are
attended by highly developed pressures, squalls, strong breezes, &c.,
but the directions of these are not given.
‖ Mr. D. M. Scott, who left this station, removed to Sumburgh Head.
He sent the description of a bird from Kinnaird Head in 1882, but no
schedule. Scarcity is the true reason of lack of returns from this
station. Mr. Scott has sent well-filled schedules since from Sumburgh
Head.
¶ "No Birds" at Montroseness, reason given for absence of returns in
1882 (_q.v._).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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