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Report on the Migration of Birds in the Spring and Autumn of 1886. Eighth Report: (Vol. II, No. 3.)Harvie-Brown, J. A. (John Alexander)

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Report on the Migration of Birds in the Spring and Autumn of 1886. Eighth Report: (Vol. II, No. 3.)

Name: Report on the Migration of Birds in the Spring and Autumn of 1886. Eighth Report: (Vol. II, No. 3.)
Author: Harvie-Brown, J. A. (John Alexander)

Harvie-Brown, J. A. (John Alexander)

Birds -- Migration -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Birds -- Migration -- Ireland -- Periodicals

1886.                                       1887.
                   July.   Aug.       Sept.   Oct.  Nov.  Dec. Jan. Totals.
  Pentland Skerries  3       2          4       4     4    7     0     24
  Isle of May,       0       0          0       8     0    0     0      8
  N. Unst,           0       2          1       1     0    0     0      4
  Girdleness,        0       0          1       2     0    0     0      3
  N. Ronaldshay,     0  2 (curlew)      0       0     0    0     0      2
  Dunnet Head,       0       0          0       0     0    0     1      1
  Fidra,             0       0     1 (curlew)   0     0    0     0      1
                    --- ---------- ----------  ---   ---  ---   ---   ----
       Per Month,    3       6          7      15     4    7     1     43

Thus it will be seen that the comparative strength of the waves are
approximately given from each station, Pentland Skerries leading
with twenty-four, and Isle of May following with eight, etc.; also,
the totals under each month show the rush to have been distinctly in
October with fifteen,[7] September and December each with seven. This
same system, carried out for each species of bird, appears to us to
suggest a pretty fair way of reducing our light reports to system;
and further tabular comparison is also suggested as to duration of
migration, and weather notes in last report, p. 34, which need not be
repeated here at present.

[Footnote 7: This is borne out almost with all species this season. A
concentrated rush in October.]

Of Redshanks, Sandpipers, Dunlins, there are very few returns; and
only one Dunlin at Pentland Skerries, where they breed, on 27th April.
Redshanks appeared at N. Ronaldshay on 12th August. Numbers towards
end of September at Pentland Skerries; a few in October, with a number
of Purple Sandpipers. A Common Sandpiper at N. Unst on 23d October.
Redshanks on 3d December at Pentland Skerries, and number of Purple
Sandpipers all day on 19th December.

Laridæ.--Gulls, Terns, Skuas, etc., Kittiwake, Lesser Tern, "Dirty
Allen," Black Backed Gull.--The same remarks hold good under Gulls of
sorts. The spring and summer records are not of special interest; but
vast movements took place in September. "Immense flocks" of Gulls;
"numerous flocks" of Kittiwakes and Gulls; Skuas and Terns "every
day." Thirty-seven large Gulls passed Girdleness flying south on 15th
September; but the "largest flock ever seen" at Fidra was on 14th.
Curiously enough there are _no records_ made of movements at Isle of
May; but at Pentland Skerries, and again at Fidra, very full notice
is taken. No records in November. Only one in December at Pentland
Skerries.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Report on the Migration of Birds in the Spring and Autumn of 1886. Eighth Report: (Vol. II, No. 3.)

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