Corvidæ.--Rooks, Ravens, Crows, Carrion Crows, Hooded Crows, Jackdaws,
Grey Crows.--The _Corvidæ_ generally show movements during January
(1887), February (1886), April (Ravens), May (casual Carrion and Grey
Crows or Hoodies), June 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th, "great numbers of
Crows" all day at Mull of Galloway. August 18th to 27th, of Rooks,
Ravens, Grey Crows, Crows. Great flocks of Rooks on 21st at Lochindaul,
as also on 24th September no very heavy entries at any stations, but
"dense flock" on 21st October at Lochindaul, and sixty on the 20th same
place. Only one Crow seen all November, and that at Butt of Lewis, the
only return in all that month. 500 Crows at Rhinns of Islay on 18th
December--no doubt a local migration. In January (1887), from 100 up to
500 at same place, 9th, 10th, and 17th--also local, no doubt.
Cypselidæ.--Swift, "Cran," "Black Swallow."--Only one solitary record
of one Swift on 27th August at Butt of Lewis. Wind S.W., fresh.
Cuculidæ.--Cuckoo.--Records: At Lochindaul, arrived 6th May. Wind light
S., clear, "flying S.W."
Also at Lochindaul, one rested on the rocks at 7 P.M. on the 6th July.
Light W., clear.
Strigidæ.--Very few records of any Owls--At Dhuheartach, on 4th May, an
Owl rested on the rock. Fresh S. and fog.
At Mull of Galloway a Grey Owl seen on 5th September, and again at same
place on 21st October one Grey Owl came to the light in pursuit of some
small birds.
Falconidæ.--Eagle, Hawks, Kestrel Hawks, Sparrow Hawks, Buzzards, Game
Hawk or Falcon.--[Merlins are not once named, but no doubt some of the
"Sparrow-Hawk" entries really apply to the Merlin.--J. A. H.-B.]
In May.--A Kestrel on 5th at Dhuheartach, and a Buzzard on 23d, both
flying east, with E. wind. A Sparrow Hawk at Rhinns of Islay.
_In Autumn_, a few records of Hawks, Game Hawk (Rona, Skye), etc.,
at four or five stations in August, and single birds in September,
including Buzzard and Falcon at Rhinns of Islay on 20th. Also single
birds at Skerryvore and Dhuheartach, including a "Black Hawk" on 10th
October at the former. One record at Butt of Lewis of a Sparrow Hawk on
19th November. There are fewer records of Hawks than usual. One Eagle
seen at Rona 2d January 1886.
Pelecanidæ.--Solan Geese.--First seen at Skervuile on 15th April. Light
N. wind; next at Rhinns of Islay, 100 in flocks, from 4 to 11 A.M. on
the 11th May, and great numbers on 27th, flying N. in the forenoon, and
again on 31st. E.N.E. wind. In June six seen at Lochindaul, and a few
at Little Ross. The migration of Gannets appears to have been quite
intermittent and uncertain here and on the N.W. coast.
By August 8th, at Rhinns of Islay, several young seen; and by 15th to
18th in hundreds all day. Intermittent in numbers, 16th (some) to 30th
(numbers), and 31st (all day) at Lochindaul. None entered again till
9th and 11th October at Lochindaul.
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