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scottish Birds

THE JOURNAL OF
THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

Edited by
M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN

with the assistance of
D. G. ANDREW A. T. MACMILLAN

Business Editor, A. J. SMITH

VOLUME 1

1958 - 1961

Printed by Walter Thomson, Selkirk.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Presentation to Dr E. V. Baxter at S.0.C. “Coming of ee Dinner,
North Berwick, 26th October 1957... 5 A

S.0.C. group outside Museum and Art es Perth, 1958
(D. K. McLaren) ne a ‘ se

Isle of Rhum, site of Manx Shearwater colonies over 2,000 ft above
sea level (The Times) aes ; Bi ;

Village Bay, St Kilda (J. Morton Boyd)

Mounted specimens of American and Asiatic Golden Plovers
Common Terns (A. J. M. Smith)

White cygnets of Mute Swans

Map of Flannan Islands

Flannan Islands (D. G. Andrew)

Coilared Doves (C. E. Palmar) :

Miss L. J. Rintoul and Dr E. V. Baxter (J. “iain

Official opening of the Scottish Centre for EO reihaleey 26th
October 1959 (The Scotsman)

Drake Goldeneye on the Clyde (C. E. ees
Isle of May from the air (Aerofilms Ltd.)
Firecrest on Isle of May (D. Munns)

Buzzard (W. K. Richmond)

Cock Ring Ouzel at nest (W. Brotherston)
Grey seal wallow, North Rona (J. MacGeoch)
Seme Thrushes at nest (A. Eccles)

S.0.C. Annual Dinner, North Berwick, 29th October 1960 G W.
Day & Sons)

Aquatic Warbler and Sree on Isle of Wire a. IMeSS: ne
Pied Flycatchers (J. E. Ruxton)

Whimbrel and chick (R. Upton)

Map of Duddingston Loch Bird Sanctuary

Duddingston Loch from Queen‘s Drive

Duddingston Loch reed-beds

Duddingston Kirk

Duddingston Loch in winter

Shag (A. J. M. Smith)

Arctic Tern, showing transparent area in wings (R. Roddam)

Heron at nest (J. E. Ruxton)

Page

103
113
114
131
142

159
170
219
219
230
247
263

381
382

White Stork at Lochmaben (W. Austin)
Fidra (The Scotsman)

Red-footed Falcon, Berwickshire (S. J. Clarke)

504

BIRDS

SSS ee ES =~
== SSS SN

meoCOTTISH

|

|

|

| The Journal of

_ The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

Vale 1: No. 1 Autumn 1958

Reprinted 1971

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

MPPHE Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was founded in 1936 and membership

is open to all interested in Scottish ornithology. Meetings are held
during the winter months in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and
St Andrews, at which lectures by prominent ornithologists are given and
films exhibited. Excursions are organised in the summer to places of
ornithological interest.

The aims and objects of the Club are to (a) encourage and direct the
study of Scottish Ornithology in all its branches; (b) co-ordinate the
efforts of Scottish Ornithologists and encourage co- operation between field
and indoor worker ; (c) encourage ornithological research in Scotland in
co-operation with other organisations ; (d) hold meetings at centres to be
arranged at which Lectures are given, films exhibited, and discussions
held ; and (e) publish or arrange for the publication of statistics and in-
formation with regard to Scottish ornithology.

There are no entry fees for Membership. At present the Annual sub-
scription is £1 ; or 5s in the case of Members under twenty-one years of
age or in the case of University undergraduates who satisfy the Council
of their status as such at the time at which their subscriptions fall due in
any year. Please note however that the Council are recommending that the
‘annual subscriptions be raised from 20s to 25s; and 5s to 7s 6d at the
ne General Meeting of the Club to be held in Perth on 25th October,

The affairs of the Club are controlled by a Council composed of the
Hon. President, the President, the Vice-President, the Hon. Treasurer, one
Representative of each Branch Committee appointed annuallv by the
Branch, and ten other Members of the Club elected at an Annual General
Meeting. Two of the last named retire annually by OD and shall not
be eligible for re-election for one year.

A Scottish Bird Records’ Committee, appointed by the Council, produce
an annual Report on “Ornithological Changes in Scotland.”

Full details are given in the Syllabus of Lectures Card of the names of
the present Office-bearers of the Club.

An Official tie with small white Crested Tits embroidered on it can be
obtained in dark green or in navy blue by Members only from Messrs R.
W. Forsyth Ltd., Princes Street, Edinburgh, or 5 Renfield Street. Glasgow,
C.2, at a cost of 13s 9d post free. A small brooch in silver and blue can be
obtained for the use of Members of the Club. Price 2s 6d each from the
Secretary, or from Hon. Branch Secretaries.

Forms of application for Membership, copy of the Club Constitution,
and other literature is obtainable from the Club Secretary, Mr George
Waterston, 5 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh 2.

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

All notes dealing with birds in the eastern Lowlands, from Berwick-on-
Tweed to Dundee, should be submitted ta A. T. Macmillan, 66 Spylaw
Bank Road, Edinburgh, 13; all other contributions to M. F. M. Meikle-
john, 20 Falkland Street, Glasgow, W.2. It would be helpful if notes’ were
typewritten, if possible, and double spaced.

SCOTTISH BIRDS

THE JOURNAL OF THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

Vol. I. No. 1. Reprinted 1971 Autumn 1958

Edited by M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN, with the assistance of D. G. ANDREW
and A. T. MAOMILLAN. Business Editor, ARTHUR J. SMITH. Cover design
(Leach’s Petrel) by LEN FULLERTON. Published quarterly.

Se:

By Sir CHARLES G. CONNELL
President of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

{VER since 1871, (apart from an interval during the years of

the Second World War), records on Scottish Ornithology
have been published in the Scottish Naturalist. The scientific
standing of that journal ensured that it was always authori-
tative, and countless references to its pages are found in
ornithological literature. Faced with rising costs and other
difficulties, the publishers were forced, with reluctance, to
terminate publication after the issue of the 1957 volume.

This new publication—Scottish Birds—will, I trust, take
the place of the now defunct Scottish Naturalist in the ornith-
ological world. As the official publication of the Scottish
Ornithologists’ Club every care will be taken by the Editor,
his consultants, and the Council of the Club to ensure that it
maintains a high standard of scientific value.

It will not be composed entirely of scientific papers and
records. The Council believe it to be necessary to provide
something of general interest for those Members of the Club
Whose outlook is not wholly scientific; and to this end it is
hoped to publish articles such as biographies of leading Scot-
tish ornithologists, and accounts of notable bird Reserves or
specially interesting areas, illustrated where possible with
photographs. The articles and records will be confined entirely
to Scotland, and it is hoped that Members will contribute
articles and short notes on anything of value and interest for
publication.

The publication of a quarterly journal of this type is a

‘][a1INH *D ‘HII pue ‘ spiempy-ouuAM “D ‘A JOSsejolg ‘ nealoW “A “YY JIA cza1Keg ‘A a iq ;
‘ueound ‘q InyWy JIA ‘ [[euuoD ApeT (WYsI1 03 1J97T) “LET “19q0}90 YI97 ‘HOIMISeg YYWON ‘s9uuIq adv jo sulwioD,, 3
UALXVA “A NATHAD JG — LNaACISHYd AAGNNOA OL NOLLV.LNASAYd |

1958 FOREWORD 3

considerable undertaking. We are fortunate in having Profes-
sor M. F. M. Meiklejohn, (Vice-President of the Club), as
Editor; and Mr Arthur J. Smith (Member of Council) as
Business Editor. Their aim will be to produce—punctually
each quarter—a readable and interesting journal.

You will see from the Agenda for the Club’s Annual
General Meeting to be held in Perth on 25th October, that the
Council recommend that Scottish Birds should be issued free
to all Members of the Club on the understanding that Mem-
bers will agree to an increase in the Club subscription from
20/- to 25/-. If this increase in subscription is not approved,
then the journal will have to be issued at a separate annual
subscription of 10/-. If Members agree to accept this increase
in the Club subscription, information formerly published in
the Syllabus of Lectures and in the Club Bulletins will there-
after be included in an Official section in this journal—thus
Saving costs.

The Council have decided to issue this first number of the
journal free to all Members, so that they can get the oppor-
tunity of judging its value in the light of the proposal to
increase the Club subscription.

The publication of Scottish Birds marks an important devel-
opment in the history of our Club which last year attained its
twenty-first birthday. This was celebrated by a most enjoyable
“Coming of Age” Dinner following the Annual General
Meeting in North Berwick, and on the opposite page is a
photograph taken at this function when Mr Arthur B. Duncan
(Founder Chairman) made a presentation of a suitably in-
scribed clock to Dr Evelyn V. Baxter (Founder President) on
behalf of all the Members.

Our Club is a very live organisation and the Council feel
that the journal will form a valuable link between the whole
membership of the Club, many of whom in outlying areas
have been largely debarred from much active participation in
the Club’s activities.

The journal will strive to carry on the tradition of the
Scottish Naturalist, to maintain its standard, and to provide
something of permanent value for our ever-growing member-
ship.

I urge you to give it your wholehearted support and thus
ensure its success.
CHARLES G. CONNELL.

4 EDITORIAL 1(1)

EDITORIAL

FOR a long time the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club has hoped
to publish its own journal, and here at last it is, a modest
little paper, similar in size and plumage to the Crested Tit
Parus cristatus scoticus. To begin on a small scale is advis-
able, though later we may expand and even indulge in
more illustrations. It is hoped that it will not later be found
necessary to change the title of the journal to The Grouse.

Our main purpose is to give publication to the records of
our members. In the past the Scottish Naturalist has largely
performed this useful function and, when that journal most
regrettably ceased to exist at the end of 1957, its Editors, with
great generosity, passed over to Scottish Birds the ornitho-
logical material remaining on their hands. Of this material
the first number of Scottish Birds is largely composed, and
we must thank Professor V. C. Wynne-Edwards and Dr Adam
Watson not only for presenting us with many of the records
which you now see before you, but also for having vetted and
edited them.

In selecting the first batch of observations for publication,
we have taken them strictly in the order of time in which
they were made. It is thus no more than a coincidence that so
large a proportion of the first number of Scottish Birds comes
from the typewriter of its Editor. The criticism may be made
that the preponderance of Short Notes may tend to monotony,
but, as already stated, their publication is our primary
function and the quickest possible issue of back material is
of great importance.

We differ from the Scottish Naturalist in using capital
letters for the English names of birds. This is in accordance
with the usual practice of journals dealing with birds alone,
and readers will thus also be able to distinguish a Little
Ringed Plover from an immature banded Peewit.

This is intended to be a serious journal, but we wish to
avoid undue solemnity and to dispense with that dry, stereo-
typed language which is wrongly called “Scientific,” since it
so often obscures, rather than reveals, the truth. We wish to
give as much opportunity as possible to our contributors to
express themselves and their ornithological experiences in
their own terms. The purpose of a journal is to be read with
interest and pleasure.

A journal like Scottish Birds cannot hope to survive unless
it is supported by numerous regular voluntary contributions.
It has been said that the Scottish bird-watcher is readier to
lift the binoculars than to put pen to paper, but there is little

1958 EDITORIAL 5

point in bird-watching unless the results are made known, and
you are therefore asked to submit your records to us, when
they will be treated with as much fairness as we are cap-
able of.

‘Special thanks are due to Mr Len Fullerton for his gift. of
a cover design for each quarterly issue.

- REPORT ON BIRDS OF THE CLYDE AREA
1956

M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN AND C. E. PaLMaR

AS in previous years this report consists of records concern-
ing the occurrence of rare birds in the Clyde area, and
unusual or new features of distribution. As before, we have
also covered the Aberfoyle and Flanders Moss districts, which
are in the Forth area but readily accessible from Glasgow.

This report lays no claim to completeness. While we regret
not receiving more notes, we are grateful to those who have
helped us with theirs.

Contributors are: John Baird, P. G. R. Barbier, Gordon
Bennett, M. Forrester, F. D. Hamilton, lan Hay, G. Hughes-
Onslow, K. Jackson, K. Macgregor, D. McRedie, H. Mayer-
Gross, R. Macalpine Ramage, W. K. Richmond, A. H. Shaw, D.
Stalker, L. A. Urquhart, the Rev. E. T. Vernon, T. Weir, an
anonymous inspector of police, and the compilers.

BLACK-NECKED GREBE Podiceps nigricollis. On 6th June, H.
M.-G. found a pair on a loch in the Clyde area. He is familiar
with the species, and was able to see the “eared” appearance as
well as the upturned bill. On 15th June he saw two young
birds with the pair. There is no previous breeding record for
the Clyde area.

BITTERN Botaurus stellaris. Mr Wright, gamekeeper at the
Ward’s Farm, Gartocharn, Dunbartonshire, informs us that a
Bittern was heard booming in the big reed-bed there about 20
years ago. Mr Wright is a good observer and the locality is
very suitable for this species.

GaDWALL Anas strepera. A pair were on Dunwan Dam, Ren-
frewshire, on 12th December, 1954, an unusual date in this
area (L.A.U.). One at Hamilton on 28th October (H.M.-G.).

SHOVELER Spatula clypeata. In Scot. Nat., 68: 158, we claim-
ed a 1955 breeding record from near Balmaha as the first for

6 BIRDS OF THE CLYDE AREA 1(1);

West Stirling. H.M.-G. informs us that he found a nest with
nine eggs in the same area on 12th June, 1954.

BEAN Goose Anser fabalis. On 24th November, W.K.R. saw
about twenty-five in a locality in West Stirling, where they
were also seen by M.F.M.M. on the following day.

PINK-FOOTED GoosE Anser brachyrhynchus. This species is
now numerous in winter on Flanders Moss, and in 1956 there
were many more records than usual from the Hamilton area.

Canapa Goose Branta canadensis. A pair nested on Rowbank
Reservoir, Renfrewshire (D.McR.), and we have been told by
an anonymous police inspector in a train that they also nested
on Loch Thom; this is partly confirmed by E.T.V., who in
May saw three adults and three goslings in Routerburn Glen
above Inverkip—in the same area. It is likely that these are
birds from a collection at Cove, Dunbartonshire, where they
are kept in a free-flying state.

. BEWICK’S Swan Cygnus bewickii. On 24th November there
was a family at the Endrick mouth, West Stirling (W.K.R.).

PEREGRINE Falco peregrinus. As reported for previous win-
ters, a Peregrine haunted a tall tower in Glasgow during the
winter months (G.B., H.M.-G.). “It was seen fifteen times
between 10th January and 10th March, and eighteen times
between 3rd September and 6th December.” (H.M.-G.).

NORTHERN GOLDEN PLOVER Charadrius apricarius altifrons.
Barassie, 21st April, seventy-five. ‘““Nearly all these birds were
perfectly clean-cut specimens of C. a. altifrons.” (L.A.U.). Of
a pair at Hamilton on 3rd May one was clearly altifrons in
summer plumage (M.F.M.M.). See, however, Scot. Nat. 69: 89,
where doubts are cast on the validity of this race.

WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus. One at Troon, 6th January
(K.J 3 Three at the Endrick mouth, West Stirling, 14th May
(D.S.). i :

BLACK-TAILED GopWIT Limosa limosa. One at Hamilton on
3rd January (T.W.), seen by various observers until the 24th.
H.M.-G. informs us that the record of ten Bar-tailed Godwits
at the Endrick mouth on 8th May 1954 (Scot. Nat. 67: 69) ought
to refer to this species. The error was due to a misprint.

GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus. One at Hamilton on 3rd
January (F.D.H.), seen by various observers until 21st March
(L.A.U.); also on 9th, 15th and 22nd July (M.F.). One was
seen in a partly flooded sand-quarry at Mount Vernon, in the
eastern suburbs of Glasgow on 18th July (D.S.).

, Dusky REDSHANK Tringa erythropus. One at Hamilton from

| 1958 BIRDS OF THE CLYDE AREA 7

10th March (D.S.) until 16th April (M.F.M.M.), also on 10th
and 12th September (M.F.).

LITTLE STINT Calidris minuta. One at Hamilton on 20th, 21st
and 26th September (M.F.).

_ SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER Calidris acuminata. On 13th Oct-
ober a bird of this species was discovered by W.K.R. on a
patch of muddy ground overgrown with Persicaria at Hamil-
ton. It remained until the 21st and was seen by a number of
observers. A full account of the occurrence has been sent to
British Birds. There is no previous record for Scotland.

- CURLEW-SANDPIPER Calidris subarquata. One at Troon on
8th September (M.F.).

SANDERLING Crocethia alba. Four were seen at Bothwell
Bridge on 10th September by A.H.S., from whom we have re-
ceived a detailed description. Two Dunlins were also present
for comparison.

Rurr Philomachus pugnax. A male was at Hamilton from
3rd January (F.D.H.) until 3rd May, when it was in full black
summer plumage (M.F.M.M.). What may have been the same
bird was seen on 21st and 25th July (D.S., L.A.U.), when it
was losing its breeding plumage. As many as four Ruffs were
seen during the autumn, four being still present on 4th Nov-
ember (L.A.U.). On 23rd September two were seen feeding
in a field near Ayr, where thousands of Peewits and Golden
Plovers were gathered (L.A.U.).

GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus marinus. On 27th May a
nest containing three eggs was found on Flanders Moss among
the colony of Lesser Black-backs Larus fuscus (H.M.-G.).
This inland breeding record is of exceptional interest in view
of the increase in inland records of this species.

Guaucous GuLL Larus hyperboreus. At Hamilton rubbish-
dump an immature bird was seen on 13th January (M.F.M.M.)
and another on 14th October (M.F.M.M., W.K.R.), the latter
staying until 4th November (L.A.U.).

IcELAND GULL Larus glaucoides. On 29th April, at the Doon-
foot, Ayr, was seen an immature bird of the white type

(L.A.U.). We have received an excellent description of this
bird.

Common TERN Sterna hirundo. On 24th June two nests
were found on the Clyde above Hamilton (cf. Scot. Nat. 68:
160); one was empty, the other contained two eggs. By 5th
July they had been flooded out (M.F.).

SANDWIcH TERN Sterna sandvicensis. On 21st August a bird
of this species was seen flying overhead at Hamilton, The ob-

8 BIRDS OF THE CLYDE AREA 1(1)

server saw its large size, short tail-streamers and heard the
“kirric” call (P.G.R.B.). There is no previous record for Lan-
arkshire.

CuirrcHaFrr Phylloscopus collybita. A very early record was
of one seen on llth March at Maidens, Ayrshire. It was seen
at very close quarters, and the brownish colour, dark legs
and even the wing-shape were visible (M.F.M.M.).

PIED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa hypoleuca. A male, Loch Ard,
3rd June (D.S.). One, probably a female, in a damp wood
near Larkhall, 27th July (P.G.R.B.).

Siskin Carduelis spinus. One in pine-trees at Milton by
Bowling, Dunbartonshire, on Ist July (M.F.M.M.).

CRosSsBILL Loxia curvirostra. Several small parties in the
Big Wood of Menteith on 24th September (W.K.R.); another
party in the same area on 27th October (F.D.H., K.McG.).

LapLAND BuntTING Calcarius lapponicus. On 28th January
W.K.R. observed a cock Lapland Bunting at about 1,500 feet
on Lecket Hill in the Campsies (West Stirling, Clyde drain-
age area). It was “very tame, with some chestnut still on the
nape, the usual ‘shuffle-walk’ and ‘ticketty-tyoo’ note on
rising.” The observer Knows the species well. There is no
previous record from the Clyde area, not even from the coast.

TREE SPARROW Passer montanus. On 18th February five
were seen at Bhalloch Farm, one mile south of Girvan
(R.M.R.), and seen in the same place on 20th February
(G.H.-O.).

SHORT NOTES

CORY’S, SHEARWATERS IN THE FIRTH OF FORTH

On 20th September 1957 at the Isle of May the wind was
in the south-east and the weather overcast with drizzle; at
about 0800 hours GMT great numbers of characteristic “drift
migrants” began to arrive—Ortolan Emberiza hortulana,
Little Bunting E. pusilla, Pied Flycatcher Muscicipa hypo-
leuca, Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria, Yellow-browed Warbler
Phylloscopus inornatus, Song Thrush Turdus ericetorum, Ring
Ouzel T. torquatus, Whinchat Sazxicola rubetra, Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Bluethroat Luscinia svecica, Wry-
neck Jynx torquilla, Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus and
Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus. The most numerous were, as
usual, Pied Flycatchers, Whinchats and Redstarts, others being
limited to one or two individuals.

On 21st September similar weather conditions continued

| 1958 SHORT NOTES 9

-and, although many birds from the previous day had left the
island, birds continued to come in, including three other
species, Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca, Blackcap S. atri-
capilla and Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis.

The weather conditions had also brought large numbers
of sea birds into the Firth of Forth and, when we left the
island on the return trip to Pittenweem, we saw (among
other things) one Great Skua Stercorarius skua, four Pomar-
ine Skuas Stercorarius pomarinus and numerous Arctic
Skuas S. parasiticus. Hundreds of Manx Shearwaters Puffinus
pujfinus were flying eastward in a long line over the sea and
With them were three Sooty Shearwaters P. griseus, About
half-way over a very big shearwater flew across our bows. It
was noticeably larger than the Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis
which were near it—which would not be the case with the
Great Shearwater P. gravis, a species of about the same size
as the Fulmar. It was white below and plain brown above,
with no white patch above the tail and lacking the capped
appearance of gravis, in which the head is darker brown
than the back. The bill was light in colour and heavier than
that of the Great Shearwater. I am very familiar with both
Puffinus gravis and Cory’s Shearwater Puffinus kuhlii, one
in the South Atlantic and the other in the Mediterranean,
and have no hesitation whatsoever in identifying this bird as
Cory’s Shearwater, the second record for Scotland. It was
also seen by Miss W. U. Flower, N. G. Campbell, M. E. French,
A. C. Geddes and J. E. King.

M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN.

During the forenoon on 3rd November 1957, Miss M. I.
Kinnear, Miss M. Peters and I were returning from the Isle
of May to Anstruther, Fife. About mid-way in the crossing
we noticed a large shearwater about four hundred yards dis-
tant, flying away from us. It had the typical gliding, tilting
flight and narrow, rigidly extended wings of all shearwaters,
and a passing Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis gave an excellent
measure of its size. The wings of the shearwater were ob-
viously considerably longer, so that from behind it looked
a much bigger bird. The light was good and, through 8x bin-
oculars, the bird’s uniform crown, head and _ upperparts,
merging gradually into the pale throat and breast, were
clearly noted. We saw no sign at all of any white on the
back. After consulting A Field Guide to the Birds of Britain
and Europe we had no doubt that the bird was a Cory’s
Shearwater Puffinus kuhlii, a conclusion confirmed by my
examination of skins in the Royal Scottish Museum. This is
the second Cory’s Shearwater seen in Forth in the autumn
of 1957 (see note above), and the third Scottish record.

During the same crossing we saw two Great Skuas Ster-

10 SHORT NOTES 1(1)

corarius skua, one Little Auk Alle alle and an adult Little
Gull Larus minutus in winter plumage, in addition to the
other sea birds normally encountered on this stretch of

water.
W. J. EGGELING.

GREEN-WINGED TEAL IN ABERDEENSHIRE

On 3lst March 1957 a visit was made, in dull weather with
a slight haar from the sea, to a number of small lochans in
the sands of Forvie, about two miles north-east of the Ythan.
Estuary. On the largest pool were a number of Shelduck,
Mallard, Wigeon and Teal. Of the dozen or so of the latter,
some were on shore and not clearly visible in the grass and
reeds at the water’s edge. One of the drakes, however, did not
show a horizontal white bar above the wing and this bird
was closely observed until eventually it entered the water.
It was then noticed that, in addition, it had a conspicuous
white line curving downwards and forwards from the shoul-
der towards the lower breast. No doubt then remained that
this bird was a male Green-winged Teal Anas crecca carolin-
ensis. Apart from the two features mentioned above the
plumage appeared, in the poor light, to be similar to that of
the European race Anas c. crecca.

The bird remained for three weeks, ranging freely between
the original lochan, Sand Loch, Collieston and Cotehill Loch.
Identification was later confirmed on different dates by Miss
E. A, Garden, G. F. Raeburn, A. J. M. Smith, A. Tewnion and
V. C. Wynne-Edwards. It was last seen on 20th April by
A.J.M.S. and A.T. on the Forvie lochan in company with a
pair of crecca Teal.

A.J.M.S. watched the bird for a total of six and a half
hours in perfect light and has supplied the following addi-
tional notes: “Although it did not appear longer carolinensis
was definitely plumper looking than any of the crecca Teal.
The finer vermiculations of the grey-creamy white on mantle
and scapulars render the carolinensis a decidedly more uni-
form grey than the other. The grey on its sides extended be-
low the water line, whereas the European birds all showed
creamy white above the water line.”

Both A.J.M.S. and A.T. described the diagnostic white
mark as “a crescent angled at about 60 degrees from the
lower breast to the front of the wing at the wrist,’ and
agreed that “the white of the short under-tail covers in
crecca was distinctly creamy buff in carolinensis.”

The bird was once seen being chased by a drake European
Teal, and once displaying to a duck European Teal.

| 1958 SHOP™ NOTES 1b:

! The Director of the Wildfowl Trust stated, in a letter to
| E.A.G., that no free-flying specimen of Anas crecca carolinen-
_ sis was known to be in any collection in Britain or Europe.
| There is good reason, therefore, to believe that this bird was
a genuine immigrant from North America.

WILLIAM CRAWFORD.

| PINK-FOOTED GEESE IN SHETLAND IN JUNE |

In view of the late date, it is of interest to record that on
_ 23rd June 1956 I saw three Pink-footed Geese Anser brachy-
| rthynchus on a grass area about a hundred yards from the sea
_ at Hamars Ness on Fetlar. I watched the geese for fifteen
| minutes while they rested and preened. I did not see them
| feeding and, on being disturbed, they flew away in a south-
westerly direction. Though I stayed on the island till 27th
June, I did not see them again.

J. M. Harrop.

| BRENT GEESE IN WIGTOWNSHIRE

On 20th and 21st September 1957 I saw three Brent Geese
Branta bernicla feeding on Zostera in Loch Ryan. Over the
last five years or so, although I have watched Loch Ryan
fairly regularly, I have never seen Brent Geese in Wigtown-
shire before.

JOHN’ MURRAY.

KITE IN ABERDEENSHIRE

On 13th February 1958 at Seaton Park, Old Aberdeen,
while standing by the Don, I noticed a bird sailing a few
hundred feet up, at a distance of about 500 yards. At first
glance it suggested a Buzzard, but through Zeiss 8 x 40 bin-
oculars it was immediately ‘recognisable as a Kite Milvus
milvus. It remained in sight for two or three minutes and, by
the time it disappeared was perhaps 1,000 yards away. The
time was 8.50 a.m. and the bird was seen against a bright sky
to the north, though the sun was temporarily hidden by
clouds. Before leaving the place I made a note of the follow-
ing details. The colour appeared uniformly dark, relieved
only by a pale carpal area on the undersides of the wings.
The long tail was very distinctly forked. The wings were >
pointed and their span roughly the same as that of Herring
Gulls visible at the same time; the wing-beat was measured
and deep and the flight buoyant. There is no doubt that the
bird, in spite of its dark appearance when seen against the

12 SHORT NOTES 1(1)

sky, was a “common” and not a Black Kite: the deeply fork-
ed tail and light carpal wing-patches, conspicuous at a great
distance, seem quite conclusive.

V. C. WyYNNE-EDWARDS.

WATER-RAIL IN WESTER ROSS

On 13th November 1956, I received from Mr Robert Mac-
kenzie, schoolmaster at Applecross, the body of a Water Rail
Rallus aquaticus which had taken refuge in his kitchen on
the night of the 7th and died there. I can trace no other
record from Wester Ross.

M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN.

PROBABLE COMMON CRANES. IN SHETLAND

About the end of May 1957 a rumour reached Lerwick that
two cranes had been seen in the parish of Dunrossness at
the south end of Shetland. On 7th June I was told that the
birds had been seen again in the same district, but that they
were now bustards. It was time to visit the spot, and the fol-
lowing morning with two friends I went down to Huesbrek in
Dunrossness where the birds had been reported. I was having
a talk with the croft folk at the door of the house and being
told that the birds had been seen quite near the day before,
when my friends at the car shouted that they could see the
two birds. When I reached the car I could see them about 150
yards away on the other side of the road. The first glimpse
of these tall stately birds was sufficient to establish that they
were cranes; and the fact that they were taller than a Heron
—they were looking at us over the top of a wire fence—made
it reasonably certain that they were Common Cranes Grus
grus. I got my binoculars on to them at once, but unfortunate-
ly they took wings and my view of them was very fleeting
before they were in the air. Looking at them against the light
I was unable to see the head markings, nor, as they were in
the act of getting on the wing, could the drooping feathers
over the tail be seen. While both birds were roughly the
colour of a Heron, there was no similarity with a Heron
when they were on the wing, with their long extended necks
and legs stretched out horizontally. With a slow deliberate
flight they flew away in a northerly direction, slowly gaining
height, until they disappeared in the distance and were never
seen again.

It may be noted that Saxby recorded quite a number of
this species in Shetland during the last century, viz.: a small
flock in 1807, two between 1831 and 1835, one in 1848, four in
1864 and one in 1869. According to Venables and Venables
(1955), he also recorded one in Unst on 16th May, 1906.

G. T. Kay.

1958 SHORT NOTES 13
UNUSUAL COLOUR OF LAPWING’S EGGS

On 2nd May 1957 I found, near Connel Ferry bridge, the
nest of a Lapwing Vanellus vanellus with four eggs of an un-
usual colour. The ground colour was beige with a blue-green
tint. There were small black spots at the blunt end and un-
derlying grey-blue blotches. None of these eggs hatched later
on.

Miss RUSSELL-FERGUSON.

BREEDING OF WHIMBREL IN LEWIS

While walking over a Lewis moor on 8th July 1957, I found
myself being pestered by a pair of Whimbrel Numenius
phaeopus which flew round me, calling incessantly and land-
ing within a few yards of me from time to time. They seemed
to be particularly anxious near a certain area, which I searched
without success. I then retired behind a nearby eminence to
watch, still attended by one of the birds, which gave me ample
opportunity to study its conspicuously striped head, smaller-
than-curlew size, and the peculiar bubbling call that I heard
only the previous morning in the B.B.C. programme of bird
song. Soon I picked out the other bird in the area I had
searched and, to my delight, a young chick beside it. The
chick was slowly exploring the neighbourhood, the parent
following closely behind. It gave me great pleasure to find
my first evidence of this species breeding in Lewis.

A pair also nested in the same spot in 1958 when I dis-
covered a nest containing four eggs.

W. A. J. CUNNINGHAM.

BLACK-TAILED GODWITS IN SOLWAY

No Solway records of the Black-tailed Godwit Limosa lim-
Osa were given in a paper on recent occurrences of this bird
in British Birds xlix: 258ff. My records are as follows:

Carsethorn, Kirkcudbrightshire: 22nd September 1952, a
flock of twelve; lst November 1952, about five; 27th Decem-
ber 1952, two.

Glencaple, Dumfriesshire: 22nd August 1954, a flock of
nineteen; 5th September 1954, about eight.

My visits to suitable shores have been mainly after mid-
September, so a regular early autumn passage might have
been missed.

H. MAYER-GROSS.

14 SHORT NOTES 1(1)
GREEN SANDPIPERS IN SOLWAY

The Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus is described as ir-
regular on passage in the Solway. I have recorded it in four
successive springs and three successive autumns at one place
by the R. Nith, one mile below Kingholm Quay. During the
times of year covered by the dates given I have only once, in
late July 1954, looked for birds in this locality with no suc-
cess. Only one November visit, however, was paid.

Spring records: 18th April 1953; 3lst March 1954; 28th
March 1955; 14th April 1956.

Autumn records: 7th September 1953, three; 7th July 1954;
7th August 1954, five; 23rd August 1954, five; 29th August 1954;
10th September 1954; 3rd, 7th and 10th October 1954; 6th
November 1954; 6th and 20th July 1955.

Except where mentioned, either one or two birds were
seen each time. That on 10th October 1954 was seen by a
number of other observers.

At Kirkconnell Merse on the Nith Estuary, I have recorded
one or two birds on 23rd August 1952, 28th August 1953, and
9th October 1953.

It therefore seems that on the lower reaches of the River
Nith the Green Sandpiper is regular on passage, especially in
autumn. The first of the localities mentioned is on the Dum-
fries-Kirkcudbrightshire border, the second in Kirkcudbright-
shire.

H. MayveEr-GRross.

GREAT SKUA BREEDING ON PAPA WESTRAY,
ORKNEY

Neither in The Handbook (1948), The Popular Handbook
(1952), The Birds of Scotland (1953) nor The Birds and Mam-
mals of Shetland (1955) is any mention made of the Great
Skua Stercorarius skua breeding in the Orkney Islands else-
where than on Hoy. It is therefore of some interest that on
18th July 1953, in company with a Mr Thomson of Pierowall,
Westray, I visited the adjacent island of Papa Westray in
North Orkney, and after some search located a Great Skua
chick almost five weeks old. It was still unable to fly and
was hiding in rank grass on the moor about a mile from the
north end of the island. The adult birds were present and
constantly attacked, while another pair which continuously
circled in the vicinity were accompanied by two very recently
fledged young ones. Mr Thomson had suspected for some
years that the Great Skua was nesting on Papa Westray for

1958 SHORT NOTES 15

he had become accustomed to seeing the birds regularly on
the coast of Westray (where they do not nest) during the
breeding season. Until my visit, however, he had been un-
able to confirm his suspicion.

A. TEWNION.

GREAT SKUA IN NORTH PERTH

As inland occurrences of the Great Skua Stercorarius skua
are very infrequent anywhere, it is worth recording that I
saw one crossing the moorland on Garth, some three and a
half miles NNW of Kenmore, Perthshire, on 15th August
1957. At the time there was a northerly gale, which had been
blowing for about 12 hours. Excellent views were had of this
bird as it eventually passed in an easterly direction within 35
yards of me. I know the Great Skua well on its breeding
grounds. There appears to be no previous record for North
Perth.

JAMES W. CAMPBELL.

KITTIWAKES IN NORTH PERTH

On 10th February 1957 I found a dead adult Kittiwake Rissa
tridactyla on a tangle of flotsam by the River Tay about half
a mile west of Grandtully Bridge, Strathtay. The bird on
dissection was found to be extremely emaciated, with no sub-
cutaneous fat, and it had evidently been dead for at least a
week. The upper alimentary tract was empty. The plumage
was perfect, without a trace of injury. Later that day I re-
trieved the remains of a gull entangled in riverside scrub
about a quarter of a mile east of the first corpse; this had
been badly mauled, probably by rats, but enough remained
intact to show that it was also a Kittiwake. About the same
time I had seen another gull floating down, unfortunately on
the other side of the Tay; this was very likely another Kitti-
wake, but it was too far off for certainty, and could possibly
have been a Common Gull Larus canus.

On 23rd March, I found another dead adult Kittiwake
within fifty yards of where I had seen the second bird. This
had also been mauled and had been dead for several weeks.
Mr William Davidson, Director of the Museum and Art Gal-
lery, Perth, informs me that he received a Kittiwake from
Pitlochry in November 1956. It seems likely that there had
been a wreck of these birds this stormy winter, 1956-7. It is
interesting that the examples seen by me were in the area
which produced several specimens of Leach’s Petrel Oceano-
droma leucorrhoa during their wreck in October-November
1953.

Harvie-Brown (Fauna of the Tay Basin and Strathmore

16 SHORT NOTES 1(1)

(1906) p. 340, remarks that this species is of quite exceptional
occurrence at any inland locality, but gives no records for
this area of any away from the coast. The only previous oc-
currence from North Perth that I can trace is recorded in the
register of birds in the Perth Museum collection; this was
an adult male in winter plumage, obtained by J. Macdonald,
gamekeeper, at the head of Loch Rannoch on 23rd February
1882. The bird is no longer in the collection and Mr Davidson
tells me that it was probably discarded many years ago with
other old specimens, being replaced by another Kittiwake in
better plumage from outside the area. It seems a pity that
specimens like this, which are of considerable historical value
to students of local faunal areas, should be discarded and re-
placed by new specimens, in order to maintain the “display”
standard of collections.
JAMES W. CAMPBELL.

LATE BLACK TERN IN ANGUS

On 26th October 1957 I watched an immature Black Tern
Chlidonias niger feeding at high tide along the western shore
of Montrose Basin, Angus. This seems worthy of record in
view of the late date and the scarcity of the species in
northern Scotland.

JEFFERY G. HARRISON.

BLACK TERN IN SOUTH UIST

At about 1100 hours on 6th June 1957, I saw a Black Tern
Chlidonias niger on Loch Hallam flying with Arctic Terns
Sterna macrura. An adult bird in full summer plumage, it
was heard to call and watched feeding. It remained for about
two hours, after which it flew off due north. The bird was also
seen by R. E. Emmett and H. P. Medhurst.

JOHN IZZARD.

BLACK TERN IN SOUTH PERTH

When fishing on the Lower Rhynd Loch, near Carsebreck,
on 11th June 1958, we had the company of a Black Tern Chli-
donias niger for most of the evening. It appeared about 2000
hours and was still there when we left at 2330 hours. During
most of that time it was circling round scooping flies off the
surface of the water, often quite near the boat, giving us an

excellent view.
GEORGE T. JAMIESON.

LITTLE TERN BREEDING IN WIGTOWNSHIRE
At the end of June 1957 I found the nest of a Little Tern

1958 SHORT NOTES shed

Sterna minuta in a small colony of Arctic Tern S. macrura on
the shore of Loch Ryan, Wigtownshire. On 2nd July there was
one young bird and two unhatched eggs in the nest. I can
find no previous record of breeding in the county.

The birds were also present at the same locality in 1958.

JOHN Murray.

NUMEROUS LONG-EARED OWLS IN
ABERDEENSHIRE

While I was attending a covert shoot on 20th November
1957 numbers of Long-eared Owls Asio otus were seen at
Murby Plantation, Ballogie, near Aboyne, The figures for in-
dividual drives were seven, eighteen and four birds. One
Tawny Owl Strix aluco was also seen. The owls were driven
out of coniferous plantations mainly composed of Scotch Pine
Pinus sylvesris. Another shoot on 4th December 1957 at Pit-
slugerty Croft, Ballogie, yielded further counts of one, two,
five and three Long-eared Owls, and of six Tawny Owls.
Long-eared Owls were easily recognised by the presence of
a black spot on the underside of the wing as they flew over-
head. One Long-eared Owl was accidentally shot by one of
the guns. The nature of the shoot was such that it is possible
that the same bird may have been counted more than once
during the course of the three or four drives held at the two
shoots, but the maximum counts (e.g., eighteen and five) are
true maxima. 3

R. W. ALLAN.

FEEDING HABITS OF RAVEN IN SHETLAND

One has always been led to believe that Raven Corvus
corax fed solely upon any offal it could pick up, but during
the course of my observations over the past three years, I
have noticed their feeding habits changing.

At Baltasound, Unst, in 1955, when the oats were newly
sown, I observed a few Ravens eating what I took to be grubs
which had been turned up by the harrows; but in the fall of
that year, when the oats had been cut and stooked, not only
were the birds on the ground, but were actually sitting on
top of the stooks, eating oats. In the season of 1956 the same
procedure took place, but the birds were far more numerous;
I observed between fifty and sixty of them on a three acre
field. One that was shot was found to be full of oats.

With the advent of milder winters there has not been any
severe snow to kill off many of the hill sheep and so the
Raven has to some extent been deprived of much of its nat-

-18 SHORT NOTES 1(1)

ural food: bearing this in mind one wonders if the Raven,
not being able to find carrion, may not yet have to resort to
the more palatable breakfast of porridge!

JAY IN AYRSHIRE

A few days before 21st November 1957 a Jay Garrulus glan-
darius was both seen and-heard by my keeper at Rowallan,
and I myself was puzzled a few days later when I heard what
I would have sworn was a Jay, but, never having seen them
here as far back as memory goes, I could not imagine what it
was. Since then it has been seen several times by my keeper,
always in some woodland strips round the Home Farm, and
during a covert shoot I saw and was able to identify it with-
out any doubt as it flew about 150 yards and perched on the
top of a tree. It was also seen by the beaters and one of the
walking guns.

I have given orders that the Jay is not to be shot; nee that
I really want Jays about the place, but it will be exceedingly
interesting to see if it acquires a mate and how long it re-
mains. The bird’s call and flight left no possible chance of
mistaking its identity.

S. T. SaxBy.

ROWALLAN.

(Lord Rowallan has since written, 9th July 1958: “I am
afraid the Jay has left us.”—Eb.)

TWO UNUSUAL NESTS OF THE BLUE TIT

Two unusual nests of the Blue Tit Parus caeruleus seem to
deserve record. The first was found by M.F.M.M,. on 19th
May 1957, near Gartocharn, Dunbartonshire. It was a domed
nest in a fissure of the trunk of a lime-tree and had undoubt-
edly been originally built by a Wren Troglodytes troglodytes.
It was constructed mainly of old leaves, especially those of
bracken, and was a typical Wren’s nest in site, shape and
material. Within, however, a Blue Tit was sitting close: the
bird’s white forehead and blue crown were visible, and the
characteristic hiss was uttered when a finger was placed on
the lip of the hole. The second nest was found by I.C.C. near
Caldarvan, Dunbartonshire, on 26th May 1957, when it con-
tained small chicks. It was built in the open and resembled
the nest of a Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus, being domed
and made of moss and lichen. The nest was in a small haw-
thorn bush, beside which was growing a clump of the pal-
mate bamboo. A fallen tree had forced the tops of a few bam-
boo stems against the stem of the hawthorn, and the tits had
made a large platform of moss on the crowded leaves. The
nest and dome were on one side of this platform, against the
hawthorn stem.

Iain C. CHRISTIE,
M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN.

1958 SHORT NOTES 19

BARRED WARBLER IN FIFE

At Fife Ness on 22nd September 1957, George Dick and I
saw an extremely skulking bird frequenting the gorse. In
size it compared, say, with a Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra
| and was larger than the House Sparrows and Garden Warb-

lers that were about. On being flushed, six or seven times, it
| was seen to have the typical warbler flight, though rather
| heavy, and the habit of always diving for cover, so that we
_ were never lucky enough to put glasses on it. Its most striking
feature was the general colour, a very noticeable light or ash
grey. G.D. noted whitish at the sides of the tail. We are of
the opinion that this bird was a Barred Warbler Sylvia nis-
oria.

Strong easterly winds had been blowing for three days be-
fore, and Barred Warblers were seen on the Isle of May
during the same period. Other migrants seen at Fife Ness
the same day were Goldcrests, Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts,
Garden Warblers, Blackcaps and a single Lesser Whitethroat.

JoHN Hoy.

PIED FLYCATCHER BREEDING IN
CLACKMANNANSHIRE

In company with Mr A. Crawford, I observed a pair of
Pied Flycatchers Muscicapa hypoleuca feeding young at a nest
in Dollar Glen, Clackmannanshire on 16th June 1957. The
nest, which contained four young between seven and ten
days old, was ina hole in a rowan tree. During earlier
visits the male was in full song on 19th May, and was again
seen on the 25th. This appears to be the first breeding record
of the Pied Flycatcher in Clackmannan. It should also be
noted here that a male Pied Flycatcher was seen in Dollar
Glen in the summers of 1951 and 1956 (Edinburgh Bird Bul-
letin 1: 70,7: 16). ,

Pied Flycatchers bred in the same nesting hole at Dollar
Glen in 1958, the young hatching and probably fledging. A
second male was present and singing continuously throughout
the season. In 1958 both males were first summer birds, sooty
brown instead of black, with dingy white breasts, whereas

the 1957 male was fully adult.
JOHN Hoy.

GREY WAGTAIL BREEDING IN LEWIS

On 28th and 29th June 1957, I watched a family of Grey
Wagtails Motacilla cinerea on and near the banks of the Bay-

= 20 SHORT. NOTES 1(1)

head River in Stornoway. The two young birds were fully
fledged and were attended by both parents, I had previously
seen a pair on the River Creed near Stornoway on 25th and
3ist March 1957, but not thereafter. :
W. A. J. CUNNINGHAM.

YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTING AT THE ISLE OF MAY

- On 18th September 1957 on the Isle of May the weather was
overcast and rather misty, the wind being SSE, Force 2, de-
clining to nil in the afternoon. Pied Flycatchers Muscicapa
-hypoleuca, which are nearly always evidence of drift migra-
‘tion across the North Sea, were present.

At about 1400 hours GMT, just north of the Pilgrims’
Haven, I saw a bird new to me in the company of Rock Pipits
Anthus spinoletta petrosus. In a first brief view—after which
it temporarily vanished—it appeared to be a small finch or
bunting with striking yellow-buff underparts and a pale ap-
pearance on the upperparts on account of yellowish edgings
to certain feathers, a similar colour scheme, one might say,
to that of the Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola. The
bird was later re-discovered perched on the stay of a mast
near the Top Lighthouse, where it was watched in a bad light,
but better views were later had at close range as it perched
on a rock. It was finally chased away by Rock Pipits and not
seen again.

It was very small for a bunting, about the size of a Linnet.
While ‘perched it constantly uttered a loud “tick”, which
could easily have been mistaken for that of the Robin Erith-
acus rubecula: the sound was much more like the call-note
of the Robin than is that of the Little Bunting Emberiza
‘pusilla, which was heard two days later. The head looked
very stripy. The crown was pale, bordered with black. Very
marked yellowish-buff eye stripe. Dark line through eye.
Ear-covers buff with dark line below. Underparts uniform
bright yellow buff; no streaking observed. Closed wing had
bright buff on edges of covert feathers, giving a markedly
pale appearance. There was some white on the outer tail
feathers. The bill was pale. I have no doubt that the bird was
a Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola, a species which
cannot easily be confused with any other. I am familiar with
twelve other species of Palaearctic buntings.

M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN.

LITTLE BUNTING—AND OTHER BIRDS—ON RHUM

On the 8th October 1957 Mr Peter Wormell and I noticed a
small bird feeding in short grass beside the shepherd’s house

1958 SHORT NOTES 21

| at Harris on the Isle of Rhum. It was a bunting which neither

of us had met before, but from its head pattern and small

size we thought it must be a Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla.
| Having noted its salient features one of us motored back to

Kinloch and returned with A Field Guide to the Birds of
Britain and Europe, and the relevant volume of The Hand-
book. The bunting was very tame and we were able to exam-

_ine it by telescope (x25) at such close range that it filled the

|

whole field of the glass. Checking against the descriptions

_and plates in the reference books we were able to confirm
_ with complete certainty our provisional identification and to
place it as a first winter bird. The dark-sided buff chestnut

_erown, foxy side of the head, black malar markings and

breast streaks, and pale legs were clearly obvious. The bird
fed incessantly, returning again and again to favourite

_ patches of short grass on the roadway which contained fruit-
ing plantains. It moved mouse-like over the ground and with
great ease we maneouvred it into a roughly constructed fun-

nel of fish-netting, from which with equal facility it escaped,
the mesh being just too large to contain it, This is apparently
the first record of a Little Bunting from the Inner Hebrides.

It may be noted here that since 1956 seventeen species or
subspecies of birds have been seen on Rhum which are not
recorded in Dr W. R. P. Bourne’s recent list (Scot. Nat. 69:
21-31), in addition to the resident Rock Pipit Anthus spino-
letta petrosus, omitted from his list in error. These additional
birds are: Teal Anus crecca, Greenland Whitefronted
Goose Anser albifrons flavirostris, Velvet Scoter Melanitta
nigra, Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus, Jack Snipe Lymnocryp-
tes minimus, Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus, Greenshank
Tringa nebularia, Little Stint Calidris minuta, Dunlin C.
alpina, Sanderling Crocethia alba, Carrion Crow Corvus cor-
one corone, Rook C. frugilegus, Jackdaw C. monedula, Tree-
Creeper Certhia familiaris, Fieldfare Turdus pilaris, Redwing
T. musicus, and White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba. Sparrow-
hawks Accipiter nisus have been seen two or three times,
Swallows Hirundo rustica fairly often, a Swift Apus apus at
least once, and flocks of Lesser Redpolls Carduelis flammea
on several occasions. A single Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus,
present both in 1956 and 1957, was almost certainly the only
one of its kind on the island.

Dr Bourne states that he found no endemic mammals, rep-
tiles or amphibia; but Pygmy Shrews Sorex minutus, Field-
mice Apodemus, lizards and newts do in fact occur. Rhum is
now a National Nature Reserve with a resident warden:
from regular observations many new records, not only of
birds but also of other fauna, may confidently be expected.

W. J. EGGELING.

22 OBITUARY i(q1)

THE LATE JAMES BARTHOLOMEW OF GLENORCHARD

A notable figure in Scottish ornithology for over half a century passed
away when James Bartholomew, M.B.O.U., died in the autumn of last year.
*J.B.”’ as he was more familiarly known among his contemporaries was in
his 85th year, and during the course of his long life he made many valuable
contributions to ornithological journals, the fruit of careful and competent
field-observations in the area of Glenorchard, his beautiful home near
Balmore. He was one of the first in Scotland to take up the bird-ringing
scheme when it was first introduced by the late H. F. Witherby, and many
of the more interesting of early recoveries were from his hand.

He made his first contributions to the Annual Reports as early as 1902,
and from that time his name appears frequently in the “Annals of Scot-
tish Natural History” and ‘The Scottish Naturalist,” as well as “The Glas-
gow Naturalist.’”’ He was a member of the Royal Society for the Protection
of Birds, and a founder-member of the Scottish Society for the Protection
of Wild Birds, and became the first President of the Society from its
formation in 1927 until he relinquished the position for reason of health in
1945, when he was made an Honorary President.

He was a founder-member also of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club when
it was initiated in 1936, and a member of its first Council till its activities
ceased in 1940. On the revival of the Club after the war he became Vice-
Chairman of the Glasgow Branch until the year before his death. In 1950
he was elected a Member of the British Ornithologists Union.

For one with such knowledge and experience he was one of the most
unassuming of men, never seeking to parade his knowledge or vaunt his
opinions. To spend an afternoon with him at Glenorchard at any time of
year was to be caught up and re-infected with something of this man’s
absorbing passion of his lifetime ; and his obvious delight at some discov-
ery of the new or unusual, such as the wintering of blackcaps in his own
grounds, could not fail to convey something of its thrill to the listener.
He has bequeathed a sum of money to the S.O.C. and also his compre-
hensive library on ornithology, which is now housed with the Club library
in Edinburgh.

He slipped away on the great migration as peacefully and quietly as he
had lived. Perhaps more valuable to some of us than his legacy is the
memory he has left of a gracious and friendly man, loving all life whether
of human or avian form, incapable of hurt to anyone, generous and self-
effacing, and without a trace of meanness or smallness in his soul.

iSAEATA

NOTICE TO MEMBERS

IMPORTANT—Annual Subscriptions for the current session should
NOT be paid until a decision is reached at the Annual General Meeting in
Perth on 25th October regarding the recommendation by Council to in-
crease subscriptions from 20s to 25s, and from 5s to 7s 6d. (See Agenda for
Annual General Meeting on p. 24). All Members will be notified of the
decision, and also of the name and address of the new Hon. Treasurer, in
the Winter number of “Scottish Birds.”

OFFICIAL SECTION 25

The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

ELEVENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE

PERTH

24th /26th OcToBER, 1958

PROGRAMME

FRIDAY, 24th OCTOBER :—

6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. Reception Office in the Museum and Art Gallery,

6.15 p.m.
8 p.m.

George Street, opens for Members and Guests to
register for the Conference (5s each). Collect Name
Cards and Annual Dinner tickets (12s 6d each).

Meeting of Council.

Public Lecture — “HIGHLAND BIRDS” — in aid of
the funds of the Royal Society for the Protection of
Birds. A full-length colour film of the bird-life of the
Central Highlands with commentary by Mr George
Waterson. In the Large Town Hall. Admission (pay-
able at entrance) 3s 6d & 2s 6d. Schoolchildren half-
price.

8 p.m. to midnight Ballroom in the Royal George Hotel reserved for in-

formal discussions and refreshments.

SATURDAY, 25th OCTOBER :—

8.45 a.m.
9.20 a.m.

9.30 a.m.

10.45 a.m.
11.15 a.m.

12.30 p.m.

1 to 2 p.m.

Reception Office opens for Registrations.

Official Opening of the Conference in the Lecture
Hall, Museum and Art Gallery, George Street.
ADDRESS OF WELCOME by John Buchan Esq.,
D.L., J.P. (Lord Provost of Perth).

LECTURE on “Field taxonomy at Bird Observatories”
illustrated with slides and specimens, by Mr Kenneth
Williamson (Migration Research Officer of the
British Trust for Ornithology).

INTERVAL for coffee and biscuits.
COLOUR FILMS of ‘North Rona and Sulisgeir” with

personal commentary by the photographer, Mr James
MacGeoch (Nature Conservancy Warden).

CONFERENCE GROUP PHOTOGRAPH outside the
Museum.

INTERVAL for informal lunches. (Hotels must be
informed).

24

2 to 5.45 p.m.

6.15 p.m.

7.30 p.m.

8 p.m.

OFFICIAL SECTION 1(1)

EXCURSIONS to :—

(a) Morton Lochs and Tentsmuir.

(b) Lindores Loch and Eden Estuary.

(c) Dunkeld Lochs.

(d) Angus Lochs.

(e) Loch Leven.

Transport by private cars leaving Museum and Art
Gallery.

22nd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE
CLUB in the Lecture Hall, Museum and Art Gallery,
George Street.

BUSINESS :—

(1) Apologies for absence.

(2) Approval of Minutes of 2lst Annual General
Moone held in North Berwick on 26th October,
1957.

(3) Report of Council for Session XXI.

(4) Approval of Accounts for Session XXI.

(5) Appointment of Auditor.

(6) Approval of the following alterations to the Con-
stitution recommended by the Council :—

(a) That under MEMBERSHIP 3 (h) “Any Mem-
ber whose subscription is three years in
arrears shall cease to belong to the Club”,
the words “is three years in arrears” be
deleted, and the following substituted :-—
“due on Ist October is not paid by the
following 3lst March.”

(b) That under MEMBERSHIP 3 (e) “The Annual
Subscription shall be £1 ; or 5s in the case of
Members who are under 21 years of age or
in the case of University Undergraduates
who satisfy the Council of their status as
such at the time at which their subscriptions
fall due in any year”, the words “£1 ; or 5s.”
be altered to “25s; or 7s 6d.” (This motion
to be approved on the understanding that
the Club will publish a quarterly magazine
“Scottish Birds,” to be issued free to all
Members.)

(7) Approval of the appointment of a new Honorary
Treasurer. (Mr A. G. S. Bryson, C.A., who at the
end of this Session will have served the Club in
this capacity for twelve years, has intimated that
he does not wish his name to go forward for re-
election.)

(8) Election of two new Members of Council. (The
Council recommend the election of Mr A. G. S.
Bryson and Lt. Col. J. P. Grant, Younger of
Rothiemurchus, to replace Mr W. Austin and
Miss Winifred Flower who retire by rotation.)

(9) Any other business.

RE and refreshments in York House, York
ace.

ANNUAL DINNER in York House, York Place. Dress
ae (Price 12s 6d each, inclusive of tip. Drinks
extra.

|
: |

1958 OFFICIAL SECTION 25

SUNDAY, 26th OCTOBER :—

9.30 a.m. COLOUR FILMS AND SLIDES of “The Osprey and
other Scandinavian birds” with personal commentary
by the photographer, Mr M. D. England.

10.45 a.m. INTERVAL for coffee and biscuits.

11.15 a.m. EXHIBITION OF BIRD PAINTINGS by Donald
Watson in the Lecture Hall, Museum and Art Gallery.

KES a.m. MILLAIS COLLECTION OF BIRD SKINS: The

to 12.30 p.m. Museum will be open for inspection.

2 p.m. EXCURSIONS (as for Saturday) by private cars

leaving the Museum and Art Gallery.

INFORMATION

In order to simplify arrangements, it is essential that Members intending
to be present should complete the enclosed printed postcard and send it to
the Club Secretary NOT LATER THAN 21st OCTOBER.

Members may invite guests, and are particularly asked to provide private
cars where possible, for Excursions. Petrol expenses should be shared.

Everyone attending the Conference must register (5s each) on arrival, at
the Reception Office. (Open Friday 24th, 6 to 7.30 p.m.; and Saturday 25th,
8.45 to 9.30 a.m.) Members wishing to attend the Annual General Meeting
ONLY do not require to pay the registration fee which covers incidental
expenses—hire of rooms, projection equipment, mid-morning coffee, etc.

Payment for tickets for the Annual Dinner (price 12s 6d inclusive of
tips) should be made when registering on arrival NO PAYMENTS
SHOULD BE MADE IN ADVANCE.

All Hotel bookings should be made direct with the Hotel at which you
wish to stay. Owing to the general shortage of single rooms, younger
members are urged to make arrangements to share a room with a friend
Private arrangements must be made with your Hotel for lunches each day.
The Secretary is NOT responsible for Hotel bookings.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION IN PERTH

ROYAL GEORGE HOTEL (Conference H.Q.) B. &
(Telephone 890)
Atholl Private Hotel (Tel. 951)
Queen’s Hotel (Tel. 1295)
Salutation Hotel (Tel. 836)
Station Hotel (Tel. 741)
Waverley Hotel (Tel. 165)

Colesfeslesles
RE Ro RO RO RP
SRecdede oes

op

(eo)

5

=

172)

CLUB LIBRARY

The Club Library is now housed in the Secretary’s Office at 5 Charlotte
Square, Edinburgh, 2. The collection has recently been augmented by
several gifts, and Council appeals to Members to donate books and
periodicals which they may wish to dispose of. We have no volumes of
the “Ibis” prior to 1944. The Library is open during office hours for
reference. Books or magazines, of which we have duplicate copies, can be
obtained on loan.

Walter Thomson, Printer, Selkirk

SCOTTISH
BIRD S,rey

—

The Journal of
The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

Vol. I. No. 2 Winter 1958

Reprinted 1973

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

M[PHE Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was founded in 1936 and membership

is open to all interested in Scottish ornithology. Meetings are held
during the winter months in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and
St Andrews, at which lectures by prominent orinthologists are given and
films exhibited. Excursions are organised in the summer to places of
ornithological interest.

The aims and objects of the Club are to (a) encourage and direct the
study of Scottish Ornithology in all its branches; (b) co-ordinate the
efforts of Scottish Ornithologists and encourage co-operation between field
and indoor worker; (c) encourage ornithological research in Scotland in
co-operation with other organisations; (d) hold meetings at centres to be
arranged at which Lectures are given, films exhibited, and discussions
held; and (e) publish or arrange for the publication of statistics and in-
formation with regard to Scottish ornithology.

There are no entry fees for Membership. The Annual subscription is
25/-; or 7/6 in the case of Members under twenty-one years of age or in
the case of University undergraduates who satisfy the Council of their
status as such at the time of which their subscriptions fall due in any
year. ‘‘Scottish Birds’’ is issued free to members.

The affairs of the Club are controlled by a Council composed of the Hon.
Presidents, the President, the Vice-President, the Hon. Treasurer, cne
Representative of each Branch Committee appointed annually by the
Branch, and ten other Members of the Club elected at an Annual General
Meeting. Two of the last named retire annually by rotation and shall not
be eligible for re-election for one year.

A Scottish Bird Records’ Committee, appointed by the Council, produce
an annual Report on ‘Ornithological Changes in Scotland”’.

Full details are given in the Syllabus of Lectures Card of the names of
the present Office-bearers of the Club.

An official tie with small white Crested Tits embroidered on it can be
obtained in dark green or navy blue by Members only from Messrs R.
W. Forsyth Ltd., Princes Street, Edinburgh, or 5 Renfield Street, Glasgow,
C.2, at a cost of 13s 9d post free. A small brooch in silver and blue can be
obtained for the use of Members of the Club. Price 2s 6d each from the
Hon. Secretary, or from Hon. Branch Secretaries.

Forms of application for Membership, copy of the Club Constitution,
and other literature is obtainable from the Club Secretary, Mr George
Waterston, 5 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh 2.

CLUB LIBRARY

The Club Library is now housed in the Secretary’s Office at 5 Charlotte
Square, Edinburgh, 2. The collection has recently been augmented by
several gifts, and the Council appeals to Members to donate books and
periodicals which they may wish to dispose of. We have no volumes of
the “Ibis” prior to 1944. The Library is open during office hours for
reference. Books or magazines, of which we have duplicate copies, can be
obtained on loan.

oe

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

All notes dealing with birds in the eastern Lowlands, from Berwick-on-
Tweed to Dundee, should be submitted to A. T. Macmillan, 66 Spylaw
Bank Road, Edinburgh, 13; all other contributions to M. F. M. Meikle-
john, 20 Falkland Street, Glasgow, W.2. It would be helpful if notes were
typewritten, if possible, and double spaced.

SCOTTISH BIRDS

THE JOURNAL OF THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

Vol. 1 No. 2 Reprinted 1973 Winter 1958

Edited by M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN, with the assistance of D. G. ANDREW
and A. T. MACMILLAN. Business Editor, ARTHUR J. SMITH. Cover design
(Red-breasted Mergansers) by LEN FULLERTON, Published quarterly.

Editorial

HIS second number of Scottish Birds will be seen to be
larger than the first, thanks to the many members of the
S.0.C. who have sent us their notes. These, as will be seen,
are of high quality and interest, although we must make a
request for greater geographical and chronological precision:
to say that a bird occurred at Milton on Friday is not enough.
Which Milton and which Friday is what is required. This
number has brought the back records almost completely up
to date, and it is now hoped to publish future ones in the issue
of Scottish Birds after which they have been submitted.

The most striking ornithological event of 1958 has also been
the most depressing—the attempted nesting of the Osprey
and the subsequent destruction of its eggs. This has also been
a “Crossbill year’, and drift migration was especially re-
markable at the beginning of September.

With the publication of Scottish Birds, the Edinburgh Bird
Bulletin and Glasgow Bird Bulletin, which have played such
a useful part in Scottish ornithology in recent years, are
committing a generous suicide. We hope to publish a short
account of these periodicals in the next issue.

Again thanks are due to Mr Len Fullerton for his admirable
cover design. It should be explained that it is intended to have
a different typically Scottish bird for each quarter of the
year.

Thanks should be given to all contributors, especially to’
Mr Alistair Smith, who has sent a voluminous collection of
notes, many of which are printed here, and to Mr Finlay
McIntosh, for his accurate correction of typed drafts.

26 PERTH CONFERENCE 1(2)

THE CONFERENCE OF THE
SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB 1958

The annual conference of the S.O.C. at Perth was quite as
enjoyable and remarkable as usual. The week-end, 24th to
26th October, was fine and Perthshire was at its best, especially
for the outings on Saturday afternoon. Nobody seemed to see
anything very startling, but there was talk afterwards of
geese, gadwall, godwits and black-necked grebes. There were
perhaps fewer visitors from England than in past years, but
we were glad to welcome a party of ornithologists from
Northern Ireland who surprised us by their knowledge of the
birds of Antarctica as well as their excitement over a short-
eared owl on the Eden estuary. We worked our guests hard.
Mr Kenneth Williamson gave a masterly summary of the
work of British bird observatories and suggested some of the
lines of future research, especially in the taxonomy of the
living bird as opposed to the museum skin. Mr Derrick Eng-
land brought an exhibition of his magnificent bird portraits,
mostly of Scandinavian species, and also showed some re-
markable colour films. Mr James McGeoch showed us the
results of his latest visit, this time with a ciné camera, to
North Rona and Sulisgeir, and further enhanced our high
opinion of him as a photographer. Although taken under very
difficult conditions and as yet unedited, this film contained
some of the best material seen by an S.O.C. audience for many
years. Two other talks, both illustrated with ciné film, took us
to Antarctica with Mr Cecil Scotland and to Iceland with Miss
Valerie Thom. There is no doubt that ornithologists travel
more than most and that we are fortunate to have so many
members and guests who are able now with the help of films
to share their experiences with us on their return. An in-
formal showing of slides on the first evening of the Confer-
ence took us to the 1958 International Congress at Helsinki
with Mr Ian Munro, to the bird observatories of south Sweden
with Dr David Jenkins, and even to Antarctica and the An-
tipodes.

The undoubted success of the Conference was due largely
to the hard work of the Secretary and the efficiency of the
Chairman. Sir Charles Connell steered the increased sub-
scription through the A.G.M. with persuasive logic, and Scot-
tish Birds received a unanimous blessing. We parted with our
old-established Treasurer, Mr A. G. S. Bryson, with sorrow
and gratitude, and welcomed Mr Robert Hillcoat in his place.
Sir Charles also conducted our affairs at the Annual Dinner
in a way which almost compensated for the shortage of wine
waiters, and the postprandial speeches were well up to the

1958 PERTH CONFERENCE 27

expected standard. To Mr England must go the credit for
quite the best story of a vicar’s daughter we have heard for
some time; to Miss Winifred Flower a bouquet for a polished
and witty reply and a personal testimony to the social value
of the fraternity of ornithosophists all over the world. Dr Ian
Pennie laughed as heartily as the rest of us at his own High-
land humour; and Mr James Ferguson-Lees replied for the
guests with a plaintive reminder that only the latest alter-
ation to the Constitution approved two hours before had
voted him out of the Club and into the status of a guest
whose subscription was about two years in arrears. After a
slick tie-changing demonstration to affirm publicly his inten-
tion to mend his ways, he proposed a counter-toast to the
Club, coupled with the names of Professor M. F. M. Meikle-
john and Mr George Waterston. In drinking it we pledged our
co-operation to them both. We hope that in future some
practical help will be given to the Secretary in organising the
Conference so that he too can be allowed to enjoy it as much
as the rest of us always do. It is after all thanks to his organ-
isation that it has now reached proportions such that nobody
could be expected to run the whole show single-handed.

C. K. M.

CORRESPONDENCE

With reference to the Water Rail Rallus aquaticus in Wester
Ross (antea 1: 12), I have been checking up general west
coast distribution and find that, though Baxter and Rintoul
(The Geographical Distribution and Status of Birds in Scot-
land) give no record for Wester Ross, Harvie-Brown and Mac-
pherson (A Fauna of the North-west Highlands and Skye) do
so. They mention one sent from Braemore for preservation
and, with less conviction, a sight record of “a flight” at Inver-
an. They also refer to a skin from Kyleakin Lighthouse which,
as I have checked on large scale maps, stands on a twenty-
acre odd island, forming part of the Parish of Lochalsh. This
record, therefore, also belongs to Wester Ross.

J. W. CAMPBELL.

\28 REVIEW 1(2)

REVIEW

WILD VENTURE, A Bird Watcher in Scotland, by KENNETH
RICHMOND. pp.223. 25 photographs. London, Geoffrey Bles,
1958. 21/-.

Both the title of this book and its subtitle are apt: to its
author Scottish bird-watching is a great adventurous enter-
prise, an adventure of the mind as well as of the body. Mr
Kenneth Richmond’s physical aspirations, sometimes of the
Ben-Narnain-before-breakfast type, are matched by an
equally agile mind, which is constantly re-examining those
hoary old conceptions with which ornithology is littered, and
adding spicy unorthodox arguments of his own.

As an ornithologist Mr Richmond must be one of the best
all-rounders in Britain to-day. He studies great birds of prey
and small passerines, wild fowl and game birds, waders and
seafowl with equal enthusiasm; no bird is dull to him. Court-
ship and nest-finding, feeding and rearing young, the effect
of meteorological considerations on such widely different
topics as drift migration and the breeding distribution of the
Ptarmigan, attempts to enter into the mind of various sick
and wounded birds which he has nursed and grown to know
intimately, rare birds and common birds—all are of interest
to him. He indulges in motoring, mountaineering, university
lecturing and broadcasting; numerous bird essays from a
fertile pen; exquisite paintings in water colour and now,
quite recently, bird photography—all these facets of the man
and his book compel one to classify him alongside Wilsons
Phalarope as arare avis.

Besides the last named species, the Storm Petrel, Gannet
and various waders are dealt with under “Sea and Shore
Birds”; the Whooper Swan, six species of goose, the Red-
throated and Black-throated Divers and the Red-necked
Phalarope are discussed under “Wild Fowl and Waders”;
Black Grouse, Ptarmigan and Capercaillie under “Game |
Birds”; and Golden Eagle, Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Goshawk,
Iceland Falcon and Short-eared Owl under “Predators”.

The book, including the dust-cover, is illustrated by photo-
graphs of varying technical quality. A number of them are
of tame or sickly birds.

Finally—or should one not say “firstly”?—a graphic intro-
duction describes how, through the eyes of this Tees-sider,
the book is inspired as much by an enthusiasm for the Cale-
donian sternness and wildness as for the birds that are found

there.
CG. E-P.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

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50 REPORT OF RECORDS COMMITTEE 1(2)

REVIEW OF ORNITHOLOGICAL CHANGES
IN SCOTLAND IN 1957

EVELYN V. BAXTER

The records published in 1957 are not very many nor very
outstanding. The Scottish Birds Records Committee of the
Scottish Ornithologists’ Club have now reviewed them and
present their report.

BirRDS NEw TO SCOTLAND

RED-BREASTED GOOSE Branta ruficollis.

This species is now accepted for the Scottish List. One was
seen in early October 1956 on a firth in N.E. Scotland (Field
1956: 1124), and what may have been the same bird was seen
on the Beauly Firth on 20th January 1957 (Scot. Nat. 69: 118).
Breeds in central north palearctic region.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER Calidris pusilla.

One trapped on Fair Isle, 28th May 1957 (F.I.B.O. Bull. 3:
111, Scot. Nat. 69: 145-147). Breeds arctic America.

COLLARED DOVE Streptopelia decaocto.

A pair at Covesea, Morayshire, June 1957 (Scot. Nat. 69:
188). Part of the westward movement from the Near East. (See
also undei “Breeding Records’).

GREAT GREY SHRIKE (Transcaspian race Lanius excubitor
pallidirostris.

One trapped on Fair Isle, 21st September 1956 (F.I.B.O. Bull.
3: 111, British Birds 50: 246-249). First British record. Breeds
Transcaspia.

BIRDS NEW TO AREAS AND COUNTIES

LEACH’S PETREL Oceanodroma leucorrhoa.

In the Scot. Nat. 65: 186 one was recorded from Househill-
wood, Glasgow S.W. and referred to Lanarkshire; it should
have been Renfrewshire (Scot. Nat. 69: 53). It is not the first
record for Renfrew (see McWilliam, Birds of the Firth of
Clydexp 101):

MANX SHEARWATER Procellaria puffinus.

The Committee cannot accept the record of one seen on
Eoch Leven, 25th July, 1957 \Gieldalga7-27.9):

SOOTY SHEARWATER Procellaria grisea.

One seen between Girvan and Ailsa, 16th June 1955, is the
first record for Ayrshire (Scot. Nat. 69: 53).

1958 REPORT OF RECORDS COMMITTEE 31

NIGHT HERON Nycticorax nycticorxa.

One seen at Dunfermline, 16th July 1957 (Edin. Bird Bull.
7: 79) was almost certainly a wanderer from the Edinburgh
Zoo.

SPOONBILL Platalea leucorodia.

One seen at Tyninghame, East Lothian, 13th October 1957,
and an immature bird (possibly the same) near Alloa between
14th November and 8th December 1957 (Edin. Bird Bull. 8: 9).
The latter is the first record for South Fife and Clackmannan.

AMERICAN WIGEON Anas americana.

A male seen at Meikle Loch of Slains on 4th and 5th May
1957 (Scot. Nat. 69: 196) is new to Aberdeen.

EIDER Somateria mollissima.

Recorded off Grangemouth (Edin. Bird Bull. 7: 26). New to
East Stirling.

BARNACLE GOOSE Branta leucopsis.

One seen near Ettrickbridge, 20th October 1957 (Edin. Bird
Bull. 8: 12) is the first record for Selkirk.

BEWICK’S SWAN Cygnus columbianus bewickii.

One found dead on the Isle of May, 15th April 1956 (Scot.
Nat. 69: 136) is new to the island.

BUZZARD Buteo buteo.

One seen at Loch Leven, 14th September 1957 (Edin. Bird
Bull. 7: 80) is new to Kinross.

Hospsy Falco subbuteo.

One seen in Orkney, 26th June 1957 (F.I.B.O. Bull. 3: 197)
is new to the island group.
HONEY BUZZARD Pernis apivorus.

A pair, N. Fife, April to 23rd July 1949. One shot. (British
Birds 50: 142). The first definite record for N. Fife.

Woop SANDPIPER Tringa glareola.

One seen near Elgin on 3lst August and Ist September 1957
(Scot. Nat. 69: 184), and one seen at Chanonry Ness, Black
Isle, on 3rd October 1956 (British Birds 50: 120) are new to
Moray and Easter Ross respectively.

SPOTTED REDSHANK Tringa erythropus.

One seen on Islay on 6th December 1955 (Scot. Nat. 69: 125)
is new to the Inner Hebrides.
TEMMINCK’S STINT Calidris temminckit.

One seen at Waulkmill Dam Reservoir is the first record
for Renfrewshire (Glasgow Bird Bull. 6: 27) but not, as claim-

32 REPORT OF RECORDS COMMITTEE 1(2)

ed, the first for the Clyde area, as the Committee upholds the
Ayrshire record of 1934 (British Birds 28: 209).
LONG-TAILED SKUA Stercorarius longicaudus.

One seen at Fair Isle on 23rd June 1956 (Scot. Nat. 69: 195)
is new to the island.

BLACK TERN Chlidonias niger.

Eight near Chanonry Ness, Black Isle, on 20th October 1956
(British Birds 50: 120) are new to the Moray area and Easter
Ross.

CRESTED TIT Parus cristatus.

One seen near Dornoch on 13th October 1956 (Scot. Nat. 69:
57) is new to S.E. Sutherland.

BLACK REDSTART Phoenicurus ochruros.

An adult male seen at Galashiels on 25th March 1957 (Edin.
Bird Bull. 7: 60) is new to Selkirk.

GREY-HEADED WAGTAIL Motacilla flava thunbergi.

One seen on St Kilda on 7th July 1956 (Scot. Nat. 69: 109)
is new to the Outer Hebrides.

LAPLAND BUNTING Calcarius lapponicus.

One seen on the Moor of Forvie on 30th September 1956
(Scot. Nat. 69: 60) is new to Dee and to Aberdeenshire.

BREEDING RECORDS

FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis.

Now established as a breeding species in Arran (J. A. Gib-
son, The Birds of the Isle of Arran. Rothesay: Bute News-
papers Ltd. 1956).

CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo.

Several pairs bred on the Lamb, East Lothian, in 1957 (Edin.
Bird Bull. 7: 78). This is the first breeding record for the
county.

GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus marinus.

Bred in 1953 on Caerlaverock Merse and east of mouth of
R. Lochar; one pair bred on Caerlaverock in 1956 (Scot. Nat.
69: 186-7). First breeding records for Dumfries.

HERRING GULL Larus argentatus.

Bred on Caerlaverock Merse in 1953, and probably in 1954
and 1955; several pairs in 1956 (Scot. Nat. 69: 186). First
breeding record for Dumfries.

COMMON TERN Sterna hirundo.
At least six pairs bred at Carron Valley Reservoir in 1957

1958 REPORT OF RECORDS COMMITTEE 33

(Edin. Bird Bull. 7: 82), and has bred on Caerlaverock Merse
in 1951 and subsequently, about 50 pairs in 1956 (Scot. Nat.
69: 186). These are the first breeding records for East Stirling
and Dumfries respectively.

COLLARED DOVE Streptopelia decaocto.

A pair bred at Covesea, Morayshire, in 1957 (Scot. Nat. 69:
188). This is the first breeding record for Scotland.

GREEN WOODPECKER Picus viridis.

On 9th July 1957, three if not four birds were seen beside a
recently used nest-hole on Archerfield estate near Dirleton
(Edin. Bird Bull. 8: 13). The first breeding record far East
Lothian. On 10th May an anxious female bird was seen near
a freshly excavated nest-hole in Penicuik House grounds,
Midlothian (Edin. Bird Bull. 8: 14).

WREN Troglodytes troglodytes.

A pair bred on the Isle of May in 1957 (Edin. Bird Bull. 8:
48). First breeding record for the island.

REDSTART Phoenicurus phoenicirus.

Seen in summer and feeding newly fledged young at Pais-
ley in 1956 (Scot. Nat. 69: 60). First breeding record for East
Renfrew.

SHORT NOTES

BLACK-NECKED GREBE IN ABERDEENSHIRE

While making a duck count on 16th April 1958 at one of
the small lochans on Forvie Moor I saw a Black-necked Grebe
Podiceps caspicus in full breeding plumage. It was feeding
hard and I was able to approach within a hundred yards, and
kept it under observation for half an hour. I last saw the
grebe on 20th April.

ELIZABETH A. GARDEN.

(What was probably the same bird was seen by Mr Alistair
J. M. Smith on the following day.—ED.)

SPOTTED REDSHANK IN MORAYSHIRE
AND NAIRNSHIRE

On 8th September 1956, near the boundary between Moray
and Nairn, opposite the Old Bar of Findhorn, I saw a Spotted
Redshank Tringa erythropus feeding on the saltings with
several Lapwings Vanellus vcnellus. I flushed it and it rose
to several hundred feet, and circled calling its lovely ringing

4 SHORT NOTES 1(2)

Chee-wit call over and over again. Now it was in Morayshire
and now in Nairnshire, a most convenient state of affairs, as
there seems to be no previous record from Nairnshire.

Three days later I put up a Spotted Redshank from the mud
at the mouth of the River Nairn. It rose high, calling, and
headed towards the west beach. Presumably this was the
same bird.

ALISTAIR J. M. SMITH.

(Mr Smith has supplied a satisfactory plumage description of
this bird.—ED.)

DOWITCHER IN BERWICKSHIRE

On 29th September 1958 Sydney J. Clarke and I watched
a Buzzard Buteo buteo soaring over the moor on Hule Moss,
Berwickshire, and, at the same time, saw an unusual wader
fly up from the moor, obviously flushed by the Buzzard over-
head. At first sight, from a distance of about 150 yards, it
suggested a Greenshank Tringa nebularia, being about the
same size and showing a very large area of white on the rump
and tail. A very long bill was seen and we both thought we
saw bars on the tail. One of us (W.M.) thought there was a
good suggestion of brown colour on the wings.

The bird was seen to land among some heather so we set
out to try and stalk up to it. Within a few minutes we found
it and were able to get within twenty feet! The bird seemed
very tired, and thus we were able to take a description of it,
as well as to draw pictures.

The same afternoon we returned to the site with Colonel W.
M. Logan Home, but failed to find the bird; on the 31st, how-
ever, after dragging the Moss with a rope for about three
hours, we flushed the bird again, but it unfortunately went
down among some reeds which we could not get at as it was
too boggy. This was the last we saw of the bird.

We concluded that the bird was a Dowitcher Limnodromus
griseus, which has been recorded three times previously in
Scotland, but not from Berwickshire or the Tweed area.

The following points were noted: size of Greenshank, but
stout in shape. Bill very long and straight, dark brown or
black in colour. The stout body was supported by very short
legs, which were of a dark colour, but could not be seen very
clearly on account of the heather. Crown, nape and hind neck
dark brown. Face greyish white and front of neck greyish,
shading into buff on upper breast. A very small dark stripe
ran through the eye. Each of the feathers on the upper back
and wing coverts had dark centres and were edged with buff
and brown. The upper breast was very slightly tinged with
brownish buff, shading towards the vent, which was very
white. There were a few streaks of buff on the flanks. The bird

1958 SHORT NOTES 55

held its neck erect when it was alarmed or when it was among
the longer heather.
W. Murray.
(Mr Murray has submitted sketches which leave no possible
doubt of the bird’s correct identification. They show two
features not mentioned in the written account above, a pale
eyestripe and the colour of the primaries, which appear as
dark brown, some of the feathers having lighter patches.—
ED.)

BAR-TAILED GODWITS MIGRATING THROUGH
MORAY FIRTH

Between four and five p.m. on 2nd September 1956, from the
east beach at Nairn I witnessed a large scale migration of
Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica. My attention was at-
tracted to this movement when some 1,500 godwits fell out of
the skies at a terrific speed and alighted in a long line on the
tide-line far out on the sand which was exposed at low tide.
I searched the sky with binoculars and saw parties of this
species flying at a great height from north-east to south-west
along the Moray Firth. During the hour that I watched this
spectacle I estimated that over 3,500 birds had passed. These
were joined by the majority of those which had landed on the
beach. I believe that the movement was in progress before I
noticed it, and when I left it was still going on.

ALISTAIR J. M. SMITH.

SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER ON THE ISLE OF MAY

On 19th September 1957 on the Isle of May the wind was
in the north-west and there had been north-westerly gales en
the second and third days before that. In the afternoon I
flushed a tiny wader from a small pool among the rocks of the
South Ness. It flew towering into the air and, on account of
this, I took it at first for a Temminck’s Stint Erolia temmincki,
but it uttered a call-note different from that of that bird. It
had probably only just reached the island since it had not
been at the place at which I flushed it half an hour before
and, when it alighted again at another pool, it went to sleep.
I managed to approach within ten yards, and watched it for
about twenty minutes with 12 x 50 binoculars, before it be-
came alarmed and flew off to the North Ness. Here brief
views of it were obtained by N. G. Campbell, Miss W. U.
Flower, M. E. French, A. C. Geddes and J. E. King, who were
at least able to hear the bird’s distinctive note and See its
distinctive back pattern. It was not found again.

Size. Certainly smaller than a Dunlin Erolia alpina. Seemed
larger than Little Stint Erolia minuta, with longer bill and
legs in proportion, This may be illusory with regard to the

36 SHORT NOTES 1(2)

legs, since the bird was standing on dry land, whereas the
Little Stint is nearly always seen wading. The Handbook
gives the same length for the tarsus in the Little Stint and
the Semi-palmated Sandpiper (which I believe the Isle of
May bird to be).

Shape. A rather stout and upright little sandpiper. The
wings looked slender in flight.

Voice. An abrupt chip constantly uttered in flight. This de-
scription, written in my notebook at the time, has almost
precisely similar wording to that in The Handbook. Mr James
Anton, who knows the Semi-palmated Sandpiper in Bermuda,
tells me that the note is the feature by which the species is
most readily identified.

Habits. On the Isle of May frequented shallow pools of
fresh water among rocks. When flushed towered like a Tem-
minck’s Stint.

Plumage. Crown and nape grey, flecked darker, crown
being darker than nape. Paler buffish feathers on sides of
crown, forming faint line visible when head lowered to preen.
Face pale buffish grey. White eyestripe, broader behind eye.
White patch under eye. Chin whitish. Neck and throat pale
grey on sides, whiter in centre. Grey suffusion on upper
breast (“young birds have greyish buff suffusion right across’’,
I. C. T. Nisbet in litt. See also Shortt and Snyder, Arctic Birds
‘of America). Buff patch at side of breast. Back not seen so
well as bird was consistently trying to sleep until frightened
away by some unknown agent, but predominantly blackish,
with very conspicuous V—the most noticeable plumage char-
acter—meeting on rump: this V was white at the shoulders,
yellowish lower down. The white feathers were raised by the
sleeping bird’s bill, being then very conspicuous. Underparts
white. Dark colouring at bend of wing (see Handbook IV,
249). Wing coverts scaly looking and black with greyish-buff
edgings, becoming greyer lower down, not so yellow as in
the Little Stint. The visible part of the primary coverts, when
wing closed, white, so that line of demarcation between them
and flanks difficult to perceive. Primaries black, about same
length as tail, but probably a little longer (“the extension of
the wings beyond the tail is a better character than I first
thought, always conspicuous in Baird’s, and only rarely so
in Semipalmated, though sufficient often to make it unreliable
as a Clinching character.” I. C. T. Nisbet in litt). Secondaries
dark with buff edgings. Tail black, outer feathers edged whit-
ish. No prominent wing bar. Bill and legs black; bill slightly
swollen at tip. Eye dark. The feet were unfortunately not
seen, being concealed by a rise in the rock on which the bird
was standing.

Identity. I believe the bird to have been a Semi-palmated
Sandpiper Erolia pusilla, probably, from the colouring of the

1958 SHORT NOTES 37

secondaries and breast, a juvenile. Especially in the colour of
the breast, a feature not mentioned in The Handbook, infor-
mation from I. C. T. Nisbet supports my identification. There
is One previous record of the species from Scotland.

Similar species. I am too familiar with Erolia minuta and
temmincki to confuse the Isle of May bird with either. From
other American species of Erolia with which it is liable to be
confused (minutilla, bairdii and mauri) it seems to be distin-
guished by the call-note and swollen tip to the bill. In addition
from the American Stint minutilla by leg colour, lack of
streaking on breast, buff breast colouring only on sides, and
white feathering in dorsal V. From Baird’s Sandpiper bairdii
by greyish, rather than buffy, head back pattern, size and
lack of streaking on breast. The Western Sandpiper mauri is
rather a harder problem, but, in addition to the bill shape and
call-note mentioned above, it lacked the warm brown nape
and chestnut in the scapulars mentioned as diagnostic by
Nisbet.

I would like to express my gratitude to I. C. T. Nisbet for
the use of his field notes on American “peeps”’.

M. F. M. MEIKLEJOMN.

LITTLE GULL OFF EAST LOTHIAN COAST
IN SUMMER

On the way to the Bass Rock on 6th August 1958 I saw a
Little Gull Larus minutus in full adult plumage.
E. A. R. ENNION.

COLLARED DOVES IN MORAYSHIRE

The population of Collared Doves Streptopelia decaocto in
Morayshire has now, 17th September 1958, increased to seven,
four having been hatched this year, and I rather suspect that
the old hen is sitting again. They came through the winter
extremely well and seem to be quite at home. An interesting
point is that I have never seen them more than 200 yards
away, and they seem to mingle with the Wood Pigeons Col-
umba palumbus on very amicable terms.

A. ADAM.

LITTLE OWL NESTING IN SCOTLAND

Mr William Fergie, the local postman, said that on Ist July
1958, and also on three days of the previous week, he had seen
a very small owl near Edrom in Berwickshire. Together with
my friend W. T. Murray, I immediately followed up this
statement and on the same day (1st July) found a nest in an
‘old ash tree about four feet from the ground. In it were an

38 SHORT NOTES 1(2)

adult female Little Owl Athene noctua and two almost fully
fledged chicks. The nest was at the bottom of a cavity two
feet deep and the tree was growing by the side of a quiet dis-
used country lane. The ground surrounding the site consisted
mainly of open fields where grew a variety of crops (oats,
barley, turnips and potatoes). The only trees around were a
few growing on the side of the lane. Armed with leather
gloves, we removed the birds from the nest and ringed all
three. The female (I suspect it was the female as it had a very
obvious brood-patch) was remarkably quiet for an owl, and
throughout the ringing and examination remained very calm:
but the two chicks were the very opposite, scratching and
snapping their beaks. One of them hissed like a cat. Inside the
nest we found three pellets, which consisted entirely of the
wing-cases of beetles Carabus spp. as well as the remains of
an adult Song Thrush Turdus ericetorum.

The plumage corresponded exactly to published descrip-
tions. The only plumage difference between the adult and
young was in the underparts which in the latter were grey-
white and unmarked. The eyes of the adult were brighter,
being lemon-coloured and very clear; this, and the flat fore-
head gave the bird a very fierce expression. The eyes of the
young were greyer.

The birds were also seen by Sydney J. Clarke, A. Cowieson,
W. M. Logan Home, R. S. Murray and M. K. Young.

Breeding of the Little Owl in Scotland had been expected
but this is the first nest to be found.

W. Murray.

SHORT-EARED OWL NESTING IN MORAYSHIRE

Towards the end of May 1939 I found the nest of the Short-
eared Owl Asio flammeus, containing six eggs, on the east
side of Birkenhill, near New Elgin, Morayshire. The nest was
among heather, just clear of the plantation of Scots Pine
which borders the marsh on the east side. The bird sat on four
eggs for well over a week, when these suddenly disappeared.
During the months of May and June in 1938 and 1939 a pair
of Short-eared Owls were seen frequently in this vicinity.

There seems to be no previous breeding record for Moray-
shire.

ALISTAIR J. M. SMITH.

HOOPOES IN NORTH PERTH AND WEST INVERNESS

On 30th September 1958 N. Buttercase noticed an unusual
bird at Borlick Farm, Aberfeldy. Subsequently it was seen
daily in the vicinity of the steading. The weather at the time
was unusually wet, even by this summer’s standards, and the

1958 SHORT NOTES 39

bird appeared to be lethargic and distressed. On 3rd October,
‘while perched in a tree, it allowed itself to be caught and it
‘was identified as a Hoopoe Upupa epops. I saw it the next
day, when it had revived somewhat and was said to have
devoured some earthworms which had been provided. It was
arranged for the Hoopoe to be freed when the weather im-
proved, but unfortunately it died during the night of 4th
October. I am indebted to A. Buttercase for bringing this
occurrence to my notice.

There are a few old records of the Hoopoe in North Perth,
but I have traced none for recent years, nor does it appear
ever to have been detected previously in the Aberfeldy dis-
trict or upper Strathtay.

JAMES W. CAMPBELL.

In the early afternoon of 11th October 1958 I was being
motored by a friend, Mr Russell Broom, up Glenloy, Inver-
ness-shire, when a bird flew up from the side of the road
which I instantly recognised as a Hoopoe Upupa epops. It
alighted in an alder tree within twenty-five feet of the car and
we watched it for about fifteen minutes. During this period
it frequently erected its crest when the black tips showed
very prominently. The very distinctive pattern of the black
and white barring on the wings and tail was a very striking
feature and contrasted strongly with the pinkish buff colour
of the head, neck and breast. The long slender curved bill was
also a distinctive feature of this bird, which I do not think
could be confused in the field with any other British species.
I was able to make a few quick sketches during the period of
our observation.

J. A. ANDERSON.

(In The Glasgow Herald for 10th October 1958, Mr James
Foster, giving details of identification, reports a Hoopoe from
the Loch Treig area on 29th September, and one on 2nd, 3rd
and 4th October from the Strone area, north of Fort William.
Mr Foster suggests that these two records could apply to the
same bird, and it is possible that Mr Anderson’s bird was also
the same.—ED.)

WRYNECK IN SOUTH-EAST SUTHERLAND

As I was walking over an area of rough ground on the
Dornoch golf-course, on the afternoon of 3rd September 1958,
a slender brownish bird flitted up from the dense whin cover
and perched on the topmost wire of the fence bordering the
railway-line. For the moment I took the bird to be a Song
Thrush Turdus ericetorum, owing, perhaps, to its rather
elongated shape and passerine attitude when perched, but a
closer examination revealed quickly the distinctive plumage
markings of a Wryneck Jynx torquilla.

40 SHORT NOTES 1(2)

A minute or so later the bird flew on to the post of a fence,
where it assumed a more upright posture, characteristic of
bird-book portraits of the species. The outstanding details
noted were the dark streaks extending from the nape through
the mantle, the barred underparts and the rather long tail.

On that date and during the preceding few days weather
conditions were highly favourable to migrational drift across
the North Sea and many Wrynecks were recorded on the
east coast of Britain.

D. MACDONALD.

CRESTED TITS IN MORAYSHIRE

On several occasions during the months of October, Nov-
ember and January in 1945, 1946 and 1947, I encountered
Crested Tits Parus cristatus among the Scots Pines and on
the heather covered moor bordering the Spynie Canal, near
Lossiemouth, Morayshire. I never saw less than four nor
more than six, usually in company with mixed parties of
Blue Tits Parus caeruleus, Coal Tits Parus ater, Goldcrests
Regulus regulus and Tree Creepers Certhia familiaris. Once,
on 12th January 1947, as I was waiting for the evening flight
‘of duck in a dug-out quite close to the sea, a party of six
Crested Tits came by feeding among the stunted heather.
There was not a tree for at least a quarter of a mile.

I have never yet seen Crested Tits in or near the Spynie
woods at any other time of the year and I feel that there may
be a regular annual local migration of Speyside birds to this
area during the winter.

ALISTAIR J. M. SMITH.

BLACKCAP NESTING IN MORAYSHIRE

During the month of June 1939 I found the nest of a Black-
cap Sylvia atricapilla, containing five eggs, on the Birkenhill,
near New Elgin, Morayshire. The nest was situated about two
and a half feet up in the centre of a clump of scrub birch
with heather growing to eighteen inches. Two eggs were re-
moved, ‘one I regret to say by myself (at that time an enthus-
iastic egg-collector), the other by a friend.

The bird continued to sit and in due course three young
hatched and reached the fledgling stage. At the time I found
the nest I had never seen a Blackcap before, but during the
fourteen days or so that I visited it regularly I saw both
birds at close range on many occasions. Usually I had prac-
tically to remove the hen by force. From these experiences
and my later familiarity with the species there can be no
doubt as to the bird’s identity.

ALISTAIR J. M. SMITH.

1958 SHORT NOTES 41

LESSER WHITETHROATS IN SKYE AND
WESTER ROSS

At 0745 hours, on 3rd June 1957, between Portree and Arma-

| idale, Isle of Skye, we both saw and heard singing a Lesser

Whitethroat Sylvia curruca.
JOHN IZZARD.
H. P. MEDHURST.

On 6th and 7th June 1957, at Achintraid, Loch Kishorn,
Wester Ross, I saw a Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca and
heard it singing.

P. W. G. GUNN.

(These observers have attached a satisfactory description
of the Lesser Whitethroat’s plumage and song.—ED.)

SUBALPINE WARBLER ON THE ISLE OF MAY

A female Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans was ringed
on the Isle of May on 16th July 1958 and retrapped on 22nd
July. In the field it looked a very small almost mouselike
skulking bird, with rather dark drab-brown wings set off
against lighter, greyer back and top of head. General im-
pression was not unlike a small, slim Lesser Whitethroat S.
curruca, lacking the dark ear covers and with more buff on
the flanks and breast. A remarkably close field view would
have been required to make -out the red orbital ring or the
white moustachial streak as distinct from the buffish white of
the throat.

In the hand it lacked the bulk of a Common Whitethroat
S. communis or even of a Lesser. This was confirmed by a
weight, after a week presumably spent on the island, of 8.3
gms. The red orbital ring (note also the light Sylvia iris),
wing formula, measurements, and plumage colour together
added up to a Subalpine. The patchy state of the plumage
and worn moulting tail feather indicated an adult or first
summer bird, perhaps the latter from the presence of only
slight buffish traces on the throat. It was in very poor con-
dition, and unfortunately died on 22nd or 23rd July. A full
description was recorded from which the following details
have been taken. Wing measurement 55-56 mm.; Ist primary
approximately one millimetre shorter than the longest pri-
mary covert. The bill was rather broad at the base, tapering
to a fine point. The colour of the orbital ring was between
brick-red and orange-red; it was complete but very narrow
below the eye. The iris was light yellowish brown. The upper
parts were mainly grey brown, paler and browner on the ear
coverts, darker and browner on wings and tail; the outer
tail feathers dull white on outer webs and rather prominently

42 SHORT NOTES 1(2)

tipped with whitish cream. The tail was very slightly grad-
uated. The rather indistinct whitish moustachial stripe ex-
tended well back below the ear coverts. The sides of the
breast and flanks were suffused with buffish brown, the
centre of the breast and belly whitish. There was a very
slight tinge of cinnamon across the breast. The legs were dull
pink, straw yellow on the hind edge and on the soles of the
feet.

It is impossible to say whether this bird was a new arrival
on the island on 16th July, though a Turtle Dove Streptopelia
turtur evidently was. Previously to the 14th the island had
not been manned by ornithologists for several weeks and in
any event the warbler might have remained undetected
among the lighthouse-keepers’ potato crop. The only previous
occurrence for the Isle of May is of a male recorded by Bax-
ter and Rintoul on 30th May 1924. The skin of the present bird
is in the Royal Scottish Museum.

DONALD WATSON.

ARCTIC WARBLER IN ABERDEENSHIRE

On 2nd September 1958, a day of strong winds from an
easterly quarter, with banks of mist rolling in from the sea,
I was watching a number of drift migrants which I found
skulking in or near a patch of dead thistles among the coastal
marram dunes of Sands of Forvie, Aberdeenshire. There
were Whinchats Saxicola rubetra, Wheatears Oenanthe
oenanthe, Redstarts Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Meadow Pipits
Anthus Pratensis and many Willow Warblers Phylhoscopus
‘trochilus. While I was checking on a pair of the latter ap-
parently feeding among the dead vegetation, an unusual
Phylloscopus presented itself on the top of a thistle about
five yards away. I saw immediately that this bird had a fairly
striking wing bar, and with the aid of 7 x 50 binoculars I took
a mental description of the bird as it remained in full view for
about half a minute. It then disappeared, and it was several
minutes before it again appeared in a similar position for a
similar length of time. This was the last time that I saw it,
for its skulking habits made it impossible to isolate and I lost
it among the marram dunes.

I noted then the following description: About the size of a
Willow Warbler, but apparently slightly larger; this perhaps
due to the brightness of its plumage. The underparts were off-
white with noticeable traces of lemon on the breast. Back
from mantle to tail was brownish green, grading to distinct
green ‘On wings—more green than P. trochilus. Prominent
eyestripe and single wing-bar, both creamy yellow. Legs ap-
peared dark, but colour noted accurately. This description
seems to fit that of the Arctic Warbler. Williamson (British

' 1958 SHORT NOTES 43

| Birds 45: 415) mentions that raising the crown feathers into
| ia crest is a good field characteristic of the Arctic Warbler. I
| distinctly remember my bird doing this ‘on one occasion, but
| I did not think of noting it at the time.
ALISTAIR J. M. SMITH.

(This record has been approved by Mr Kenneth Williamson.
It is the first for Aberdeenshire, the Dee area and the main-
land of Scotland. It should be remarked that the first week in
September is the time when Arctic Warblers have been most
often observed in Britain, and that in 1958 this week saw a
numerous influx of drift migrants ‘on the east coast of Britain.
—ED).

ALBINO PIPIT ON THE ISLE OF MAY

On the evening of Ist August 1958 my wife and I briefly
saw an albino pipit among a gathering of Rock Pipits Anthus
spinoletta petrosus around the Low Light, Isle of May. The
general colour was a beautiful pale cream, with traces of
brown ‘on the wings. At the time I considered it a Rock Pipit,
but the following week it was watched at close quarters by
Mr Kenneth Williamson, who inclined to the view that it was
a Meadow Pipit A. pratensis. Short of examination in the hand
he thought the species could not be positively stated. The pale
colour perhaps exaggerated the size—it certainly looked at
least as big as a Rock Pipit. It was a charming and surprising
vision among its drab companions, which pursued it relent-
lessly.

DONALD WATSON.

ROSE-COLOURED STARLING IN WIGTOWNSHIRE

On 14th and 15th August 1958 my neighbours in Wigtown
saw ‘“‘a queer-looking bird among the Starlings’. After they
had described it to me, I saw it on the 18th. Having put food
on the bird table that morning, I stood by the window to
watch; the Starlings came down as usual in hordes, and then
I saw the “‘queer-looking”’ one. It settled on the ground below
the bird table and ate the food which fell: this was wet bread
with oameal stirred in. I would be, at the window, about
nine feet from the table and I watched it for at least two
minutes.

The back and breast of the bird were pale pink, against
which the wings and head looked very dark. It seemed more
bulky than the common Starlings, but that may have been
because of the marking, and also the crest, which enlarged
the appearance of the head. The beak seemed shorter and of
a neutral shade, certainly not yellowish: legs similar. I saw

‘44 SHORT NOTES 1(2)

the bird in flight later the same day, and then not again.

This is the first record of the Rose-coloured Starling Pastor
roseus in Wigtownshire.
MARY McKINNA.

LAPLAND BUNTINGS IN ABERDEENSHIRE

It seems desirable to record the occurrence of five Lapland
Buntings Calcarius lapponicus on 23rd January 1953, near the
point where the River Ythan is joined by the Tarty Burn,
north of Newburgh village, Aberdeenshire.

During the forenoon of that day I walked up the south side
of the Ythan towards Tarty, disturbing as I did so, small
parties of Corn Buntings Emberiza calandra, Yellowhammers
Emberiza citrinella, Linnets Carduelis cannabina and Green-
finches Chloris chloris. I then noticed an unusual bunting
alight for a moment on a fencing wire about twenty yards
away. I moved closer and several of these buntings flew up
with a party of Corn Buntings. They quickly detached
themselves and alighted on the ground near a patch of dead
Rose-bay Willowherb Chamaenerion augustifolium. In this
area I watched them in a good light with 7 x 50 binoculars for
five minutes, at distances varying from two to fifteen yards.
I readily identified them as Lapland Buntings Calcarius
lapponicus with the help of The Popular Handbook, which I
carried with me. I heard the call-note described in the liter-
ature as ticky-ticky-teu when I put these birds to flight. I also
heard two notes which I would describe as tzit and tyou.
There were two types of plumage involved: Type A. Similar
in size to Yellow-hammer Emberiza citrinella. Upper parts
mid-brown with faint chestnut tinge, streaked with dark
brown. Buff tips to secondaries and wing-coverts gave im-
pression of faint wing-bars. Chestnut collar very pronounced,
more so than in Handbook plate. Buff to light brown stripe
just over or through eye extending to nape. White chin. Neck-
lace of dark brown or blackish streaks on sides of neck and
more concentrated on upper breast. Belly and under parts
white. Some slight streaking on sides of belly. Bill was yellow
with brownish tinge. Legs dark brown. Type B. Both in
similar plumage. Appeared like female Reed Buntings Ember-
iza schoeniclus except for slight trace of chestnut collar, and
lightish crown stripe. A general brownness which I noted
may suggest immature birds.

Wynne-Edwards (Scot. Nat. 69: 60 and antea 1: 32) records
a Lapland Bunting from the Moor of Forvie, just ‘over a mile
away, in September 1956.
ALISTAIR J. M. SMITH.

| 1958 SHORT NOTES 45

SNOW BUNTINGS FEEDING ON MOOR RUSH

Around Braemar, where Snow Buntings Plectrophenax niv-
_ alis are generally common winter visitors, a favourite winter
food seems to be the seeds of the Moor Rush Juncus squar-
rosus. Often I have seen their unmistakable spurred tracks
all over the snow wherever there are patches of rush heads
sticking through, and several times I have watched flocks of
them feeding there.
V. C. WYNNE-EDWARDS.

TREE SPARROWS NESTING IN AYRSHIRE

During the breeding season of 1957 I made some visits to
that area of northern Ayrshire from which I reported Tree
Sparrows Passer montanus present in the spring and autumn
of 1954 (Scot. Nat. 67: 71) and was successful in getting
breeding records.

Nests were found on the following dates: 27th May, two;
2nd June, one; and 15th July, one. All were in holes in beech
trees, the common hedgerow tree of the district, and all con-
tained young. One of the nests found on 27th May was, on
7th July, discovered to be re-occupied, and what was probably
the same pair of birds was once more carrying in food to the
young. Thus a total of five broods are known to have been in
the four nests found. What proportion successfully fledged I
do not know, but a number of fledged young were seen, ten
or twelve in all, mostly being fed or importuning adults for
food.

All nests were in the parish of Dreghorn: three, including
the double-brooded one, close to one another near Overton,
and the fourth about a mile from these, near Dykehead. They
‘were found without a great deal of effort and, as other Tree
Sparrows were frequently seen in the area, I got the impres-
sion that only lack of time and opportunity prevented the
certain discovery of more nests.

L. A. URQUHART.

Requests for Information

As is known, this is a ‘“Crossbill year” and all information
concerning Crossbills Loxia curvirostra, from areas where
they do not normally occur, will be welcome.

The Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus appears to have
been unusually frequent during the autumn of 1958, and
records are requested.

Any records indicative of extension of breeding range on
the part of the Carrion Crow Corvus corone corone and
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita are also asked for.

46 SPRING OBSERVATIONS 1(2)

Spring Observations on the Manx Shearwater and

Small Petrels on St Kilda and Rhum

J. MORTON BoyD and PETER WORMELL

Large numbers of Manx Shearwaters Procellaria puffinus
were seen flying over the sea off St Kilda on 17th April 1958,
at about 1700 hours GMT. On the night of 21st April the first
shearwaters were heard calling from the rocks on the Carn
Mor at 2115 hours GMT, and birds began to arrive from the
sea about thirty minutes later. A net set up round a boulder
caught six in the space of fifteen minutes (2155 to 2210 hours
GMT). Thereafter activity waned, although there were always
some birds flying and calling. Calling from the rocks contin-
ued at fairly even intensity until 2230 hours GMT, when
J.M.B. left. During this visit Leach’s Petrels Oceanodroma
leucorrhoa were heard or seen. One Storm Petrel Hydrobates
pelagicus was calling in a cleitan (dry-stone cell) in the access
gully to the Carn Mor.

The Carn Mor was visited again on 22nd April, when activ-
ity followed a somewhat similar pattern but was later by
about thirty minutes, probably because of a clear sky and
a moon. Only one Manx Shearwater was caught. At the peak
of arrival from the sea, activity did not seem to be as intense
as the night before, but there was much the same amount of
calling from the rocks. No Leach’s Petrels nor Storm Petrels
were seen or heard. On 26th April activity was much reduced
owing to the stillness and brightness of the night. Two Manx
Shearwaters were ringed. No small petrels were seen or heard.
On 3rd May, a dark calm night, the Manx Shearwater activity
was fairly intense and the activity of the Leach’s Petrels was
striking. Although the latter were calling loudly and very
frequently from the air, none was calling from the burrows.
The numbers in flight were considerable and the birds could
be clearly seen overhead.

It is reported from the Isle of Eigg that Manx Shearwaters
arrive at the nesting areas there every year about the 19th of
February. The exact date of arrival on Rhum in 1958 was not
recorded but shearwaters were heard on most nights after
16th March, flying in over Kinloch towards Hallival and Aski-
val. When these peaks were visited by P.W. on 6th April,
snowdrifts still lay on parts of the shearwater breeding-
grounds, but several birds were calling from their burrows.
The shearwaters had not dug through deep snow to get to
their holes, but tunnels which had been only partially blocked

AT

SPRING OBSERVATIONS

1958

Looking up Glen Harris to |
On those mountain tops are

ate February snows on the sum
situated large colonies of Manx

mits of Hallival and Askival in the Isle of Rhum.

Shearwaters well over 200

0 ft. above sea level.

Photograph by courtesy of THE TIMES.

48 SPRING OBSERVATIONS 1(2)

had been cleared by the pushing and scratching of the birds.
The greatest concentration of burrows on Rhum is on the
north-facing slope of Hallival between 2,00C and 2,300 feet.
This area was visited on the night of 11th April when P. W.
arrived at about 2200 hours GMT, to find much activity. Many
birds were calling from their holes and flying overhead. A
number of birds were sitting together in pairs, side by side,
at the entrance to or just inside their burrows. 46 were caught
and ringed between 2200 hours on 11th and 0100 hours on 12th
April. Later visits to this same area were less successful. On
30th April, together with Dr W. J. Eggeling, P.W. found little
activity. It was a clear calm night, and only six birds were
ringed. The first record of an egg was not until mid-May.

Lockley (1942) found the first Manx Shearwaiers returning
to the Skokholm breeding grounds on 2nd February. It would
appear that the first arrivals on Rhum and Eigg are about a
fortnight later. Lockley found, however, that the shearwaters
failed to arrive while the island was snow-covered and in the
grip of cold east winds between mid-February and early
March. They returned immediately at the onset of warmer
weather and subsequent occasional white frosts were not
enough to stop their nightly arrival. The presence of shear-
waters on the summits of Hallival and Askival in the wintry
conditions of early April 1958 would seem to be unusual.

The Handbook (Witherby et al. 1940) puts the arrival time
of Leach’s Petrels at the breeding grounds between “April
and June’’. This seems accurate for St Kilda where, in 1958,
it is fairly certain that the species arrived in numbers some
time between 27th April and 3rd May, although individual
birds may have been earlier. The Storm Petrel, according to
The Handk.ook, arrives at its nesting places from the fourth
week of April to early May. The bird heard on St Kilda on
21st April was probably therefore one of the first to return
in 1958.

References

R. M. Lockley. Shearwaters. London, 1942.

H. F. Witherby ct al. The Handbook of British Birds, Vol. IV.
London, 1940.

1958 OFFICIAL SECTION 49

The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

REPORT OF COUNCIL — SESSION XXII
1957 - 1958

The Council have the honour to submit the following Report for Session
XXI which was adopted at the 22nd Annual General Meeting of the Club
at Perth on 25th October, 1958 :—

MEMBERSHIP: It is gratifying to be able to report a slight increase in
Club Membership this year. Comparative figures are as follows :—

31/8/54 31/8/55 31/8/56 31/8/57 31/8/58

Ordinary 804 842 755 723 738
Junior 101 121 132 132 148
Honorary 9 11 11 11 11

TOTAL 914 974 898 865 897

peed me ee ee et

COUNCIL MEETINGS: Four meetings of Council were held during the
Session and much important business transacted.

GENERAL MEETINGS: A full programme of Lectures was carried out
during the winter in 5 Branches. The Council wishes to express its thanks
to all the Lecturers who gave so freely of their services, and would also
like to thank Branch Officials for arrangements and hospitality.

EXCURSIONS: Apart from Excursions organised by Branches to various
places of interest during the summer months, the Club also organised a
weekend Excursion to Aviemore in May.

REPRESENTATION: Professor V. C. Wynne-Edwards officially rep-
resented the Club at the 12th International Ornithological Congress at
Helsinki in June. Mr George Kerr represented the Club at an inaugural
meeting in Glasgow of the Council of Nature which the Club Council has
decided to support. The Secretary continues to represent the Club on the
Council and Scientific Advisory Committee of the British Trust for Ornith-
ology, thus maintaining useful liaison with ornithologists in the south.

“SCOTTISH BIRDS”: Members will have learned with regret that the
publishers of “The Scottish Naturalist” had been forced to discontinue
publication of this old-established journal at the end of 1957 owing to lack
of support from subscribers. After much deliberation, the Council has de-
cided to issue a quarterly magazine—‘Scottish Birds’”—free to all Mem-
bers of the Club on the understanding that the Club will agree to the
subscriptions being increased from 20s to 25s for Members, and from 5s
to 7s 6d for Junior Members. (See Minutes of 22nd Annual General Meet-
ing). We are fortunate in persuading Professor M. F. M. Meiklejohn to
edit this Journal and it is hoped that it will form a useful link for the
whole membership of the Club. It is the earnest hope of the Council that
“Scottish Birds” will follow in the fine traditions established in the past
by “The Scottish Naturalist’.

SCOTTISH BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE: This important Committee
meets once a year to adjudicate on all records published annually. Re-
ports have formerly appeared in “The Scottish Naturalist,” but will now
appear in “Scottish Birds’’. Our Hon. President Dr E. V. Baxter acts-as
Convener of the Committee.

50 OFFICIAL SECTION 1(2)

CLUB LIBRARY: Our collection of books continues to expand and
accommodation for them in the Secretary’s Office is now presenting an
acute problem. During the year we received a substantial addition as a
result of the Bequest of the late Mr James Bartholomew of Glenorchard.
Members are reminded that books can be consulted during Office hours;
and where duplicates are available, may be borrowed.

GENERAL: To conclude, we can safely say that the Club continues to
flourish, and plays an important part in the development of ornithology in
Scotland.

For the Council,

CHARLES G. CONNELL,
President.

Twenty-Second Annual General Meeting

The Twenty-second Annual General Meeting of the Club was held in the
Museum and Art Gallery, Perth, on Saturday, 25th October, 1958, at 6.15
p.m. There was an attendance of over one hundred members presided
over by Sir Charles G. Connell, President of the Club.

MINUTES: The Minutes of the 21st Annual General Meeting held at
North Berwick on 26th October; 1957, were read and approved.

REPORT OF COUNCIL: This was submitted by the President and
adopted. (See preceding page).

TREASURER’S REPORT: The Hon. Treasurer made a brief report on
the position of the Club’s finances. Attention was drawn to the fact that
during the year we had received a legacy of £100 from the late Mr James
Bartholomew. The Accounts were approved.

APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR: Mr Arthur Walker, C.A., was re-
elected Auditor for the ensuing Session.

HON. TREASURER: Mr A. G. S. Bryson, CAs who had served the
Club as Hon Treasurer for the past twelve years had informed the Coun-
cil that he did not wish his name to go forward for re-election. On the
motion of the President, Mr Bryson was accorded a very hearty vote of
thanks for his outstanding services to the Club. The Council recommenda-
tion that Mr Robert Hillcoat, C.A., be elected in his place was unanimous-
ly approved.

COUNCIL MEMBERS: Mr William Austin and Miss Winifred U.
Flower, being due to retire from membership of the Council by rotation,
were accorded a hearty vote of thanks for their services. The Council re-
commendation that Mr A. G. S. Bryson and Lt. Col. J. P. Grant, Younger
of Rothiemurchus be elected was approved.

AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION: Due notice having been given
9 all Members in the Agenda, the following amendments to the Constitu-
tion, recommended by the Council, were unanimously approved :—

(a) That under Membership 3 (h) ‘““Any Member whose subscription is
three years in arrears shall cease to belong to the Club’, the words ‘“‘is
three years in arrears’’ be deleted and the following substituted :— “due
on lst October is not paid by the following 31st March”’.

(b) That under Membership 3 (e) ‘The Annual Subscription shall be £1;
or 5s in the case of members who are under 21 years of age or in the case

1958 OFFICIAL SECTION 51

of University Undergraduates who satisfy the Council of their status
as such at the time at which their subscription falls due in any year”, the
words ‘£1; or 5s” be altered to read ‘25s; or 7s 6d”. (This amendment was
approved on the understanding that the Club would publish a quarterly
magazine ‘‘Scottish Birds” issued free to all Members).

BRITISH TRUST FOR ORNITHOLOGY: Dr Bruce Campbell (Secretary
of the B.T.O.) drew the attention of Club Members to the various co-
operative enquiries organised by the Trust. He mentioned that the res-
ponse to the Black-headed Gull Enquiry had been most disappointing; and
very little information had been received on the enquiry on Inland Breed-
ing Habitats of the Oystercatcher.

VOTES OF THANKS: The Meeting closed with a hearty vote of thanks
to the Chairman on the motion of Dr E. V. Baxter.

WEEKEND MEETING AT DUMFRIES

The British Trust for Ornithology will hold the Annual Conference of
Regional Representatives in the County Hotel, Dumfries, from Friday 30th
January to Sunday Ist February 1959. Members of the S.O.C. are invited
to attend the open meetings held during the weekend,

On Saturday morning, after the official opening, Donald Watson will
talk on “The Birds of Dumfries-shire and Galloway” and an exhibition of
his paintings will be on view during the Conference. After coffee there will
be Excursions by private cars until tea-time. The Business Meeting of Rep-
resentatives will take place before Dinner, after which Hugh Boyd (The
Wildfowl Trust) will give a talk on “How many Geese?’’. Sunday will be
devoted to an all-day Excursion to the Solway where it is usually possible
to see seven races of geese at this time of year.

The Council hope that this weekend meeting will be well supported by
members of the Club. Anyone wishing to attend should inform Dr Bruce
Campbell, The British Trust for Ornithology, 2 King Edward Street, Ox-
ford, who will supply full details.

BOOK NOTICE

“Fair Isle Bird Observatory Trust: Annual Report for 1957”. (Mr George
Waterston, Edinburgh. 5s).

Supporters of the Trust will be pleased to note a marked improvement
in the financial affairs of the Observatory. The position is however still
far from satisfactory, and an appeal is made for more subscribers—
“Friends of Fair Isle’, at a guinea per annum.

During the summer, the Observatory catered for a record number of
visitors, and the new Hostel arrangements have functioned smoothly.

Some notable rarities were identified during the year, including an im-
mature Mediterranean Gull (first Scottish record); an adult male Black-
throated Thrush; a Thrush-Nightingale; and a Serin. During the year,
2,295 birds of 87 species were ringed. Among recoveries, the most spectac-
ular was that of a 1954 Arctic Skua chick caught on a fishing vessel off
Mossamedes, Angola, on November 3rd 1957. This is the second recovery
of this species from south-west Africa.

Peter and Angela Davis are to be congratulated on an auspicious start
to their administration of the Observatory.
M.LW.

52 OFFICIAL SECTION

The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

1(2)

REVENUE ACCOUNT Yearto Year to
INCOME :— 31/8/58 31/8/57
Subscriptions received ie: 7 ify Vga |e a

Add: Received in advance at 31 /8/57 10 0 O 14

£788 15 0 £769

Less: Received in advance at 31/8/58 ... 10 0 10

£778 10 0 £759
Income from Miss L, J. Rintonl's Endowment 40 510 40
Savings Bank Interest : 1210 2 12
Badge Sales Bae 512 6 5
Eric Hosking Exhibition Net Proceeds — bid 913 4 —
£846.11 10 £816
EXPENDITURE :— Bee
Hobbies Exhibition wager ae Bie aus £0 0 0 £4
Lantern Expenses te oh .% 16 1 0 19
Lecturers’ Expenses mse tee ate Bt 62 9 7 a2.
Rents I Oe rts He 6115 7 71
Postages, printing, etc.

Less: Donations, etc. £15 13 9... isu sheds ii io
Subscriptions to I.C.B.P., B.T.O. and R.S.P.B. 42 0 4
Conference and Conversazione Net Cost ee Oe | ica | 6
Fee for Secretarial Services... .. 400 0 0 400
Library Shelving ie cea Sed ane oe aes 10
Surplus for year carried to Balance Sheet 88 8 6 47

£846 11 10 £816
BALANCE SHEET As at Asa
31/8/58 31/8/57
Surplus at 31/8/57 __... £493 7 9 £447
Add: Surplus for year per Revenue Account | 88 8 6 46
Add: Legacy from J. Bartholomew ... . 100 0 0 —
£681 16 3 £493
Miss L: J. Rintoul’s Endowment (the free annual income

is available for the advancement of ornithology) 1000 0 0O 1000
£1681 16 3 £1493
Cash in Edinburgh Savings Bank ... Me: is £580 3 8 £468
Cash in Royal Bank of eeonene ae aut i. ERE Garo 30
Cash in hand e oe aa 0.1: 2 5
£692 1 3 £503
Less: Subscriptions received in advance ... 10 5 O 10
£681 16 3 £493

£1,151 34% War Stock at cost (Endowment) wos: L000) OO. 1

£1681 16 3 £1493

EDINBURGH, 30th September, 1958.—I have examined the foregoing
Revenue Account and Balance Sheet of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club
for the year ending 3lst August, 1958, and certify that in my opinion they

are correctly stated and sufficiently vouched.

ARTHUR WALKER, Chartered Accountant.

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The Journal of
The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

Vol. INo. 3 Spring 1959

Reprinted 1973

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

THE Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was founded in 1936 and membership

is open to all interested in Scottish ornithology. Meetings are held
during the winter months in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and
St Andrews, at which lectures by prominent orinthologists are given and
films exhibited. Excursions are organised in the summer to places of
ornithological interest.

The aims and objects of the Club are to (a) encourage and direct the
study of Scottish Ornithology in all its branches; (b) co-ordinate the
efforts of Scottish Ornithologists and encourage co-operation between field
and indoor worker; (c) encourage ornithological research in Scotland in
co-operation with other organisations; (d) hold meetings at centres to be
arranged at which Lectures are given, films exhibited, and discussions
held; and (e) publish or arrange for the publication of statistics and in-
formation with regard to Scottish ornithology.

There are no entry fees for Membership. The Annual subscription is
25/-; or 7/6 in the case of Members under twenty-one years of age or in
the case of University undergraduates who satisfy the Council of their
status as such at the time of which their subscriptions fall due in any
year. “‘Scottish Birds’’ is issued free to members.

The affairs of the Club are controlled by a Council composed of the Hon.
Presidents, the President, the Vice-President, the Hon. Treasurer, cne
Representative of each Branch Committee appointed annually by the
Branch, and ten other Members of the Club elected at an Annual General
Meeting. Two of the last named retire annually by rotation and shall not
be eligible for re-election for one year.

A Scottish Bird Records’ Committee, appointed by the Council, produce
an annual Report on “Ornithological Changes in Scotland”.

Full details are given in the Syllabus of Lectures Card of the names of
the present Office-bearers of the Club.

An official tie with small white Crested Tits embroidered on it can be
obtained in dark green or navy blue by Members only from Messrs R.
W. Forsyth Ltd., Princes Street, Edinburgh, or 5 Renfield Street, Glasgow,
C.2, at a cost of 13s 9d post free. A small brooch in silver and blue can be
obtained for the use of Members of the Club. Price 2s 6d each from the
Hon. Secretary, or from Hon. Branch Secretaries.

Forms of application for Membership, copy of the Club Constitution,
and other literature is obtainable from the Club Secretary, Mr George
Waterston, 5 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh 2.

CLUB LIBRARY

The Club Library is now housed in the Secretary’s Office at 5 Charlotte
Square, Edinburgh, 2. The collection has recently been augmented by
several gifts, and the Council appeals to Members to donate books and
periodicals which they may wish to dispose of. We have no volumes of
the “Ibis”? prior to 1944. The Library is open during office hours for
reference. Books or magazines, of which we have duplicate copies, can be
obtained on loan.

—_—_———

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

All notes dealing with birds in the eastern Lowlands, from Berwick-on-
Tweed to Dundee, should be submitted to A. T. Macmillan, 66 Spylaw
Bank Road, Edinburgh, 13; all other contributions to M. F. M. Meikle-
john, 20 Falkland Street, Glasgow, W.2. It would be helpful if notes were
typewritten, if possible, and double spaced.

SCOTTISH BIRDS $\

THE JOURNAL OF THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

Vol. 1 No. 3 Reprinted 1973 Spring 1959

Edited by M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN, with the assistance of D. G. ANDREW
and A. T. MacmiLLan. Business Editor, ARTHUR J. SMITH. Cover design
(Greenshanks) by LEN FULLERTON. Published quarterly.

Editorial

| F the success of a periodical can be measured by the number
of contributions received, then we should be pleased with
the progress of Scottish Birds, for, in the past quarter, the
bulk of material has been so large that we may be forced
to print more of it in small print than we would wish. How-
ever, without in any way criticising the value of the records
received, it is impossible not to reflect that too many of them
come from too few places—that is to say that places known to
be “good for birds” are visited disproportionately often, like
Aberlady Bay, while large areas of Scotland (we might take
Wigtownshire as an example) are virtually unexplored ornith-
ologically. That new-fangled petrol-driven machine, the
motor-car, which allows the bird-watcher to proceed rapidly
from one “good place” to another, is perhaps a hindrance
rather than a help to a knowledge of the birds of the country.
Much more is seen by the observer on foot, especially if he is
careful to walk with the sun at his back, and his observations
of an area will always be the most thorough and comprehen-
sive because he moves slowly. He is the tortoise of the fable.

54 OBITUARY 1(3)

The Late Professor-Emeritus James Ritchie

Scottish Ornithology and the Club has suffered a great
loss in the death on 19th October 1958 of our founder member
James Ritchie, C.B.E., M.A.,.D.Sc., F.R.S.E.

Ritchie was essentially a naturalist; but his interests were
wide—ranging from archaeology through the whole field of
biology. He was also an accomplished artist, producing many
lovely water-colour sketches of his beloved Highlands.

For nine years he was Keeper of the Natural History Depart-
ment of the Royal Scottish Museum; for six years Regius Pro-
fessor of Natural History in the University of Aberdeen; and for
the last sixteen years of his active life, Professor of Natural
History in the University of Edinburgh. The publication of
his book “The Influence of Man on Animal Life in Scotland:
A Study of Faunal Evolution” in 1920 had a great influence
on the growth of the study of animal ecology and of its
applications to conservation in which he was always keenly
interested. He was Chairman of the Scottish Wildlife Conser-
vation Committee appointed by the Secretary of State which
published in 1949 a list of recommended Nature Reserves in
Scotland, and was one of the initial members of the Scottish
Committee of the Nature Conservancy. He took a leading part
in the work of the Royal Scottish Zoological Society, being a
member of its first Council in 1909 and later becoming Vice-
President. He edited The Scottish Naturalist for fourteen years.

It was as a Chairman of meetings that Ritchie’s great gifts
of knowledge, charm, firmness, tact and humour got full
rein, and he presided with distinction over meetings of the
Advisory Committee on the Protection of Birds for Scotland;
the Duddingston Loch Bird Sanctuary Committee; and the
Royal Society of Edinburgh of which he was President for
the last four years of his life. He was a Trustee of the Fair
Isle Bird Observatory and never missed a meeting. He also
took a keen interest in the Isle of May Bird Observatory. His
collection of books on ornithology has been bequeathed to our
Club Library.

As Professor C. M. Yonge has said—‘No one in his gener-
ation has done more to describe and to interpret the natural
history of this country.” G.W.

THE EDINBURGH BIRD BULLETIN

In these days of ever-increasing professionalism it is pleas-
ant to recall that the Edinburgh Bird Bulletin was born as a
thoroughly amateurish undergraduate experiment. In 1950
there was a large band of young ornithologists, mostly recently

1959 EDINBURGH BIRD BULLETIN 55

returned from the Forces, who were extremely active in and
around Edinburgh, and Stewart Kirkaldy, now a _ general
practitioner in Canada, was the moving spirit in dreaming up
an intimate local magazine which would encourage members
to keep in touch with each other and to record events which,
though not remarkable enough to merit publication in the
national magazines, would help build up a clearer picture of
the bird life in a comparatively small area.

The first number appeared on 30th November 1950, and
right from the start it received the most encouraging support
from local members of the S.O.C. Since then its history has
been one of steady expansion. Stewart Kirkaldy stayed long
enough only to see the first year of publication. After his de-
parture the late Commander Tom Yeoman took over the post
of advisory editor and continued to act in this capacity for the
next four years in spite of being almost completely incapac-
itated by illness. Under his influence the magazine came to
acquire a wider reputation for reliability which considerably
exceeded the lighthearted aspirations of its founders. Until
1955 the Bulletin had remained a purely private venture, but
pressure of work made it impossible to continue this arrange-
ment, and in December of that year it was formally handed
over to the S.O.C. and George Waterston very gallantly added
the responsibilities of Editor to his many other tasks. After
two years he in turn handed over to Andrew Macmillan, who
has been responsible for the magazine’s eighth and last year
of life—and this seems an excellent opportunity of paying a
most sincere tribute to the thorough competence with which
he has discharged his duties.

It may seem sad that a magazine which is fulfilling such a
useful purpose should go out of publication at a time when
its quality and success have never been more assured. But
many of its functions will be taken over by Scottish Birds and
it would be difficult to avoid either duplication or competition
if the S.O.C. were to run two magazines for general and local
consumption. It may also be recorded here that one of the
main objects of the Bulletin when it was founded was to pro-
vide a pilot magazine which would pave the way for and be
incorporated in a club publication.

So the Bulletin may also claim to be an ancestor of Scottish
Birds. One may be allowed to hope (with some confidence)
that the child may once again prove to be father of the man.

D.G.A.

(Mr D. G. Andrew, the author of this notice, has with char-
acteristic modesty suppressed his own name. He bore a great
share of the editing in the first years of the Bulletin’s life and
was largely responsible for its accuracy and for the additions
made by it to our knowledge of the ornithology of the south-
east of Scotland.—ED.)

56 MIGRANTS AT ST KILDA 1(3)

MIGRANTS AT ST KILDA IN 1957 AND 1958
W. J. EGGELING

This note covers the periods 16th April to 25th September
1957 and 16th April to 1st September 1958. It has been compiled
from the daily census book in which observers (mainly Nature
Conservancy staff or representatives) record the birds they see.
Only migrants or visitors are dealt with, not breeding birds.
Species not previously reported from St Kilda are indicated
by asterisks. All the observations were made on Hirta.

SooTy SHEARWATER Procellaria grisea. One on Ist September
1958.

CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo. One on 14th September
1957.

HERON Ardea cinerea. One on 19th-21st May 1957. One on
7th and 8th July. Recurring notices of a bird between 14th
July and 7th August, when one was picked up in a very wasted
condition. One on 13th September 1957.

MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos. In 1957 one on 19th June, two
on 23rd June, and five on 8th December.

TEAL Anas crecca. In 1957, one on 13th May and two from
18th to 20th September. In 1958, two on 2nd May, one on 23rd
May, and one on 22nd August.

WIGEON Anas penelope. In 1957, three on 24th and two on
25th April, one on 22nd May, one on Ist July and one on 24th
September. Four on 30th April 1958.

PINTAIL Anas acuta. In 1958 two on 30th April, one on 30th
August.

*TUFTED Duck Aythya fuligula. A drake from 11th to 22nd
and 30th to 21st May 1958.

*Scaup Aythya marila. An exhausted duck, picked up on
19th May 1957, died next day.

*COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra. In 1957, one from 19th to
25th and 29th to 3lst May; one Ist to 4th June; one 15th and
16th September. Two on 27th and one on 28th August 1958.

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Mergus serrator. In 1957 one from
21st to 25th May, one on 3rd June. In 1958, one from 6th to
16th May, one on 24th and 28th June, one on 2nd July.

GREY LAG GOOSE Anser anser. One on 8th May 1957.

*BEAN GOOSE Anser arvensis. One on 15th September 1957
was identified at very close quarters by C. Fisher, H. G. Brown-
low and K. Williamson. According to the R.A.F. garrison, it
was joined in late October by two other “grey geese’, all three
remaining until mid-December.

phog wol.4orny *f AQ YaADLV0IOUd ‘puNnossa1OJ OU UTI
Sdopynoqd oy} Suowle sesurnystn v pue (peyVpourwWOd9e ate SAOATOSGO IBY) ISNOFL S,LoJORA oY} JO JUOAF UL Aadidpurg Ysaeyy Pe ‘aseq
Sit 2e syidig MopeowW pPue STILISeAY AITYA SUTLASTUL AULUT JYUSGNed sjyou YSTIUT ‘EGET pure LGET UL “Yovoeq oy. puryod daros Uolsosa 94} UO
JSOU SUBTM BPTI IS pure sayIM ‘Sep paweyeros pur splely poyuenbeazj-odrus

‘

yoreqd Jepr~nod surmoys ‘ZGBL UL ‘PPIIs IS “Vode ddPIILA

58 MIGRANTS AT ST KILDA 1(S)

*PINK-FOOTED GOOSE Anser brachyrhynchus. At least 110 on
25th April 1957.

BRENT GOOSE Branta bernicla. One on 10th June 1957.

*BARNACLE GOOSE Branta leucopsis. Twenty-six on 24th
April 1957. Thirty-four on 2nd May and twenty-four on 8th
and 9th May 1958.

WHOOPER SWAN Cygnus cygnus. In 1957, one in mid-April,
two from 27th to 29th April, one from Ist to 4th May and one
(on Soay) from 12th to 26th May.

GOLDEN EAGLE Aquila chrysaetos. One on 15th May 1957.

*BUZZARD Buteo buteo. One on 24th August 1958.

PEREGRINE Falco peregrinus. Occasional records in both
years; did not breed on Hirta, but may have done on Soay or
Boreray.

MERLIN Falco columbarius. In 1957, one or two most days
from 17th April to 5th May, one on 11th May, one on 14th, 15th,
25th and 26th September. In 1958, one on most days from 21st
April to 11th May, one on 16th and 18th, two on 20th and one
on 3lst May, one on 3rd June, one on 9th August.

KESTREL Falco tinnunculus. One on 9th, 12th and 28th May
exe:

WATER RAIL Rallus aquaticus. One on 20th May 1957.

CORNCRAKE Crex crex. In 1957, one on 28th April and 4th,
8th, 9th and 11th May, with a different bird on the 12th. One
on 13th and 14th May 1958.

*MOORHEN Gallinula chloropus. In 1957, one from 13th to
15th and 21st to 22nd May, one on 13th September.

LAPWING Vanellus vanellus. In 1957, one on 21st May, 21st
June and 8th July. In 1958, three on 22nd April, one on 12th
and 27th May, 4th July, 24th, 27th, 29th and 30th August.

RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula. Two on 3rd May 1957,
and seven other single occurrences in spring, latest 4th June;
one on 24th July. Considerable movement in autumn, begin-
ning 14th August, with maximum of fourteen on 9th Septem-
ber. Much the same pattern in 1958: a few in spring with
autumn maximum of twenty-seven on 20th August.

GOLDEN PLOVER Charadrius apricarius. Well marked spring
passage in both years, but very slight autumn movement. In
1957 only on three days in late August and three days in late
September. In 1958 no autumn birds up to 1st September,
when observations discontinued.

TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres. Nine on 17th April 1957 had
all left by 20th. Up to four birds on nine days in May; two
notices in June, three in July, six in August. Seen daily from
lst September, with maximum of forty on 17th. Some over-
wintered, for at least three of the small flock present in April
1958 carried rings put on the previous autumn. Most of this

1959 MIGRANTS AT ST KILDA 59

flock remained until mid-June 1958; others seen in late June,
on ten days in July and once in early August. After 18th
August seen daily.

SNIPE Capella gallinago. Spring and autumn passage noticed
in both years, but not easily assessed in view of the presence
of resident birds of the same race faeroensis.

* JACK SNIPE Lymnocryptes minimus. One on 21st September
1957.

Woopcock Scolopax rusticola. The remains of one seen April
DOT me

CURLEW Numenius arquata. In 1957 two April, one July,
five August and four September notices, never more than two
on any day. In 1958 one April, seven May and ten August oc-
currences, maximum of ten on 2nd May.

WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus. Well marked spring pas-
sage in both years, from late April till end of June. Maxima
twenty in 1957, seven in 1958. Autumn movement very slight:
in 1957 up to three birds on three days in late July, two on
6th August. In 1958 one on 15th July and 24th August.

*WooD SANDPIPER Tringa glareola. One on 25th and 26th
May 1958 was caught and ringed.

COMMON SANDPIPER Tringa hypoleucos. One on 11th and 21st
May 1957.

REDSHANK Tringa totanus. Single birds seen on six days
between 17th and 25th April 1957; two on 27th; one on 4th
May. In 1958 one or two on six days between 20th and 29th
April; fourteen on 30th; forty on Ist May and five notices of
single birds between 8th and 23rd May; one on 8th July, 11th
and 19th August.

*GREENSHANK Tringa nebularia. One on 3rd August 1957.

Knot Calidris canutus. In 1957 six occurrences of one or
two birds between 15th August and 15th September; four on
31st August. In 1958, one to three birds seen every day except
one between 20th and 30th August.

*LITTLE STINT Calidris minuta. One from 13th to 15th Sep-
tember 1957.

PURPLE SANDPIPER Calidris maritima. In 1958 two on 20th
and 27th April, two on 17th and 18th August. First records
for Hirta, but previously recorded from Boreray.

DUNLIN Calidris alpina. Slight passage in spring (mainly
May) and autumn (mid-August to September) in both years.
Two on 26th July 1957.

SANDERLING Crocethia alba. In 1957, two from 14th to 16th
August; one to three between 26th August and 18th Septem-
ber on nineteen days. In 1958, single birds from 17th to 25th
August, on 30th August and lst September.

RuFF Philomachus pugnax. In 1957 single birds from 24th

60 MIGRANTS AT ST KILDA 1(3)

to 29th July, and from 11th to 13th September. In 1958 one on
24th and 25th August.

GREAT SkUA Catharacta skua. One on 24th July 1958.

COMMON GULL Larus canus. In 1957 two on 21st May and
single birds twice in July and once in August. In 1958 two on
6th June, and one to six on eight days between 22nd August
and lst September.

ICELAND GULL Larus glaucoides. In 1958, one from 17th April
to 7th May, two from 8th to 18th May, one from 19th May to
3rd June and sporadically thereafter until 27th June. Pro-
bably only two individuals involved; only one previous notice.

BLACK-HEADED GULL Larus ridibundus. In 1957, one to four
on one day in April, nine days in May and one day in June,
July and September. In 1958 similar sporadic occurrences,
on one day in April, fourteen in May, five in June and one
day in July and August.

Rock Dove Columba livia. One on 23rd June 1958. The pos-
sibility of this being a feral pigeon should not be overlooked.

Woop PIGEON Columba palumbus. In 1957 one on 25th April
and one or two on four days in May.

TURTLE DOVE Streptopelia turtur. One from 29th May to 5th
June 1957.

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus. One from 24th to 25th May 1957.

*SHORT-EARED OWL Asio flammeus. In 1957 single birds on
22nd May and 25th September. In 1958, one, almost certainly
the same individual, on 13th, 18th and 24th May, and one, per-
haps the same, on 2nd June.

*LONG-EARED OWL Asio otus. One on 10th August 1958.

SWIFT Apus apus. In 1957 single birds on four of the last
ight days of May, and from one to three birds in the
first week of June. Noticeable passage, from one to fifteen
birds daily, in the last nine days of August 1958.

*SHORT-TOED LARK Calandrella cinerea. A very rufous ex-
ample, probably of the race brachydactyla, seen by Kenneth
Williamson from 29th May to 5th June 1957.

SKYLARK Alauda arvensis. One on 18th April 1957 and on
12th and 14th May 1958.

SWALLOW Hirundo rustica. In 1957, one on 17th April, fol-
lowed by a steady movement (mostly one to four birds a day,
but once ten) from 12th May to 21st June; one on 8th July.
A similar movement (most in a day six) between 2nd and 31st
May 1958, with single birds on 19th and 23rd June. No autumn
Swallows in either year.

HousE MARTIN Delichon urbica. In 1957, up to three birds a
day from 23rd May to 18th June; five on 23rd August. A sim-
ilar trickle, again never more than three birds a day, between

12 os MIGRANTS AT ST KILDA 61

6th and 28th May 1958; one or two birds on five days in June
and two days in July (latest 4th July).

*SAND MARTIN Riparia riparia. Single birds on 27th and 30th
May 1958.

Rook Corvus frugilegus. One on 19th May 1957.
ey ue Turdus pilaris. Single birds on 5th and 14th May

58.

REDWING Turdus musicus. In 1957 between one and nine
almost daily in April; one to four daily on eleven days from
Ast to 20th May. In 1958 a few in April and early May, a single
bird remaining until 3rd June. Some coburni certainly
involved.

BLACKBIRD Turdus merula. In 1957, a male seven times from
17th to 29th April and a female four times from 29th April
to 6th May. |

WHEATEAR Oenanthe oenanthe. Passage in both years April
to June and (slight) late August to September, with typical,
Greenland (leucorrhoa) and intermediate (“Iceland”’ i.e.
schioleri) birds all present at these seasons.

WHINCHAT Saxicola rubetra. Single birds on 13th and 27th
May, and 20th September 1957. One on 13th May 1958.

REDSTART Phoenicurus phoenicurus. In 1957 single birds on
llth May, and 20th, 23rd and 24th September; different indiv-
iduals each day.

*NIGHTINGALE Luscinia megarhynchos. One on 12th May
1958; trapped and examined in the hand. First record for the
Hebrides.

ROBIN Erithacus rubecula. One on 22nd September 1957.

SEDGE WARBLER Acrocephalus schoenobaenus. One on 25th
and 26th May 1957. In 1958 single birds (several individuals)
on the dates from 12th to 31st May; one on 5th June.

BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla. One on 26th August 1957.

BARRED WARBLER Sylvia nisoria. One on 13th August, and
one from 28th August to 2nd September 1957. Both examined
in the hand.

GARDEN WARBLER Sylvia borin. One on Ist June 1958.

WHITETHROAT Sylvia communis. In 1957, one or two on 11th
May and two on 20th. In 1958, three on 14th May, two of these
remaining until 16th and one until 22nd; single birds on 26th
and 28th May, 3rd June and 22nd August.

WILLOW WARBLER Phylloscopus trochilus. In 1957, single
birds on 2nd, 3rd, 28th and 30th August; two on 9th and 10th
September. In 1958, single birds on 11th, 14th and 26th May,
two on 27th and one from 29th to 3lIst.

CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita. One on 13th May 1958.

*WoopD WARBLER Phylloscopus sibilatrix. Single birds on 4th
and 5th, and 13th to 17th August 1957.

62 MIGRANTS AT ST KILDA 13)

*YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER Phylloscopus inornatus. One on
20th September 1957.

*SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa striata. One on 25th May
1957. One on 26th, three on 27th, one on 28th May 1958.

*HEDGE SPARROW Prunella modularis. One from 10th to 21st
May 1958.

TREE PipiT Anthus trivialis. One on 25th May 1957. At least
three on 12th May, two on 8th August 1958.

MEADOW PIPIT Anthus pratensis. Passage in considerable
numbers in both years in April and May, August and Sep-
tember. Up to fifty in Village Bay at a time.

WHITE WAGTAIL Motacilla alba alba. Strong passage in both
years. In 1957 spring movement started from 23rd April to
22nd May, with peak of over 100 birds on 26th April. In aut-
umn from 11th August to 25th September, with over 100 birds
on 13th August; one on 7th July. In 1958 from 23rd April to
3lst May, with single birds on 2nd and 16th June. In autumn
from 19th August. Numbers fewer than 1957.

GREY-HEADED WAGTAIL Motacilla flava thunbergi. One on
29th May 1957.

TWITE Carduelis flavirostris bensonorum. A summer resi-
dent; none were seen in 1957 after 14th September. In 1958,
a noticeable increase on 21st and 22nd May, after low num-
bers before.

REDPOLL Carduelis flammea. A single bird on 30th May 1958
was almost certainly a Greenland Redpoll rostrata.

CHAFFINCH Fringilla coelebs. In 1957 single hens on 27th and
29th April, and from 4th to 11th May, possibly same individual.
In 1958 a cock on 18th and 19th April, and a hen on 18th, 20th,
and 25th April, and 2nd May. A hen, found to be close-ringed
and present from 11th May to 3rd June, could have been that
noticed earlier. One hen on 10th and 12th June.

BRAMBLING Fringilla montifringilla. A male, 21st to 29th May
1958.

CoRN BUNTING Emberiza calandra. One from 17th to 20th
May 1957.

*RED-HEADED BUNTING Emberiza bruniceps. A male from 14th
to 22nd May 1957.

*REED BUNTING Emberiza schoeniclus. Single hens on 5th
and 12th May 1957.

LAPLAND BUNTING Calcarius lapponicuns. In 1957, one on
16th September, two on 17th, about twelve on 18th and 24th,
over sixteen On 25th.

SNowW BUNTING Plectrophenax nivalis. In 1957, one on 5th
May, a pair from 8th to 17th, one on 21st, twenty on 17th Sep-
tember, about six on 18th, one on 24th.

TREE SPARROW Passer montanus. In 1957, two to seven daily

1959 MIGRANTS AT ST KILDA 63

from 10th to 16th May, five on 25th. In 1958, one on 11th May,
three on 12th, four from 13th to 25th, 25 on 30th, eight on Ist
June, twelve on 2nd and 3rd, eleven on 4th, one on 5th and
six on 11th.

*HOUSE SPARROW Passer domesticus. A female from 11th to
20th May 1958.

After only two seasons of sustained observation, it is difficult
to draw any worthwhile conclusions concerning the pattern
of migration at St Kilda. There are, however, a few indica-
tions.

In addition to the specific notices of geese listed above,
there were four occurrences in 1957 and 1958 of “‘grey geese”
in spring, 26 on 24th April 1957, over 70 on 25th and one on
30th; 45 on 30th April 1958. It appears likely, therefore, that
the islands lie on the line of a spring flyway for these birds
(and perhaps also for Whooper Swans) heading from Britain
to Iceland and Greenland. Until more information is obtained
concerning the latter part of the autumn the position at that
season must remain uncertain, but at the moment it seems
possible that the return journey southwards is made further
to the east.

It is equally clear that northward route via St Kilda is
used by many waders and small birds making for the Faeroes,
Iceland and Greenland. Thus, in both the years under dis-
cussion, where there was a well-marked passage in spring of
Golden Plover, Whimbrel, Meadow Pipits, White Wagtails,
Greenland and “Iceland’’ Wheatears, and to a lesser extent of
Iceland Redwings, Faeroe Snipe and, probably, Iceland Mer-
lin. The Redwing passage may well be heavier than the
records suggest, for the bulk of the movement may have
passed earlier, before observations began. Again, data for
autumn are scanty but, to judge by 1957 when observation
extended to 25th September and the majority of the above
species except Redwing should have passed (or at least begun
to come through if they were coming at all), the return move-
ment was mostly on a much smaller scale, so that many of
the birds would similarly appear to return by a different
route. This generalisation does, however, need qualification,
for in the case of the Meadow Pipit and White Wagtail there
was in both years a considerable autumn passage. The waders
present a complex picture and it is perhaps worth noting
that, for example, Ringed Plover and Curlew occurred at both
seasons in both years but with heavier movement in autumn
than spring; that in the case of Knot and Sanderling there
were no spring but several autumn notices; and that Whim-
brel and Redshank on the other hand had what we might
term the ““Wheatear Pattern” of a heavier movement in spring
than in autumn.

Many questions remain unanswered and there is obviously

64 MIGRANTS AT ST KILDA 1(S)

great scope for continued watching and ringing. For instance
to what breeding station are Tree Sparrows heading when
they call in on St Kilda in May and June, and whence do they
come?

REPORT ON BIRDS OF THE CLYDE AREA
1957 - 1958
M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN

This is the last report of its series to be written. From 1950
to 1956 C. E. Palmar and the present writer published six
similar reports in The Scottish Naturalist and one in Scottish
Birds. Hereafter records from the Clyde area will take their
place in Scottish Birds on a similar footing to those from other
areas, but it has been thought advisable to put into print a
number of records from 1957 and the early months of 1958
which would otherwise not have seen the light of day. The
majority, but not all, have already been included in The Glas-
gow Bird Newsletter, a duplicated sheet produced occasionally
for the benefit of the Fair Isle Bird Observatory.

As in previous reports a few records come from that part
of the Forth area which is readily accessible from Glasgow.

The contributors of the following notes are G. H. Acklam,
Cdr. and Mrs J. F. Bayliss, Miss W. U. Flower, M. Forrester,
M. F. M. Meiklejohn, C. E. Palmar, W. K. Richmond, A. H.
Shaw, T. C. Smout, D. Stalker, Alistair Tyndal, L. A. Urqu-
hart, T. Weir. Unless otherwise stated, dates apply to 1957.

RED-NECKED GREBE Podiceps griseigena. One offshore, about
50 yards out, at Portencross, 25th February (D.S.).

LEACH’S PETREL Oceanodroma leucorrhoa. A freshly dead
bird was picked up at Tollcross, within Glasgow city boun-
dary, on 1lth March 1958 and is now in the Kelvingrove
Museum (C.E.P.).

BITTERN Botaurus stellaris. One was seen at Loch Macanrie,
Flanders Moss, on 3rd January 1958 (A.T.). The bird was de-
scribed as resembling ‘‘a Short-eared Owl with long legs’’: it
could not have been an American Bittern as it did not have
black wing-tips. Occasional in South Perth. (Forth area).

GADWALL Anas strepera. A pair on Loch Macanarie, S. Perth,
23rd November (D.S.).

LONG-TAILED Duck Clangula hyemalis. A female or immat-
ure, Hillend Reservoir, Lanarkshire, 20 October (C.S.). A
juvenile on the rubbish-dump pool, Hamilton, 22nd December
(C.E.P.); thereafter until 16th February seen either there or
at Bothwell Bridge (D.S.). On the Lake of Menteith (Forth
area) there were four immature birds on 16th November

1959 BIRDS OF THE CLYDE AREA 65

(D.S.), one on 5th and 11th January (W.U.F., M.F., T.W.).
There appears to be no previous record for South Perth.

COMMON SCOTER Melanitia nigra. On 14th March 1958 a first
year female was swimming in the River Kelvin at Kelvin-
grove Park, Glasgow (C.E.P.).

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifrons. At Hamilton on 29th
October an adult was seen (W.K.R.) and an immature on 13th
December (M.F.M.M.). Orange legs showed both to be of the
race flavirostris.

WATER RAIL Rallus aquaticus. On 19th May a pair of Water
Rails, accompanied by five newly hatched chicks, were
watched at close quarters in a swampy wood beside the R.
Endrick near Balmaha (M.F.M.M.). There is no _ previous
breeding record for W. Stirling.

TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres. One at the Endrick mouth on
19th May, seen both in Dunbarton and W. Stirling (M.F.M.M.),
and two in the Clyde valley above Hamilton on 11th August
(D.S.). These are the first records for W. Stirling and Lanark-
shire.

KNoT Calidris canutus. One at the Endrick mouth, Dun-
barton bank, on Ist March 1958 (J.F.B., M.F.M.M.).

SANDERLING Croecthia alba. Four were seen at Bothwell
Bridge on 10th September 1955 (A.H.S.): Dunlins were pres-
ent for comparison and the observer has submitted a very
satisfactory description. There seems to be no previous record
for Lanarkshire.

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER Tryngites subruficollis. A bird of
this species was discovered at Hamilton on 27th October
(L.A.U.) and seen by other observers on the following two
days: see British Birds 51: 193.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus fuscus fuscus. On 11th
January 1958 there were at Milngavie Reservoir one bird of
the British race graellsi and three of the Scandinavian race
fuscus (C.E.P.). The latter were seen in a good light and the
black of the back was the same colour as the wing-tips.
There were hundreds of Herring Gulls present for comparison.
There is no previous record of this race for Dunbartonshire.

GLAucOoUS GULL Larus hyperboreus. An immature bird at
the Heads of Ayr, 26th February (D.S.).

ICELAND GULL Larus glaucoides. An immature, probably
first winter bird, at Hamilton rubbish dump, 22nd February
(M.F.M.M.) and 24th February 1958 (G.H.A.).

LITTLE GULL Larus minutus. One at Doonfoot, Ayr, on 12th
October (Miss Irving): the observer has sent an excellent
description of this bird.

MAGPIE Pica pica. In view of the scarcity of recent occur-
rences of this species in the Loch Lomond area, the following
records are of interest: one, Drymen, 5th November 1950;

66 BIRDS OF THE CLYDE AREA 1(3)

one, Buchanan Castle woods, 11th December 1954; one, Dry-
men, 6th July 1958—all in West Stirling. One, near Gartoch-
arm, Dunbartonshire, 23rd February 1958 (M.F.M.M.). A pair
at Balmaha, W. Stirling, lst December 1957 (G.H.A.).

GREAT GREY SHRIKE Lanius excubitor. One on Flanders Moss,
near Gartmore, S. Perth, 16th March 1958 (M.F.M.M.). See
Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 8: 92.

SHORT NOTES
GLOSSY IBIS IN TIREE

Early in October 1958 at Balemartine, Tiree, the school-
children told me that they had seen a “big black curlew” on
the way to school and I asked them to draw my attention to
it the next time they saw it. On the following morning there
was a shout from several voices: ‘‘Oh, Miss, there’s the black
curlew” and there it was, quite near to the bus. Subsequently
I saw it at several places in the neighbourhood, the last occa-
sion being at Crossapool on 26th October.

It seemed rather larger than a Curlew and much darker,
but it definitely had a similar bill. When it took to flight, how-
ever, it immediately lost its resemblance to a Curlew, and be-
came more like a Heron—very like one, in fact, having the
same way of stretching its legs out behind, the same flapping
movements of the wing and the appearance of having its neck
folded in to its body, though actually the neck was short.
When I saw the bird standing I thought it was black with
touches of bronze glinting in the sunlight. When it was flying,
I could see the dark, dark wings, but the back had a sort of
shiny grey appearance. The bird can only have been a Glossy
Ibis Plegadis falcinellus, the second occurrence in Tiree.

MAIRI MCKINNON.

SPREAD OF EIDER IN EAST SUTHERLAND

It is interesting to follow the spread of the Eider Somateria
mollissima during the past fifty years or so from Orkney
down the east coast of Caithness and Sutherland into the
Moray Firth. In 1887, when Harvie-Brown published his
Fauna of Sutherland, Caithness and West Cromarty, the Eider
bred on the Pentland Skerries but no further south, though
by 1895, the same author stated that it was “commoner in the
Moray Firth than formerly” (A Fauna of the Moray Basin).
In 1931 Miss Baxter and Miss Rintoul (Birds of Scotland, 1953)
found a sucked egg between John o’ Groats and Duncansby
Head—less than seven miles from the Pentland Skerries. How-

1959 SHORT NOTES 67

ever, in the same year, Miss E. O. Armstrong (British Birds
36: 114) found a nest at Berriedale and recorded females with
young in subsequent years. Later records of females with
young are: off Brora 1936 (Birds of Scotland); Loth 1942
(Armstrong op. cit.); Brora 1947, several broods (Adam Wat-
son, Scot. Nat. 60: 53).

My own records are from 1949 when I saw females with
young off Brora, but more recently there is evidence of breed-
ing south of this. In 1956 D. Macdonald of Dornoch observed
two broods of ducklings at the mouth of Loch Fleet opposite
Skelbo Castle, and the following year I saw at about the same
place three broods, two of two ducklings and one single, the
small numbers being almost certainly due to predation by
gulls. Actual nests were not in this area until the summer of
1958, when the Hon. G. L. Charteris found three nests in the
heather at the Little Ferry, near the entrance to Loch Fleet.
‘So far no nests or broods have been seen south of this
point, but there are recent breeding records for Banffshire
(Scot. Nat. 66: 39-40).

To these I am now able to add an even earlier record,
hitherto unpublished, of breeding near Navidale on the Suth-
erland coast. The nest was found in either 1915 or 1916 by Dr
H. Stewart MacIntosh, present Director of Education for the
City of Glasgow: in his letter, which gives a detailed account
of the finding of the nest, he adds that his father, who knew
the shore well from boyhood, had never heard of a nest
being found previously, nor had any of the older inhabitants
of the district.

TAN D. PENNIE.

SNOW GEESE IN NORTH ARGYLL AND
ABERDEENSHIRE

On 6th November 1958 I was waiting outside Appin School.
It was 3 p.m. and the sun low in the sky, lighting up the
upper peaks. From the ESE—i.e., from the general direction
of Loch Awe-Tyndrum—came an unmistakable goose, flying
in the direction of Ardnamurchan. As it passed, to the north
of my line of vision, it was brilliantly lit up by the sun, a
winter sun giving a very sharp radiance. The clear white,
black wing-tips and general shape of the bird, with extended
goose-like head and neck, were clearly defined. A Gannet is
course cigar-shaped and is very different in other respects,
and that I presume is the only bird with which one could
confuse a Snow Goose Anser hyperboreus, which I suppose
this bird to have been. It was in view for about three minutes.

MAIRI CHISHOLM OF CHISHOLM.

68 SHORT NOTES 1(3)

On 22nd October 1958 while making a duck count at the
Loch of Strathbeg, Aberdeenshire, I saw three white geese
roosting with about a thousand Pink-footed Geese Anser
brachyrhynchus in the sand-dunes between the loch and the
shore. I was able to get within fifty yards and to my great
pleasure they were undoubtedly Snow Geese Anser hyper-
boreus, the pink legs and bill, and the black-tipped wings
being clearly seen. There was no sign of staining on the head
or neck. In size they were similar to the Pink-feet. The birds
were still there in late November and in early November I
heard from the Wildfowl Trust that they had no knowledge
of “lost”? Snow Geese at that time.

It may also be of interest to record that 472 Whooper Swans
Cygnus cygnus were feeding or roosting on the same loch.

ELIZABETH A. GARDEN.

AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER ON FAIR ISLE

In the late afternoon of 14th September 1956 F.R.A., R. G.
McCaskie and G.W. discovered an unusual bird in a flock of
twelve Golden Plover Charadrius apricarius on-the moor of
Vaasetter on Fair Isle. At first sight it appeared to be a Grey
Plover Squatarola squatarola, but was soon seen to lack the
black auxiliaries of that species and to have no white on the
rump and upper side of the tail. The possibility of its being
one of the races of Charadrius domenicus (American domenicus
or Asiatic fulvus) presented itself and this supposition was
strengthened by a statement in The Handbook (IV, 372) that
the American Golden Plover in autumn resembles a young
Grey Plover.

In the evening of the same day the bird was watched by the
three original observers together with M. Armelin, M. I. Kin-
near, M.F.M.M., and C. Walker. The following features were
observed: on the ground, perhaps because of its lighter colour-
ing against the dark heather, it seemed slightly larger than
the European Golden Plovers, but in flight was seen to be
very slightly smaller. R.G.McC. noticed that it stood at the
same height as they did, thus arguing a longer length of leg
in proportion. The skull was markedly rounded, giving a
bull-headed appearance. ‘‘Bullhead” is a dialect name for the
American Golden Plover. The whole appearance of the bird
was very white and grey making it almost indistinguishable
from a Grey Plover until it flew, when the auxillaries were
seen to be brownish grey, like the rest of the underwing, and
the rump and upper parts of the tail to resemble the rest of
the upper parts in colour. Its most striking field character was
a very broad white eyestripe and a very white forehead. The
crown was dark brown verging on black, with lighter flecks;
the nape dark grey brown. The upper parts had a yellowish

1959 SHORT NOTES 69

grey appearance, less spangled than in apricarius and in
museum specimens of domenicus fulvus. There was a greyish
streak through the eye continuing in a circle round the
cheeks to the throat. The underparts were white with notice-
able traces remaining of the black feathers of summer plum-
age; they formed a sort of collar on the lower throat, and
were thick down the centre of the breast. The bird was only
heard to call once, when the whole flock rose in alarm; it
uttered a triple “tee tee tee” of a peculiar harsh nasal quality,
like the whinny of a horse. Early next morning it rose from
the moor of Eas Brecks and flew away southwards by itself,
after which it was not seen again. On this occasion it called
continually, the call being trisyllabic, with the second syllable
hardly accented, and the third lower in pitch. It could be ren-
‘dered “‘tialoo” and was higher pitched than the call of the
European Golden Plover heard at the same time.

F.R.A. and M.F.M.M. have examined specimens of Chara-
drius domenicus domenicus and fulvus in the British Museum
‘(Natural History) and the Royal Scottish Museum and are
agreed that the Fair Isle example was of the typical race, the
American Golden Plover. One specimen of domenicus in the
R.S.M. agreed almost perfectly; it is a male obtained at Ajo,
Buenos Aires, on 10th September, 1899. The mounted speci-
men of domenicus in the showcase of the R.S.M. also closely
resembles the Fair Isle bird. The Fair Isle bird differed from
all specimens of Charadrius dominicus fulvus examined by us
in the following respects: size, not very much smaller than
apricarius; grey colouration of upper parts and very white
eyebrow; generally less brown and less spangled above, lack
of yellow on throat, though two specimens of fulvus in the
B.M. have hardly any.

For the sake of future possible observers it should be ob-
served that there was no possibility of confusing this bird in
the field with Charadrius apricarius; it was wholly unlike.
This is the second Scottish record.

F. R. ALLISON
M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN.
GEORGE WATERSTON.

THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE AMERICAN
GOLDEN PLOVER

(See plate on page 75)

There seem to be three features by which the American
Golden Plover Charadrius domenicus domenicus may be dis-
tinguished in the field from the Asiatic Golden Plover fulvus,
and all point to the Fair Isle bird being the former.

1. Size. There is hardly any overlap between the two and

70 SHORT NOTES 1(S)

the fact that the Fair Isle bird was only slightly smaller, and
indeed appeared larger when on the ground, than C. apricar-
ius, indicates that it was of the typical race. The question of
inter-breeding and intermediates might arise, but Conover’s
paper on domenicus and fulvus in Alaska (Auk 62: 568-574)
suggests that the two are possibly specifically distinct.

2. Colour. Writers on the two races comment on the ease
of distinguishing them. ““The two seem to be very distinct’
(Seebohm, Ibis 1877: 165). “‘C. virginianus (=domenicus) at ail
seasons (but more especially in winter) has far less of the
golden colour on the dorsal plumage and on the breast than
C. longipes (=fulvus) has” Dresser, Birds of Europe VII:
477). Rand (Auk 64: 283), commenting on a specimen of fulvus
collected in Greenland on 16th September 1940, says: “This
specimen, compared with our series of sixteen domenicus in
similar plumage is strikingly different.’ Conover (op. cit.)
writes: “Adults taken after the first part of July often have
enough of the new winter plumage on the underparts to
make identification possible by colouring alone. The first
new feathers appear on the sides of the face, throat and
upper chest. In fulva these are quite yellowish and contrast
strongly with the black feathers of the breeding plumage,
while in typical domenica they are pale brownish grey and
much less noticeable”. Furthermore we have discovered, by
examination of the series in the British Museum and the
Royal Scottish Museum, that adults in autumn of domenicus
can immediately be picked out by the unspangled, yellowish
grey colouration of the upperparts. We can find no evidence,
either in literature or in skins, that such a plumage ever oc-
curs in fulvus.

3. Voice. J. T. Nichols, so far as we can discover the only
observer to make notes on the calls of both races, states
(Bent, Life History of American Shore Birds II: 183) that the
call of domenicus is “in migration a far-reaching que-e-e-a
with a quaver in the middle and falling at the end”: this
seems to be about the same as the call of the Fair Isle bird,
allowing for individual peculiarities of transcription. He
adds (ibid. 199), writing on fulvus in Alaska, “its notes are
quite unlike the flight call of the eastern bird in migration.”

M.F.M.M.

BLACK-TAILED GODWITS IN SOLWAY
In addition to H. Mayer-Goss’s records (antea 1: 13) we
have received the following from William Austin, Robert
Smith and Donald Watson. Unless otherwise stated they refer
to the Carsethorn Shore, Kirkcudbrightshire.
1947: several during mid-September.

1959 SHORT NOTES 71

1952: 7th August, one; 14th, fourteen; 16th, two; 17th three;
19th, two; 23rd, several; 25th, at least ten; 26th, several; 31st,
three; 7th September, fifteen; 14th, thirteen; 23rd, seventy;
also on 23rd one at mouth of Piltanton Burn, Luce Bay, Wig-
townshire.

1954: 29th September, about twelve; 30th, at least twenty;
9th October, several; 2nd November, two.

1958: 11th January, two; 3lst August, seven at Southerness
(Kirkcudbrightshire); 2nd November, two.

From D. G. Andrew: nine at Carsethorn, 8th October 1954.

From John Murray: one on Loch Ryan, Wigtownshire, just
outside Stranraer, on 5th January 1959.

SPOTTED REDSHANKS IN AUTUMN 1958

The following notices of Spotted Redshanks Tringa ery-
thropus in Scotland have been received:

Solway. At Caerlaverock Merse, Dumfriesshire, on 15th and
26th September (E. L. Roberts). A. D. Watson also reports two
old records from Carsethorn, Kirkcudbrightshire, one on 23rd
August 1953 and one on 18th August 1954.

Clyde. One at Hamilton in latter part of 1958 and early
January 1959 (several observers).

Tweed. At Hule Moss, Berwickshire, on 16th September we
saw a Spotted Redshank, being attracted first by its “che-wit”
call. It was white below and grey above, with a small but
conspicuous white rump and no wing bar. The bill was longer
than a Redshank’s and in flight the red legs trailed out behind.
This is the first record for Berwickshire, and apparently for
Tweed. (W. Murray and S. J. Clarke).

Forth. Between Grangemouth and Kincardine, East Stirling,
single birds on 31st August, 4th, 5th and 27th September, and
26th October. (George Dick, J. Hoy, J. Potter). There seem
to be no previous published records for East Stirling. At Cult
Ness, Fife, single birds on 24th, 26th and 30th August, 11th,
21st, 27th and 28th September, 12th, 19th and 26th October,
and 2nd, 16th and 23rd November. Two on 4th, 7th, 10th and
14th September. (P. G. R. Barbier, George Dick, J. Hoy, C. K.
Mylne). One seen on the Isle of May on several days in Sep-
tember and early October is the first for the island: fuller
details will be given in the Observatory report.

Moray. One at Lossiemouth, Morayshire, on 5th Septem-
ber (Ian Hay) and one at Skibo estuary, Dornoch Firth, S.E.
Sutherland, on 10th September. (D. Macdonald).

72 SHORT NOTES 1(3)

BLACK-WINGED STILT IN RENFREWSHIRE

On the afternoon of 5th October 1958 on the south side of
the R. Clyde about a quarter of a mile west of Erskine Ferry
I saw a Blue-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus at a
small muddy spit frequented by waders at high water. It was
seen through binoculars in a good light. Its very long legs,
iand the fact that it was wading in much deeper water than
Redshanks, were immediately conspicuous. Long fine straight
bill also noticeable. Back was grey-black, but not jet black.
Breast and underparts white. Legs dull pinkish. The joint of
the leg was conspicuous (sketch submitted). No call was heard.
In flight the black wings were very noticeable; paler colour
and white on the tail, but tail pattern not clearly seen. The
legs trailing behind in flight were characteristic. When first
seen the bird was alone, but on being put up joined a party of
four or five Redshanks and a larger number of Oyster-
catchers. When standing in the water the Stilt bobbed its head
up and down continually. In flight a relaxed “skipping” effect
was noticeable; while the Redshank flew with regular direct
‘wing-beats, the Stilt did three or four beats followed by a
glide, and so on. There is a record of 1850 for Renfrewshire.

R. P. CAMPBELL.
TURTLE DOVES IN ABERDEENSHIRE

On the evening of 6th June 1958 I watched a single Turtle
Dove Streptopelia turtur at Fontainebleu Farm near New-
burgh. It was last seen going to roost in a tree near the farm-
house. Professor V. C. Wynne-Edwards saw a Turtle Dove
resting on telephone wires near this farm on 25th September
1955. There are none kept captive in the area.

ALISTAIR J. M. SMITH.
ROLLER IN SHETLAND

On 5th September 1958, in Mid Yell, Mr Robert Tulloch
observed a Roller Coracias garrulus, which was being mobbed
by a Kestrel; it protected itself by turning on its back in the
air and extending its claws.

CHARLES J. INKSTER.

(In a cutting from The Shetland News of 16th September,
sent us by Mr Inkster, an unmistakeable description of the
bird is given. The cutting also refers to a roller “found dead
about this time last year by Miss Harriet Thomason of
Camb.”’—ED.)

1959 SHORT NOTES 73

GREEN WOODPECKERS IN LANARKSHIRE

Mr W. K. Richmond reports twice hearing a Green Wood-
pecker Picus viridis on 23rd January 1958 near Merryton
Farm on the Clyde above Hamilton, and, in the same district,
on 25th October 1958, Mr Thomas F. Kerr saw one in Avon
Glen near Fairholm Bridge, Larkhall. Good views were had
from twenty yards. Mr Kerr, who has watched birds for many
years in the area, has never seen this species there before.

BLACK REDSTARTS IN ABERDEENSHIRE

On Ist April 1958 we saw two Black Redstarts, both females,
in a turnip field near Cotehill Cottage, by Collieston, Aber-
deenshire.

ALISTAIR J. M. SMITH.
R. MAXWELL.

CHIFFCHAFF IN WINTER IN AYRSHIRE

On the afternoon of 12th January 1958 my wife and I ob-
served a Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita on the shore about
three miles north of Ardrossan. The day was bright with a
gusty onshore wind and the bird was searching for food low
in the field layer just about the drift line. It regularly allowed
approach to within five yards, thus making identification
pretty certain. Presumably its occurrence was associated with
the strong south-westerly gale during the previous week
which, strangely enough, grounded an Irish boat on the shore
a mile or two south of where we saw the bird; probably, like
the boat, it came from Ireland.

J. C. SMYTH.

CORRESPONDENCE

I am much indebted to Dr J. W. Campbell (antea 1: 27) for
pointing out a record of the Water Rail Rallus aquaticus in
Wester Ross, omitted from our Geographical Distribution and
‘Status of Birds in Scotland. With regard to the skin from Kyle-
akin lighthouse, we state in our introduction that “Skye and
its islets’ are treated separately from the mainland (op. cit
p. v). We therefore included it under Skye.

E. V. BAXTER.

The note in Scottish Birds (1: 30): “the Committee cannot
accept the record of a Manx Shearwater seen on Loch Leven,
25th July 1957”, made me look up my last year’s diary, where

74 CORRESPONDENCE 1(3)

I found, as I thought, that I had noted seeing a Manx Shear-
twater while fishing at Loch Leven on 26th July 1957. I had
not realised that this was sufficiently unusual to be worth
reporting, but I had no doubt at the time that it was a Manx
Shearwater; I’ve seen lots of them around Ardnamurchan
‘Point and out towards Eigg, as well as a close-up of one which
appeared on Loch Shiel at Acharacle after a gale, either
damaged or too exhausted to fly. The day at Loch Leven was
very stormy and we eventually had to abandon the boat. The
bird was in the comparatively quiet water under the shelter
of a strip of trees along the south-west shore and, when we
got too close, flew out past the boat into rougher water where
we lost sight of it.

Incidentally I saw a pure white Sand Martin at Loch Leven
the same day.

GEORGE T. JAMIESON.

I was very surprised to read in Scottish Birds (1: 31) that
a Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis seen near Ettrickbridge on
20th October 1957 was a first for Selkirk. I rent the Ettrick
shootings and most years a small flock of Barnacles spends
the autumn in the valley. I never allow them to be shot. The
largest party was twenty-one in October-December 1954, and
the smallest seven in 1956. I have not seen them in 1957 or
1958, but last year a small flock frequented the neighbouring
Yarrow valley. I first saw them in 1948 near Ettrickbridge.
I have also seen them several times in Yarrow.

The Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus (antea 1: 38) is quite
a common nesting species on the moors in upper Morayshire,
as it is in Banffshire. I saw two pairs near Carron in Moray
and four pairs near Cabrach in Banff in June 1958.

PHILIP CHRISTISON.

With reference to the report (antea 1: 32) of the breeding
of the Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus and Herring
Gull L. argentatus at Caerlaverock Merse, the first record for
Dumfriesshire, it may be of interest to report that in 1958
three pairs of Greater Black-backs, ten pairs of Herring Gulls
and fifty pairs of Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus
successfully bred in the same locality.

E. L. ROBERTS.

Regarding the note (antea 1: 14) by A. Tewnion in which
he states that there is no published record of the Great Skua
Catharacta skua breeding in Orkney elsewhere than in Hoy
and that he had proved breeding on Papa Westray in 1953,
may I report that the late George Arthur knew of some two or
three pairs of Great Skuas nesting annually on Papa Westray

“CUUNASNH YsSizqOOS PHOY ayy fo fisoydnood Ney) TUMOYS [OM

SI prey jo odeys pur Mouqsso JO UI}Xo9 “oZIS Ul aouatosjIp oy, “aseunyd Uo yNe (eojdA} ut snujynf “p *) ABACTH USPlOH YALIsy

ay}, pue (Jor) Ssnozwauop snonnuwop SnwpnInyD LACTE Uoploy uUvoywoury oy} JO Whosni UN}005 jwdoy oy} UL SUatUPVodsS PoOTUNO]Y

76 CORRESPONDENCE 1(S)

for a number of years before his death in 1952, but kept the
fact secret. During the past years I have been checking up on
the Great Skua throughout Orkney and have found that it
has increased in Hoy, and has nested on at least three islands
besides Hoy and Papa Westray. In 1955 one pair nested cn
Rousay and in 1957 and 1958 one, and probably two, pairs
nested there. One pair nested on Eynhallow in 1956 and one
on Westray in 1958. It is interesting to note that Arctic Skua
Stercorarius parasiticus have preceded Great Skua at each of
the places named above, by several years, in some Cases ten
or more.
E. BALFOUR.

CORRIGENDA

Antea 1: 30. Under ‘“Semipalmated Sandpiper” for “1957”
read. 19560-

Antea 1: 34. The date on which the Dowitcher was seen in
Berwickshire should read “20th September’, not “29th Sep-
tember’. Col. W. M. Logan Home saw the bird again on 20th
November.

Antea 1: 42. The skin of the Subalpine Warbler is not in
the Royal Scottish Museum, as stated.

CURRENT NOTES

The most striking ornithological event of the winter has
been an invasion of Waxwings Bombycilla garrulus. A. T.
Macmillan has summarised the movements up to 26th Jan-
uary. The earliest record is of two birds at Colinsburgh (Fife)
on 19th November; this, however, is so much earlier than the
big movements in December that it cannot be considered part
of them.

Odd birds were seen from about the second or third weeks
of December in or near Kirkwall (Orkney), Wick (Caithness),
Golspie (Sutherland), Rannoch Station (Perthshire), Crail
(Fife), Dunfermline (Fife), Cockburnspath (Berwickshire) and
Mount Vernon (Glasgow).

By faunal areas the number of records to date is approxi-
mately: Solway, present but no details; Clyde, 5; Tweed, 2;
Forth, 26; Tay, 27; Dee, 8; Moray, 21; Argyll, 6; Caithness, 4;
Skye, 1; Inner Hebrides, 2; Outer Hebrides, 1; Orkney, 2.
Duplication of records has probably taken place in Forth and
Tay. The largest flocks are recorded in:—

Golspie (Sutherland) 25) 21/20 Dee
Spinningdale (Sutherland) 20 6 Jan.
Granton on Spey (Moray) 40 20 Jan.

Corpach by Fort William
(Inverness) 20 26/28 Dec.

1959 CURRENT NOTES 77

Aviemore (Inverness) two or
three flocks of up to 50 28 Dec./

20 Jan.
Ballater (Aberdeen) DO ea b/a2, Jan:
Rannoch Station (Perth) 30 18 Dec.
Aberfeldy (Perth) 27 27 Dec.
Bridge of Cally (Perth) 16 28/29 Dec.
Dundee (Angus) 14 3 Jan.
Elie (Fife) 15 31 Jan.
Kirkcaldy (Fife) 20 7 Jan.
Dalkeith (Midlothian) 20 21 Dec.

Between mid-July and the end of the year a number of
parties of Crossbills Loxia curvirostra have been reported in
S.E. Scotland, the largest number being forty seen in early
December by W. Murray at Kyles Hill, Berwickshire.

Four Tree Sparrows were seen by George L. A. Patrick
between Busby and Newton Mearns, Renfrewshire, on 20th
July, and four in the same area on 4th January. A Buzzard
was repeatedly seen at Kilmacolm in early November (G.M.T.
Conacher).

Among scarcer winter visitors may be mentioned a Barnacle
Goose Branta leucopsis seen more than once in mid Novem-
ber at Auldhouse, Lanarkshire, apparently the first record for
the county (L. A. Urquhart); a Quail Coturnix coturnix in
the south part of Arran on 24th November, seen by two sports-
men who are familiar with the bird in the Near East (J. A.
Anderson); a Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus at Bennane
Head, Ayrshire, on 18th January (M. F. M. Meiklejohn); an
Iceland Gull L. glaucoides in Ayr harbour on 14th December
(F. McIntosh and others); a Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubi-
tor near Hawick on 5th December (W. S. Medlicott); and a
Mealy Redpoll Carduelis f. flammea seen at Gartmore, Perth-
shire, on 11th January among a party of Lesser Redpolls, from
which distinguished by paler colouration and slightly larger
size (F. McIntosh, M. F. M. Meiklejohn).

Late Swallows Hirundo rustica: five at Dunbar, 16th Nov-
ember (J. Dann) and one at Anstruther on 2nd November
(W. J. Eggeling). The following wintering Blackcaps Sylvia
atricapilla have been reported: A female killed against a win-
dow, near Cupar, Fife, about 2nd December (J. K. Stanford);
a female at a bird table at Bonnybridge, Stirling, on 20th and
21st December (Mrs K. H. Paterson); a female at Avoch in
early January (John Lees); and a male at Dornoch on 10th
January which, despite severe frost and heavy gales, sur-
vived at least up to the 26th (D. Macdonald).

Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus were observed feed-
ing on haws at Bothwell Bridge on 3lst December and at
Auldhouse, Lanarkshire, on 9th November (cf. British Birds
50: 75 and 347). They took the berries both from the air and
while perching (M. F. M. Meiklejohn, L. A. Urquhart).

78 OFFICIAL SECTION 1(3)

The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club
SUMMER EXCURSIONS

IMPORTANT:—Members intending to come on Excursions must, where
necessary, inform the respective organisers immediately so that
arrangements can be made for numbers. Numbers on some Excursions
are limited, and the applicants will be accepted in strict order of
application. Members of the Club are entitled to attend ANY Branch
Excursion. Guests may be invited where numbers are not limited.

ABERDEEN

Applications for all Excursions to be made to Miss E. A. Garden, Eider
Cottage, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, (Tel.: Newburgh 95), one week in
advance. Transport will be by private cars, and members having spare
seats should inform Miss Garden.

Sunday 12th April

YTHAN ESTUARY AND LOCHS—Leader, Miss E. A. Garden. Meet
Ythan Hotel 10.30 a.m. Bring picnic lunch and tea.

Sunday 17th May

LOCH DAVAN AND KINORD—(By kind permission of Sir Malcolm
Barclay-Harvey). Leader, Mr C. Murray. Bus leaves Bon-Accord
Street, 10 a.m. Return 6.05 p.m. Bring picnic lunch and tea. Meet Din-
net Station 11.40 a.m.

Sunday 6th September
YTHAN ESTUARY AND LOCHS—Leader, Miss E. A. Garden. Arrange-
ments as for 12th April.
DUNDEE

All applications and enquiries to Mrs Jack Grierson, 62 Sherbrook St.,
Dundee. (Tel.: Dundee 87752).

Saturday 11th April
BARNHILL TO EASTHAVEN—Meet at Barnhill Shelter, 2 p.m. Bring

picnic tea.
Saturday 16th May
BENVIE—Meet at Invergowrie Circle, 2.30 p.m. Bring picnic tea.
Sunday 28th June

ISLE OF MAY—Applications to Mrs Grierson as soon as possible. Num-
ber limited to twelve.

Sunday 13th September

TAYPORT TO TENTSMUIR POINT—Meet at Taybridge Station for
9.35 a.m. train. Bring picnic lunch and tea.

EDINBURGH

Times of buses and trains should be checked with Summer Time-tables.
Costs may also be subject to alteration. Private hire buses will only be
provided at the charges shown on condition that a minimum number of
30 attend. Anyone unable to attend, and having booked a seat, may be re-
quired to pay the fare unless good nctice is given.

|

£959 OFFICIAL SECTION 79

Saturday 2nd May
ABERLADY BAY NATURE RESERVE—(Spring migrants). A con-
ducted tour. Meet Timber Bridge, 2.30 p.m. Bring picnic tea. (S.M.T.
bus leaves Edinburgh Bus Station at approx. 1.40 p.m.). Leaders, Mr
K, S. Macgregor and Mr Charles Cowper.

Saturday 23rd May

PENICUIK HOUSE GROUNDS—(By kind permission of Sir John D.
Clerk, Bt.). Meet outside Penicuik Post Office, 2.30 p.m. Bring picnic
tea. (S.M.T. bus leaves Edinburgh Bus Station at 1.30 p.m.). Leader,
Mr R. W. J. Smith.

Sunday 31st May

THE HIRSEL, COLDSTREAM—(By kind permission of the Earl of
Home). Limited number. Applications by 23rd May to Mr Andrew T.
Macmillan, 66 Spylaw Bank Road, Edinburgh 13. Leader at the Hirsel,
Major the Hon. Henry Douglas Home. Private bus will leave Waver-
ley Bridge at 11 a.m. returning at approx. 7 p.m. Picnic lunch and tea
to be taken. Cost: bus approx. 8/- per person.

Saturday 6th June
ISLE OF MAY—Limited number (12). Applications by 30th May to Mrs
George Waterston, 11 Brandon Street, Edinburgh. Train to Anstruther
leaves Waverley Station, 9.10 a.m. Boat leaves harbour 11.40 a.m.
prompt. Time on island approx. 12.45 to 4.30 p.m. Return train leaves
Anstruther 6 p.m. arriving Edinburgh 8.56 p.m. Bring picnic lunch and
tea. Cost: Day return rail tickets, 8/11; Boat approx. 9/-.

Sunday 5th July
FARNE ISLANDS—Limited number. Applications by 27th June to Sister
E, A. Robertson, Wards 39/40, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh. Leader
from Seahouses, Dr E. A. R. Ennion. Private bus leaves Waverley
Bridge, 9 a.m. arriving Seahouses 12.30 p.m. Boats leave harbour on
arrival. Bring picnic lunch, Cost: Bus 11/-; Boat 11/-; High tea at

Monkshouse 6/-.
Saturday 18th July

BASS ROCK—(By kind permission of Sir Hew Hamilton Dalrymple, Bt.)
Applications by 11th July to Mr George Waterston, 5 Charlotte Sq.,
Edinburgh 2. (Tel.: 34872). Boats leave North Berwick Harbour, 2.30
p.m. and return at 7 p.m. Bring picnic tea. Cost: boat 7/6.

Saturday 22nd August

ABERLADY BAY NATURE RESERVE—(Autumn migrants). Leaders,
cae - S. Macgregor and Mr Charles Cowper. Arrangements as for
n ay.

GLASGOW

Times of buses and trains should be checked with Summer Time-tables.
For all Excursions except the first, application must be made as stated so
that adequate reservations may be made.

Saturday 25th April

BIRD SANCTUARY, HAMILTON—(By kind permission of the Town
Council of the Burgh of Hamilton. (Meet at Hamilton Cross at 2.30
p.m. Leader, Mr D. Stalker.

Sunday 3lst May

THE HIRSEL, COLDSTREAM—(By kind permission of the Earl of
Home). Train to Edinburgh leaves Queen St., 9.40 a.m. arrives 10.54

80 OFFICIAL SECTION 1(3)

a.m. S.M.T. bus leaves Waverley Bridge, 11 a.m. Joint excursion with
Edinburgh Branch. Applications by 23rd May to Mr Andrew T. Mac-
millan, 66 Spylaw Bank Road, Edinburgh 13. Bring picnic lunch and
tea. Cost: bus approx. 8/-.

Saturday 6th June
AILSA CRAIG—Maximum number, two parties of 14. Boat leaves Girvan
Harbour with first party at 11 a.m. Time on Ailsa, 3 to 4 hours. Fare
10/-. Bring picnic lunch and tea. Applications to Miss Mabel G. Scott,
68 Evan Drive, Giffnock, not later than 30th May.

Sunday 14th June
LUSS ISLANDS, LOCH LOMOND—(By kind permission of Sir Ivor Col-
quhoun). Service bus via Balloch to Luss; alight at Bandry Bay, 4 mile
south of Luss. Ferry boat leaves 1 p.m. & 2 p.m. returning 5.30 p.m.
Fare approx. 3/-. Bring picnic tea. Applications to Mr George Kerr,
166 Old Castle Road, Cathcart, by 6th June.

Saturday 20th June
LITTLE CUMBRAE—(By kind permission of Mr Ian Parker). Boat
leaves Fairlie 11.30 a.m. Fare 3/6. Bring picnic lunch and tea. Applica-
tions to Miss Mabel G. Scott, 68 Evan Drive, Giffnock, by 13th June.

ST ANDREWS

Applications for all Excursions should be made to Miss M. M. Spires,
2 Howard Place, St Andrews (Tel.: 852), not later than ten days before
each excursion, Transport will then be arranged.

Saturday 30th May

KILCONQUHAR LOCH—(By kind permission of Nairn Estates). Leave
St Andrews Bus Station 2 p.m. Bring picnic tea.

Sunday 14th June
LOCH LEVEN—(By kind permission of Kinross Estates). Leave St An-
drews Bus Station, 10 a.m. Boats leave from the Sluices, Scotland-
well for St Serfs Island at 11 a.m. Bring picnic lunch and tea.

Sunday 28th June

ISLE OF MAY—Limited number (12). Boat leaves harbour 11.15 a.m.
Bring picnic lunch and tea.

Saturday 11th July

TENTSMUIR—(By kind permission of Mrs Purvis). Afternoon Excursion.
Leave St Andrews Bus Station 2 p.m. Bring picnic tea.

WEEK-END EXCURSION TO AVIEMORE

Arrangements have again been made with Mrs M. J. Grant, The Dell,
eee: Aviemore, (Tel.: 216) for a week-end excursion to Spey-
side.

Accommodation for up to twenty members has been reserved for the
weekend 8th to 10th May at inclusive terms of 45s per person as follows:
[Bed on Friday night 8th; breakfast, packed lunch, dinner, and bed on
Saturday 9th; breakfast and packed lunch on Sunday 10th.

Members wishing to come on this Club Excursion should book direct
with Mrs Grant, mentioning that they are Members of the Club. Members
may bring guests. Reservations will be accepted in strict order of applica-
tion. Arrangement for transport by private cars should be arranged
through Branch Secretaries.

se
ES:

meoCOTTISH
BIRDS

The Journal of
The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

Vol. 1 No. 4 Summer 1959

FIVE SHILLINGS

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

MPHE Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was founded in 1936 and membership

is open to all interested in Scottish ornithology. Meetings are held
during the winter months in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and
St Andrews, at which lectures by prominent ornithologists are given and
films exhibited. Excursions are organised in the summer to places of
ornithological interest.

The aims and objects of the Club are to (a) encourage and direct the
study of Scottish Ornithology in all its branches; (b) co-ordinate the
efforts of Scottish Ornithologists and encourage co-operation between field
and indoor worker; (c) encourage ornithological research in Scotland in
co-operation with other organisations; (d) hold meetings at centres to be
arranged at which Lectures are given, films exhibited, and discussions held;
and (e) publish or arrange for the publication of statistics and information
with regard to Scottish ornithology.

There are no entry fees for Membership. The Annual subscription is
25/-; or 7/6 in the case of Members under twenty-one years of age or in
the case of University undergraduates who satisfy the Council of their status
as such at the time at which their subscriptions fall due in any year.
“Scottish Birds” is issued free to members.

The affairs of the Club are controlled by a Council composed of the Hon.
Presidents, the President, the Vice-President, the Hon. Treasurer, one
Representative of each Branch Committee appointed annually by the
Branch, and ten other Members of the Club elected at an Annual General
Meeting. Two of the last named retire annually by rotation and shall not
be eligible for re-election for one year.

A Scottish Bird Records’ Committee, appointed by the Council, produce
an annual Report on “Ornithological Changes in Scotland.”

Full details are given in the Syllabus of Lectures Card of the names of
the present Office-bearers of the Club.

An. official tie with small white Crested Tits embroidered on it can be
obtained in dark green or in navy blue by Members only from Messrs R.
W. Forsyth Ltd., Princes Street, Edinburgh, or 5 Renfield Street, Glasgow,
C.2, at a cost of 13s 9d post free. A small brooch in silver and blue can be
obtained for the use of Members of the Club. Price 2s 6d each from the
Secretary, or from Hon. Branch Secretaries.

Forms of application for Membership, copy of the Club Constitution, and
other literature is obtainable from the Club Secretary, Mrs George Water-
ston, 5 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh 2.

CLUB LIBRARY

The Club Library is now housed in the Secretary’s Office at 5 Charlotte
Square, Edinburgh, 2. The collection has recently been augmented by
several gifts, and the Council appeals to Members to donate books and
periodicals which they may wish to dispose of. We have no volumes of
the “Ibis” prior to 1944. The Library is open during office hours for
reference. Books or magazines, of which we have duplicate copies, can be
obtained on loan.

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

All notes dealing with birds in the eastern Lowlands, from Berwick-on-
Tweed to Dundee, should be submitted to A. T. Macmillan, 66 Spylaw
Bank Road, Edinburgh, 13; all other contributions to M. F. M. Meikle-
john, 20 Falkland Street, Glasgow, W.2. It would be helpful if notes were
typewritten, if possible, and double spaced.

SCOTTISH BIRDS

THE JOURNAL OF THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB =“3€~

Vol. 1 No. 4 Summer 1959

Edited by M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN, with the assistance of D. G. ANDREw and
A. T. MACMILLAN. Business Editor, ARTHUR J. SMITH. Cover design (Whim-
brel) by LEN FULLERTON. : Published quarterly.

Editorial

BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION: CENTENARY CONFERENCE

MPHIS extraordinarily interesting and ably organised meeting

was held at Cambridge, the original nesting-site of the
B.O.U., from 20th to 23rd March, a select representation of
the S.O.C., including two from as far north as Sutherland,
being there. The meetings for the most part consisted of four
half-hour talks each, and each meeting dealt with a single
aspect of ornithology (migration, behaviour, etc.). The amat-
eur ornithologists were delighted to find that themes which
they might have considered beyond their scope—systematics,
for instance—were treated with brilliant clarity by the pun-
dits, although a few of the lectures were undoubtedly below
standard for an occasion such as this, not from the point of
view of subject matter so much as from that of delivery.
Ornithologists ought to realise two things: that figures and
graphs are not suitable subjects for a lecture any more than
a metronome, however much it may assist the musician,
makes a symphony, and that lecturing is a subject that has
to be learned like any other. A lecturer who mumbles off a
sheet of paper is like a one-legged woman setting up as a
ballerina. It was a pleasure for everyone to meet old friends
from abroad, although leisure for talking to them was rather
scant. The exhibitions were on traditional lines, with the ex-
ception (as one would expect) of that set out by Colonel R.
Meinertzhagen and consisting of down from the nests of ducks
and geese of the world, and of objects taken from the crops
of birds, which included two-pound jars filled with pebbles
taken from a single Ostrich and even stones from the crop of
a Dodo. The show of bird-books from the Newton Library was
of fascinating interest and beauty. On the Monday a gargan-
tuan banquet, at which the carousers were served with a
whole chicken each, took place at Fishmongers’ Hall in Lon-
don; but for the Scottish delegates the gastronomic delights
were exceeded by the delight of seeing Dr E. V. Baxter and
Dr D. A. Bannerman add to their numerous ornithological
honours by receiving the Medal of the Union.

82 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 1(4)

ISLE OF MAY BIRD OBSERVATORY AND
FIELD STATION REPORT FOR 1958

Prepared for the Observatory Committee by W. J. EGGELING,
Hon. Secretary.

As is appropriate to a National Nature Reserve, the Isle of
May Observatory concerns itself with the whole field of natur-
al history. This report deals with all the activities involved.

Observer cover in 1958 was about average, at 160 “watched
days.”’ There were, however, some unfortunate gaps, notably
at the very beginning of September when other East Coast ob-
servatories were experiencing one of the most spectacular
autumn influxes ever seen, outdoing even that of 1957. It was
only by chance that a picnic excursion on 6th September
enabled the tail-end of this exceptional movement to be
recorded. The year was not outstanding for rare species, the
highlights being the island’s first Spotted Redshank Tringa
ES and its second Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantil-
ans.

MIGRATION

The first visit of the vear was in many ways the most re-
warding of all. The Hon. Secretary had gone out ‘on 18th
March, intending to stay four days: he got off on 2nd April,
having been storm-stayed eleven days beyond his time! On
the 26th an easterly gale was in full blast, continuing until
the 29th: on the 30th there was fog and on the 3lst a gale
from the south. During the 26th birds began to arrive, five
Lapwings Vanellus vanellus, twelve Skylarks Alauda arvensis,
two Mistle Thrushes Turdus viscivorus, about fifteen Song
Thrushes Turdus ericetorum and about thirty Blackbirds T.
merula. For the next six days the numbers of all these species
remained high, although fluctuating considerably: Lapwings
rose to sixty on the 27th, with a maximum of 150 on the 3ilst:
Skylarks totalled 150 on the 28th, declining thereafter; there
were at least twelve Mistle Thrushes on the island at once;
up to 65 Song Thrushes; over 100 Blackbirds on the 28th and
over 500 on the 31st. Only a handful of Fieldfares T.-pilaris
and even fewer Redwings T. musicus were seen.

A Black Redstart Phoenicurus obscurus on the 27th, four
Stonechats Saxicola torquata on the 27th and 28th, three Reed

“Previous reports in this series have appeared as follows: for
1935-38, 1946-50, 1953-56 in The Scottish Naturalist; for 1951-
Sy soak the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Report; for 1957 in the
Edinburgh Bird Bulletin (Vol. 8, Special Number).

1959. ISLE OF MAY REPORT 83

Buntings Emberiza schoeniclus, the first Wheatears Oenanthe
oenanthe of the season and three Moorhens Gallinula chlor-
opus helped to enliven proceedings, but the most notable
feature of the movement was the presence throughout of big
numbers of Chaffinches Fringilla coelebs, Robins Erithacus
rubecula and Hedge Sparrows Prunella modularis, with maxi-
ma of sixty, sixty and eighty respectively on the 30th. Many
if not all of the Robins and Hedge Sparrows were Continen-
tal, and it is probable that the Chaffinches and Stonechats, as
well as some of the other species involved, had the same
origin. Less certain as to source were two Tree-Creepers
Certhia familiaris, which arrived on 30th March and 1st April
(first spring notices) after the easterly gale had passed: neither
was examined in the hand.

At the height of the gale, which was accompanied by much
rain, the island was an extraordinary sight. It was oozing
with water, there were torrents lke Highland burns in spate
rushing down the slopes, and little mobs of Lapwings were
sheltering in every hollow, in the cover before the traps and
(with Skylarks and Chaffinches) in the walled gardens. By the
29th the Harbour Rocks up to the edge of the turf were almost
hidden from view by spume and spindrift lying in shivering
drifts from three to five feet deep. Within this fortnight more
Hedge Sparrows (46), Skylarks (13) and Mistle Thrushes (3)
were caught than in any year before. Lapwings (4) were
ringed for the first time, only two fewer Blackbirds (162)
were taken from the traps than in the whole of 1957, and
more Song Thrushes (41) than in any of the preceding three
years. Never, before this, had Continental Robins and Hedge
Sparrows been recorded in more than ones and twos in spring.

April, May and June were unexciting by comparison. July
yielded the Subaloine Warbler (from 16th to 22nd, when it
was found dead) and the second July notice of a Garden War-
bler Sylvia borin on the 27th. In August there were three
Icterine Warblers Hippolais icterina (one on 19th, two on 28th),
an unusual number of Garden Warblers (over fifteen on the
20th), a Wryneck Jynx torquilla and Red-backed Shrike Lanius
cristatus on the 23rd, and a good movement of Willow War-
blers Phylloscopus trochilus at the end of the month (over 75
on the 24th, when 57 were ringed). From 29th August to 5th
September came the regrettable gap: then, on 6th September,
the writer went out to the island and found it alive with
migrants. He and his two sons abandoned the picnic, concen-
trated on the birds, watched the rest of the party sail away,
and stayed the night. This proved well worth doing for, that
afternoon and evening, and the following forenoon, a fine
selection of birds was seen. It was clearly only the last phase
of a very large movement which, according to the Principal
Lighthouse-keeper, Mr W. Watt, had been at its height on

84 ISLE OF MAY REPORT i(4)

the 2nd and 3rd. By noon on the 7th almost all the birds had
passed on, but during the twenty-four hours the following
had been recorded and (in brackets) ringed: Wryneck 2 (2),
Whinchat Sazxicola rubetra 3 (3), Redstart Phoenicurus phoe-
nicurus over 50 (14), Bluethroat Cyanosylvia svecica 1 (1),
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus 1 (1), Blackcap
Sylvia atricapilla 1 (1), Garden Warbler over 20 (11), White-
throat Sylvia communis 2 (2), Lesser Whitethroat S. curruca
1 (1), Willow Warbler about 50 (23), Spotted Flycatcher Musci-
capa striata 6 (1), Pied Flycatcher about 20 (9), Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialis 2 (1), Red-backed Shrike 1 (1), Ortolan Em-
beriza hortulana 1, Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus 1.
It is unfortunate that all we know about the peak of this
movement is that there were more small migrants on the
island than Mr Watt had ever seen, with Redstarts particu-
larly noticeable, but warblers and flycatchers also prominent
and several Wrynecks.

The rest of September until the 27th was fully watched, but
only the 6th to 12th and 20th to 22nd October, and the 8th
to 10th November. There was at least one more Wryneck in
September, on the 9th, three more Bluethroats (two on 9th,
one on 26th-27th), some intensive Swallow Hirundo rustica
passage (maximum about 400 on the 8th), and an exceptionally
numerous movement of Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis,
which began with 2,000 birds on the same day. A third Red-
backed Shrike turned up on 9th September and single Red-
breasted Flycatchers Muscicapa parva on 11th and 26th. The
first Spotted Redshank to be recorded on the island was seen
on the 17th, 18th, 25th and 26th September, and 7th and 9th
October. Grey Wagtails Motacilla cinerea were more numer-
ous than in any previous autumn: three on 9th and two on
15th, 20th and 27th September, and one on 23rd September.
There was a late Black Redstart on 9th November. The usual
big autumn influx of Blackbirds was missed entirely, but
according to Mr Watt there were many hundreds on the island
in the first week of November.

ADDITIONAL UNUSUAL OCCURRENCES

Manx Shearwater Procellaria puffinus. Three on 10th June.
First June notice.

Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus. One on 20th March. First
March notice.

Grey Plover Charadrius squatarola. One on 6th September.
Second notice.

Curlew Numenius arquata. Unusually high numbers on 14th
September (over 100) and 22nd September (85).

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica. One on 7th June. Fifth
notice and first for spring. |

1959

COMMON TERNS

[SLE OF MAY REPORT

Photograph

by Alistair J. M. Smith

86 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 1(4)

Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus. One on 23rd March. First
March notice.

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle. Twelve on 9th November,
the highest number yet recorded.

Goldcrest Regulus regulus. Fifty on 23rd April, a high num-
ber for spring.

Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella. One on 7th June. First
June notice.

BREEDING POPULATIONS

On 18th March, when the Observatory opened, there were

two Hedge Sparrows in the Top Garden and two in the Thistle
Field and Bain Trap area; both couples were clearly paired.
One of the Top Garden birds disappeared, its mate finally
departing also, but the other pair nested successfully late in
the season, although nobody knows where, and produced two
young that fledged in early July. This is the first breeding
record for the island since 1884! On 10th June, when this pair
had just laid the foundation of a nest which they never fin-
ished, they were seen carrying food to a nestful of young
Linnets Carduelis cannabina and one was twice seen to re-
move a faecal sac on its departure. Probably nine or ten pairs
of Linnets bred and several raised at least two broods. Five
nests were located on grassy banks, with at least four pairs
involved. G. L. Sandeman again did sterling work in assessing
the breeding populations of Linnets, Rock Pipits Anthus spin-
Oletta, Meadow Pipits and Wheatears. Between 7th and
14th June he tracked down nests of just over thirty Rock
Pipits, seven Meadow Pipits and nine Wheatears, and esti-
mated the populations at forty to fifty, nine or ten, and ten
or eleven: pairs resvectively. An albino pipit (species uncertain)
seen during July and August (antea p. 43) may well have
been reared on the island. Two pairs of Pied Wagtails Mota-
cilla alba yarrelli established territory, but one bird early
vanished and the other pair only reared two young. No Pied
Wastails were ringed, which has not happened since 1934. A
pair of Swallows nested in the Naval Huts for the third suc-
cessive year and raised a single brood. No Wrens Troglodytes
troglodytes bred, so that the 1957 nest remains unique.

Of the sea-birds the Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis was, as
always, the first to nest. Many had already started nest
building by the 18th March but the wild weather which fol-
lowed, persisting well into April, put the great majority off
their stride and caused a mass exodus. On 11th April only 22
were counted around the entire coast. Although all returned
later, nesting was much delaved and only the few intrepid
individuals which had persevered in sheltered sites, or high
up on the cliffs, got their young away at the normal time. But
the progressive build-up of this population continued, there

1959 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 87

being eventually more nests than in 1957 when at least 315
pairs bred. Numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fus-
cus showed little change, and, though no counts were made,
being eventually even more nests than in 1957 when at least 315
the same is propably true of the huge Herring Gull L. argenta-
tus population, which may even have increased. Breeding
Oyster-catchers Haematopus ostralegus suffered much from
the gulls and there can be little doubt that it was only the
latter which prevented the fairly extensive breeding of Puffins
Fratercula arctica on the west side. One young Puffin, hatched
on the May, was only the second of its kind to be ringed there.

No terns Sterna spp. bred: very few appeared and they
made no attempt to nest. The Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis
fared much as usual: by mid July less than a third of the
nests still had contents, and from the eleven which at that
date contained either an egg or a chick it is improbable that
more than about half a dozen young were reared: gulls were
almost certainly to blame. It is satisfactory to record that
“Joe” and “Jessie” were among the successful parents: the
former has been known since 1949 and the latter since 1952
at the same site, and have been mated for at least seven
years. Both were given new rings.

The Eider Somateria mollissima population, estimated in
1951 and 1952 at about 70 pairs, and in 1955 at about 100 pairs,
is still growing, despite heavy predation by gulls. An esti-’
mate on 25th May, when probably about fifty ducks were
brooding, suggested a population of 150 to 160 pairs, plus
about two dozen unpaired individuals.

RINGING

Only 1,333 birds of 58 species were ringed, the lowest total
since the war. Over a quarter were caught in the first fort-
night of the season. Subalpine Warbler and Lapwing were
ringed for the first time.

RECOVERIES

Seventeen reports of first year Shags, and one of a second
year Shag, were received from the east side of Britain be-
tween Ross-shire and Essex. The recoveries from England,
several of them from quite far inland, were associated with a
“wreck” of this species after severe gales. As young birds
were chiefly involved, it would seem that adults were better
equipped to deal with such conditions.

Among other recoveries reported during the year are the
following:

Sparrowhawk 329143. Ringed, first winter male, 23.9.57. Trap-
ped and released at Fair Isle, Shetland, 7.5.58.
Guillemot Uria aalge. AT 33712. Ringed, young, 26.6.57. Shot

88 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 1(4)

about eight miles SSW of Torbjornsker Lighthouse, Oslo-
fjord, Norway, mid-January, 1958.

Blackbird X 60325. Ringed, full-grown, 13.10.57. Caught and
released, Heligoland, Germany, 8.4.58.

Redstart C 64486. Ringed, full-grown female, 21.9.57. Shot at
Alcala de los Gagules (Cadiz), Spain, about 10.11.57.

Gannet Sula bassana 132227. Ringed, first winter, 14.9.58.
Caught (oiled) and released, near Breskens (Zeeland),
Holland, 25.9.58.

Five Gannets altogether have been ringed on the May (all
in different years) and it is likely that they allowed them-
selves to be caught only because they were sickly. Three of
the birds have been reported, all within twenty days of
ringing and one after only nine days, from this same part of
Holland.

Greater Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus are roosting on
the May in winter in greater numbers than ever before; over
000 were seen on 25th September. On 21st March, a recently
dead Greater. Black-back (ring no. 410894) was picked up on
the North Ness, where it had been ringed as an adult on 9th
November 1956. This is one of the few definite instances of
a sea bird which breeds away from the island returning there
in different winters.

RETRAPS

Linnets and Meadow Pipits are examples of species which
breed on the island and winter off it. At least twelve of the
Linnets and six of the Meadow Pipits which arrived in the
spring of 1958 were present the previous summer. One of the
Linnets, back for certainly the fourth successive year, was at
least five years old. We know that not all the returning first
year birds of these two species stay to breed and from the
data now available it seems probable that in the case of the
Linnet, at any rate, family groups or “island aggregates” stay
together throughout the winter. What probably happens is that
the winter parties break up finally at the onset of the breeding
season, after they have returned to the island, and it may
well be a shortage of nesting sites which forces the younger
birds to leave and make their homes elsewhere.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
MAMMALS

Rabbits are once again teeming, despite efforts by the light-
house-Keepers to reduce their numbers with guns, snares, and
ferrets. There has been no recrudescence of myxamatosis. So
far no black or white individuals have been reported in the
new population. The increased sheep flock had a good lambing
but despite being grazed by some 65 ewes and lambs, and by
swarms of rabbits, the grass cover is still rank.

19495 isLE OF MAY REPORT 85

Grey Seals Halichoerus grypus were present in larger num-
bers than ever before. That they represent an off-shoot of the
Farne Islands colony is now certain, for individuals tagged
there as pups have been identified. The highest counts were
made in summer, over 60 on 22nd June, over 50 on 21st July
and between 60 and 70 on Ist August. Twice in spring light-
house-keepers were able to crawl up to (and on one occasion
catch) tagged seals basking on the rocks and “take their num-
bers,’ whilst a third individual was stalked at night by an
observer who crept close enough to read the serial by torch-
light. Of the 17 animals on the rocks on this latter occasion,
at least six carried Farne marks. If one is looking for them,
the tags are not particularly difficult to see and on 18th Sep-
tember were clearly distinguished not only on a seal on the
Norman Rock but also on another in the water. Details of the
three seals so far identified are:

3595. Marked North Wamses, Farne Islands, on 24.11.57 (a male
ie coat, 3-4 days old). Caught and released Isle of May
9.4.58.

3720. Marked Brownsman, Farne Islands, on 17.11.57 (a male,
seven days old, weighing 47 lb.). Tag read by daylight,
Isle of May, 14.3.58. |

3782. Marked Staple Island, Farne Islands, on 24.11.57 (a fe-
male 3-4 days old). Tag read by torchlight, Isle of May,
95200.) -- 2

INVERTEBRATES

The Junior Honours Zoology class from Glasgow University,
which visited the island from 20th to 27th June, concentrated
most of its attention on freshwater and marine biology. The
material collected is still being identified but is expected to
include a number of new notices.

From 5th to 7th July Mr E. C. Pelham-Clinton made pre-
liminary reconnaissance of moth-trapping possibilities using
both a mercury vapour lamp and sugar baits. He found moths
disappointingly scarce, with the exception of the Diamond-
back Plutella maculipennis, that scourge of brassica crops, of
which there had been a mass invasion from the Continent the
previous week. Much of the East Coast of Britain was affected
and although the May did not suffer the vast hordes recorded
elsewhere (e.g. East Lothian and the St Andrews area) the
species was nevertheless “a considerable nuisance when col-
lecting other small moths.” Altogether 37 species of moths
were collected during the week-end, fourteen of which had
not previously been recorded.

Two half-days spent by W. J. Eggeling collecting earth-
worms were equally profitable, resulting in five new occur-
rences for the May (named by Dr J. Morton Boyd) and bring-
ing the total of species recorded to twelve,

90 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 1(4)

First notices of a large number of other invertebrates, in-
cluding slugs, snails, woodlice, harvestmen, freshwater bugs
and water fleas, resulted from a visit by Mr T. Huxley (Nature
Conservancy) from 15th to 18th September. It is greatly to
be hoped that he and Mr Pelham-Clinton will be able to re-
peat their visits, and that other persons interested in the
invertebrate populations may also be persuaded to add their
quota of information to the general survey now under. way.

PLANTS

The fungi of the May are still imperfectly known. A collec-
tion made by T. W. Eggeling on 18th September, kindly iden-
tified by Mr D. M. Henderson, produced three new notices
and brought the number recorded to 37.

On 24th September M. F. M. Meiklejohn and L. J. Reed
found a small colony of Field Pansy Viola arvensis on the
North Ness, the first definite notice of the species. Corn Mari-
gold Chryssanthemum segetum again flowered.

ANCIENT MONUMENTS

The Committee are pleased to report that, after a visit by
an Inspector of the Ministry of Works, St Adrian’s Chapel
and the Old Lighthouse have been scheduled as Ancient
Monuments. Recommendations by the Ministry for the pres-
ervation of the Chapel are being studied.

PUBLICATIONS

The following notes relating to birds on the May appeared
during the year:

FLowER, W. U. Goldcrest caught on hooks of burdock. Brit.
Birds 51: 276.

MEIKLEJOHN, M. F. M. Yellow-breasted Bunting at the Isle of
May. Scottish Birds 1:20.

MEIKLEJOHN, M. F. M. Semipalmated Sandpiper on the Isle of
May. Scottish Birds 1:35.

M(EIKLEJOHN), M. F. M. Waiting for Godwit. Glasgow Herald,
4th October 1958.

M(erKLesoun), M. F. M. The Bluethroats. Glasgow Herald, 11th
October 1958.

R(AWCLIFFE), C. P. September Migrants at the Isle of May.
Scotsman, 4th October 1958.

Watson, DoNnaLD. Subalpine Warbler on the Isle of May. Scot-
tish Birds 1:41.

Watson, Donatp. Albino Pipit on the Isle of May. Scottish
Birds 1:43.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are glad of the opportunity to express again the grati-
tude of all observers to the Principal Lighthouse-keeper and

1959 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 91

Mrs Watt, and to the other keepers, for their unfailing help
and kindness. They are an object lesson in hospitality. It is
also a pleasure to say Thank-you to our boatman, Mr Willie
Hughes, for his tolerance to bird-watchers in general, and for
the genial and friendly way in which he so invariably seeks
to meet their often odd requirements.

SHORT NOTES
WHITE-BILLED DIVERS IN EAST ROSS-SHIRE

On the afternoon of 4th February 1959, in bright sunlight
with a very calm sea, I saw near Avoch Harbour, Inverness
Firth, a diver swimming some 50 or 60 yards offshore. It was
of heavy appearance and its bill was white with a very
definite uptilt. The back and wings appeared through bino-
culars to be a vlain brownish black, the same colour extend-
ing up the back of the neck. There was more of this colour
than of white on the neck, the somewhat indefinite dividing
line coming almost straight down from the line of the bird’s
eye. Two timed dives were of 30 and 32 seconds.

The bird was watched through a 3” x 60 telescove on 5th
February in company with Mr J. Macintosh, on the 6th with
Dr Maeve Rusk and on the 11th with Mr A. Anderson. Under
greater magnification the bill was examined: the top edge
of the upper mandible looked slightly upcurved and the bot-
tom edge of the lower mandible very definitely so. The line
of the gape gave a slightly tapered appearance to the top
mandible, which projected very slightly beyond the bottom
mandible. We could see the acutely pointed dark mark where
the feathering joined the top mandible and the delicate dark
line where, from the angle of the gape, the edge of the
white feathering curved irregularly to the base of the bill.
The bill was ivory white, with a suggestion of greying to-
wards the base. The back showed some irregularity of tint,
some parts being rather browner than others. The dark edging
of wing and back came down to water level, the lighter. part
showing only when one of the legs was uplifted.

While I was examining the diver with binoculars on 4th
February a sweep of the sea brought into view another
diver, some 200 yards offshore. It had a yellowish bill, up-
turned but not so definitely as in the first bird. It had rather
conspicuous white spots above, those on the lower back being
larger and whiter than those on the upper back. On 8th Feb-
ruary I got a close-up view of this bird, about a mile further
east. The bill was yellowish, with a darkening towards grey
both at the base and the point. The neck had much more
white than in the former bird, the line of demarcation (well

92 SHORT NOTES 1(4)

behind the eye-line) being very indefinite. The area over the
eye was white. The back and wings looked almost black;
spread over the back area were what looked like tufts of
white feathers of varying size, but on the lower part of the
wings forming an almost reticular pattern. The upper edge
of the bill was practically straight.

I have no doubt that these birds were White-billed Divers
Gavia adamsii. The bird from Sweden, illustrated in British
Birds 48, no. 11, was in some ways similar to the second bird,
but the latter had a more definite uptilt of the bill, and the
light spots were more pronounced on the lower coverts than
the upper.

JOHN LEES.
HERON FEEDING ON CARRION

On 13th March 1959 in the Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve, near
Loch Clair in Glen Torridon, I noticed three birds feeding on
the fresh gralloch, head and hooves of a stag: a Greater .
Black-backed Gull Larus marinus, a Hooded Crow Corvus
cornix and a Heron Ardea cinerea. The gull and the crow were
feeding intensively, while the Heron advanced somewhat
timidly, skulking into the proceedings and making dabs at
the carrion. I could not be sure, even with the use of my tele-
scope, that the Heron actually swallowed carrion, but its be-
haviour suggested strongly that it did. |

J. POLSON.

GADWALL BREEDING IN SOUTH INVERNESS

On 29th July 1957 I saw a pair of Gadwall Anas strepere
with four young on Loch Ghuilbinn, to the north of Loch
Ossian. They were seen at close quarters and the following
details noted: appearance very similar to Mallard Anas platy-
rhynchos, white speculum, orange sides of bill and yellowish
legs. The age of the young would be hard to say, but I would
think a few weeks old as they had develoved the white spec-
ulum.

A. V. SMITH.
(Note by courtesy of P. F. Goodfellow.—Eb.)

VELVET SCOTER IN KINROSS-SHIRE

On 15th March 1959 I saw a Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca
near the sluice on Loch Leven. It was an adult drake, black
except for the prominent white wing-patches, and in a very
good light at close range I was able to see a small white
crescent under the eye. There was a noticeable thickening at

1959 SHORT NOTES 93

the base of the bill. The bill was pale orange on the upper
mandible with a heavy dark nail. This seems to be the first
record for Kinross-shire.

GEORGE DICK.

[Notes on the Snow Goose in North Perth, West Lothian
and Inverness are temporarily held over]

WHITE CYGNETS OF MUTE SWANS AT DALBEATTIE

(See illustrations on page 103)

For the past four years a pair of Mute Swans Cygnus olor
on a pond at Collieston Park, Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbrightshire,
have hatched out young birds. Each year they have produced
either one or two white cygnets of the type described as the
“Polish Swan” by Yarrell (Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1838). The
plumage of the normal cygnets is grey brown, but in the
mutants it is white.

On one Sunday in June 1955 I was informed that the parent
cob had killed one of the two white cygnets and that it was
attacking the other one. When I arrived the remaining white
cygnet was almost dead and had to be humanely destroyed: it
Was about six weeks old. The other five grey cygnets were not
attacked and fledged successfully.

On 19th June 1956 I was notified by the Dalbeattie Police
that two boys had rescued the only white cygnet in a brood of
six, after it had been attacked by the parents, chiefly the cob
again. I called at Dalbeattie Police Station and found that the
youngster was not too severly injured, although it had been
pecked on the back of the head and back. Cantain and Mrs
P. G. Barton of Auchenskeoch undertook to look after this bird
and it was kept in a small enclosure in a burn and housed
by night until it was about three-quarters grown, when it was
given the freedom of the pond along with several Chinese
Geese. It remained there for about eighteen months and then
suddenly disappeared.

In 1957 I arranged through my Headquarters to convev the
one white cygnet in a brood of nine to the Zoological Park,
Edinburgh, when it was about five weeks old, before another
attack was due from the parents. Mr G. D. Fisher has since
told me that this cygnet died.

In 1958 two grey and two white cygnets hatched from a
clutch of seven eggs. The parents were unable to get the first
newly hatched young back up a ramp to the nest on the small
island, and the remaining three perished while hatching.
These were two grey and one white, which would have made
four grey and three white if this misfortune had not hap-
pened, On 21st June I again arranged to convey the two white

94 SHORT NOTES 1(4)

cygnets, about five weeks old, to the Zoological Park, Edin-
burgh, where they can be seen and are doing well. They have
pale grey feet and legs, and a grey beak. Their eyes are per-

fectly normal.
G. P. McWI.1am,
Inspector, S.S.P.C.A.

RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE IN SCOTLAND

About the middle of December 1958 a friend of mine shot a
Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa, one of a vair unfortunate-
ly, within half a mile of Melrose, Roxburghshire. I enclose
some flank feathers of the bird as evidence of identification.
I have made extensive inquiries from the large landowners
round about in three counties and none have put any down
or imported any eggs.

PHILIP CHRISTISON.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS IN ABERDEENSHIRE

On 25th October 1957, J. G. H. watched a Greater Yellow-
legs Tringa melanoleuca at close range sitting on the golf
course beside the Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire, and within
thirty yards of the houses of Newburgh. The bird allowed
close approach and behaved in a most odd manner, sitting with
its head hunched into its shoulders and with the plumage
ee out. When it flew it quickly pitched again and was
silent.

Searching for it later the same day J. G. H. found it dead,
with feathers scattered around: it appeared to have been
killed by some animal, probably a dog from the village. The
bird was extremely wasted. It was sent to J. M. H., who found
that it was suffering from an extensive enteritis. It was an
immature male in moult to winter plumage. This appears to
be the first record for the mainland of Scotland, the previous
record being from Shetland in 1953.

JEFFERY G. HARRISON.
JAMES MV. HARRISON.

SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER IN LANARKSHIRE

On 18th October 1956, beside the banks of the Clyde in the
Old Parks at Hamilton, on a patch of muddy ground over-
grown with persicaria, W.K.R. discovered a “Pectoral Sand-
piper’. The inverted commas indicate the provisional nature
of the identification: from the first, the pale appearance of
the bird, especially in flight, its apparently smaller size and
its twittering call-note were points which did not correspond

1959 SHORT NOTES 95

with this observer’s previous experience of the Pectoral
Sandpiper Calidris melanotos. On the following day, and on
the 16th, it was seen by M.F.M.M. The bird was snipe-like in
habit and squatted until closely approached, when it would
fly off in a wide circle until it landed—usually on the other
side of the river, where it was lost. At first, on account of
the white lateral upper tail-coverts (giving it the appearance
of a small Reeve Philomachus pugnax) and the black rump
and centre of tail, it was thought that the bird was a Pectoral
Sandpiper C. melanotos, possible differences being attributed
perhaps to immaturity, a pardonable error when it is consid-
ered that only the back of the bird was seen, and that not
particularly closely. The bird’s call-note, invariably uttered
on rising, was a rather shrill “trrt’’", sometimes repeated as
“teet teet trrt-trrt’’, and of a swallow-like quality. On 20th
October good views were had by a number of observers (John
Baird, Guy McCaskie, C. E. Palmar and W.K.R.), who then
noted for the first time that the streakings on the breast were
confined to its sides, except for a few in the centre which
were visible only at close range in a very good light, and
that the continuous line of demarcation, so characteristic of
C. melanotos in all plumages, was absent. W.K.R. immediately
suggested that the bird was the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper C.
acuminata (‘Siberian Pectoral Sandpiper” in The Handbook),
a suggestion which received further confirmation when the
bird flew directly overhead revealing the shape of its tail—
the central feathers elongated, but the others decreasing grad-
ually in size towards the outermost. Later in the afternoon
the bird was seen by D.S. who, by a lucky coincidence, had
recorded an (American) Pectoral Sandpiper on Holy Island
only a fortnight before. He commented: “Each time, when it
was flushed, it gave a fairly high-pitched melodic twitter.
This call, I feel, is quite dissimilar to that of the Pectoral
Sandpiper I observed on 30th September and 1st October on
Lindisfarne. The American call was very much lower pitched,
and of entirely different rhythm. It consisted of two distinct
notes at intervals and was of a reedy character as noted in
The Handbook—rather reminiscent of a telephone heard
ringing before the receiver is lifted at the other end”. The bird
Was again seen on 21st October by D. McRedie, M.F.M.M.,
C.E.P. and D.S., when, as the bird sat in a curiously upright
position behind a grass tusssock, with its breast facing the
observers, it gave the impression of being, as far_as its under-
parts were concerned, a pale bird rather than a fairly dark
bird, as C. melanotos would seem to be.

The following details were observed: crown buffish, with
heavy dark streaking; nape dark; light eyebrow continued to
form thin band over bill—eyestripe appeared rather lighter
than in American bird (D.S.); lores dusky; upperparts as in

96 SHORT NOTES 1(4)

melanotos, the pointed feathers, dark with bright chestnut-buff
edgings giving a very brilliant effect; pale diagonal line run-
nings across wing from bend, bordered by darker lines;
“strong and distinct V marking on darker back is probably
common to both species, but very prominent in this bird”
(D.S.); a curious pale oval patch of side of breast by bend of
wing with darker smudges running across it; outer tail
feathers with white tips; underparts white with a slight
buffish tinge on breast, and thin dark streaks on the sides of
breast continued down almost to flanks; a few dark streak-
ings were visible in the centre of breast at ten or fifteen
yards in good lighting conditions (J.B., G.McC.) but could
not be seen at ten yards in less favourable conditions; the
bill was rather thick at the base, long and tapering, with
slight downward curve near tip—dark, but yellowish at base;
legs yellow ochre. No suggestion of the line of demarcation
across the breast, as in melanotos, but otherwise a very sim-
ilar bird, both in appearance and habits.

The colours of the soft parts as given in The Handbook are
no doubt taken from museum specimens; descriptions in The
Ibis (1904: 423 and 1955: 335) support ours.

The bird’s favourite resort was flooded on the 24th, when
it was absent.

We have no doubt that the bird was the Sharp-tailed Sand-
piper Calidris acuminata, the first for Scotland and fifth for
Britain, as well as the only one recorded outside Norfolk.

M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN.
W. K. RICHMOND.
D. STALKER.

ROLLERS IN ORKNEY

On the morning of 27th May 1958 a brilliantly coloured bird
about the size of a Jackdaw Corvus monedula alighted on the
branch of a tree in our garden at Isbister House, Rendall. It
stayed only a brief time, perhaps no more than a minute, and
was off again in a flash of bright greenish blue and chestnut.
There is no doubt it was a Roller Coracias garrulus. It was
predominantly of a bright greenish blue, with darker bor-
ders to the wings and dark central tail feathers. It had a large
chestnut-brown saddle-like patch across the back. The dark
coloured beak was fairly short and strong-looking and in all
it was a thick-set robust bird of rather corvine appearance.

Then on 7th June a friend telephoned to tell me of a bril-
liantly coloured bird which was frequenting a roadside in
Deerness. I could not see it myself, but it was found later
and identified as a Roller by Miss Marjory Traill-Clouston
and a friend. It stayed for several days.

1959 SHORT NOTES 97

Towards the end of June Mr R. Watson and others reported
a Roller from Wideford Brae, about five miles west of Deer-
ness. The bird made a small group of low trees and bushes by
the roadside its headquarters and fed largely in a big field
of turnips heavily infested by Black Diamond moth. On 19th
July Mr Watson took two colour photographs of it. It was last
seen on the 21st. The possibility of these records referring to
the same bird should be considered.

E. BALFOUR.

OVERLAND MASS MIGRATION OF REDWINGS

On 18th October 1958, while crossing Rannoch Moor in
darkness, I heard Redwings Turdus musicus and disturbed a
flock from the wood at Kingshouse on the morning of the
19th. Weather was wild, with strong south-west wind, and it
kept us in most of the day, but in the evening among the
woods of the Black Mount Forest, west of Loch Tulla, we put
up flock after flock of Redwings from trees and moor. It was
not until we had climbed clear of the wood that we became
aware that a large passage of birds was taking place, with
flocks in the air wherever we looked. Some were mere specks,
some were low flying flocks, and, so far as we could make out,
they did not seem to be following any particular direction.
Certainly we saw many thousands of birds, mostly Redwings,
but there were a fair number of Fieldfares Turdus pilaris
among them, perhaps ten per cent. It was on this same day
that large numbers were pouring into Skokholm.

T. WEIR.
ROCK PIPIT IN KINROSS

On 16th November 1958 we had a good view in indifferent
light of a Rock Pipit Anthus spinoletta at Loch Leven. The
mantle had the tyvical olive appearance, there was no con-
spicuous white eyestripe or outer tail feathers, and the legs
were dark. The bird fed among stones close to the water’s edge
and called typically when flushed. This is the first record for
Kinross. T. Bovp.

R. W. J. SMITH.

WINTER BREEDING OF STARLING IN SHETLAND

In the first week of December 1958, at Baltasound, Shetland,
it was brought to my notice that a pair of Starlings Sturnus
vulgaris zetlandicus had been seen carrying food into a hole
in the wall above the door of a cattle-shed. Upon investiga-
tion I could hear the young calling, but could not see them.
Up till the end of December the weather was extremely mild
for these parts, although this island of Unst is the most
northerly of the British Isles, Unfortunately January brought

93 SHORT NOTES 1(4)

heavy frost and snow; one of the parents was found dead,
while the young were not heard again.
©: Ly DAXBY.

HAWFINCHES IN ABERDEEN

On Sth October 1958 I was in Allervale Cemetery, Aber-
deen, beside the River Dee, when my attention was drawn
towards the peculiar notes of some bird and, in a matter of
seconds, I caught sight of a pair of Hawfinches Coccothraus-
tes coccothraustes flitting about, and flying over and between
the headstones of the graves. When I was a boy my grand-
father had a Hawfinch sent him from England and I am
therefore familiar with the appearance of the bird.

E. WYLLIE FENTON.

NORTHERN BULLFINCH IN THE CAIRNGORMS

On 28th October 1958 my wife and I observed a male North-
ern Bullfinch Pyrrhula p. pyrrhula on the Silver Mountain in
the northern foothills of the Cairngorms (Inverness-shire). It
was above the tree-line at 1,600 feet feeding on heather seeds
which my wife was able to identify from the plant as those
of the Cross-leaved Heath Erica tetralix. The bird was unmis-
takable, being extremely large, with the breast and cheeks
brilliant scarlet pink and the back a pure and pale French
grey. I may add that I am familiar with this race of the Bull-
finch, both in the field on the Continent and in the museum,
having assisted my father, Dr James Harrison, when he was
reviewing the races of the Bullfinch. The contrast was all the
more marked because Scottish Bullfinches tend to be darker
and duller than those elsewhere in the British Isles.

This record appears to be the first from inland in Scotland.
According to Baxter and Rintoul (Birds of Scotland), all the
definite records are from the east coast or northern isles. The
situation, high on the open moors, is also a surprising one, and
the very unusual site further confirms the record.

JEFFERY G. HARRISON.

CURRENT NOPES

(These notes are considered to be fully authenticated. To pre-
clude possible confusion it should be pointed out that the
name “John Murray” refers to two different observers).

Records for 1957 and 1958. Apparently unpublished are rec-
ords of the Curlew Sandpiper Calidris testacea from the
Endrick Mouth (Dumbarton) on 9th June 1957 (M. Forrester,

1959 CURRENT NOTES 99

T. Weir) and of a Grey Plover. Charadrius squatarola on the
Clyde above Hamilton on 25th September 1957 (T. Weir). 58
Bean Geese Anser arvensis were seen near Auldhouse, Lan-
arkshire, on 16th March 1958, and one at the Doonfoot, Ayr,
on 20th April 1958 (L. A. Urquhart). An immature male Long-
tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis passed the whole summer of
1958 at the mouth of the River Ythan (Aberdeen), being last
seen on 25th November (A. J. M. Smith). Other Solway occur-
ences of the Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa are from
Caerlaverock Merse (Dumfries) in autumn 1958: two on 21st
August, at least 15 on 23rd and ten on 29th, also two on 2nd
October (HE. L. Roberts). Spotted Redshanks were seen at the
River Ythan on 22nd August (two), 20th September (one) and
4th October (two) (A. J. M. Smith). Terns Sterna sp. were
heard passing in numbers to the SW over the Braids, Edin-
burgh, in the dark at 2045 hours on 11th October (G. L. Sande-
man) and a late House Martin Delichon urbica occurred at
Dunbar on 4th November (A. Macdonald).

Winter visitors. A Cormorant Fhalacrocorax carbo contin-
ually perched on the steeple of the Leckie Memorial Church,
Peebles, in February (Mary E. C. Rankine). Gadwall Anas
strepera were seen regularly during the winter on the Ken-Dee
marches (Kirkcudbright) (Donald Watson) and on Figgate
Pond, Edinburgh (P. Holt) and a pair on the sea at Leith on
7th February (S.O.C. excursion from Glasgow). Smew Mergus
albellus, of both sexes, were seen intermittently on Loch Ken,
R. Dee and Carlingwark Loch (Kirkcudbright) from 8th Jan-
uary (Donald Watson) and a pair on L. Milton (Kirkcud-
bright) on Ist January (W. Austin et al.); a female on L. Mac-
anrie (S. Perth) on lst March (M. F. M. Meiklejohn). A White-
fronted Goose of the eastern race Anser a. albifrons was seen
with the Bean Geese at Castle Douglas on 2nd and 3rd Feb-
ruary, and a Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus
from 30th January to 4th February (H. G. Alexander, Donald
Watson). Five Brent Geese Branta bernicla, of which four
were Light-breasted hrota, were at Tynninghame (E. Lothian)
on 18th January (T. Boyd, R. W. J. Smith). The Barnacle
Goose Branta leucopsis, seen at Auldhouse (Lanark) on 9th
November 1958 (antea 1:77), was also seen on the same day
at Dunwan Dam (Renfrew), on each occasion accompanied
by a hybrid, perhaps between Barnacle and Grey Lag Anser
anser, of which it is hoped to publish a fuller account later
(L. A. Urquhart). A pair of Bewick’s Swans Cygnus colum-
bianus were at Merryton (Lanark) on 28th November 1958
(L. A. Urquhart). A Buzzard Buteo buteo was seen over Kel-
vingrove Park, Glasgow, on 17th February (John Murray). A
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, seen in the Loch Ken area
from 28th December, will receive a separate note (Robert
Smith et al.). A Water Rail Rallus aquaticus haunted Black-

100 CURRENT NOTES 1(4)

ford Pond, Edinburgh, between 12th January and 2nd Feb-
ruary (lan Hay, Mrs Elspeth Hamilton). An adult Glaucous
Gull Larus hyperboreus was seen at Craigmaddie (W. Stirling)
on 8th February (M. F. M. Meiklejohn) and an immature bird,
probably the same as was present during the first half of
1958, at Tongland power station (Kirkcudbright) (D.W.). Two
or more Tree-creepers Certhia familiaris were in the Storno-
way woods on 28th March (W. A, J. Cunningham) and an-
other wintering Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla, a female, is repor-
ted from Wigtown in the first half of February (Mary McKin-
na). A Mealy Redpoll Carduelis f. flammea was seen near
New Galloway (Kirkcudbright) on 3rd February (H. G. Alex-
ander, Donald Watson) and three Lapland Buntings Calcarius
lapponicus on the Moor of Forvie (Aberdeen) on 25th Novem-
ber (A. J. M. Smith).

Distribution and breeding. Single Great Crested Grebes
Podiceps cristatus are reported from Loch Fyne on 11th Dec-
ember 1955 and on 2nd April 1959, and two from Loch Sween
on 7th January 1956 (I. Rainier). A Mallard Anas platyrhyn-
cos hatched a brood of seven on 15th November at Carsebreck
(Perth) (G. T. Jamieson). Single Black Guillemots Cepphus
grylle occurred near the Bullers of Buchan (Aberdeen) on
17th May 1958 and near Fowlsheugh (Kincardine) on 27th May
1958 (A. J. M. Smith): one in summer plumage was seen at
Hyebroughty (Kast Lothian) on lst April 1959 (A. Ablett). Mrs
Rainier reports the colonisation of North Knapdale by the Jay
Garrulus glandarius beginning in October 1957. Chiffchafis
Phylloscopus collybita were heard singing in three new loc-
alities in Islay, in addition to Bridgend: Port Askaig, Kildal-
ton (at least four) and Kilmory (John Murray). A pair of
Crossbills Loxia curvirostra were building a nest in Bennan
Forest, New Galloway, on 13th January, but no proof of suc-
cessful breeding: birds were seen in the district up to 3rd
May (Donald Watson).

Spring Migration. Among scarcer migrants may be mention-
ed a pair of Garganey Anas querquedula at the Endrick Mouth
(seen in both W. Stirling and Dunbarton) on 19th April (K. H.
Paterson, W. K. Richmond), and two drakes and one duck at
the Loch of Strathbeg (Aberdeen) on 25th April (D. P. Willis).
British Birds (52:140) reports exceptional numbers of Gar-
ganey on passage in England. A Black-tailed Godwit Limosa
limosa was at Gullane Point (E. Lothian) on 8th March (J. E.
King); at Rosyth mudflats there was one on 21st, two on 23rd
and six on 25th April (P. G. R. Barbier) and at Bothwell
Bridge six on 24th April (M. F. M. Meiklejohn). An excep-
tionally early Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis occurred at
Fort George (Inverness) on 28rd March (David Hope).

Habits. Alick Ross (Barrahead Lighthouse) reports that at

1959 CURRENT NOTES 101

Suleskerry nests of the Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis have
been found containing old bolts, nuts, etc., thrown out of the
engine-room. The Rev. E. T. Vernon reports the perfect im-
pression of a bird, probably a Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus,
on his dining-room window at Bridge of Weir. “The bird must
have flown against it with considerable force. The wing-span
is complete, the individual primaries clearly marked; the head,
legs and even claws show up well.” (Cf. British Birds Nov. 1955
and Sept. 1957).

CORRIGENDA

Antea 1:42. Under Arctic Warbler add _ scientific name
Phylloscopus borealis.

Antea 1:57. In caption of photograph for “Marsh Sandpiper”
read “Wood Sandpiper”’.

Antea 1:68. For “auxiliaries” read ‘“‘axillaries.”

Antea 1:77. The last flock of Waxwings at Aviemore was on
10th and not 20th January. The flock at Elie was on 31st Dec-
ember not 3lst January.

THE GLASGOW BIRD BULLETIN

“The Glasgow Bird Bulletin” was founded in 1952 to provide an outlet
for the rapidly increasing number of notes on birds of the West, a more
or less direct descendant of “Clyde Bird News,” the news-sheet I issued
in 1944-5. It began with a handful of subscribers and at best had just
over 300. Published quarterly at 5/- per annum, it was originally called
“The Glasgow and West of Scotland Bird Bulletin’, the name being
shortened in 1956. It had many similarities with “The Edinburgh Bird
Bulletin”, but in many ways was quite different. It was not confined to
the local branch of the S.O.C., about a third of the subscribers not being
members of the Club and ranging throughout the West of Scotland, and
elsewhere. It did not go in for a series of local reports, but was more con-
cerned with accounts of visits to islands in which the West abounds, local
lists for various regions, etc. Sometimes it gave the first published account
of the birds of a particular region. Some of the articles were based on ob-
servation of only a few hours or days duration; others were more sub-
stantial, covering a life-time’s experience. Much of the material was there-
fore transient in interest, as it should be, but some is of permanent value
and will be consulted for many years to come. Among the more import-
ant items published can be mentioned Major F. M. Crum on “The Birds
of Rosneath,’ James Bartholomew on “The Birds of Baldernock Parish,’
Lord David Stuart on “The Birds of Bute,’ James Greenlees on “The
Birds of Southend,” Iain M. Murray on “The Birds of Skye,” and my
own articles on the Clyde islands, and on the breeding birds and waders
of Renfrewshire. The Bulletin has undoubtedly made mistakes, but on the
credit side can fairly claim to have been right when other more illus-
trious publications have been wrong. “The Glasgow Bird Bulletin” was
subject to probably the most remarkable series of irregularities and de-
lays in publication that ever afflicted a bird journal: it can now be dis-
closed that the real reason for this was the inherent laziness of the Edi-
tor. In view of this the Editor would like to thank his subscribers sin-
cerely for the loyalty they showed him over the years. Editing was great
fun and made me many new friends.

J. A. GIBSON,

102 B.T.O. CONFERENCE i(4)

B.T.O. CONFERENCE, DUMFRIES, 1959

The twelfth Annual Meeting and Conference of Regional Representa-
tives of the British Trust for Ornithology was held for the first time in
Scotland at the County Hotel, Dumfries, from 30th January to 1st Feb-
ruary 1959 and was attended by over 70 representatives and members of
the B.T.O. and the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, who were associated
with the Conference on this occasion. The conference, planned to give
the maximum time in the field, was opened by the President, Rey tomes,
who introduced Donald Watson to give a talk on the birds of Dumfries-
shire and Galloway with particular reference to their habitats: this was
illustrated with slides from his own paintings, some of which were on
exhibition in the hotel. After this talk, an expedition was made to the
Caerlaverock Nature Reserve under the leadership of E. L. Roberts, who
ably steered the whole party along a hedge on the other side of which
was a flock of about 1,300 Barnacle Geese. In the evening, with A. B.
Duncan, Regional Representative for Dumfriesshire and Chairman of the
Nature Conservancy, in the chair, H. J. Boyd spoke on “How Many
Geese?”, describing some of the recent work of the Wildfowl Trust on
the distribution, numbers and breeding success of goose populations, wed
examples from ‘his recent survey of the geese in Islay.

On Ist February the field excursion was to the Castle Douglas area,
where Donald Watson led the party along a lane from which it was pos-
sible, without disembarking from the cars, to observe a flock of Bean
Geese, among which was a single Lesser White-fronted Goose which had
appeared for the first time the previous day and, on the way back to Castle
Douglas, a Marsh Harrier flew slowly past the entire procession of 25
cars. In the afternoon the main party visited Loch Ken where they were
able to see the seventh advertised species of goose, the Greenland White-
front. Other species of interest recorded by breakaway groups included
Peregrine, Smew and Waxwing, these completing a week-end that will
long be remembered for the excellence of the local arrangements by W.
Austin, the birds, the weather and the lectures.

THE INVASION OF WAXWINGS

Bombycilla garrulus, December 1958
ANDREW T. MACMILLAN

This summary deals mainly with the third substantial invasion of Wax-
wings into this country during the past three winters. The ultimate factors
which lead to these irregular invasions, as distinct from the proximate
factors which start the birds on their flights, have been discussed in a
very interesting paper by Dr Gunnar Svardson (“British Birds” 50: 314-
343). He suggests that irruption-species such as the Waxwing start a flight
each year stimulated by the same proximate factors as other migrants
but that the movement stops where they encounter an abundant food
supply. Irruptions occur when they do not find adequate food supplies
within their normal range.

In the winter of 1956/57 the rowan crop in Sweden was quite excep-
tional and Waxwings appeared there from December 1956 onwards.
Numbers in some places were greater than ever before and Svardson pre-
dicted that Waxwings would breed abundantly in Fenno-Scandia during
1957 and, since the crop of rowan berries would certainly be inferior in
the autumn because of tiredness, there might well be an irruption into
Great Britain in the winter of 1957/8.

As it turned out some overspill from the invasion of Sweden reached
the east coast of Scotland and England during the second half of Feb-
ruary and the beginning of March 1957. This was probably the biggest
invasion since the winter of 1946/7 and came at a rather unusual time of

959 SCOTTISH BIRDS 103

NAH

WHITE CYGNETS OF MUTE SWAN AT DALBEATTIE

I.—1955. Parents with normal cygnets. I].—White cygnet from same brood
as that shown above, taken at same age. III.—1957. Parents with eight grey
cygnets and one white about a week old.

104 INVASION OF WAXWINGS 1(4)

year but it was evidently just the overflow from the far larger immigration
into Scandanavia where plenty of food was available to halt the birds.

As predicted by Svardson the crop of rowan berries in Sweden was
very poor in the autumn of 1957 and, there being no abundance of food
to stop their migration flight, Waxwings began to arrive in this country
about 6th November 1957 and were recorded from many parts of the
country in ones and twos and small flocks.

After invasions in two successive winters one might have expected no
more Waxwings for a while but, from late September 1958 throughout
October, there came reports of an unusually early and heavy movement
south and west in the Baltic area, followed by a build-up in southern
Scandinavia in November and an invasion of Germany in December

@Britishy Bindseis2.) 32).

Small numbers of Waxwings visit Scotland every winter and until mid
December 1958 the pattern for the winter was normal. Only a few earlier
records have been received, single birds having been seen south of Nairn
on 23rd October, at Avoch in Ross-shire on 11th November and at Fort-
rose, two miles away, on 2nd December. There was one on Fair Isle on
18th 19th and 24th November, and two at Colinsburgh (Fife) on 19th
November.

The invasion did not start until about 13th December when a single
Waxwing was reported from Golspie (Sutherland). The following two
days odd birds were noted at Crail (Fife). Dunfermline (Fife) and Glas-
gow: about this time, too, there were records from Kirkwall (Orkney) and
Wick (Caithness). On the 16th two spent the day at Rannoch Station
(Perth) and on the 17th six were noted in Stornoway (Lewis). By this
time they were also present near Cockburnspath (Berwick).

All these reports referred to very small groups but on the 18th a flock
of twelve was noted in Glen Nevis (Inverness) and thirty made a brief
stop at Rannoch Station. Next day two were reported at Thurso (Caith-
ness) and three had reached Canna (Skye). On the 20th there were small
flocks in Aberdeen, Perth and Guardbridge (Fife). and next day twelve
were seen at Golspie and 25 at Dalkeith (Midlothian), as well as small
numbers by Loch Tay (Perth), at Avoch and at Pittenweem (Fife). Nine
were reported from Fort William (Inverness): on the 22nd.

It is fairly easy to catalogue the records which have been sent in, but
less easy to eliminate bias from them. It is most noticeable that there
tend to be more records on Sundays than on other days of the week.
Another source of bias is that the bulk of the reports sent in were re-
ceived in response to letters published in “The Scotsman” on 3rd January
and “The Glasgow Herald” on 12th February. Though these papers have
a wide circulation throughout Scotland there is naturally a bias against
those areas where they are not extensively read. Furthermore, the ten-
dency is clearly for people to write when they see the request for infor-
mation; one is therefore sent the records that are fresh in their minds,
and older and subsequent notes come only from those who are most in-
terested in the birds.

During the next few days, up to 26th December, odd reports were re-
ceived from a number of scattered localities. By Christmas Day seven
had reached the Solway at Glencaple (Dumfries) and on Boxing Day
there were twenty at Corpach (Inverness).

At this time there was a most spectacular invasion into NE Northum-
berland, just outside our area. 65 Waxwings arrived on 26th December,
followed by 150 at midday on the 27th. During the afternoon many parties
were watched flying in from over the sea and at least 500 were counted.
Numbers seemed to increase from the 29th to the 3lst until every size-
able hedge had its quota of Waxwings eating the heavy crop of berries
and by 4th January there were at least 1,000 in the area.

On 27th December, while this great invasion of England was taking
place, there were 27 at Aberfeldy (Perth) and next day 30 at Aviemore

7 We59 INVASION OF WAXWINGS 105

(Inverness), twelve at Dundee and 16 at Bridge of Cally (Perth). About
this time there was an increase of 20 at Ballater (Aberdeen) and on 28th
and 29th smaller numbers were recorded in a number of places, including
the first for the winter at Gullane (East Lothian), in a garden, where they
are seen with such regularity that this is the fifth successive winter in
which they have been noted.

Numerous records for the next few days may perhaps be put down to
the publication of the letter in “The Scotsman” on 3rd January, but there
were reports from no fewer than nine new localities for 3lst December,
including the first for St Andrews (Fife) whence eleven different people
wrote about the comparatively small flocks that frequented the town until
the beginnine of April. A single bird on Tiree (Inner Hebrides) on Ist
January is claimed as the first record for the island. Flocks included twelve
in Elgin and fourteen in Callander (Perth) on 2nd January, and eleven
at Inverness and twelve at Banchory (Kincardine) on the 3rd. About the
5th and 6th there were increases at Ballater and near Aviemore, and on
the 6th twenty were recorded at Spinningdale (Sutherland). Flocks of
twelve were seen near Croy (Inverness) and Nairn in early January and
there were twenty at Kirkcaldy (Fife) about the 7th.

All these records refer either to the first reports of the birds in the
areas or to local increases but, as the season progresses, confusion
is obviously created by flocks moving from place to place and there jis
of course no guarantee that the day the birds are first noted is the day
they arrived.

7th January saw the start of a general invasion of the Black Isle and
between then and the end of the month there were many reports of small
parties and flocks of up to 25 birds in the area.

Fresh records for the next twelve days of January are fairly evenly
spread out and the most notable features was the presence about 10th
January of several flocks in the Aviemore area totalling roughtly 100

birds.

About the 20th and 22nd there seemed to be local increases at Inverness,
Grantown (Moray) and Gullane, while twenty were noted near Callander
and four at Tillicoultry (Clackmannan). There was a further small group
of records for the 25th to 27th with flocks at Boat of Garten (Inverness).
Broughty Ferry and Dundee, Crieff, Comrie and Dunblane (all three
Perth), and yet a third small group of records about the 2nd and 3rd of
February. It is difficult to know what significance should be attached to
these records but it seems more likely that they reflect movement within
the country rather than fresh influxes from Scandinavia. Flocks of Wax-
wings continued to turn up in new localities until the very end of the
season. Ten were in south Glasgow on 10th February, 16 near Melrose
(Roxburgh) on 9th March, twelve at Fochabers (Moray) on 3rd April,
five at Dallas (Moray) on 5th April and a number at Evanton (Ross) from
8th to 15th April when one flew against the window of the manse and
was killed: five there on the 16th and 17th are the latest reported this
winter.

On ist March there was a notable flock of 60 Waxwings at Avoch:
these birds were very restless and took a massed flight round a field
before returning to the tree they had just left. Vigorous flight alternated
with periods of gliding. Such large numbers had not been seen together
before in the area and, although a few birds lingered there until the
middle of April, it is possible that this flock was thinking of going home.
As in past years, most of the birds seem just to disappear and this ‘is
almost the only note sent in that gives any hint of their going.

In some localities, presumably where food was most abundant, the
Waxwings remained for a considerable time and some 210 birds (26
reports) were reported in March and April. Apart from localities already
mentioned they were present during April in Inverness (twelve from 10th
to 12th), Invergowrie (Perth) (several..on Ist), St Andrews (until at least

106 INVASION OF WAXWINGS 1(4)

7th) and Perth (one on 11th).

The total number of reports received from Scotland in the winter is
about 200, referring to over 1,300 Waxwings. The bulk of these reports
naturally refer to the east coast, with approximately 490, 140, 270 and 230
birds recorded in the Faunal Areas of the Moray Basin, Dee, Tay and
Forth respectively. From records received last year it seems that the in-
vasion in November 1957 was of much the same size in Scotland but the
figures are not at hand for comparison with the earlier invasion in Feb-
ruary and March 1957. Almost certainly each of these three invasions was
bigger than any since 1946/47. In that winter about 12,500 were reported
in Great Britain, of which some 7,000 were in Scotland. The two smaller
irruptions in 1948/9 (over 200) and 1949/50 (over 2,000) hardly touched
Scotland, with one report for the former years and about 300 birds in the
other (“British Birds” 44: 158-163 and Ai8- -419). On the other hand there
was a very small but well marked influx in November 1951 (“Edinburgh
Bird Bulletin” 2: 20 and 34).

Numbers reported from outside the Faunal Areas already noted were
five in Orkney, eight in Caithness, eight in the Outer Hebrides, four in
Skye, 45 in Argyll, two in the Inner Hebrides, 37 in Tweed, 40 in Clyde,
and. 69 in Solway. It is interesting to observe that some of the earliest
records come from the west of Scotland (Lewis, Mull. Skye, Glen Nevis and
Glasgow), just as Baxter and Rintoul noted for 1921, 1937 and 1946 (“The
Migration of Waxwings into Scotland, 1946”. Edinburgh 1947). There are
also reports from all parts of England and even from Ireland, but these:
form no part of this paper.

It’is instructive to compare the choice of food of Waxwings in different
years and this is no doubt dictated by the relative abundance of the
various berries. In 1921 their preference was for hips, while in 1937 it was
for cotoneaster and in 1946 for haws (Baxter and Rintoul).

The favourite berries this winter were again of cotoneaster (59 reports)
as in 1957/8 (“Edinburgh Bird Bulletin” 8: 30-32), but there were not#
nearly so many reports of berberis (15) as last vear. Other favourites
were hips of various kinds (24) and haws (14). Where the cotoneasters
were identified they were Franchettii (1), horizontalis (4), salicifolia (1),
frigida (1) and Simonsii (1). One observer noted that the first three were
favoured in that order.

Other berries mentioned were holly (6, including two occasions when it
was put out in a vase), elder (3), rowan (the three parties at Rannoch
Station took the berries from the ground), juniper (2), honeysuckle (2),
privet (1), viburnum (1) and “Malus Yunnanensis” (1) in the Royal Bot-
anic Gardens in Edinburgh. There are three reports of birds taking crab
apples (rotten in one case) and nine references to feeding on apples either
still on the trees or put out for the birds. One Waxwing was suspected of
eating the newly formed buds of an apple tree. A bird in Skye made
several unsuccessful endeavours to swallow a breadcrumb, but another at
Buchlyvie seemed to enjoy the bread and toast on which it was fed. It
was enthusiastic about some holly in a vase, but only gases aba cape
it was offered and did not eat any.

One bird at Lundin Links, watched feeding on the hips of a Hees rose,
suddenly tossed one into the air and deftly caught and swallowed it.
Twice it tried to repeat this feat of leger-de-bec, but failed; it watched
pee as the berry found its way down through the branches to the
ground.

My sincere thanks are due to the very large number of people who sent
in the records without which this summary could not have been written.
Lack of space unfortunately makes it impossible to publish a list of all
who have helped. This same shortage of space alsa means that there is no
room for a detailed list of records, but the complete data will be passed
to the Editors of “British Birds” for their proposed analysis of the inva-
sion in relation to the whole country.

1959 OFFICIAL SECTION 107

ie SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

IMPORTANT NOTICE

. A SCOTTISH CENTRE FOR ORNITHOLOGY AND BIRD
PROTECTION

OVER the last four years the Club has been indebted to the National

Trust for Scotland for the provision of free office accommodation at
5, Charlotte Square, Edinburgh. It has, however, become increasingly
obvious that the room, which has also been used as an office for the Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds, is no longer adequate, particularly in
view of Mr G,. Waterston’s recent resignation from the position of club
secretary. The Council has also been aware for some time that, in view of
the continued expansion of the National Trust for Scotland, the Club should
not trespass upon their hospitality much longer. The Council wishes to
record its gratitude to the Trust for the way in which it has helped both
the Club and the interests of ornithology in Scotland over the years.

A sum of money was recently offered by an anonymous donor to the
Fair Isle Bird Observatory Endowment Fund for the purpose of establish-
ing, with the co-operation of the S,O.C., a Scottish Centre for Ornithology
and Bird Protection. By agreement with the donor the F.I.B.O. Endowment
Trust has now purchased premises in Edinburgh which will be let to the
S.0.C. In view of the unique opportunity which this presented to develop
the interests of ornithology in Scotland, the Council of the Club, after full
consideration of the responsibilities and implications, unanimously agreed
to accept this most generous arrangement. It considered that such a centre
would serve the constitutional purposes of the Club. and was workable and
financially sound.

Premises at 21, Regent Terrace, Edinburgh, have been acquired, which
will provide suitable accommodation for the Club Office, the Library, Coun-
cil Meetings and informal discusson groups. Office accommodation will be
sub-let by the Club to the R.S.P.B. representative, the terms having been
agreed with the Society. The two upper floors of the building will be let to
Mr and Mrs George Waterston.

The Council have confirmed the appointment of Mrs Waterston as Sec-
retary and Treasurer of the Club. Mr Robert Hillcoat remaining as Hon.
Treasurer,

‘The Council considered this centre as a separate financial proposition,
and it is estimated that the’ two rents from the two sub-lets referred to
will provide enough income to meet the annual burdens, limiting the Club’s
commitments to £50 per annum. The Council realise that the removal from
the present premises. will entail payment of rents, rates and other assoc-
iated burdens, and, to counteract this, Mrs Waterston has accepted her
appointment at a lower salary than was paid to Mr George Waterston.

It is intended that the Library should be made available to members dur-
ing offce hours and on certain additional evenings, while at other times
members could use the Library by previous arrangement, The residence
of Mr and Mrs Waterston will ensure that the Club Room is available
to members. Evenings for informal discussion groups will be arranged, and
also the borrowing by post of duplicate books from the Library.

It is hoped that alterations and redecoration of the house and the re-
moval of the Library from its present accommodation will be completed by
the end of July. Details of the hours when the office and Club Room will
be open will be announced to members in due course. The Council believes
that the new Centre will be of great benefit to members of the Club and
to ornithologists throughout Scotland, and when visiting Edinburgh they
are warmly invited to make full use of the centre.

[Chav Rieko Ge + CONN ELE:
10, Duke Street, Edinburgh. President,

108 OF FICIAL SECTION 1(4)

SUMMER EXCURSIONS

Members are reminded of the Branch Excursions arranged for this
summer, and are asked to give them their full support. Early booking is
appreciated by the leaders, particularly if boats or buses have to be re-
served. Full details are given in “Scottish Birds”, Vol, 1, No. 3.
ABERDEEN—Sunday, 6th September: Ythan Estuary and Lochs,
DUNDEE—Sunday. 28th June: Isle of May. Sunday. 13th September: Tay

mouth to Tentsmuir Point.
EDINBURGH—Sunday, 5th July: Farne Islands. Saturday, 18th July, Bass
Rock. Saturday, 22nd August: Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve.
GLASGOW— Saturday, 20th June: Little Cumbrae.
ST ANDREWS—Sunday, 28th June: Isle of May. Saturday, 11th July:

Tentsmuir.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The twelfth Annual Conference of the Club will be held at the Golden
Lion Hotel, Stirling, from 23rd to 25th October, 1959, The conference
programme ‘will be published in the next number of “Scottish Birds,” and
this intimation is given in order that members may make reservations at
hotels in Stirling in good time. All hotel bookings are made direct with the
hotels in which you wish to stay. Owing to the general shortage of single
rooms, younger members are urged to make arrangements to share a
room with a friend, Private arrangements must be made with your hotel
for lunches each day. The Secretary is NOT responsible for hotel bookings.

Hotel Accommodation in Stirling

GOLDEN LION HOTEL, 10 King Street (Tel. 1950), Conference H. °

Bed and Breakfast from 27/6.
STATION HOTEL, 56 Murray Place (Tel, 1057)

Bed and Breakfast from 27/6,
WAVERLEY HOTEL, King Street (Tel. 1950)

Bed and Breakfast from 27/6.
GARFIELD HOTEL, Victoria Square (Tel. 430)

Bed and Breakfast 19/6.

DOUGLAS HOTEL, 4 Arcade (Tel. 286) — Bed and Breakfast 19/6.
ALLAN PARK HOTEL, 20 Allan Park (Tel, 298)

Bed and Breakfast 18/6,

Mrs GEORGE WATERSTON,
Secretary and Treasurer.

NOTICES

Brrp MicrRaTION, a Bulletin of the British Trust for Orni-
thology. Edited by Kenneth Williamson. Published twice a
year, No. 1 appeared in December 1958. Reports of the Bird
Observatories for autumn 1958 and analyses of interesting
movements. Copies 2/6 post free. Cash with orders to Busi-
ness Editor, B.T.O., 2, King Edward Street, Oxford.

REPRINTS From Brirp Stupy. Scottish Census of Heronries,
by E. A. Garden, 1/-, postage 2d. Scottish Mute Swan Census,
by CP. Rawcliffe, 6d, postage 2d. Cash with orders to B.T.O.,
2, King Edward Street, Oxford.

The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club Tie

Illustrated is the Official Club Tie,
of which R. W. Forsyth’s are the
sole suppliers. The tie is made
from repp rayon, with the
bird motif in silver. Blue

or green background.

13/9.

Forsyth’s
also provide
warm clothing
for bird watchers:
gloves, scarves, under-
wear, shoes, caps, weath- gaa
erproof trousers, jerkins, 97? jayi&
raincoats and overcoats. a

R. W. FORSYTH

R. W. Forsyth Ltd. Princes Street Edinburgh And at Glasgow

THE BIRDS OF SCOTLAND
BE. V. Baxter and L. |. Rintoul

“This magnificent work forms an outstanding con-

tribution to the ornithology of the British Isles...

This will be the standard work on Scottish
ornithology for many years to come.”

SETON GORDON in Nature.

2 vols. 63s net

BIRDS AND MAMMALS OF SHETLAND
eS yo and UME V enables

“This book contains so much valuable ornitholog-
ical experience, succinctly analysed and pleasantly
set forth that no naturalist can afford to be
without it.” The Scotsman

30s net

OLIVER AND BOYD

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on request

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BARR & STROUD LIL

ANNIESLAND, GLASGOW W.3
KINNAIRD: HOUSE, 1 PAE MAGES E ASD. ONDONESai al

Walter Thomson, Printer, Selkirk.

The Journal of
The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

Vol. I. No. 5 _ Autumn 1959

Reprinted 1974

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

M[PHE Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was founded in 1936 and membership

is open to all interested in Scottish ornithology. Meetings are held
during the winter months in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and
St Andrews, at which lectures by prominent orinthologists are given and
films exhibited. Excursions are organised in the summer to places of
ornithological interest.

The aims and objects of the Club are to (a) encourage and direct the
study of Scottish Ornithology in all its branches; (b) co-ordinate the
efforts of Scottish Ornithologists and encourage co-operation between field
and indoor worker; (c) encourage ornithological research in Scotland in
co-operation with other organisations; (d) hold meetings at centres to be
arranged at which Lectures are given, films exhibited, and discussions
held; and (e) publish or arrange for the publication of statistics and in-
formation with regard to Scottish ornithology.

There are no entry fees for Membership. The Annual subscription is
25/-; or 7/6 in the case of Members under twenty-one years of age or in
the case of University undergraduates who satisfy the Council of their
status as such at the time of which their subscriptions fall due in any
year. ‘Scottish Birds’’ is issued free to members.

The affairs of the Club are controlled by a Council composed of the Hon.
Presidents, the President, the Vice-President, the Hon. Treasurer, cne
Representative of each Branch Committee appointed annually by the
Branch, and ten other Members of the Club elected at an Annual General
Meeting. Two of the last named retire annually by rotation and shall not
be eligible for re-election for one year.

A Scottish Bird Records’ Committee, appointed by the Council, produce
an annual Report on ‘Ornithological Changes in Scotland”.

Full details are given in the Syllabus of Lectures Card of the names of
the present Office-bearers of the Club.

An official tie with small white Crested Tits embroidered on it can be
obtained in dark green or navy blue by Members only from Messrs R.
W. Forsyth Ltd., Princes Street, Edinburgh, or 5 Renfield Street, Glasgow,
C.2, at a cost of 13s 9d post free. A small brooch in silver and blue can be
obtained for the use of Members of the Club. Price 2s 6d each from the
Hon. Secretary, or from Hon. Branch Secretaries.

Forms of application for Membership, copy of the Club Constitution,
and other literature is obtainable from the Club Secretary, Mr George
Waterston, 5 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh 2.

CLUB LIBRARY

The Club Library is now housed in the Secretary’s Office at 5 Charlotte
Square, Edinburgh, 2. The collection has recently been augmented by
several gifts, and the Council appeals to Members to donate books and
periodicals which they may wish to dispose of. We have no volumes of
the “Ibis” prior to 1944. The Library is open during office hours for
reference. Books or magazines, of which we have duplicate copies, can be
obtained on loan.

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

All notes dealing with birds in the eastern Lowlands, from Berwick-on-
Tweed to Dundee, should be submitted to A. T. Macmillan, 66 Spylaw
Bank Road, Edinburgh, 13; all other contributions to M. F. M. Meikle-
john, 20 Falkland Street, Glasgow, W.2. It would be helpful if notes were
typewritten, if possible, and double spaced.

|

Bel TibH BIRDS &

1%

y

THE JOURNAL OF THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

Vol. 1 No. 5 Reprinted 1974 Autumn 1959

Edited by M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN, with the assistance of D. G ANDREW and
A. T. Maomi~uan. Business Editor, ARTHUR J. SMITH. Cover design
(Leach’s Petrel) by LEN FULLERTON. Published quarterly

Editorial

WITH the present fifth number of Scottish Birds all the

material which had been left unpublished from past
years and that which we have received during the past year
is now in print, with a few minor exceptions. By the time
Number 5 appears, however, the breeding season of 1959 will
be over the autumn migration well on its way, most mem-
bers of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club will have had their
holidays and will (let us hope) have accumulated a large
number of interesting notes. Many of these will deserve pub-
lication and we would like to have them. Scottish ornithologists
have a deplorable tendency to sit on their notes, and they often
begin to do so in September. The Handbook does not record
broodiness in the Crested Tit in autumn, but so it is. The pro-
portion of members of such a large club as the S.O.C. who
send in their notes to Scottish Birds may be gauged by the
number of times the names of regular contributors appears
there. Some are withheld by shyness and modesty, others
(dare we say it ?) by sheer idleness. But Scottish Birds is the
journal of the Club and it is the members who must write it.
We are now in a position to publish not only field notes and
regular reports of different areas, but also discursive and more
entertaining articles. The contribution of photographs will
also be welcomed, both of birds themselves and of bird habi-
tats, or of anything else of ornithological interest. We would
also like to receive, for a Personalities Column, notes on the
activities of members, on their expeditions or on any line of
work on which they may be engaged. All localities of the
breeding of rare species will, as hitherto, be kept confidential
and will not be published unless the observer himself is per-
fectly sure that publication will not adversely affect the wel-

fare of the bird. Very often the Editors learn by hearsay of

some important occurrence which has not been reported to
them and have to write to the observer for details: this very
greatly increases their work, whereas the work of the ob-
server is not increased if he sends in his record straight away

110 EDITORIAL 1(5)

instead of waiting to be asked for it. The ribald layman will
often ask: “What is the point of bird-watching?” and one
answer is that there is very little point in bird-watching unless
the bird-watcher makes his discoveries known. If your records
are published, you will have the satisfaction of having added
to knowledge, and Scottish Birds is the medium especially
created for you to do so. You will also, human nature being
what it is, have an even greater satisfaction—that of seeing
your name in print.

BIRDS OF THE FLANNAN ISLES

MICHAEL ROBSON AND PETER WILLS
(See Plate on p. 114)

following notes describe the bird population of the
- Flannan. Isles in the summer of 1957. We spent eight days
out in the islands, from 26th June to 4th July, and were for-
tunate in that calm sunny weather prevailed most of the time.
Reference is made to the notes published by D. G. Andrew
and G. L. Sandeman in The Scottish Naturalist (65: 157-166),
“On the Birds of the Flannan Isles,’ which combine earlier
observations with the results of a visit made in 1951. We
landed first on Eilean Tighe, then on Eilean Mor and _ lastly
on Roareim.

Leach’s Petrel Oceanodroma leucorrhoa. In the summer
nights, wet or fine, the Flannans belong to Leach’s Petrels.

On Eilean Tighe the petrels were breeding in several places.
They were in and around the little summit cairn of stones and
turf, along the northern edge of Geodh’ an Truillich, in the
stone-heap ruin of a monk’s cell at the head of Geodha, under
stones along the southern peninsula, and, in greatest numbers,
among the Puffin burrows beside and just above our tent site
on the slope north of the island summit. In 1951 there was
omy on unconfirmed report that they were breeding on the
island.

On Eilean Mor the position seemed to be a little different
from that in 1951. The birds were most numerous in the area
of the lighthouse flagpole and in and around the bothies at
the other tip of the island. Along the northern cliffs the bur-
rows were more scattered, but there were many on Meall
Meadhonach. We found petrels along the eastern cliff-top, as
far as the East Landing railway, but not as yet beyond.

On Roareim, one of the western group of the Flannans, we
found, after a long search, a colony of petrels on the southern
slope facing Eilean a’ Ghobha.

1959 BIRDS OF THE FLANNAN ISLES 111

No previous report of petrels, or other species, seems to
exist for the islands of the western and southern groups.

Leach’s Petrels prefer soft soil and hollows beneath stones
for their burrows. Thus they were most frequent in the
ruined cells, and mixed up among the Puffins, as, for example,
on Roareim. There were no birds in Beannachadh, the chapel
on Eilean Mor. On Eilean Tighe we had two wet and windy
nights out, watching the birds for the first time, but thereafter
our vigils in the dark hours were fine and calm. Recording
one night in the bothies, we heard a sound coming from a
cranny which we did not hear again, a rasping wheeze that
might have been a unique instance of bad temper; for other-
wise the petrels filled the island tops with their purrs of joy
and their searching twitter. We saw Puffins on all the islands,
and it is probable that Leach’s Petrels are on all too.

Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus. In 1951 it was reckoned
that the breeding population of Eilean Mor was between ten
and forty pairs. We found no Storm Petrels on any of the
islands we visited, though it is possible that a few remain
somewhere. Perhaps Leach’s Petrels have in fact taken over.

Puffin Fratercula arctica. The birds were in considerable
numbers on all the islands, though by far the largest colonies
were on Eilean Mor and Eilean Tighe. As with the petrels, the
burrows contained eggs about to hatch, and new-born chicks;
but the Puffins were slightly ahead. On occasion the island
would be well-nigh empty of Puffins, and there was a strange
stillness, until they came soaring back with beakfuls of tiny
fish or sand-eels. The chorus of groans which echoes across
the turf in the twilight is the unforgettable conversation of
the islands.

Guillemot Uria aalge. We found scattered groups all round
the islands. On Eilean Tighe there were no large colonies.
Guillemots mingled with Razorbills and Puffins in the boulders
and weeds above the north-west facing cliffs; elsewhere they
lined the ledges—at the entrance to Geodh’ an Truillich, on the
cliffs round the south coast as far as the deep gullies opposite
the west tip of Hamasgeir; while a few shared a ledge on the
inner, north side of the stack.

On Eilean Mor the biggest colony was on the stack off the
western headland, a rock called the Sgarr. The top of the stack
slopes to the south, and was very popular with the birds. A
few nested at the back of Skiobageo and on the tall cliffs
which form the west side of Tom na Geodha, most westerly
of the northern creeks. The only other birds occupied a long
ledge at the back of the wide steep slabs which curve up at
the foot of the crags north of the flagpole. There were no
Guillemots in the eastern geos.

Between Eilean, Mor and Eilean Tighe are two great rocks,

112 BIRDS OF THE FLANNAN ISLES 1(5)

capped with tussocks of weeds and thrift, over which the sea
pours in winter storms. These, Lamh a’ Sgeir Beg and Lamh a’
Sgeir Mor, had small numbers of Guillemots on ledges facing
south to Eilean Tighe, from which island the birds could be
seen.

Looking at Eilean a’ Ghobha from the sea we made out
birds on the cliffs to the south and at the east tip; there seemed
to be none on the remaining sides of the island.

On Bronna Cleit, the huge stack which is the westernmost
part of the Flannans, we saw no Guillemots, nor any other
bird, but it is possible that Guillemots do nest there from
time to time. The exposure to the full force of the Atlanic
is particularly great.

Roareim was a different matter. It is a roundish island,
cliff-bound as are all the rest; from its southern side jut out two
stacks in a line at right angles to Roareim, to which they are
connected by a wedged rock forming a birdge. They have been
made into fine arches by sea-erosion. Across a narrow deep
channel from the outer arch is a low-lying skerry, covered with
thrift and other plants. This we called Sgeir nan Eoin, the
Rock of the Birds, to distinguish it from other skerries. We
landed first on this Sgeir and came on Guillemots scattered
among the stones and plants; but from there we had the best
view of the great multitude of birds on the arches. This col-
ony we had seen from some way off, and now we reckoned it
numbered at least 1,500 pairs, probably more than 2,000. The
cliffs were white with guano and the noise was very loud.
Causing some disturbance, we crossed into the settlement by
way of the narrow greasy bridge, which itself was laden with
young chicks. Most of the eggs had recently hatched, as in the
colonies on other islands, but here we noticed one or two
young in the water.

Small numbers of Guillemots nested in the westerly creek
on the north side of Roareim, and at the north-eastern end of
the island.

Razorbill Alca torda. Birds were in good numbers on all the
isles. Where the Guillemots bred so also did the Razorbills,
but there were none on the Roareim arches. They also nested
in. the eastern geos of Eilean Mor and at the entrance to the
cavern where the sea washes through a tunnel into Skiobageo.
Nests were generally in holes made by jumbled boulders or
in the more inaccessible niches of a cliff.

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle. We found three birds
frequenting the north side of Eilean Mor, usually in the re-
gion of Tom na Geodha, where they often flew down from
the cliff near the back of the creek. It is probable that a pair
nested there. This species was not observed by Andrew and
Sandeman in 1951.

BIRDS OF THE FLANNAN ISLES 113

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114

BIRDS OF THE FLANNAN ISLES

ir
(D. G. Andrew)

, Lamh a’ Sge

ne

FLANNAN ISLES, Looking south from Eilean Mor with, from left to right beyond the railway |

Mor, Eilean Tighe and the Soray group (looking like a single island from this angle.

1959 BIRDS OF THE FLANNAN ISLES 115

Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis. This bird was common and
nested on each of the islands we visited. The young scrabbled
and slept in the boulder recesses and on the cliff ledges beloved
by the Razorbills. On Eilean Tighe Shags were found on the
stony cliffs opposite Lamh a’ Sgeir Mor, on the south side of
the island and on the broken top of the long eastern peninsula.
Not many lived on Eilean Mor*, which had only a few nesting
about Skiobageo, though some may have been hidden away
at the back of Tom na Geodha. A small colony was scattered
along the north side of Roareim and one or two birds were
seen on Eilean a’ Ghobha.

Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla. It may be that this species is
more widely spread than in 1951 and that the colonies have
increased. At any rate, each island was well supplied with
them, nearly every geo being occupied by at least fifteen or
twenty pairs. We found them on Eilean Tighe in Geodh’ an
Truillich, the geos by Hamasgeir, on the southern cliffs and
on the inner side of Hamasgeir itself. The north face of Lamh
a’ Sgeir Beg, which overhangs slightly, also had a few pairs.
As for Eilean Mor, every geo had its Kittiwakes—the two
northern creeks, all those on the east, Skiobageo and the
cavern to the west of it. They nested, too, on the “slab ledge”’
below the flagpole. Most of the eggs had hatched, some of the
chicks being well grown. Roareim had three colonies.

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis. Fulmars bred on Eilean Tighe
around Geodh’ an Truillich and right along the east peninsula
to the hump at the end, as well as above the Hamasgeir geos
and on the northern cliff-top. They were on Lamh a’ Sgeir Beg
but not on Lamh a’ Sgeir Mor. There were small numbers on
one of the east geos of Eilean Mor, on the east side of the
Meall Meadhonach, at the entrance to Skiobageo, below the
summit of the western headland, and on the top of the Sgarr.
The largest colony was on Sgeir nan Eoin and on the crest of
the inner arch of Roareim, where we could scarcely move
without putting a foot on a coughing adult or chick. Some
pairs nested on Roareim itself.

Eider Somateria mollissima. In 1951 it was confirmed that a
marked decrease in numbers had taken place since Harvie-
Brown and Eagle Clarke made their visits to the Flannans. R.
Atkinson saw none in 1937 and only four birds were seen in
1951. However out along the east peninsula of Eilean Tighe,
We discovered one group of four very young Eiders crouching
in the thrift and on the hump at the end were two nests, each
having four eggs. Unfortunately, before the startled duck had

“This is an early nesting species. Andrew and Sandeman saw
a few on Eilean Mor, but were told that a good many
broods had already fledged.—EbD.

116 BIRDS OF THE FLANNAN ISLES 1(5)

time to return to the first of these clutches, the gulls descen-
ded. The Eider, then, is still on the Flannans, and perhaps
other nests lay hidden somewhere, though we came on no
more.

Herring Gull Larus argentatus. The status of the gull
population on the Flannans has been somewhat uncertain.
In 1951 it was thought that gulls were scarce and indeed this
was so with regard to Eilean Mor, where no gulls were breed-
ing. In 1957, on Eilean Mor, gulls did no more than rest in
the sunshine. None bred on, that island. Yet on the east point
of Eilean Tighe about twenty pairs of Herring Gulls had their
nests and the young birds scampered away over the boulders
at our approach. This was the largest number, but two more
pairs at least were nesting on Roareim. There did not seem
to be any on Eilean a’ Ghobha.

Greater Black-backed Gull Larus marinus. Roareim was the
stronghold of this species, although two pairs nested on Lamh
a’ Sgeir Beg, and two on Eilean Tighe. From fifteen to twenty
pairs were on Roareim and this colony may account for the
small number of Puffins and petrels on the island.

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus. At least one pair
bred on Eilean Mor in 1951 and the situation seemed unaltered
in 1957. The position was similar on the other islands. On
Eilean Tighe there may have been four nests, but probably
only three; our movements in the night there never failed to
draw mournful warnings from Oystercatchers and gulls. Over
on Roareim we found two more pairs in amongst the gulls.

Rock Pipit Anthus spinoletta. We found two nests, each with
five eggs, one on Eilean Tighe and one on Roareim. The former
island contained about three pairs, as did Eilean Mor, but
Roareim had only one or two. Sgeir nan Eoin held a pair as
well, and no doubt the numbers on other islands were much
the same. It is easy, however, to underestimate the populations
of these little birds.

Starling Sturnus vulgaris. Numbers seemed to be unchanged
since 1951. A large flock of about fifty lived on Eilean, Mor,
nesting under boulders, in cracks in the concrete steps leading
down to the landings, and perhaps round the lighthouse.
The only other birds we saw were a party of five on Roareim;
they were probably out on an excursion.

Raven Corvus corax. On our firist day we disturbed four
from Geodh an Truillich and they flew off towards Eilean
Mor. They were not seen again.

During our stay on the Flannans three other species visited
the islands. A Dunlin Calidris alpine spent a few hours on the
edge of the southern cliffs of Eilean Mor, three Curlews Num-
enius arquata came One morning and left the following night,
and for two days five Swifts Apus apus hunted insects and

1959 BIRDS OF THE FLANNAN ISLES 117

flew dangerously near the lighthouse tower when the light
had just come on. We saw no signs of any other of the birds
mentioned in the 1951 list as possibly breeding on the
Flannans.

REVIEW OF ORNITHOLOGICAL CHANGES

IN SCOTLAND IN 1958
EVELYN V. BAXTER

WTHE Scottish Bird Records Committe have reviewed the

’ records published in 1958 and present their report. As im-
plied in their name it is only the records which are included.
There must be many occurrences which have not been re-
corded and these obviously cannot be considered. As the
“Recent Reports and News” published in British Birds (51: 39,
etc.) are largely unchecked and must not be regarded as
authenticated records, we do not include them in this review.
Two new birds have been added to the Scottish List and there
are a good many additions to areas and counties.

BIRDS NEW TO SCOTLAND

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER Tryngites subruficollis. One near
Hamilton, Lanark, 27th to 30th October 1957. Habitat Arctic
America. (British Birds 51: 193).

MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melanocephalus. Two Fair Isle,
on 3lst August and 14th October 1957. Habitat Mediterranean,
Black Sea and Hungary. (Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin
4: 3).

BIRDS NEW TO AREAS AND COUNTIES

Cory’s SHEARWATER Procellaria diomedea. One Firth of
Forth 20th September 1957. One Firth of Forth 3rd November
1957. (Scottish Birds 1: 8-10). New to Forth.

GREEN-WINGED TEAL Anas crecca carolinensis. One Aber-
deenshire 3lst March to 20th April 1957. (Scottish Birds 1:
10). New to Dee.

[RED-CRESTED POCHARD Netta ruffina. A female seen on
Cauldshiels Loch from 22nd to 25th December 1957 (Edinburgh
Bird Bulletin 8: 26) and a male at Portmore Reservoir on 19th
October 1958 and at Gladhouse the same day (ibid. 8: 108) may
have been escapes. |

LONG-TAILED Duck Clangula hyemalis. One shot on St Mary’s
Loch on 5th November 1957 is the first for Selkirk (Edinburgh
Bird Bulletin 8: 82).

VELVET SCOTER Melanitta fusca. A pair at Portmore Loch on
6th April 1958 is the first record for Peebles-shire (Edin-
burgh Bird Bulletin 8: 67).

118 ORNITHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN 1958 1(5)

KITE Milvus milvus. One seen at Aberdeen on 13th
February 1958 is the first recent record for Dee (Scottish
Birds 1:11).

WATER RAIL Rallus aquaticus. An early record of this species
from Braemore, Wester Ross, will be found in Harvie-Brown
and Macpherson, A Fauna of the North-west Highlands and
Skye, p. 278. (Cf. Scottish Birds 1: 27).

RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticlua. One at St Mary’s Loch
on 5th June 1935 is the first record for Selkirk (Edinburgh
Bird Bulletin 8: 84).

TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres. One, at St Mary’s Loch, 10th
May 1936 and Akermoor Loch, 11th May 1958. New to Selkirk
(Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 8: 84).

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER Calidris fuscicollis. One at Tyn-
ninghame estuary on 12th October 1958. New to East Lothian
(Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 8: 112).

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER Calidris pusilla. One, Isle of May,
on 19th September 1957 is the first record for that island and
for Forth (Scottish Birds 1: 35 and Edinburgh Bird Bulletin
8: 114).

AVvoceET Recurvirostra avosetta. Five seen 6th April 1958,
Aberlady, two staying till 11th April. First for East Lothian.
(Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 8: 85).

GREAT SKUA Catharacta skua. One near Kenmore, 15th Aug-
ust 1957. First for North Perth (Scottish Birds 1: 15).

LITTLE GULL Larus minutus. One near Grangemouth, 31st
August 1958. First for East Stirling (Edinburgh Bird Bulletin
8: 114).

BLACK TERN Chlidonias niger. One at Carsebreck, 11th June
1958. First for South Perth (Scottish Birds 1: 16).

ROSEATE TERN Sterna dougallii. One seen at Tiree in June
1955. First for Inner Hebrides (British Birds 51: 104).

ALPINE SWIFT Apus melba. One at Dunbar, 11th October
1958, is the first for Forth and East Lothian (Edinburgh Bird
Bulletin 8: 116).

HoopoE Upupa epops. Single birds up Glenloy, 11th Octo-
ber 1958; Loch Treig area, 29th September 1958; and Strone
area, 2nd to 4th October 1958. All in West Inverness, whence
the species has not previously been recorded (Scottish Birds
Lg).

WRYNECK Jynx torquilla. One at Dornoch, 3rd September
1958, is the first record for South-east Sutherland (Scottish
Birds.) :.39).

MARSH TIT Parus palustris. In our report for 1956 we accep-
ted the record of this species from the Hermitage of Braid
as new to Midlothian (Scottish Naturalist 69: 174). A. T. Mac-
millan has since pointed out that one of the birds concerned
was Close-ringed (Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 4: 45 and 7: 46).

1959 ORNITHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN 1958 119

Since it is clear that one, if not both, had escaped from cap-
tivity, the record cannot stand.

BLACK-THROATED THRUSH Turdus ruficollis atrogularis. A
male from 8th December 1957 to about 22nd January 1958 on
Fair Isle is new to that island and Shetland (Fair Isle Bird Ob-
servatory Bulletin 4: 6).

LESSER WHITETHROAT Sylvia curruca. One, Skye, 3rd June
1957, is the first for Skye (Scottish Birds 1: 41).

ARCTIC WARBLER Phylloscopus borealis. One on the Sands
of Forvie, 2nd September 1958, is the first record for the
Scottish mainland, for Dee and for Aberdeen (Scottish Birds
1: 42).

LESSER GREY SHRIKE Lanius minor. One at Wormiston, 8th
June 1958, is the first record for Tay and for North Fife (Ed-
inburgh Bird Bulletin 8: 92).

ROSE-COLOURED STARLING Sturnus roseus. One at Wigtown,
14th to 18th August 1958, is the first for Wigtownshire (Scot-
tish Birds 1: 43).

SISKIN Carduelis spinus. Three at Gartmorn Dam on 28th
December 1957 are the first for Clackmannan (Edinburgh Bird
Bulletin 8: 40).

RED-HEADED BUNTING Emberiza bruniceps. A male on St Kilda
from 14th to 22nd May 1957 is the first record for the Outer
Hebrides (Nature Conservancy Annual Report 1957: 54).

LITTLE BUNTING Emberiza pusilla. One on Rhum, 8th Octo-
ber 1957, is the first record for the Inner Hebrides (Scottish
Birds 1: 20).

LAPLAND BUNTING Calcarius lapponicus. The first record of
this species for Clyde comes from Lecket Hill, West Stirling,
on 28th January 1956 (Scottish Birds 1: 8).

The British Records Subcommittee recommends the admis-
sion of the following races of species already on the British
List:

Falco columbarius columbarius. A male, South Uist, 11th
November 1920.

Falco columbarius subaesalon. Winter visitor.

Limosa limosa islandica. A male, North Uist, 24th April 1951.

Stercorarius longicaudus pallescens. A male, Sound of Har-
ris, 19th August 1941.

Eremophila alpestris alpestris. A male, South Uist, 29th Sep-
tember 1953.

Emberiza citrinella citrinella. Winter visitor.

Plectrophenax nivalis insulae. Occasional visitor. See Ibis
100: 300.

BREEDING RECORDS

BLACK-THROATED DIVER Gavia arctica. Seton Gordon (Coun-
try Life 1958: 1341) states that this diver does not now breed
in Skye.

120 ORNITHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN 1958 1(5)

BLACK-NECKED GREBE Podiceps caspicus. Bred Clyde area
1956, the first recorded breeding in Clyde (Scottish Birds 1: 5).

SHOVELER Spatula clypeata. First breeding record for West
Stirling is 12th June 1954, not 1955 (Scottish Birds 1: 5).

CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis. Breeding Ayr and Renfrew
1953 (Bird Study 5: 218).

MUTE SWAN Cygnus olor. Breeding Banff, Moray, Nairn,
Caithness (Bird Study 5: 54).

OsPREY Pandion haliaetus. Attempted to breed Scotland in
1955 and later (British Birds 51: 406).

GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus marinus. Nest and eggs
on Flanders Moss, East Stirling, in 1956 (Scottish Birds 1: 7).

LITTLE TERN Sterna albifrons. First breeding in, Wigtown re-
corded 1957 (Scottish Birds 1: 16).

TURTLE DOVE Streptopelia turtur. Two nests found Long-
niddry 1958, one brood hatched. First breeding record for East
Lothian (Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 8: 88).

COLLARED DOVE Streptopelia decaocto. Bred again in Moray
1958 (Scottish Birds 1: 37).

LITTLE OWL Athene noctua. Bred near Edrom, Berwickshire,
in 1958 (Scot. Birds 1: 37). First breeding record for Scotland.

SHORT-EARED OWL Asio flammeus. Though there appears to
be no previous published breeding record, we are informed
that this species breeds regularly in upper Morayshire and
Banff (Scottish Birds 1: 74).

CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita. The first record of the
Chiffchaff breeding in South Fife comes from High Valleyfield
on 2nd May 1958 (Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 8: 91).

PIED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa hypoleuca. Bred in Dollar Glen,
Clackmannan, in 1957 and 1958; first breeding record for the
county (Scottish Birds 1: 19).

GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea. Bred probably near Storno-
way 1957; adults and fully fledged young seen (Scottish Birds
bei):

[WRYNECK Jynx torquilla. The Committee does not consider
that a satisfactory identification can be reached on the clutch
of eggs found in Renfrewshire in 1904 (Glasgow Bird Bulletin

gl).
SHORT NOTES

GOOSANDER PROSPECTING FOR NEST-SITE

On 30th Apil 1959 Mr Parkinson caught a female Goosander
Mergus merganser in the stoke-hole of Carsfad Power Station,
Kirkcudbrightshire. It had laid an egg (rather soft-shelled,
perhaps laid premature from shock!) on the floor in front
of the empty furnace. No fires had been lit for a fortnight and
all entrances at ground level were locked and barred. The
bird obviously came down the sixty foot chimney. The top of

1959 SHORT NOTES 121

the chimney is a hole about two feet in diameter, flush with
the flat roof of the power station. Clearly the bird had alighted
on the roof and presumably started to investigate the chimney
as a possible nesting-site. When it was found it was very lively,
though rather sooty, and, although the stoke-hole had not
been visited for some days the bird must have come down
very recently. On 4th May with Mr Parkinson I looked at the
roof, chimney and stoke-hole; there seemed no possibility of a
nest-site from which the Goosander could have made regular
exit.

This record is perhaps of special interest for the height at
which a Goosander was prepared to investigate a hole, and a
man-made one at that. Iam very grateful to Mr Parkinson for
his interest and help in bringing to light this rather quaint
episode.

DONALD WATSON.

SNOW GEESE IN NORTH PERTH, WEST LOTHIAN
AND INVERNESS

On 16th November 1958 I was watching some grey geese on
the flats at Kingoodie, Perthshire, where they were grounded
by thick mist. Among them was a white bird which I at first
assumed was a swan. However when it started to move I was
able to see its short neck, heavy deep-based bill and the pale
colour of the bill and legs. The tips of the wings seemed to
be dark and there was little doubt that it was a Snow Goose
Anser caerulescens. Two days later, at Invergowrie Bay, a
short distance away on the Perth-Angus boundary, I had much
better views of the bird standing 200 yards out on the flats.
In sunshine this time the black primaries and grey major
coverts were clearly seen, as well as the pink bill and legs.

On 12th and 13th January 1959 I saw a Snow Goose in
flight and feeding in some fields south of Longforgan, Perth-
shire, and other observers also reported seeing it about this
time.

One of two Snow Geese was shot near Errol, Perthshire,
about 30th November 1957 and I was asked to identify it.
Measurements indicated that it was of the Lesser form A. c.
hyperboreus. The bird was sent to Slimbridge and I under-
stand that the skin is preserved.

HENRY BOASE.

On 30th November 1958 A. M. B. Maclean one of my pupils,
was visiting a farm near South Queensferry when four white
geese landed very close to him in a field. He is not an or-
nithologist but knows the difference between ducks and geese.
When I asked for a fuller description he mentioned that the
birds had black wing-tips. I am satisfied that he saw four

122 SHORT NOTES 1(5)

Snow Geese Anser caerulescens. Although the farmer reported
that they had been about for a few days they were not seen by
anyone else as they were disturbed shortly afterwards by
shooting.
JOHN KING.
On 5th April 1959 I saw a solitary white goose between Pit-
youlish and Tulloch, Inverness-shire. It was flying north,
appropriately enough in a snow shower, and did not alight.
Though viewed at a distance of more than 440 yards, the iden-
tification was unmistakable. The black ends to the wings were
clearly visible and there were a few darker markings on the
back, indicating an immature bird.
W. KENNETH RICHMOND.

MARSH HARRIERS IN KIRKCUDBRIGHT, WEST
STIRLING AND ABERDEEN

On 28th December 1958 Robert Smith, Lochmaben, discover-
ed a first winter Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus hunting
the marshes bordering the R. Dee, on the Livingston estate.
I joined him that afternoon and we had good views of the bird
together, and on the following morning I watched it for about
two hours at close range from below Balmaghie church. Later
it was seen by many others on a number of dates up to 15th
February, ranging over marshland from Hensol to the Gelston
lane, a distance of about seven miles. The possibility of a sec-
ond bird cannot be excluded, as a bird or birds were seen. six
miles apart on successive days (4th and 5th February) and the
bird seen on Ist February was thought by some of the B.T.O.
members to have slight grey on the wings, which was em-
phatically not present when I and others had close views in
late December and early January. General impression was of
a large dark long-tailed predator with wavering, apparently
slow flight which belied the speed at which it quartered the
marshes. The long yellow legs were often held dangling as it
almost stalled and dropped into the marsh, sometimes also
landing on a grassy bank and on the top of small trees and
bushes. The upperparts were dark brown, crown and forehead
to nape pale creamy grey (very conspicuous), slightly flecked
darker. There was no trace of a light leading edge to the wings.
The underparts were rich chocolate brown. It was frequently
attended by a crowd of Jackdaws, Rooks and sometimes Black-
headed and Common Gulls. Both duck and geese feeding in
marsh and field rose and made off as it approached. Once it
appeared to make a half-hearted dive at some Teal which it
surprised.

DONALD WATSON.

On 7th and 12th May 1959 at a locality in West Stirling I
saw a Male Marsh Harrier, a rather streaky bird with grey

1959 SHORT NOTES 123

sleeve in wings. A female spent ten days in late May on a
neighbouring marsh—a very distinctive individual, uniformly
gingery brown (including tail) with no trace of yellow on
shoulders or forewing. Head and chin creamy yellow.

W. KENNETH RICHMOND.

On the afternoon of 26th May 1959 at the south-west boun-
dary of the Sands of Forvie Nature Reserve, Aberdeenshire,
we saw a Marsh Harrier patrolling the Ammophila sandhills.
It appeared larger than the Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus which
we saw only an hour previously, and lacked the white rump.
This bird was coloured a fairly even deep brown all over,
except for several lightish, probably dirty white, markings
about the nape and throat. It flew only about ten feet above
the marrams, with a slow heavy flap and an occasional short
glide. It was mobbed by Carrion Crows and Black-headed
Gulls.

ALISTAIR J. M. SMITH.
R. MAXWELL.

(Plumage details have been included here since at least three
individuals seem to be involved. These are respectively the
first recent record for Kirkcudbright, the only one for West
Stirling and the third recent record for Aberdeen, cf. Scottish
Naturalist 66: 41 and 123.—ED.)

KESTREL’S ASSISTED PASSAGE TO NORWAY

On 3lst May 1958, when I was crossing from Newcastle to
Bergen on the s.s.Leda, at about eight o’clock in the evening
a female Kestrel Falco tinnunculus came up astern, overhaul-
ed the ship and landed on the gunwale of a lifeboat above the
promenade deck. From there it appeared to hop down into
the lifeboat, vanishing from sight. Shortly afterwards it re-
appeared, made a circle or two over the ship and landed on a
ventilator set into the side of the funnel. It clung there for
several minutes, eventually flying to lifeboats on the opposite
side of the ship, and alighting out of sight. Nothing more was
seen of it that evening.

-Coming on deck about eight the next morning, I was aston-
ished to find a female Kestrel following astern with the gulls,
almost certainly the same bird. It remained while we went
for breakfast and was last seen about 9.15 a.m., a quarter of
an hour after land was sighted, when it left the vicinity of the
ship and headed off purposefully for land.

The weather on the evening of 3lst May was sunny with
light to moderate easterly wind, followed by a fine, warm,
rather hazy morning on Ist June.

It may also be of interest to mention that at 9 p.m. on 3lst

124 SHORT NOTES 1(5)

May three Lapwings Vanellus vanellus appeared astern, fol-
lowed the ship for about fifteen minutes, then gradually
dropped out of sight again. Ships speed 22 knots.

L. A. URQUHART.

WOOD SANDPIPERS IN EAST INVERNESS, LANARK
AND EAST LOTHIAN

On 28th May 1959, with Dr James Campbell, I found a
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola on fresh water pools on the
north shore of Loch Inch. The bird was exceedingly tame and
we had no difficulty in identifying it at ten to fifteen yards
range. All the salient points were noted—mottled plumage,
whitish eyestripe and greenish legs. The chiff-iff-iff call was
heard but no display note.

On 30th May 1959 I saw another Wood Sandpiper at Hamil-
ton Low Parks. This bird was much shyer, but I had some
good views and on this occasion the beautiful display notes
were heard for a short time during flight. The bird was seen
the same evening by M. Forrester and on Ist June by M. F. M.
Meiklejohn.

DONALD STALKER.

(K. S. Macgregor also saw a Wood Sandpiper at Aberlady on
25th May, where, however, the species is of more regular
occurrence.)

COMMON SANDPIPER CARRYING YOUNG

On 20th June 1959 at Carron, near Aberlour, Banffshire, I
saw a Common Sandpiper Tringa hypoleucos running in front
of my car on a private road used as access to a fishing hut. It
had one well-grown chick running with it, and two others
dived into the long grass. I was going very slowly when sud-
denly it picked up the chick between its feet and flew off along
the track with it. After about fifty yards the chick (which
looked as big as its parent! ) was dropped and flew happily on.

PHILIP CHRISTISON.

GREAT SKUA NESTING IN OUTER HEBRIDES

On 12th June 1959 I discovered at a locality in the Outer
Hebrides three nests of the Great Skua Catharacta skua and
suspected the presence of a fourth. The nests were wide shal-
low scrapes lined with dead grass and the eggs unmistakeable,
being three inches long and proportionately broad. Great
Skuas have been seen in this locality for some years, but this
is the first time that a nest has been found.

W. A. J. CUNNINGHAM.

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1959 SHORT NOTES 125

LONG-TAILED SKUA IN LEWIS

On 25th May 1959, when I was visiting a colony of Arctic
Skuas Stercorarius parasiticus in Lewis, my attention was
drawn to a skua on account of its much lighter colour on
cheeks, neck and breast, and its clearly defined cap of dark
brown, narrowing to a point on the nape. When it rose from
the ground, having let me approach much closer than is usual
with Arctic Skuas, its very long slender tail was conspicuous:
it appeared almost as long as the body, proportionately much
longer than in the Arctic. It remained in the company of a
dark phase Arctic, ag if paired to it, and it may be significant
that it called frequently with a distinctive shrill kind of bark,
for it is supposed to be silent except on the breeding grounds.
By 6th June, however, when I was next able to visit the place,
the bird had departed.

W.A. J. CUNNINGHAM.

(There is a similar record by Kenneth Williamson of a Long-
tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus appearing among the
breeding Arctic Skuas on Fair Isle in the Scottish Naturalist
69: 195.—Eb.)

COLLARED. DOVES IN AYRSHIRE

In May 1959 the presence of “turtle doves” was reported to
me from a locality in Ayrshire and on 26th May I identified
them as Collared Doves Streptopelia decaocto. There were
three birds present, a pair and a bird which was not so bril-
liant in colour as the mated male, but which nevertheless
cooed and so was probably a young male. One of the gardeners
has reported that birds of the same kind had been present in
the locality since 1957. I have also been given a description of
two birds which were almost certainly Collared Doves and
which spent the winter of 1958-59 in gardens in a neighbour-
ing town.

The pair at the first locality built a nest in a cedar of Leb-
anon, but it came to grief in a storm, when one egg was
discovered on the ground below. Thereafter the pair haunted
a silver fir about a quarter of a mile away, where they pro-
bably had a nest. The birds came to feed on grain and bread
put out in front of the drawing-room window, where it was
possible to obtain excellent views and full descriptions. The
male could readily be distinguished by his brighter, more blue-
grey colouring. The birds were seen On several occasions in
July by M. F. M. Meiklejohn and were photographed and
filmed by C. E. Palmar on 26th July (see Plate on p. 131). Much
gratitude is due to the lady on whose land the doves are for
her help and co-operation with the observers.

This is the second record of the Collared Dove nesting in

126 SHORT NOTES 1(5)

Scotland and the farthest point west that the species has so
far reached.
G. HUGHES-ONSLOwW.

HOOPOES IN INVERNESS AND MID-LOTHIAN

On 11th May 1959 at 8.30 a.m. Mr Hugh F. Mackenzie, driver
of the school bus from Glen Urquhart to Inverness, saw a
Hoopoe Upupa epops near Corrimony, about five miles from
Glen Urquhart House and south-west of Inverness. It was
about ten yards away and flew about five yards above the
ground from one tree to another along what is called Prince
Charlie’s Avenue. Mr Mackenzie has given an unmistakable
description of the bird and both he and Edward Girvan, a
schoolboy who was a passenger on the bus, have independently
identified it from pictures.

G. H. WILKINSON.

On 13th May 1959 a Hoopoe Upupa epops spent the entire
day in my garden at Stow, Mid-lothian. It was in very beauti-
ful plumage and condition, but seemed very hungry as it never
ceased to prod out worms, grubs, beetles etc. from the grass,
eating them in that characteristic way of throwing back the
head to get them back on its tongue and so swallow them.
It had surprisingly short legs on which it walked in a very
purposeful manner while feeding. When a crow (we have
quite a lotof Carrion Crows here) passed over the Hoopoe,
up shot the crest fan-like to a height of about two inches, al-
most rose-pink coloured and tipped with big black spots. The
bird was here so long, and so near—about four yards away
from me—that while looking at it I could compare it with
illustrations in the books which I looked up.

HuGH N. MACLACHLAN.

(Dr Maclachlan has attached a full and detailed description
to his record.—ED.)

BIGAMY AND MULTIPLE NEST-BUILDING OF
SONG THRUSH

The unusual occurrence of a Song Thrush Turdus ericetorum
with two wives and seventeen nests or nest-foundations was
noted in April 1958 on a building site near Fairmilehead, Edin-
burgh. Unfortunately it was some time after the finding of the
first nests that the others were discovered. They were built
in five adjacent houses of a seven house block, and were built
on top of a wall which supported the upstairs joists in each
house, the joists being spaced out to leave six eighteen-inch
spaces (A to F) on each wall.

House 1. Foundation in A (17th April)

1959 SHORT NOTES 127

House 2. Foundations in A and E, cup but no foundation in
D (17th April).

House 3. Foundations in A, C, E and F, partially mud-lined
nest in D (17th April).

House 4. Poorly constructed nest in A, with cup only about
one and a half inches high and no mud lining, containing one
egg on 3lst March and two the next day. As an experiment
the eggs were removed to an unlined nest in D on Ist April
and the original nest destroyed. Nothing happened until the 7th
when the eggs were covered with a lining of dry grass. C con-
tained a foundation and E an unlined nest.

House 5. Complete nest with four eggs in A on 17th April.
One hatched next day, but the others were infertile, probably
chilled by the cold weather, there having been snow on the
4th. Another complete nest in D held three eggs which hatched
on 26th or 27th April. There was a complete nest in C and
a foundation in E.

The presumed cock was later watched standing over one
sitting bird before going to the other nest to feed the second
hen. Though there was a distance of eighty feet between the
outermost nests, there was only four feet six inches between
the two eventually occupied. Both birds sat very tight and
there was no apparent animosity between them, although the
poor construction of nest 4 A, when both birds would be lay-
ing, suggests that there may have been friction at an earlier
period. Two Song Thrushes were seen fighting violently one
day in early March.

The difference in temperament of the two hens was most
marked. When the nestlings were ringed hen 5 A jumped off
the nest while I removed the chick, but sat down again im-
mediately to brood the infertile eggs until the chick was
replaced. Hen 5 D, on the other hand, seemed to go berserk
on my touching the chicks, and she cursed loudly and dive-
bombed continuously until I left the house: she did the same
on every subsequent visit. One wonders how much of this
behaviour was inherent and how much due to the peculiar
circumstances. R. W. J. SMITH.

UNUSUAL FLAVA WAGTAIL IN FIFE

On 30th April 1959, at Cultness, near Rosyth, I found a male
wagtail which corresponded to descriptions of the Ashy-
headed Wagtail Motacilla flava cinereocapilla. It was in beau-
tiful plumage, with bright yellow underparts and greenish
yellow mantle as in the Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava flav-
issima. The cap was dull blue-grey, with no eyestripe. Most
important of all, the throat was pure white and very notice-
able, a feature which should distinguish it from the Grey-
headed Wagtail M. f. thunbergi, a race with which I am fam-

128 SHORT NOTES 1(5)

iliar (see Scottish Naturalist 67: 120). I could detect no differ-
ence between the call of this bird and that of the Yellow
Wagtail. An Ashy-headed Wagtail in Essex on 7th and 8th
April is briefly recorded in British Birds 52: 174.

JOHN Hoy.
CURRENT NOTES

SPRING MIGRATION

A male Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus was seen near North
Berwick on 10th June (J. C. Thomson Shepherd).

Another Garganey Anas querquedula record is of a male
swimming on the sea together with seven Mallard Anas platy-
rhynchos at the mouth of the Esk at Musselburgh on 8th May
(P. D. Calder), and a pair of Gadwall Anas strepera on 3rd
May were seen on Dunsappie Loch, Edinburgh (I. A. Millar,
Peter Holt). A single Gadwall was on Gladhouse Reservoir on
3lst May (R. W. J. Smith).

Previously unrecorded Smews Mergus albellus are a female
at Hule Moss, Berwickshire, on 23rd February (J. E. King,
C. K. and Margaret Mylne); a male on Cameron Reservoir,
Fife, on 8th March (R. S. Weir); and a male on Hoselaw Loch,
Roxburgh, on 22nd March (K. S. Macgregor).

Single Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa were observed
at Aberlady Bay on 12th April (K. S. Macgregor) and at Glad-
house on 25th April (R. W. J. Smith). A Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropus was consorting with a Redshank T. totanus
and Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponicus at Aberlady on 6th
May (Arthur Ablett). A Knot Calidris canutus in winter
plumage was seen at Gladhouse on 16th May (R. W. J. Smith)
and a similar grey bird at the mouth of the River Endrick
(in Dunbartonshire) on 20th May (M. F. M. Meiklejohn). A
species not commonly recorded in spring in Scotland is the
Little Stint Calidris minuta one of which occurred at Aber-
lady Bay on 25th May (K. S. Macgregor). A Sanderling Cro-
cethia alba, just comjng into summer plumage, was at Glad-
house on 25th May (R. W. J. Smith).

Ruffs Philomachus pugnax wintered in East Lothian. A
single bird was seen at Aberlady during October 1958 and
during the following months as many as three were seen
fairly regularly by a number of observers. Early in April 1959
the number of birds had increased to six and these were found
both in the Bay and in growing crops about a mile inland,
one bird being seen also on a ploughed field. By 19th April
there were three Ruffs and four Reeves, but numbers were
down to four on the 26th and these had gone by the end of
the month. At the beginning of April all the birds were in
a very grey winter plumage but by the time they left one bird

1959 CURRENT NOTES 129

especially (a Ruff) had completed about two thirds of its moult
into the breeding plumage and all the others showed various
degrees of change (J. Baird, K. S. Macgregor).

A summering Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides was seen in
the bay at Portree, Skye, on 16th June (L. A. Urquhart) and
large numbers of Little Gulls Larus minutus were seen in the
Tay area on 26th April (V. M. T., The Scotsman, 2nd May 1959).

After strong south-westerly gales two Swifts Apus apus
occurred near Stornoway on 6th June; they were hawking
over a small loch in company with four House Martins Deli-
chon urbica (W. A. J. Cunningham, M. F. M. Meiklejohn).
Both these species are unusual in Lewis, but the same evening
five House Martins were seen over the woods of Stornoway
Castle, and on 7th June more than ten House Martins, together
with two Swallows Hirundo rustica were feeding under trees
behind a farmhouse on the outskirts of Stornoway (M. F. M.
Meiklejohn). Six to eight Swifts were also seen in spring at
Barrahead Lighthouse (Alec Ross).

An immature male or female Black Redstart Phoenicurus
ochruros turned up at Fife Ness on 26th March (R. S. Weir)
and a female was seen in same locality on 17th May (John Hoy).

A Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia (rarish in the
east) is recorded from Kincardine, Fife, on 21st April (J. Pot-
ter) and another at Cultness, Rosyth, on 23rd and 30th April
(John Hoy).

A female Blue-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava flava is re-
ported from Gladhouse on 9th May, “having the long and very
prominent white eyestripe of the race’ (R. W. J. Smith), and
a male was seen on the south shore of the Forth just west of
Grangemouth (in Stirlingshire) on 22nd June; with it was a
male Yellow Wagtail M. f. flavissima. Detailed descriptions
have been given of both these birds. They were seen together
again on 4th July, but on neither occasion were females
present (P. G. R. Barbier, John Hoy).

BREEDING AND DISTRIBUTION

On 4th June three Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis were seen
circling high over the south shore of the Forth west of Grange-
mouth (Stirlingshire) (P. G. R. Barbier).

The colony of Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo, on the
Lamb, the only one in Forth, continues to grow: there were
five nests in 1957 (Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 7: 78), eight in 1958
and 44 this year (R. W. J. Smith).

The Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca, described as “rare in the
west of Scotland” (Baxter and Rintoul, Birds of Scotland 440),
seems to be of fairly regular occurrence in winter at the mouth
of West Loch Tarbet: on 28th March 1959 eight were seen
there (R. J. Olliver), and previous records are a male on 17th

130 CURRENT NOTES 1(5)

November and three males on 19th November 1956, and one
male on 18th November 1957, a day when even the ship’s stew-
ards, but not the observer, were sea-sick (M. F. M. Meikle-
john).

The occurrence of Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos in
Peebles-shire has been reported in The Scotsman, a young
female having been caught in a crow-trap on 8th May at In-
nerleithen and a young male four days later. It seems that
these birds were later released.

It is satisfactory to place on record that in 1959 Hen Har-
riers Circus cyaneus nested in two Scottish counties where
they have not nested during the present century. In the first
case no male was ever observed and the eggs were subsequent-
ly taken by crows, but in the second the young succeeded in
flying.

The most sensational ornithological event in Scotland dur-
ing 1959 was the nesting of a pair of Ospreys Pandion hali-
aetus in Inverness-shire, a third bird being present. At the
date of writing (3rd August) progress is reported to be satis-
factory, and George Waterston and his volunteer helpers
deserve all the congratulation we can give them.

The Quail Coturnix coturnix has perhaps been more num-
erous than usual in Scotland in 1959. One was found dead at
Biel, East Lothian, on 7th May and examined in the (putre-
fact) flesh by A. T. Macmillan; this bird was reported by The
Scotsman and The Edinburgh Evening News. On 11th June
one was heard near Dornoch: “it was in a field of grass pas-
tures where dairy cows were grazing. I made an effort to stalk
the bird but was quite unsuccessful, the note always appear-
ing to come from a spot thirty or forty yards ahead. The field
had numerous patches of thick, lush grass which suited the
bird’s skulking habits.” (D. Macdonald). Quails were heard and
seen on 14th June near Abbey St Bathans, Berwickshire. On
the 16th the observer again heard and saw the old birds when
the hay was being topped and also saw one of the chicks.
There were several more chicks nearby making a noise, but
he did not wish to stand on them and so withdrew. The birds
were seen and heard also on the 18th when they were thought
to have moved their family into a cornfield (Andrew Dickson
per W. M. Logan Home). In addition one is reported calling at
Fearn, Easter Ross, in late June or early July (Ross-shire Jour-
nal, 10th July 1959 per G. H. Wilkinson).

On 18th July a Corncrake Crex crex was heard on the golf-
course in Pollok Park, Glasgow. Although this area is complete-
ly surrounded by houses the birds have been there since 1952 in
each year except possibly 1958 when the observer had no
chance of recording them. In both 1952 and 1953 a pair was
seen (Ian Hay).

A pair of Ringed Plovers Charadrius hiaticula bred at

1959 131

Collared Dove, Ayrshire, July 1959. (C, E. Palmar)

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

——_

MEETINGS FOR JUNIOR MEMBERS: Informal Meetings for dis-
cussions, exhibition of slides and films, etc., will be held in the Club-room
on the first Wednesday of each month from October to April at 7.30 p.m.

SLIDE PROJECTOR: By arrangement with the Secretary, the Aldis
2” x 2” slide projector may be used by members for the informal showing
of slides in the Club-room, at a charge of 2/6 per night to cover the cost
of replacement of bulbs.

132 CURRENT NOTES 1(5)

Gladhouse Reservoir, the first record for the locality, a clutch
of four eggs being found on 18th June. There are very few
breeding records for Mid-lothian (R. W. J. Smith).

Summer records of the Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus,
outside its known breeding area, refer to single birds seen on
the Forth between North Queensferry and Inverkeithing, Fife,
on 15th June (P. G. R. Barbier, John Hoy) and one, a dark
bird, at Ayr on 6th July (M. F. M. Meiklejohn).

Sixteen pairs of Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla nested on the
Lamb in 1959, a new colony (R. W. J. Smith).

Turtle Doves Streptopelia turtur again frequented Long-
niddry, East Lothian; one was seen on 28th June (K. S. Mac-
gregor) and two birds were reliably reported to be present.

The Little Owl Athene noctua nested in the same hole in a
tree in Berwickshire as in 1958 (W. Murray). Cf. Scottish Birds
VS 5 7/ inl Sis},

Records of the Green Woodpecker Picus viridis continue to
accumulate from further north and further west in Scotland.
One was both seen and heard on the wooded shore of West
Loch Tarbert, Argyll, on 28th March (A. Allen, R. J. Olliver).
“From about 8 to 9 a.m. on 9th May 1959 a Green Woodpecker
yaffled repeatedly at Blanefield, West Stirling, then gradually
moved out of earshot down the valley. I was able to play the
Koch records of the Green Woodpecker in between live
yaffles, and the sounds were identical. The bird was once
briefly seen moving from tree to tree. The only Stirlingshire
locality given in The Birds of Scotland, Tor Wood, is in East
Stirling (K. H. Barr). The record of the Green Woodpecker
from Avon Glen, near Larkhall, (Scottish Birds 1: 73) is con-
firmed by George L. A. Patrick, who heard one there on 11th
May 1957, a Swedish ornithologist knowing the bird’s call
also being present, and on 2nd August 1959 excellent views
of a pair were had at Thinacres Farm, Quarter, in the same
neighbourhood (A. Potter, J. C. Taylor).

A Chough Coracia pyrrhocorax was seen near Auchencairn,
Kirkcudbrightshire, in the first fortnight of July 1958; “it was
flying with a flock of Jackdaws below the cliffs and was con-
spicuous because of its bright red bill and unusual flight”
(Henry L. Martin, Glasgow Herald, 13th February 1959).

The Rev. R. I. Mitchell in an article in The Scotsman (11th
July 1959) records the nesting of a pair of White Wagtails
Motacilla alba alba in 1959 in his garden at Kilconquhar, Fife.
He only gives a detailed description of the cock bird, but it is
clear from this that the male bird at least was of the typical
race of this species.

A nest of the Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes was
discovered in an apple-tree at Luffness, near Aberlady, on 26th
April. It contained five eggs and later when the observer re-

1959 CURRENT NOTES 133

turned from holiday it was empty, but, in view of the short
fledgling period of this species, he cannot say whether it was
successful (W. Birrell).

Records of the Crossbill Loxia curvirostra in the south of
Scotland during the spring of 1959 seem to have been more
numerous than usual. On Ist March eight were seen on the
south side of the Big Wood of Menteith, Perthshire (M. F. M.
Meiklejohn, L. A. Urquhart); these were certainly contin-
ental birds, judging from their call-note, which is readily
distinguishable from that of the Scottish race, being much
more loud, definite and explosive—a conclusion reached in the
summer of 1958 when listening to immigrant Crossbills in the
south of England very shortly after hearing the native birds
on Deeside (M. F. M. Meiklejohn). On 8th March six were
seen near Gladhouse where there was some evidence of nest
building and a pair were still present on 5th April when five
adults were at Edgelaw, Midlothian, feeding with Siskins and
Redpolls (R. W. J. Smith). On 22nd March four were observed
in Bowmont Forest, Roxburgh, and 4th April two in Baro
Wood, East Lothian (K. S. Macgregor). In Dunfallandy Wood,
Strathtay, Perthshire, seventy were seen on 19th April, every
second bird being a red male and no young being present
(P. G. R. Barbier, John Hoy). Dr James Campbell states that
two or three pairs nest regularly in this wood, but considers
the others to have been migrants.

AUTUMN MIGRATION

Already at the date of writing (3rd August) reports of the
southward passage are beginning to come in. On 19th July at
Gladhouse there were a Greenshank, 85 Dunlin and a San-
derling, as well as a big passage of Oystercatchers (R. W. J.
Smith); while on the 21st, at the mouth of the River Ythan,
Aberdeenshire, Dunlin had much increased, there were two
dark phase Arctic Skuas among the terns and at least eleven
Red-throated Divers Gavia stellata on the sea (A. J. M.
Smith). On Ist August there were two Greenshanks at Tyn-
ninghame and Whimbrel were heard there (A. T. Macmillan)
and on 2nd August four Greenshanks were seen on the Eden
estuary and at least three Velvet Scoters, which may have
been, however, summering birds, in St Andrews Bay (M. F.
M. Meiklejohn, C. E. Palmar).

The most interesting evidences of autumn passage are,
however, the following. On 20th July there were eleven adult
and two Ist summer Little Gulls on the shore between Leven
and Lundin Links, which had not been there on the 17th (R. S.
Weir) and fourteen adults and one Ist summer in the same
locality on the 21st (A. T. Macmillan, M. I. Waterston). All
but one of the adults, which had a white forehead, were in

134 CURRENT NOTES 1(5)

full summer plumage, their heads being noticeably black
compared to those of Black-headed Gulls. They were very
approachable. The highest count so far was 31, all adults, on
24th July and the first juvenile was not seen until lst August
when about one third of the adults were in winter plumage
(R.S. Weir).

About seventy Crossbills were seen over Earlston, near
Dalry, Kirkcudbrightshire, on 21st July (F. Dalziel) and
three immature birds on 25th July alighted on the tree in
Ayrshire in which the Collared Doves had nested (C. E. Pal-
mar). These records are evidence of a new invasion.

BEHAVIOUR AND HABITS

A curious incident of Scottish ornithology is reported by
Dr Jolly of the Bristol General Hospital in The Falconer (III,
No. 3, 1956). The eyrie of a Peregrine Falco peregrinus was
discovered in Scotland containing two falcons a few days old
and, with them, a young Common Gull Larus canus of about
the same age. At the end of three weeks, the Peregrines were
taken for falconry purposes and the gull, which had survived,
was removed with them. At this stage the gull was much
more active than its companions, but would sleep between
them and take bits of meat from them. It was the first to fly
and, a day or two after doing so, it disappeared. (Information
by courtesy of Mr Stephen Frank, who has also sent a photo-
graph of the three birds together).

On 5th July 1959 at Cally Loch, Gatehouse of Fleet, several
Moorhens Gallinula chloropus were seen clmbing up the
stalks of Reedmace Typha latifolia. Usually they quickly sank
out of sight behind the vegetation as the plants collapsed un-
der their weight, but in two cases the plants remained upright
and the Moorhens fed greedily on the female flowers of the
Reedmace (M. F. M. Meiklejohn, Donald Watson).

On 12th July 1959 two young albino Swallows Hirundo rus-
tica were seen near Calderside Farm, East Kilbride. The
farmer told the observer that both had come from the same
nest, which also contained three normal young ones (David
Lawson).

A curious nest of the Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
is reported in 1959 from Colinton, Edinburgh. It was fifteen
feet up in a cranny in an old garden wall, where it had a
flourishing brood of young (I. V. Balfour-Paul).

On 17th January 1959 a Dunnock Prunella modularis was
seen in the cage of the.Black Vulture at the Edinburgh Zoo
feeding upon red raw meat (Peter Holt).

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Members are reminded that subscriptions for the new Session are now
due, and should be paid to the Secretary and Treasurer, 21 Regent Ter-
race, Edinburgh 7. Members, 25s; Junior Members, 7s 6d; Non-Members
(Scottish Birds only) 20s.

1959 OFFICIAL SECTION 135

TWELFTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling, 23rd/25th October, 1959

PROGRAMME

Friday, 23rd October :

6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. Conference Office in the Golden Lion Hotel opens
for Members and Guests to register (7s 6d each).
Collect Name Cards and Annual Dinner tickets
(12s 6d each).

6.15 p.m. Meeting of Council.

6.30 p.m. to midnight Lounge and Oakroom reserved for informal] dis-
cussions and refreshments, and showing of slides

and films.
Saturday, 24th October :
8.45 a.m. Conference Office opens for Registrations.
9.20 a.m. Official Opening of the Conference in the Ballroom

of the Golden Lion Hotel.
ADDRESS) OF WELCOME by William Macfar-
lane Gray, Esq., J.P. (Provost of Stirling).

9.30 a.m. LECTURE on ‘New Field Studies of the Behaviour
of Gulls”, illustrated with slides and film, by Pro-
fessor Niko Tinbergen (Department of Zoology,
University Museum, Oxford).

10.45 a.m. INTERVAL for coffee and biscuits.

11.15 a.m. LECTURE on “Faiconry” by Dr James Robertson
Justice,

12.30 p.m. CONFERENCE GROUP PHOTOGRAPH in the
Ballroom.

1 to 2 p.m. INTERVAL for informal lunches. (Hotels must
be informed).

2 to 5.45 p.m. EXCURSIONS by private cars leaving Car Park,

Corn Exchange Road,

Excursions are being arranged to various places of
interest; details of these will be posted on the
Conference notice board.

6.15 p.m. 23rd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE
CLUB in the Lounge.

BUSINESS. :—

(1) Apologies for absence.

(2) Approval of Minutes of 22nd Annual General
Meeting held in Perth on 25th October, 1958.

(3) Report of Council for Session XXII.

(4) Approval of Accounts for Session XXII.

(5) Appointment of Auditor. | ;

(6) Election of Hon President. (The Council
recommend the election of Dr David A. Ban-
nerman, M.B.E., Sc.D., F.R.S.E., as an Hon.
President of the Club in recognition of his
services to Ornithology).

(7) Election of two new Members of Council. (The
Council recommend the election of Mr Donald
Watson and Mr George Waterston, to replace

136 OFFICIAL SECTION 1(5)

Dr David Bannerman and Dr W. J. Eggeling,
who retire by rotation.

7.30 for 8 p.m. ANNUAL DINNER in the Ballroom. Dress in-
formal. (Price 12s 6d each, inclusive of tip. Drinks
extra).

Sunday, 25th October:
9.30 a.m. EXHIBITION OF FILMS in the Ballroom, “The

Reed Warbler” and “The Return of the Osprey”
(by courtesy of the R.S.P.B.)

10.45 a.m. INTERVAL for coffee and biscuits.

11.15 to 12.30 p.m. By kind permission of the Trustees, the SMITH
ARTS INSTITUTE, Albert Place, will be open to
Members of the Club.

1 to 2 p.m. INTERVAL for informal lunches.

2 p.m. : EXCURSIONS (as for Saturday) by private cars
leaving Car Park outside Golden Lion Hotel.

INFORMATION

In order to simplify arrangements, it is essential that Members intend-
ing to be present should complete the enclosed printed postcard and send
it to the Club Secretary not later than 19th October.

Members may invite Guests; and are particularly asked to provide
private cars where possible for Excursions. Petrol expenses should be
shared.

Everyone attending the Conference must register (7s 6d each) on ar-
rival, at the Conference Office. (Open Friday 23rd, 6 to 7 p.m.; and on
Saturday, 24th, 8.45 to 9.30 a.m.) Members wishing to attend the Annual
General Meeting ONLY do not require to pay the Registration fee
which covers incidental expenses—hire of rooms, projection equipment,
mid-morning coffee, etc.

Payments for tickets for the Annual Dinner (price 12s 6d inclusive of
tips) should be made when registering on arrival NO PAYMENTS
SHOULD BE MADE IN ADVANCE.

All Hotel bookings should be made direct with the Hotel at which you
wish to stay. Owing to the general shortage of single rooms, younger
members are urged to make arrangements to share a room with a
friend. Private arrangements must be made with your Hotel for lunches
each day. The Secretary is NOT responsible for Hotel bookings.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION IN STIRLING

GOLDEN LION HOTEL, 10 King Street (Tel. 1950) Conference H.Q.
Bed and Breakfast from 27s 6d.

STATION HOTEL, 56 Murray Place (Tel. 1057)
Bed and Breakfast from 27s 6d.

WAVERLEY HOTEL, King Street (Tel. 1950)
Bed and Breakfast from 27s 6d.

GARFIELD HOTEL, Victoria Square (Tel. 430)

Bed and Breakfast from 19s 6d.
DOUGLAS HOTEL, 4 Arcade (Tel. 286)

Bed and Breakfast from 19s 6d.

ALLAN PARK HOTEL, 20 Allan Park (Tel. 298)
Bed and Breakfast from 18s 6d.

SCOTTISH
BIRDS.

The Journal of
The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

Vol. I. No. 6 Winter 1959

Nie printediwk 977%

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

"PSHE Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was founded in 1936 and membership

is open to all interested in Scottish ornithology. Meetings are held
during the winter months in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and
St Andrews, at which lectures by prominent ornithologists are given and
films exhibited. Excursions are organised in the summer to places of
ornithological interest.

The aims and objects of the Club are to (a) encourage and direct the
study of Scottish Ornithology in all its branches; (b) co-ordinate the
efforts of Scottish ornithologists and encourage co-operation between field
and indoor worker; (c) encourage ornithological research in Scotland in
co-operation with other organisations; (d) hold meetings at centres to be
arranged at which Lectures are given, films exhibited and discussions held;
and (e) publish or arrange for the publication of statistics and information
with regard to Scottish ornithology.

There are no entry fees for Membership. The Annual subscription is
25/-; or 7/6 in the case of Members under twenty-one years of age or in
the case of University undergraduates who satisfy the Council of their
status as such at the time at which their subscriptions fall due in any year.
“Scottish Birds” is issued free to members.

The affairs of the Club are controlled by a Council composed of the Hon.
Presidents, the President, the Vice-President, the Hon. Treasurer, one
Representative of each Branch Committee appointed annually by the
Branch, and ten other Members of the Club elected at an Annual General
Meeting. Two of the last named retire annually by rotation and shall not
be eligible for re-election for one year.

A Scottish Bird Records’ Committee, appointed by the Council, produce
an annual Report on “Ornithological Changes in Scotland.”

Full details are given in the Syllabus of Lectures Card of the names of
the present Office-bearers of the Club.

An official tie with small white Crested Tits embroidered on it can be
obtained in dark green or in navy blue by Members only from Messrs R.
W. Forsyth Ltd., Princes Street, Edinburgh, or 5 Renfield Street, Glasgow,
C.2, at a cost of 13s 9d post free. A small brooch in silver and blue can be
obtained for the use of Members of the Club. Price 2s 6d each from the
Secretary, or from Hon. Branch Secretaries.

Forms of application for Membership, copy of the Club Constitution,
and other literature is obtainable from the Club Secretary, Mrs George
Waterston, Scottish Centre for Ornithology and Bird Protection, 21
Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7. (Tel. Waverley 6042).

CLUB-ROOM AND LIBRARY

The Club-room and Library at 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7, will
be available to members during office hours, and on Wednesday evenings
from 7 to 10 p.m. (except the Wednesdays of Branch Meetings). Mem-
bers may use the Reference Library and borrow books from the Dupli-
cate Section. Facilities for making tea or coffee are available at a nominal
charge and members may bring guests by arrangement. The Aldis 2” x
2” slide projector and screen may be used for the informal showing of
slides at a charge of 2s 6d per night to cover the replacement of bulbs.

Informal meetings for Junior members will be held in the Club-room
on the first Friday of each month from October to April at 7.30 p.m.

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

All notes dealing with birds in the eastern Lowlands, from Berwick-on-
Tweed to Dundee, should be submitted to A. T. Macmillan, 66 Spylaw
Bank Road, Edinburgh, 13; all other contributions to M. F. M. Meikle-
john, 20 Falkland Street, Glasgow, W.2. It would be helpful if notes were
typewritten, if possible, and double spaced.

SCOTTISH BIRDS ©

THE JOURNAL OF THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB ee

Vol. I. No. 6 Reprinted 1977 Winter 1959

Edited by M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN, with the assistance of D. G. ANDREW and
A. T. MACMILLAN. Business Editor, ArTHUR J. SMITH. Cover design
(red-breasted Merganser) by LEN FULLERTON. Published quarterly

Editorial

ALL members of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club will have

been very sorry to read, at the beginning of October, of the
death of Dr E. V. Baxter. Everyone at this year’s annual Con-
ference must have felt our loss when they realised that, for
the first time, she was absent. It is not given to many to
remain so active, mentally and physically, up to the end of a
long life (even in her last year she saw a bird she had not
seen before in Scotland, the Black Tern), nor to be admired
and liked by a whole generation younger than herself. We
hope to publish an account of her life and achievements in
our next issue, and in this number we are including both her
photograph and that of her friend and colleague, the late Miss
L. J. Rintoul.

Dr Baxter lived to know of the future installation of the
Scottish Ornithological Centre at 21 Regent Terrace, Edin-
burgh, and it must not be forgotten how much her inspiration,
as the leader of Scottish ornithology, was behind this venture.
The premises were opened, on 26th October, with a delight-

fully informal ceremony, by the Earl of Wemyss and March.
| The arrangement, with the living quarters for Mr and Mrs

Waterston, offices for the Royal Society for the Protection of

Birds, and library and meeting premises for the members of
| the Club, seems ideal. With such headquarters Scottish or-
nithology may look forward to a bright future, and again we
must thank the anonymous donor who made the purchase of
the house possible. Since he is anonymous, we cannot thank
him face to face, but we can assure him that that is what we
| would like to do.

138 MIGRANTS ON NORTH SEA CROSSINGS ilo)

MIGRANTS ON NORTH SEA
CROSSINGS 1951 - 1953

C. K. MYLNE

In the autumn of 1951, 1952 and 1953 records of migrants,
mostly hawks and passerines, were collected on eight cross-
ings of the North Sea from Newcastle to Norway. Most of
these journeys were made by members of the Cambridge Bird
Club on their way to and from Lista, where a five year study
of migration was being undertaken. It had been hoped to
collect further records in subsequent years before publishing
any results, but, as none of any significance occurred after
1953, it seems worth while publishing these, partly in the
hope that they might induce other observers with similar
records to put them into print.

I am grateful to Mrs M. I. Waterston for notes on the first
1951 crossing, to M. K. Swales for those on the last crossing
in 1952 and to M. R. K. Plaxton for 1953. The distances given
are only approximate and have been worked out from the
times of the various observations presuming a constant speed
of the ship over the 400 mile journey. All times given are
G.M.T.

1. Newcastle to Stavanger, 19th August 1951 (M.I.W.)

Left on the evening of the 18th. At 1000 hours on 19th a
Pied Flycatcher Muscicapa hypoleuca came on board, about
200 miles from land. Another, possibly the same bird, was
still about the ship at 1600 hours. The weather was stormy
and wet and it seems unlikely that in these conditions a small
passerine would readily leave the ship. If this was the same
bird it was carried about 100 miles to the north-east. Two
single Dunlin Calidris alpina were encountered during the
morning about 150 miles from Norway, and about 100 miles
from shore, two or three small passerines probably of the
genus Saxicola.

2. Newcastle to Bergen, 5th September 1951 (C.K.M.)

Left on the evening of the 5th. At 2030 hours, about eighty
miles out, a Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis flew into a lighted
saloon, where it was caught and ringed. It weighed 16.0 gms.
The bird was very lively and full of energy and so was re-
leased. After sitting on the deck for about five minutes, it
perched on the rail and then flew strongly alongside for a
while before it dropped astern into the darkness.

3. Stavanger to Newcastle, 3rd October 1951 (C.K.M. et al.)

Left just before midnight on the 2nd in calm cool weather.
The 3rd was bright with patches of sunshine and some cloud.

1959 MIGRANTS ON NORTH SEA CROSSINGS 139

This crossing was made at the height of one of the most
spectacular autumn passerine movements in recent years, a
full account of which has been written by Jenkins (1953) who
was one of the party on board. Anticyclonic weather and
bird movements had both been building up over Scandinavia
in the last days of September, and on Ist and 2nd October
large numbers of night migrants, especially Robins Erithacus
rubecula, were reported both in south Norway and at all the
British east coast observatories.

From the time our observations started at 0630 hours there
were always some small passerine birds to be seen, mostly
keeping up with the ship and landing on it from time to time.
Several birds flew on ahead of the ship, which was probably
moving at about fifteen knots, and then turned back in a
wide circle to come in astern again. For this reason it was
hard to tell how long individuals stayed with us, but the
impression was that they were using the ship to help them on
their way. The species involved were:

Song Thrush Turdus ericetorum. One at 0630 hours, not
seen again.

Redwing T. musicus. One early, joined by two others at
noon. One was still with the ship at 1715 hours, 100 miles
further on.

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros. A redstart was with
the ship most of the day, but unidentified until cornered in
the lst Class lavatory at 1630 hours.

Phylloscopus. One, probably collybita, at 1430 hours.

Garden Warbler Sylvia borin. One bird (or more) seen all
morning until noon.

Goldcrest Regulus regulus. One from 1000 to 1530 hours.

Pied Flycatcher Muscicapa hypoleuca. One seen on board,
1500 hours.

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs. One, seen first at 1100 hours,
was captured at 1740 hours in an exhausted state.

Brambling Fringilla montifringilla. Two from early mor-
ning until noon, after which they were not seen again.

Both the Black Redstart and the Chaffinch after capture
were kept overnight and released in Newcastle on the mor-
ning of 4th October. Both flew off fairly strongly over the
docks from the ship, but it is interesting that both were
recovered dead shortly afterwards—the Black Redstart (Ring
No. NF 0149) at North Shields on 5th October 1951, and the
Chaffinch (Ring No. NF 0147) at Dunson, Gateshead, on 5th
February, 1952.

4. Newcastle to Kristiansand, 24th August 1952 (C.K.M.,

M.R.K.P.)

One Redshank Tringa totanus was seen at midday about
fifty miles off the Norwegian coast, flying round the ship in
company with Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis.

140 MIGRANTS ON NORTH SEA CROSSINGS 1(6)

5. Kristiansand to Newcastle, 11th September 1952 (C.K.M.,
M.R.K.P.)

Left at 0130 hours after a spell of fine weather on the
Norwegian south coasts during which many day and night
migrants had been recorded passing. On the sea, which was
quite rough, there was a fresh east or north-east breeze fol-
lowing the ship. The only passerine species seen were one
White Wagtail Motacilla alba, that remained with the ship
all afternoon until dusk, and a Meadow Pipit flying about
the upper deck and settling frequently. Both birds would
often fly out astern, but always returned. In complete con-
trast to this behaviour was that of a remarkable number of
hawks seen during the day which paid little or no attention
to the ship, but seemed to be heading south-west. The first
sighted was a Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus at 0945, then a
Merlin Falco columbarius at 1130 hours. Later, however, in
half an hour between 1430 and 1500 hours, when we were
over 200 miles from Norway and over 150 from England, we
watched three Buzzards Buteo buteo, two Sparrowhawks and
eight Kestrels Falco tinnunculus fly past. The Buzzards were
soaring in circles, presumably using thermals, but it was noted
that in the half hour during which they were in sight they
had moved a considerable distance towards the south-west,
being finally lost to sight astern. The smaller hawks, flying
at between fifty and a hundred feet above the sea, appeared
to catch us up from astern, fly alongside for a short while
and then head out over the sea at an angle to our west-south-
west course which must have taken them south-south-west.
Some were watched following this line of flight until they
could no longer be seen through x8 binoculars. The im-
pression we got from these hawks was that we were
passing through a broad front movement of birds, all flying
singly except two “pairs” of Kestrels, i.e. two birds flying at
least within sight of each other, and moving faster than we
were, carrying on, with very slight regard for the ship, in
their preferred direction.

6. Stavanger to Newcastle, 5th October 1952 (M.K.S.)

Left Stavanger just before midnight on the 4th. A Hooded
Crow Corvus cornix was seen about 140 miles out and flew
off to the north. Between 1030 and 1230 a number of passer-
ines were watched, mostly flying parallel to the ship: two
Song Thrushes, five Robins, two Meadow Pipits and one Rock
Pipit Anthus spinoletta. One Song Thrush which lagged be-
hind the ship almost certainly fell into the sea about 200
yards astern. On this trip Common Scoters Melanitta nigra,
seven at 1000 and two at 1600 hours, were also seen, flying
south-west.

7. Newcastle to Stavanger, 2nd October 1953 (M.R.K.P.)

i$59 MIGRANT ON NORTH SEA CROSSINGS 141

The only bird seen was a single Snow Bunting Plectrophe-
nax nivalis, seventy-five miles off the Norwegian coast.

8. Stavanger to Newcastle, 18th October, 1953 (M.R.K.P.)

Forty miles out from Stavanger two Meadow Pipits were
seen going south-west.

Discussion.

Although sporadic observations of this type are too few to
be of much significance in themselves, they give useful evi-
dence of what happens to migrants on their way from the
mainland of Europe to Britain. As a good many naturalists
presumably cross to Scandinavia nowadays, it should be pos-
sible to collect some useful information to supplement and
support the observations collected by the British east coast
observatories, and also the new work being done on North
Sea migration by radar detection. (Lack 1959). Records of
land birds actually moving over the sea sometimes have a
special value, as coastal observations are affected, especially
in the recording of direction, by the local configuration of the
land. Owen (1953) on the Kentish Knock Lightship, twenty-
two miles out from the Essex coast, noted that a stationary
vessel does not deflect migrants unless they are exhausted. Our
records confirm this with the larger species, but most of the
small passerines seemed to be influenced by the presence of
a moving ship at sea with something of the same effect as
that of geographical features over land, the course of the
ship becoming a form of diversion-line (as defined by Lack
and Williamson, 1959). This may happen for long distances
often over 100 miles on a journey which, as a direct crossing,
would not be more than 400 miles at the most. This happened
even with following winds, so that the speed of the ship was
probably at the most half of the ground speed of which the
birds were capable if they had gone on ahead. However, as
is shown below, most of the small birds thus affected were
probably disoriented and tired anyway.

Larger species to which the sea crossing is presumably not
such a hazard may not be affected in this way. The hawks
seen on 1lth September 1952 confirm the normal south-west
migration postulated for all four species by Rudebeck (1950)
who observed them leaving south Sweden at Falsterbo. It is
interesting too that the only hawks recorded by Owen at the
Kentish Knock were a Sparrowhawk heading west-south-
west and a Kestrel heading south-west. The behaviour of the
Buzzards seen is of special interest: Rudebeck has shown a
striking correlation between high pressure weather and Buz-
zard movements, because the species makes extensive use
of thermal up-currents of wind. More than ninety per cent of
the Buzzards passing Falsterbo were recorded migrating in
this manner, gaining height by “thermic” soaring and then

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1959 MIGRANTS OF NORTH SEA CROSSINGS 143

gliding forward till the next thermal was met. Thermal cur-
rents over the sea are likely to be very slight at the best by
comparison with those over land, yet the Buzzards observed
from the ship appeared to spend much of their time soaring
in wide circles. With the wind north-east these soaring move-
ments would result in slow but steady progress to the south-
west, which was exactly what was observed. It was noticeable,
however, that this method of progression, with no gliding
flight between spells of soaring observed, was much slower
than the direct flight of the Sparrowhawks and Kestrels. As
a result the Buzzards were left behind by the ship and the
impression gained was that they were employing a method
of flight learned overland where it is efficient and which they
could not adapt to the unusual conditions of flying over an
unfamiliar element like the sea. Rudebeck estimates that
only 15 to 30 per cent of the Sparrowhawks passing Falsterbo,
where the thermals would be much stronger, use this method
of progression, and also that they have no obvious aversion
to flying over the sea (op. cit. p. 47). The impression which
these birds and the Kestrels gave in mid North Sea was of
being on a normal migration flight, Normalzurichtung as de-
fined by Geyr von Schweppenburg (1933), at a speed which,
with a following wind, was probably between thirty and
forty m.p.h., enabling them to cross from Scandinavia _ to
Britain in about ten hours. The height of flight of the birds
observed was not more than 100 or 200 feet, which is contrary
to our own experience of birds flying with the wind on the
coast at Lista (Hyatt and Mylne 1952) and to the records at
Falsterbo (Rudebeck 1950). But of course one may only be
seeing those individuals flying low enough to be visible out
of amuch larger movement proceeding overhead out of sight.

The three days on which any numbers of birds were re-
corded over the North Sea (3rd October 1951, 11th Septem-
ber 1952 and 5th October 1952) were all preceded by several
days of fine anticyclonic weather, when migrants would be
expected to be on the move. The south-west heading of al-
most all the birds for which a direction was recorded agrees
with the records obtained by radar of arrivals on the Norfolk
coast in autumn (Lack 1959) and suggests a direct crossing
from Scandinavia to England, at any rate for the diurnal
migrants. Among the passerines recorded by day, however,
were several species normally regarded as nocturnal migrants
e.g. thrushes, warblers, flycatchers. This feature was also
noted by Owen at the Kentish Knock at the southern end of
the North Sea. If these species left at dusk, as one would ex-
pect, they would clearly not still be only 120 or 200 miles out
from Norway at 0630 hours, still less so at noon, when many
of the birds on 3rd October 1951 were first seen. Of the pas-
serines observed that day only the Chaffinch and Brambling

144 MIGRANTS OF NORTH SEA CROSSINGS 1(6)

are diurnal migrants. As these species were normally obser-
ved leaving Lista from dawn until about 1100 hours (Hyatt
and Mylne 1951), the Bramblings observed over 100 miles
out at 0630 were not likely to have left that day. All nine
species had been recorded by us in the movement through
south Norway during the previous days (Hyatt and Mylne
1952), but it would appear that neither the diurnal nor noc-
turnal migrants seen in mid North Sea are likely to have
started their sea crossing in Scandinavia. The times of our
records are therefore interesting confirmation that such
species were involved in the extensive drift caused by bad
visibility in the sea crossings to Denmark or Germany. They
had presumably left on the night of 2nd October, lost their
way in poor weather and been subject during the following
day to either down-wind or disoriented drift on the south-
east winds which prevailed across the North Sea exactly as
described by Jenkins (op. cit. p. 98). It is not surprising in
these conditions that birds such as the tiny Goldcrests were
making full use of the ship to rest after flying possibly for
anything from twelve to eighteen hours over the sea.

References.

Geyr van Schweppenburg (1933). Zur Theorie der Leitlinie.
(Ardea 22: 3/4).

Hyatt J. and Mylne C. K. (1951). Ornithological Observa-
tions from Lista in September 1950. (Stavanger Museum,
Opuscula Zoologica. Series 2).

Hyatt J. and Mylne C. K. (1952). Ornithological Observa-
tions from Lista, 1951. (Stavanger Museum, Opuscula Zoo-
logica, Series 7).

Jenkins D. (1953). Migration in late September and early
October 1951. (British Birds 46: 77-98, 121-131).

Lack, D. (1959). North Sea Migration studied by Radar. (Ibis
101: 209-234).

Lack D. and Williamson K. (1959). Bird Migration Terms.
(Ibis 101: 255-6).

Owen, D. F. (1953). Migration at the Kentish Knock Light-
ship. (British Birds 46: 353-364).

Rudebeck G. (1950). Studies in Bird Migration. (Var Fogel-
varld. Supp. 1).

SHORT NOTES

EXTRAORDINARY NUMBERS OF SOOTY SHEAR-
WATERS IN THE FORTH

Our week on the Isle of May was enjoyable, but unspec-
tacular for birds, except for the astonishing number of
Sooty Shearwaters Procellaria grisea, at least 500 at one time,

1959 SHORT NOTES 145

on 25th September 1959, with an equal number of Manx
Shearwaters P. puffinus. On that day there were three great
rafts of shearwaters sitting on a glassy calm sea not more
than a quarter of a mile off the east side of the May—a sight
surely more appropriate to the south Pacific than the North
Sea. Probably there were thousands of Sooties in all, as many
appeared to be drifting past on other days in a southerly
direction.
A. DONALD WATSON.

(Other observers on the Isle of May this autumn have seen
unusual numbers of Sooty Shearwaters, of which details
will be published in the Isle of May report, but none
have seen such a huge total as Mr Watson and his com-
panions, a total which must be unequalled in the history
of British ornithology.—ED.)

WHITE STORKS IN FIFE

On 2nd October 1959 not very far from Cameron Reservoir,
Fife, I saw two White Storks Ciconia ciconia flying very high
indeed in a southerly direction. I was in my car driving north
and unfortunately had not my binoculars with me. I saw
them first through the sunshine roof and thought they were
swans. I quickly realised, however, that there was something
wrong. The wing-beat was slow and laboured, the neck and
head stuck out in front, the legs were only just visible owing
to the angle of vision, but the most striking thing was the
wings. I pulled up and did the best I could with the naked
eye. The wings appeared to be “dome-shaped”; they were
white with, not a black tip, but a broad black band deeply
covering the tip and continuing tapering right round the
trailing edge. Owing to the height I was not able to see any
other colour at all; they must have been flying at well over
700 feet. They were immensely large, much larger than Gan-
nets Sula bassana (which I know well) or geese.

A, M. WILSON.

(Mrs Wilson has sent a sketch which leaves no doubt of the
correctness of her identification. On 2nd October there
was also a large influx of continental species on the Isle
of May.—ED.)

SURF SCOTER IN OUTER HEBRIDES

During a visit to south Harris, Outer Hebrides from 28th
August to 10th September 1959, I spent some time examining
with a stand telescope (x40) the flock of scoters which sum-
mer in the Sound of Taransay and West Loch Tarbert. On the

146 SHORT NOTES 1(6)

afternoon of 4th September, when spying from Traigh Nisa-
bost, I found an adult drake Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicil-
lata swimming among the Common Scoters M. nigra some 300
yards offshore. The white patches on forehead and on nape
showed up conspicuously in the excellent lighting conditions.
There were often Common Scoters with the Surf Scoter in
the field of the telescope together, so that the marked differ-
ences in shape and colouring of the bill were apparent. The
Surf seemed overall rather larger than that Commons, and
the shape of its head more like that of the Velvet Scoter M.
fusca, with which it was subsequently seen.

This bird was also viewed by my wife and sons. I watched
it first of all for about forty-five minutes. The Common Scot-
ers, with which it mixed unconcernedly, were predomin-
antly adult drakes, in a constant state of excitement over
the few ducks that were with them; there was much display,
with chasings, short flights and diving. In these the Surf took
no part, nor was it ever molested in any way, or any sign of
resentment shown over its presence. Although much less
restless than the Commons, the Surf Scoter took wing on
several occasions by itself, showing the absence of any white
on the wing.

Later, after a break of about half an hour, I found the Surf
Scoter again in the same area, swimming this time with fifty
or sixty Velvet Scoters, again predominantly adult drakes. It
made several short flights and after about ten minutes was
last seen flying westward, alone. Although specially searched
for on several other days, it could not be found, nor inciden-
tally were any Velvets, perhaps of some significance in view
of J. G. Millais’ remarks (British Diving Ducks II: 79) that
“where (the Surf Scoter) comes as an accidental visitor, it
nearly always associates with the Velvet Scoter.”

The capabilities of my stand telescope of naval pattern are
well known to some members of the S.O.C.; it is a somewhat
bulky item of equipment, but the decision to take it to Harris
to study scoter flocks could not have been better justified

The only previous recorded occurrence from the Outer
Hebrides is of one shot, in the winter of 1865, at Holm, near
Stornoway, Lewis. It was preserved in the Castle collection
(R. Gray, Birds of the West of Scotland, p. 383).

JAMES W. CAMPBELL.

DRAKE EIDER SITTING ON A SINGLE EGG

On 7th June 1957, when we were crossing the Moor of
Forvie, Aberdeenshire, looking out for subjects to photograph,
we saw a drake Eider Somateria mollissima sitting on the
moor. A cautious approach took us to a point within ten yards
of the sitting bird. When we stood up, the bird flapped away

1959 SHORT NOTES 147

in the manner of a duck Eider leaving a nest and we saw
that the bird had indeed left a down-filled nest containing
one egg much soiled by newly voided foul-smelling droppings.
On a return visit we found this nest empty, no doubt on ac-
count of the activity of numerous egg-collectors.

R. MAXWELL.
ALISTAIR J. M. SMITH.

HYBRID GEESE IN KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE,
LANARKSHIRE AND RENFREWSHIRE

During recent years I have twice noted dark, apparently
hybrid, geese among Grey-lag Geese Anser anser in the
vicinity of Loch Ken. Both birds showed some similarity with
that described below by L. A. Urquhart.

The first occurred on 20th October and during November
1955. It was of Grey-lag size with pale flesh-coloured bill and
legs; the bill was rather large. The white cheek-patch ex-
tended on to the fore crown and just over the eye, continuing
also for about one third of the way down the front of the
neck, the whole patch untidily edged. There was no black on
the lores. The rest of the head, neck and upper breast were
black, merging into dark sooty grey on the body generally,
except for a white area from abdomen to under tail-coverts
and black tail. At close range and specially in flight the back
and wings were seen to be patterned by slightly lighter
feather edgings. In flight the bird was not unlike a large dark
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis.

A description and sketch of this bird were shown to Peter
Scott and in his view it was probably a hybrid between the
Grey-lag and one of the Branta geese.

The second bird was seen briefly at the same spot, resting
on the water with Grey-lags and a Barnacle Goose on 8th
March 1958. Again size was as Grey-lag, but bill bright red-
dish pink; an untidy white dirty patch on the cheeks only;
rest of head and neck black, body otherwise sooty tinged
brownish except for white from abdomen to under tail-cov-
erts. I have no note of the colour of legs or tail, which were
not clearly seen. It was an ugly-looking creature.

It may be worth pointing out that the 1955 bird in partic-
ular was not so very unlike a Blue Snow Goose Anser c.
caerulescent in its general colour pattern. The black tail, of
course, was a strong indication of Branta.

A. DONALD WATSON.
On 9th November 1959, near Auldhouse, Lanarkshire, I was

making a count of Grey-lag Geese Anser anser when I dis-
covered with them, first a Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis

148 SHORT NOTES 1(6)

and then an unusual looking goose of the following descrip-
tion:

About the size of a Grey-lag Goose, very dark, but not
black, over the crown and the whole neck, breast and belly.
On each cheek a rounded white patch, as in the Barnacle,
but not extending above the eyes. The back was darkish grey,
but not so dark as the underparts. Vent and _ tail-coverts
white. The bill was a dullish indeterminate shade and the
legs were, I thought, pink; pale anyway, not black. It had a
more rapid feed-rate than the Grey-lags. Unfortunately, be-
fore I had time to get down to a more detailed study of this
bird, two youths came into the field and put all the geese up.
I did not see the strange goose’s flight pattern, as about 350
birds rose en masse.

The flock was eventually located at Dunwan Dam across the
border into Renfrewshire. The Barnacle and the strange
goose were quickly picked out and I noted a further impor-
tant feature of the latter as it swam directly away from me—
it had a black tail.

L. A. URQUHART.

Mr Watson comments: “It can be seen that the three dark
geese had common features and it is worth noting that all
occurred with Grey-lags, two of them when a Barnacle
was also in the flock.” Both observers are agreed that
the three birds are most likely to be hybrids between
Barnacle and Grey-lag Geese.—ED.)

HONEY BUZZARD IN MULL

During the morning of 13th September 1959, while we were
bird-watching on the coast at Langamull, north Mull, we
had the good fortune to observe and independently identify
a Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus. The bird was flying due
west along the short-line at a height of about twenty feet
and passed within fifty yards of all the observers. The light
was fairly good, strong binoculars being used.

The following points were those on which we based our
identification :

(a) Shape. 1. The long neck, which made the head promin-
ent and pigeon-like, quite unlike that of a common Buzzard
Buteo buteo, was an immediate and striking character. 2. The
long narrow tail, shaped life a folded fan, was equally con-
spicuous and unlike that of a common Buzzard. 3. The wings
were narrower and proportionately longer than those of a
common Buzzard. 4. The general impression was of a smaller
and lighter built raptor than the other species.

(b) Plumage. 1. Grey-brown head, with conspicuously white
throat. 2. Rest of upperparts uniform dark brown. 3. Under-

1959 SHORT NOTES 149

parts noi seen clearly, but lightish. Under tail not seen at
all. (Despite the insistence of the books on the barring of the
tail being a striking character, I have always found it most
difficult to see in ordinary conditions.—T.C.S.). 4. Under wings
a striking pattern of two or three heavy black bars appar-
ently running most of the length of the wing, with black
patch at the carpal joint and greyish underwing-coverts.

(c) Flight. This was extremely characteristic and in our
experience one of the best ways of distinguishing Pernis
from Buteo. It is, nevertheless, not easy to describe. The
wings, in the glide, are held so that the proximal half, from
the body to the carpal joint, is raised a little and held a little
back: the wing beyond the carpal joint is depressed and held
much more back, while the tips of the primaries are raised
again and twist over, while still being held back. (Diagrams
attached).

Identifications took place quite independently; E. K. shouted
her suspicions to T.C.S., who failed to hear. All three obser-
vers are well acquainted with the Honey Buzzard, E.K. at
Gibraltar, A.M.S. in Denmark and Sweden, and T.C.S. in
Denmark, Sweden and Turkey. There were also plenty of
common Buzzards on Mull with which to compare our im-
pressions, including one seen a moment before the Honey
Buzzard was lost to view at Langamull, and thereafter
watched for some time.

ELLA KNIGHT.
ANNE-MARIE SMOUT.
T. C. SMOUT.

(This is the first record of the Honey Buzzard from Mull.
We are informed by P. E. Davis that a bird of this species
occurred in June at Voe, Shetland, its remains being
picked up about the end of July—ED.)

SUCCESSFUL BREEDING OF OSPREYS ON SPEYSIDE

Last summer a pair of Ospreys Pandion haliaetus attempted
to nest at any eyrie on a dead pine in the marsh at the south
end of Loch Garten, Inverness-shire. Halfway through the
incubation period the nest was raided by an egg-collector in
the early hours of the morning under cover of darkness. The
eggs were smashed. The birds later built another eyrie on a
fifty foot living Scots Pine about a mile east of the north end
of Loch Garten. It was now, however, too late for breeding
success and, after completing the nest, the birds left the area.

This year the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds,
supported by the Nature Conservancy, organised _ special
measures to safeguard the birds. The male arrived first on
18th April and began displaying over the new eyrie. We went

150 SHORT NOTES 1(6)

into action at once; the lower branches of the tree were sawn
off and the trunk and base smothered in barbed Dannaert
wire. A section wooden hide to which there was a covered
approach was erected. These preparations were completed
when the female arrived on 22nd April, and courtship and
nest-building began at once.

A rotation of three teams each of two watchers guarded
the eyrie day and night through the entire incubation
period of thirty-five days. Eggs were laid towards the end of
April and hatched early in June. We are glad to report that
there was no disturbance of the birds this year.

When we were Satisfied that the young had hatched safely
and were being fed regularly, we established an observation
post for the public, about 200 yards from the eyrie. Access to
this was by a peat road leading off from the Tulloch road,
close to Loch Garten, and the track was screened from the
birds by pine trees. At this O.P. through a pair of binoculars
mounted on a tripod over 12,000 visitors were able to watch
the young being fed by the female, and got excellent views
of the male flying in to the eyrie with trout.

On several occasions the pair at the eyrie were visited by
an apparently unmated adult which frequented the district.

The watchers kept a log of the movements and behaviour
of the birds, night and day throughout the whole period,
forming what must be a unique record of the breeding bi-
ology of any pair of birds.

On 2nd August the first young bird flew from the eyrie, to
be followed a few days later by the other two. For the first
few days they returned to the eyrie to feed and roost, but
now (early August) the three young birds are away and
strong on the wing.

GEORGE WATERSTON.

(Mr Waterston and his helpers have earned the gratitude
of all ornithologists by the success of their operation. For
a more detailed, and highly entertaining, account of the
proceedings, you are referred to Bird Notes 28: 494-500.
—ED.)

WOOD SANDPIPER BREEDING IN SUTHERLAND

On 18th July 1959 we were walking round the edge of a
marsh in Sutherland when a Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
flew up from the marsh about fifty yards away and flew
round out heads “chipping” continuously. Once it broke into
a long trill on the same note, and its whole manner was agi-
tated.

On the 23rd I.D. went alone to the marsh and sat in the
open, there being no cover near. It took 55 minutes for the

1959 SHORT NOTES 151

bird to settle down and feed which it eventually did within
about 40 yards. During this time it “chipped” from the
ground, or flew towards him and then back again. It also
bobbed, as Redshanks T. totanus do when alarmed. He could
see it frequently for the next half hour, but it appeared to
be feeding alone. Then he waded over and flushed the bird,
which started “chipping” again. Within about fifteen yards
of where it had been, he flushed two others which behaved
entirely differently, flying about twenty yards and dropping
down again. One was followed and close views were obtained,
since it preferred to run several yards before getting up.
Patches of down on the head and along the neck were clearly
visible, particularly when the light was behind the bird. It
did not call.

The same afternoon we both returned and watched another
(or the same) juvenile-type bird. The back was spottier than
in the adult and in flight the wings appeared darker. One of
the presumed juveniles was also seen on the 25th, when it
gave a rather sweeter version of the typical chiff-if-if call
heard on migration. This was also the only occasion on which
the dirty yellowish legs were noticed.

On the 26th both the young birds were seen by Dr I. D.
Pennie, who fully confirmed our identification. We are fam-
iliar with Wood and Green Sandpiper T. ochropus on migra-
tion, and with their call-notes. The young birds were last
seen on 5th August, the day before our departure.

IAN DOWNHILL.
G. HALLAS.

(H. P. Medhurst informs us that on 3rd June 1959 P. R. Col-
ston and R. E. Emmett watched a Wood Sandpiper feed-
ing in the Isle of Skye, where it does not appear to have
occurred previously. Both observers are familiar with
the species and provided Mr Medhurst with a good des-
cription.—ED.)

IVORY GULL IN FIFE

On 4th October 1959, on the flats close to the Paper Mill at
Guardbridge, Fife, we saw an unusual gull together with a
large mixed collection of other gulls and waders. It was per-
haps a little larger than a Black-headed Gull Larus ridibun-
dus, completely white and rather “fluffy’—for want of a
better word. The legs were black and the bill yellowish, and
it had the look to a certain extent of a pigeon. The bird was
on the ground, not on the wing, and there was no colour
other than white in its plumage. We puzzled over it for some
time, knowing that it was none of the gulls which usually

152 SHORT NOTES 1(6)

frequent this coast. We concluded that it was an Ivory Gull
Pagophila eburnea.
A. M. WILSON.
DorIs WILSON.

FEEDING FLIGHT OF INLAND NESTING TERNS

Several times during the past two nesting seasons I have
seen Common Terns Sterna hirundo from the colony at Loch
Leven, Kinross, flying overland back from the sea carrying
sand-eels. To find out if this habit were general I watched
on 8th July 1959 from a point on the sluice road at a time
when there was a rising tide in the Forth. Between 1400 and
1630 hours I counted twenty-five terns flying in and fifteen
of them were carrying sand-eels. This was a good proportion
of the birds involved, as there were only thirty nests in the
colony on 14th June. Considering that observations were
limited to a shallow valley north of Findatie Farm, it may
be supposed that other birds, flying in elsewhere, were missed.
he round trip would involve a flight of eighteen to twenty
miles.

GEORGE DICK.

GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO IN ORKNEY

On the afternoon of 21st August 1959 I was informed by
telephone that a strange, long-tailed, crested bird had been
frequenting several of the farms on the North End district
of Rendall for about a week and that it was then in the vicinity
of a certain cabbage patch. On arrival I found that it had gone,
but interviewed several of the people who had seen it and
concluded that it must be a Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator
glandarius. However, as the Great Spotted Cuckoo had never
previously been recorded in Scotland, I was very anxious to
make certain of its identity. Though I visited all its known
haunts that afternoon and evening, and on the following day,
I failed to find it. Then, shortly after 10 p.m. on the 22nd, Mr
Tulloch of Tingwall rang up to say that the bird was roosting
in a neighbouring garden. As it was then quite dark I decided
to wait until the morning, but, before I had finished dressing,
the ’phone rang and Mrs Tulloch announced: “the bird is
here at Tingwaill in the garden.” I grabbed binoculars and
camera and, without breakfasting, did the three and a half
miles in record time. I was rewarded by seeing at very close
range and being able to identify positively an immature Great
Spotted Cuckoo.

Slightly bigger looking than the common Cuckoo Cuculus
canorus, its most striking feature was its very long, magpie-
like, graduated tail, the central feathers of which were

1959 SHORT NOTES 153

blackish with a metallic sheen—other feathers brownish, all
with small amount of white at tips. The head was black, with
the suggestion of a crest. The rest of the upperparts were
brown with whitish or creamy spots on the back, wing coverts
and secondaries. The primaries were bright chestnut, except
for the outer quarter which was brown with whitish or
creamy tips to the feathers: the chestnut showed up well
when the bird was at rest, or in flight. The underparts from
the chin were pale creamy buff, forming a half collar to the
neck. The legs and feet were blackish, with creamy feathers
to the tarsal joint. Iris blackish with a rather indistinct
orbital ring of pale brown.

The flight resembled that of the common Cuckoo or of a
hawk, and other birds—Lapwings and Blackbirds—mobbed
it. It would readily perch on any fence, post, tree, bush, over-
head wire or building, often flicking its long tail. Quite tame,
it could be approached to about four or five yards. When on
the ground it hopped about in an ungainly manner with legs
wide apart. It visited cabbage-patches at several farms in the
district and fed avidly on the caterpillars of the Cabbage
White Butterfly, which were very numerous this season. Its
chin was stained green as a result of this feeding.

I succeeded in taking a reasonably good colour photograph.
The bird was first seen at Tingwall on 14th August and last
seen on 30th August.

FE. BALFOUR.

BEE-EATER IN SUTHERLAND

About 1400 hours BST on 14th August 1959, when I was by
a burn near the mouth of the Halladale River in north Suth-
erland, an unusual bird flew by me. The light was excellent
and the bird passed the small valley at about eye-level
heading south. The most arresting thing about it was the
brilliant colour. It was about the size of a Blackbird Turdus
merula with a swift, swooping flight like a Swallow’s. On the
back it was a bright golden yellow and tawny, with a pointed
tail and pointed green-blue wings, and as it flew it called re-
peatedly prui. The only name that occurred to me was Bee-
eater Merops apiaster.

There had been a strong, probably gale-force wind from
the south or south-east since the previous evening, with heavy
rain in the morning,

) MARY HENDERSON.

FIRECREST ON THE ISLE OF MAY

On 30th September 1959 on the Isle of May I found a Fire-
crest Regulus ignicapillus feeding among nettles near the

154 SHORT NOTES 1(6)

Bain Trap. It flew from there into an abandoned naval hut,
where it fed busily among the rafters, but was later coaxed
back into the trap, where it was captured.

Since the bird appeared tired and its identity was evident,
a detailed plumage examination was not made, but the fol-
lowing details, distinguishing it from the Goldcrest R. regulus,
were noted: bright orange crest, indicating a male, surroun-
ded by a black border; conspicuous white eyebrow; black line
through eye; white patch under eye; bright grass green back
and greenish gold patch at side of neck; throat buffish, but
rest of underparts white; wing pattern much as in Goldcrest.
Opinions differed as to whether its call-note could be distin-
guished from that of the Goldcrest.

The bird was photographed, and seen by M. F. M. Meikle-
john, Eileen and Dennis Munns, R. W. J. Smith and W. Watt.
It remained on the island until 3rd October, when it was
also seen by W. J. Eggeling and J. Hoy. On the 2nd the Fire-
crest, two Goldcrests and a Yellow-browed Warbler Phyllo-
scopus inornatus were feeding simultaneously in Mr Watt’s
garden. Strong south-east winds had been blowing since the
afternoon of the 29th September.

The species is new to Scotland, although there are records
from Holy Island, Northumberland, and the Faeroes.

D. R. GRANT.
HAWFINCH IN TIREE

On 25th October 1959, after a period of strong west and
south-west winds, a dead MHawfinch Coccothraustes cocco-
thraustes was picked up by one of my pupils at Kenovay,
Tiree.

ALLAN C. McDOUGALL.

TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL IN INVERNESS-SHIRE

On 21st August 1959, at Newtonmore, I was handed a newly
dead adult male Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera bi-
fasciata with fresh blood at the nostrils a slenderer, more
Chaffinch-like bird, with its boldly pied wings, than the Scot-
tish Crossbill, and with thinner and more delicately twisted
mandibles. Even indeath its colouring was an exquisitely
mottled blood-red—a brighter hue that the apple-and brick-
red of our own Crossbill. The skin is at Aberdeen University,
where Professor V. C. Wynne-Edwards checked the measure-
ments against the unlikely contingency of it proving to belong
to the American race. The only previous record from the in-
terior of the Highlands seems to be of one that George Bolam

1959 SHORT NOTES 155

found in an Inverness taxidermist’s, said to have been obtain-
ed locally.
RICHARD PERRY.

(We are informed that another bird of this species occurred
on Foula on 21st August 1959, but have not received de-
tails.—ED.)

CHAFFINCH NESTING ON GROUND

On 16th May 1959, as I was walking through a wood near
Saline, Fife, a hen Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs rose from a
patch of Wood Anemone A. nemorosa, fluttering away from
underfoot in the manner of a ground-nesting bird trying to
draw me away from the area. It grounded without calling. The
nest was on the open ground with no cover other than the
foliage of the anemone, and contained four eggs. The hen
Chaffinch returned after a short interval, flying in about a
foot above the ground and walking the last six feet or so
like a lark in an open field. The bird’s behaviour and choice
of nesting-place were all the more unusual in view of the
number of conventional sites available in the area.

GEORGE DICK.

CORRESPONDENCE

Appeal for information on bird migration.

A year’s investigation of bird migration with radar on the
east coast of Scotland has shown that while it is usually easy
to detect high-flying birds by this means, most movements
take place either by night or too high to be seen from the
ground by day, so that it is frequently difficult to identify the
species involved by direct observation. It has proved possible,
however, to identify the constitution of most of the important
passages observed through a study of (1) general arrival and
departure dates, (2) the occurrence of drifted migrants at the
Bird Observatories, and especially (3) the appearance of
grounded migrants with a local deterioration of the weather.
For instance, the identity of one large arrival from the direc-
tion of Scandinavia was indicated by a note from Tom Weir
in your last issue (1: 97) concerning Redwings Turdus mus-
icus and a few Fieldfares T. pilaris in the Rannoch area on
18th and 19th October 1958. I have received several other re-
ports of precipitations of rushes of winter visitors which
came in high over the coast, but descended where they met
bad weather inland. It seems likely that other observers must
from time to time make casual observations of this sort
which would be of great value for identifying the movements

156 CORRESPONDENCE 1(6)

seen with radar. I would thus be very grateful for information
concerning the time of arrival and departure of migrants, or
observations of visible migration, in Scotland from the late
summer of 1958 until further notice.
W.R. P. BOURNE.
Edward Grey Institute,
Botanic Garden, Oxford.

Great Skua nesting in Outer Hebrides

As W. A. J. Cunningham’s note under the above heading
(antea 1: 124) is the first published reference to the breeding
of the Great Skua Catharacta skua in this faunal area in
recent times, it seems desirable to record some additional in-
formation which I have. Earlier publication was withheld in
order to avoid risk of embarassment to this species in a “new”
area.

The first intimation I had of breeding in the Outer Isles
was received in August 1945 from a correspondent, Gilbert
Holmes, who stated that a few pairs nested in a certain dis-
trict. I was unable to pay a visit until June 1955, when on the
30th, with Donald MacDonald, I found two nests, one con-
taining two eggs. From the condition of the vegetation beside
the nests and at the prominent nesting hummocks, it appeared
that the site must have been occupied for some years, al-
though Greater Black-backs Larus marinus, which were using
similar terrain, might have been responsible for the original
manuring and vegetation changes. Four pairs of Great Skuas
were present here. Later a single bird was seen, from a dis-
tance, settled in another locality less than two miles from the
first; unfortunately there was no time to look for a nest. On
4th June 1956 there were three single birds here, and three
pairs on 3rd June 1957, but on neither occasion did the
behaviour of the birds suggest that nesting had progressed
very far. W.A.J.C.’s 1959 nests were found here, I believe.

In June 1956 and 1957 the first locality where nests had been
found in 1955 was also revisited: on 3rd June 1956 two, or
perhaps three, pairs were present and one nest was found. on
2nd June 1957 there were three single birds, which behaved
as if nesting had not started.

Unfortunately it is impossible to give a reliable date for
the first colonisation. This may have occurred much earlier
than the available information suggests, for the locality where
the skuas nest is one which, until recent years, has been al-
most entirely avoided by ornithologists. There is no record
of the Great Skua in the Outer Hebrides at any season until
1893; Harvie-Brown (Vertebrate Fauna of Argyll and Inner
Hebrides 1892, p. 194) referred to a report of breeding in the

1959 CORRESPONDENCE 157

Outer Isles received by Graham, but this was never verified
and has never been taken seriously.
JAMES W. CAMPBELL.

National Wildfowl Counts

Regular monthly counts of wildfowl are made on lochs,
estuaries, coastal waters, etc. from September to March.
Counters are required in Scotland. Anyone interested in
helping should write to Miss E. A. Garden, Eider Cottage,
Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, who will supply full details.

CORRIGENDA

Dr W. J. Eggeling has asked us to make the following cor-
rections to earlier Isle of May Observatory reports:

In the 1956 report (Scottish Naturalist 69: 137) under “‘Cross-
bill” for ‘“lst-9th June” read “Ist-9th July.”

In the 1957 report (Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 8: Special
number) on p. 41 5th line from foot, for “17th” read ‘19th’.
On p. 43, line 6, for “31st June” read “30th June.”

Antea 1:88, line 6, for “de los Gagules”’ read “de los Gaz-
ules.” Line 10, altogether six Gannets (not five) have been
ringed on the May.

Antea 1:94, 7th line from foot, for ‘18th October’ read
“13th October.”’

Antea 1:99. The late House Martin at Dunbar was seen on
lst November, not 4th November.

Antea 1:99. Under ‘“‘Bewick’s Swan” for “28th November’’
read “‘28th December.”

Antea 1:100. The early Sandwich Tern seen at Fort George
occurred on 23rd March 1957, not in 1959.

REVIEW

BRUCE CAMPBELL. Bird Watching for Beginners. Puffin
Books, 1959, pp. 240. 2/6.

This useful little book has been brought sufficiently up
to date to include the Golden Eagle nesting in England and
the disaster to the Ospreys’ nest in 1958, though not their
success in 1959. Though intended for schoolchildren and
sometimes talking down to them a little (“I shall not be
popular with your parents if I make you too interested in the
Nightjar’), it is a book from which nearly all adult bird-
watchers can profit, especially with regard to the lines of
useful investigation suggested for amateurs. Mr R. A. Rich-
ardson’s pictures are still a delight, but the sketch of a Dun-
lin (“Can you identify the bird?’) from the author’s own

158 REVIEW 1(6)

notebook was mistaken by us for an aberrant Water Rail. We
congratulate Dr Campbell on this new and improved edition
and are only sorry that he has been so long in England that he
now considers that the Glaucous and Iceland Gull are ‘very
hard to tell apart.” M.F.M.M.

CURRENT NOTES

[The Current Notes section is held over to the following
number.—ED. |

The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

TWELFTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE

When I travelled north on Friday, October 23rd, it was with pleasurable
anticipation of an enjoyable weekend ahead, for this was the second time
I had attended an S.O.C. Conference and I knew that if Stirling 1959 was
as good as North Berwick 1957, I was in for a good time.

The Conference headquarters were the Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling. By
7 p.m. on the Friday evening it was wet and dismal in the streets of Stir-
ling, but within the “Golden Lion” an atmosphere of warmth and great
friendliness prevailed amongst the Scottish ornithologists and their guests.
It was good to find oneself amongst ornithologists who, for the time being
at any rate, did not take themselves too seriously all the time.

Friday evening was a time for registration and informal business and
discussions. A programme of films was ably introduced by Mr C. E. Pal-
mar. Iain Thomson showed some of his remarkable colour films with
notable sequences of Black-throated Divers and Slavonian Grebe (as good
as any | have seen of this species) following which Mr Palmar exhibited
some of his own colour films, which included brilliant shots of duck.

The lecture by Professor Niko Tinbergen on Saturday morning, which
followed the formal opening by the Provost of Stirling, was one of the
most stimulating and interesting ornithological talks I have ever been
privileged to hear. His subject, “New Field Studies of the Behaviour of
Gulls,” was illustrated by slides and a film, most of the shots being taken
at Ravenglass in Cumberland. If one had not already been aware from his
books and his world-wide reputation that Dr Tinbergen was a master of
his subject, this must have been apparent to anybody listening to his lec-
ture. I have seen many thousands of feet of bird film of one kind and
another, but I have never seen a bird so completely unaware of the cam-
era and of the presence of human beings as in the close-up shot of a
sleeping Black-headed Gull that Dr Tinbergen showed us. If proof were
needed that these studies of gulls were indicative of completely natural
reactions in the field, one had it here.

By way of complete contrast, the second half of Saturday morning was
devoted to a lecture on Falconry by Dr James Robertson Justice. He gave
a fascinating account of how falcons are trained, much enlivened by the
presence of two live falcons, with whom Dr Justice carried on private con-
versations from time to time.

The climax of the Conference came on Saturday night, when something
approaching 200 people attended the Club’s Annual Dinner in the large

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160 ANNUAL CONFERENCE 1(6)

ballroom of the Golden Lion Hotel. Distinguished guests were the Rt. Hon.
Lord Hurcomb, chairman of the Council of the Royal Society for the
Protection of Birds, Dr Niko Tinbergen and Dr James Robertson Justice.
When an excellent dinner had been eaten and the Loyal Toast proposed
by the chairman, Sir Charles Connell, had been drunk, we sat back expec-
tantly to await the after-dinner speeches, The toast of the S.O.C. was pro-
posed most ably by Dr Tinbergen, and fittingly replied to by Professor V.
C. Wynne-Edwards. Both speakers referred to the recent death of Dr
Evelyn Baxter and paid tribute to the great contribution she had made
during her lifetime to Scottish ornithology. Mr Donald Watson then pro-
posed the toast of the guests with an easy and gracious turn of wit, which
was replied to by Dr James Robertson Justice.

But if this brought the formal dinner to a close, let no one think that
the evening was over. Conviviality was the order of the night, indicative
of the happy atmosphere which is such a remarkable feature of S.O.C.
conferences.

The last session of the Conference on Sunday morning consisted of a
programme of films, “Ospreys Return” and “Reed Warblers’, shown by
courtesy of the R.S.P.B., and “Journey into Spring,’ by courtesy of
British Transport Films. ‘Ospreys Return” was of special interest, as it
showed the Osprey family successfully reared in Speyside this summer.
At the conclusion of the films, Colonel J. P. Grant made a very strong
appeal for practical support for the work of the R.S.P.B. Votes of thanks
to speakers and those responsible for the organisation of the Conference
followed, and this, sadly enough, brought the official programme of the
Conference to an end.

As a visitor, it seemed to me that everything had gone smoothly, but
this is the secret of good organisation. Mrs Irene Waterston is to be con-
gratulated most warmly on carrying through the Conference with such
conspicuous success at the outset of her secretaryship of the Club. I have
now attended two S.O.C. Conferences as a fledgling guest. I look forward
to attending the Thirteenth Conference as a free-flying member of the
S.0.C.

GWEN DAVIES.

Report of Council - Session XXIII, 1958-59

The Council have the honour to submit the following Report for the
past year :-—

MEMBERSHIP : It is satisfactory to be able to report that the Mem-
bership of the Club has maintained its high level in spite of the increase
in the subscription. During the Session, 150 members resigned or were
removed from the books as having unpaid subscriptions, and 147 new
members were enrolled. Comparative figures are as follows:

31/8/55 31/8/56 31/8/57 31/8/58 31/8/59

Ordinary 842 755 23 738 747
Junior 121 132 132 148 140
Honorary 11 11 A 11 i.
Total 974 898 866 897 894

——_

COUNCIL MEETINGS: Five Meetings of Council were held during
the Session, when much important business was transacted.

GENERAL MEETINGS: A full programme of Lectures was carried
out during the winter in five Branches. The Council wishes to express its

————

1959 OFFICIAL SECTION 161

thanks to all the Lecturers who gave so freely of their services, and
would also like to thank Branch Officials for arrangements and hospital-
ity.

EXCURSIONS: Apart from Excursions organised by the Branches to
various places of interest during the summer months, the Club also
organised a weekend Excursion to Aviemore in May, and joined with the
British Trust for Ornithology in a weekend Conference at Dumfries in
February.

“SCOTTISH BIRDS”: Four numbers of the Club’s new Journal have
appeared during the Session and it is gratifying to report that it has been
well received, and has gained support not only from members of the Club
but also from additional subscribers, including many Libraries. The
Council are confident that the publication of the Journal has contributed
materially to the steady recruitment of new members, and wishes to con-
gratulate Professor M. F. M. Meiklejohn and his Assistant Editors on
the high standard already reached by the Journal.

SCOTTISH BIRDS RECORDS COMMITTEE: This Committee,
hitherto under the Chairmanship of our Hon. President, the late Dr E. V.
Baxter, meets regularly each year to adjudicate on all records published
annually. The Review for 1958 is published in “Scottish Birds.”

SCOTTISH CENTRE FOR ORNITHOLOGY AND BIRD PROTEC-
TION: As already reported in “Scottish Birds”, the Council agreed to
accept a donation of £4,000 from an anonymous donor to establish a
Scottish Centre for Ornithology and Bird Protection in Edinburgh. The
Office and Library were removed to the new premises on 7th July 1959:
The Club has been greatly indebted to the National Trust for Scotland
for providing an office for the Club rent free for the past five years. The
premises are to be officially opened by the Earl of Wemyss and March
on Monday, 26th October, when representatives of various ornithological
organisations will be invited. While all members of the Club are warmly
invited to visit the new Centre, limited accommodation prevents the
Council from extending a general invitation on this occasion.

CLUB LIBRARY: During the year we received a number of books
from the Library of the late Professor James Ritchie which have been
a valuable addition to the Reference Library of the Club. The donation
of a handsome oak bookcase has been received from Dr and Mrs R. E.
McIntyre of Edinburgh.

APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY: In early March the Council ac-
cepted with regret the resignation of Mr George Waterston as Secretary
of the Club, a position he has held since its inception in 1937. At a Coun-
cil meeting on Ist April it was decided to appoint Mrs George Waterston
as Secretary and Treasurer of the Club. Mr Robert Hillcoat remains as
Hon. Treasurer.

For the Council,

CHARLES: G. CONNELL, President.

CLUB LIBRARY AND MEETING FOR JUNIOR MEMBERS

Members are asked to refer to the inside front cover of this Journal
for information on alterations to the opening hours of the Club Library,
and in the evenings reserved for Junior members.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Members are reminded that subscriptions for the new Session are now
due, and should be paid to the Secretary and Treasurer, 21 Regent Ter-
race, Edinburgh 7, or to Branch Secretaries.

Members 25s; Junior Members 7s 6d; Non-Members (Scottish Birds
only) 20s.

162 OFFICIAL SECTION 1(6)

TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Twenty-Third Annual General Meeting of the Club was held in
the Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling, on Saturday 24th October 1959, at 6.15
p.m. An attendance of over 100 members was presided over by Sir Charles
G. Connell, President of the Club.

DEATH OF DR E. V. BAXTER: After paying tribute to the late Dr
E. V. Baxter, the Chairman asked the company to stand for a minute,
in respect to her memory.

MINUTES: The Minutes of the Twenty-Second Annual General
Meeting, held in Perth on 25th October 1958, were read and approved.

REPORT OF COUNCIL: In moving the adoption of the Report, the
Chairman said that the Council hoped to be able to provide more funds
for the development of “Scottish Birds” in the future. The Council also
welcomed the opportunity provided by the new Scottish Centre for de-
veloping the Club’s association with the Royal Society for the Protection
of Birds, particularly at a time when the extending tourist season made
it imperative that our birds should be protected. He paid tribute to Mr
George Waterston, who had relinquished the position of Secretary of
the Club during the Session, for the work he had done both in building
up the Club, and for ornithology in general. The Report was adopted.

TREASURER’S REPORT: In the absence, due to illness, of the Hon.
Treasurer, the Chairman reported briefly on the present finances of the
Club. He drew attention to the good surplus for the year, but pointed
out that this could not be a ground for complaisance as there would in
future be more calls upon the Club’s income. The capital position, he felt,
was good for a Club of only 26 years’ standing. The Council had received
intimation that the late Dr E. V. Baxter had bequeathed the very gen-
erous sum of £1,000 to the Club. The Accounts were approved.

APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR: Mr Arthur Walker, C.A., was re-
elected Auditor for the ensuing Session.

HON. PRESIDENT: In moving the election of Dr David A. Banner-
man, M.B.E., Sc.D., F.R.S.E., as an Hon. President of the Club, the
Chairman spoke of the encouragement he had given to the Club by his
interest and support since he came to live in Scotland. His election was
unanimously approved.

COUNCIL MEMBERS: The Council’s recommendation that Mr
George Waterston and Mr Donald Watson be elected to Council to re-
place Dr David Bannerman and Dr W. J. Eggeling who were due to
retire by rotation, was approved, and warm appreciation was expressed
by the Chairman to the retiring Members for their services.

FAMILY MEMBERSHIP: The Chairman stated that, arising out of a
discussion at the last Annual General Meeting, the Council had con-
sidered a suggestion for a Family Membership subscription. As this in-
volved a change in the Constitution, no definite proposal could be made
to the Club until the next Annual General Meeting. They recommended,
however, a subscription of 40/- for married couples who would receive
one copy only of “Scottish Birds’ unless otherwise requested; this sub-
scription would not include children as it was felt that they would prefer,
and should be encouraged to receive their own copies of the Journal.
Members were invited to submit to the Council their observations on
this recommendation, which would then be taken into further consider-
ation and laid before the Club as a definite proposal.

COUNCIL FOR NATURE: At the invitation of the Chairman, Mr R.
S. R. Fitter, Secretary of the Council for Nature, drew the attention of
members of the Club to the various aspects of the work of his Council,
and invited their assistance in finding suitable tasks of a scientific nature

1959 OFFICIAL SECTION 163

for the Conservation Corps to carry out in Scotland; in encouraging sup-
port for planned courses in amateur cine photography; and in forming
a comprehensive list of Natural History films which would be available
to Societies.

PROFESSOR V. C. WYNNE-EDWARDS: The Chairman drew atten-
tion to the recent honour conferred on Professor V. C. Wynne-Edwards,
who had been elected a Corresponding Fellow of the American Ornith-
ologists’ Union in Saskatoon.

Miss E. A. GARDEN: The Chairman expressed the Club’s gratitude
to Miss E. A. Garden for the gift of a clock to use in the Clubroom at
the new Scottish Centre in Edinburgh, and also to those who had given
their help so generously in various ways.

VOTE OF THANKS The Meeting closed with a hearty vote of thanks
to the Chairman on the motion of Professor V. C. Wynne-Edwards.

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

Revenue Account for Year ended 3lst August 1959

INCOME :— Year to 31/8/59 31/8/58
Subscriptions received during year .. sic | SELOOOC IS. 6. £779
Add: Received in advance at 31/8/58 + Ores 20 10

£1011 4 6 £789
Less: Received in advance at 31/8/59 0 0 0 10
£1011 4 6 £779
Income from Miss L. J. Rintoul’s Endowment 40 5 10 40
Savings Bank Interest Ss : Aid 3) 4.24 2
Badge Sales . ths 5G 6 6
Eric Hosking Exhibition Net Proceeds 0 0 0 10
£1069 19 3 £847

EXPENDITURE :— SSS SSE
Hire of Lecture Halls and Equipment _... £88 8 9 £78
Lecturers’ Expenses 53 16,10 62
Postages, printing, stationery, sundry expenses 101. 9 7 174
Subscriptions to British Council, the Council for

Nature, B.T.O., R.S.P.B. and WePB. Ws 10212550 4
Fee for Secretarial Services Noe ats SIS 400
Conference Net Cost 39 15 8 28
Scottish Birds—Vol. I Nos. 1 to 4—net cost less

sales to non-members £35, 11s 6, and

advertisement receipts £66 ni J Zl bles SM? 0
Removal Expenses to Regent Terrace... FART I 0) 0
Furniture and equipment including carpet, tables

chairs and shelving for Library £59, 3s 0d

and reconditioned typewriter £36 ee 95 4 0 12

FOSS low Qaaeclos
Surplus for year carried to Balance Sheet... iis eeiy/ Mel 89

£1069 19 3 £847

Balance Sheet as at 3lst August, 1959 31/8/59 31/8/58

Surplus at 3lst August, 1958 ... : £681 16" 3. "£498
Add: Surplus for year per Revenue Account 136 7 1 89
Legacy from J. Bartholomew Sag ef 0 ila 8 ae 0 100

£818 3 4 682

164 OFFICIAL SECTION 1(6)

Miss L. J. Rintoul’s Endowment (the free annual
income is available for the advancement of
ornithology) ... 4a ot 4. ix 1000 0 O- 1000

£1818 3 4 1682

Cash in Edinburgh Savings Bank ae Se £693 6 1 580
Cash in Royal Bank of Scotland Current Account 100 10 1 112
Cash in hand wes Boe Le ae Awe 6 7 2 0
Debt due to the Club for adverts. in Scottish Birds 18 0 0O 0

ne £818 3 4 692
Less: Subscriptions received in advance ats 0 0 0 10

£818 3 4 682
£1151 34% War Stock at cost (Endowment)
(Market Value at 31/8/59 £760) _.... ae 1000 0 O 1000

£1818 3 4 1682

EDINBURGH, 14th October, 1959.—I have examined the foregoing
Revenue Account and Balance Sheet of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club
for the year ending 3lst August, 1959, and certify that in my opinion they
are correctly stated and sufficiently vouched.

ARTHUR WALKER, Chartered Accountant.

OPERATION OSPREY 1960: Appeal for Volunteers

In the event of the probable return of the Ospreys to the same site at
Loch Garten in 1960, the R.S.P.B. will require the help once again of vol-
unteer Wardens to guard the eyrie from disturbance.

Wardens will be required from mid-April until mid-August, preferably
for periods of not less than a week at a time. Food, tents, and camp
equipment will be provided free, but each person is expected to bring his
own sleeping bag and pillow slip. Provided a sufficient number of War-
dens are available, each one will have every third day free of duties. A
succession of female cook-caterers will also be required for the period.

Anyone wishing to assist should send full details and references as
soon as possible to Mr George Waterston, 21 Regent Terr., Edinburgh 7.

WEEK-END EXCURSION TO DUMFRIES

Arrangements have been made with the County Hotel, Dumfries, for
a weekend Excursion to the Solway area to see the geese.

Accommodation has been reserved for the weekend 5th to 7th February
1960 at inclusive terms of £4 per person as follows: Bed on Friday night
5th; breakfast, packed lunch, dinner and bed on Saturday 6th; breakfast
and packed lunch on Sunday 7th.

Members wishing to come on this Club Excursion should book direct
with the Manager, The County Hotel, Dumfries (Tel. 146), mentioning
that they are members of the Club. Members may bring guests. Arrange-
ments for transport by private cars should be made with the Branch Sec-
retaries.

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The Journal of

The Scottish Ornithologists’

Vol. I No. 7

Reprinted 1978

Club

Spring 1960

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

PRE Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was founded in 1936 and membership

is open to all interested in Scottish ornithology. Meetings are held
during the winter months in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and
St Andrews, at which lectures by prominent ornithologists are given and
films exhibited. Excursions are organised in the summer to places of
ornithological interest.

The aims and objects of the Club are to (a) encourage and direct the
study of Scottish Ornithology in all its branches; (b) co-ordinate the
efforts of Scottish ornithologists and encourage co-operation between field
and indoor worker; (c) encourage ornithological research in Scotland in
co-operation with other organisations; (d) hold meetings at centres to be
arranged at which Lectures are given, films exhibited and discussions held;
and (e) publish or arrange for the publication of statistics and information
with regard to Scottish ornithology.

There are no entry fees for Membership. The Annual subscription is
25/-; or 7/6 in the case of Members under twenty-one years of age or in
the case of University undergraduates who satisfy the Council of their
status as such at the time at which their subscriptions fall due in any year.
“Scottish Birds’ is issued free to members.

The affairs of the Club are controlled by a Council composed of the Hon.
Presidents, the President, the Vice-President, the Hon. Treasurer, one
Representative of each Branch Committee appointed annually by the
Branch, and ten other Members of the Club elected at an Annual General
Meeting. Two of the last named retire annually by rotation and shall not
be eligible for re-election for one year.

A Scottish Bird Records’ Committee, appointed by the Council, produce
an annual Report on ‘Ornithological Changes in Scotland.”

Full details are given in the Syllabus of Lectures Card of the names of
the present Office-bearers of the Club.

An official tie with small white Crested Tits embroidered on it can be
obtained in dark green or in navy blue by Members only from Messrs R.
W. Forsyth Ltd., Princes Street, Edinburgh, or 5 Renfield Street, Glasgow,
C.2, at a cost of 13s 9d post free. A small brooch in silver and blue can be
obtained for the use of Members of the Club. Price 2s 6d each from the
Secretary, or from Hon. Branch Secretaries.

Forms of application for Membership, copy of the Club Constitution,
and other literature is obtainable from the Club Secretary, Mrs George
Waterston, Scottish Centre for Ornithology and Bird Protection, 21
Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7. (Tel. Waverley 6042).

CLUB-ROOM AND LIBRARY

The Club-room and Library at 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7, will
be available to members during office hours, and on Wednesday evenings
from 7 to 10 p.m. (except the Wednesdays of Branch Meetings). Mem-
bers may use the Reference Library and borrow books from the Dupli-
cate Section. Facilities for making tea-or coffee are available at a nominal
charge and members may bring guests by arrangement. The Aldis 2” x
2” slide projector and screen may be used for the informal showing of
slides at a charge of 2s 6d per night to cover the replacement of bulbs.

Informal meetings for Junior members will be held in the Club-room
on the first Friday of each month from October to April at 7.30 p.m.

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

All notes dealing with birds in the eastern Lowlands, from Berwick-on-
Tweed to Dundee, should be submitted to A. T. Macmillan, 66 Spylaw
Bank Road, Edinburgh, 13; all other contributions to M. F. M. Meikle-
john, 20 Falkland Street, Glasgow, W.2. It would be helpful if notes were
typewritten, if possible, and double spaced.

SCOTTISH BIRDS &

THE JOURNAL OF THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB a

Vol. 1 No. 7 Reprinted 1978 Spring 1960

Edited by M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN, with the assistance of D. G. ANDREW
and A. T. MACMILLAN. Business Editor, ArtHUR J. SmITH. Cover de-
sign (Greenshanks) by LEN FULLERTON. Published quarterly.

Editorial for Beginners

J XPERIENCED ornithologists may skip this and pass on to

the body of the journal, but a large proportion of the
members of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club are beginners,
and they are asked to delay for a minute or two before going
on to more interesting reading.

Ornithology is a cheap hobby: only think of the cost of a
set of golf clubs. All we need is a pencil, the back of an old
envelope, a good pair of walking boots, a pair of Wellingtons
for watching water birds, and a pair of field glasses. This last,
although some consider motor cars as an essential, is the most
expensive item of equipment. For most purposes 8x35 bino-
culars are sufficient, and very good ones can be got second-
hand, though in special circumstances something larger is
needed, higher powered glasses or a telescope being necessary,
for example, in watching birds out to sea, or on extensive
inland waters. Remember that it is the thinner end that you
put to the eye.

Then begins the ABC of bird-watching, getting to know the
common birds. This is essential. If you start hunting rare birds
at the very start, you will have no valid standard of com-
parison for the ones you see. It is useless to try and identify
the rarer waders, for example, if you cannot know at sight
the Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Redshank and so on. There are
now many excellent volumes for the identification of birds
in the field, Peterson, Hollom and Mountfort’s Field Guide to
the Birds of Britain and Europe being perhaps the most pop-
ular. But two words of warning are necessary in the use of
birds books: as a rule they will only show the adult plumage
of the two sexes of each species, and you will often be puzzled
by birds which seem not to correspond to any picture in your
book: these will mostly be of immature birds, especially in
autumn, and here you will have to have recourse to The Hand-

166 EDITORIAL FOR BEGINNERS 1(7)

book of British Birds, which is about the only book to show
the immature plumages—and not all of them. In addition it is
advisable not to take books with you into the field: it is far
more safe to take notes on the spot of any species you don’t
know and then check your results when you get home. The
presence of a bird book is liable to make the inexperienced
observer decide that his bird is one that vaguely resembles a
plate in the book, and much valuable time, which might have
been spent in taking down notes, is wasted in turning over
the pages and trying to reach an immediate decision. The
psychological effect of suggestion can be very powerful in
bird illustration, an example being that many more people
than ought to do so think they see Firecrests, simply because
a popular manual has a picture of Firecrests on the dust
jacket.

If you see an unusual bird, how do you set about reporting
it? The important thing is to note down absolutely everything
you can. Colour—in difficult species the minutest details are
necessary. Shape—what other bird does it most closely resem-
ble to your eye? Size—compare your bird with any other bird
that may be present; it is very hard to judge the size of a bird
which is by itself, since this depends on the conditions of
lighting. Behaviour—many birds will have individual tricks
of stance, flight and feeding behaviour which may make your
description diagnostic. Voice—here again two very similar
species, as for example the Tawny Pipit and Richard’s Pipit,
may be conclusively determined by a good account of call-
notes.

And how do you know whether a bird you see is unusual in
your area or not? There are books to tell you that: first of all
Baxter and Rintoul’s Geographical Distribution and Status of
Birds in Scotland, which is now, however, 32 years old, and
the need for a new edition is illustrated by the fact that Dr
Baxter started on a revision shortly before her death. The
same authors’ Birds of Scotland, though, is much more recent,
and will fill many gaps for the intervening period. The regional
faunas of Scotland are now mostly very old, and there are
still parts of Scotland (Lanarkshire is the outstanding ex-
ample) which have never been adequately covered.

With a thinner density of ornithologists than exists in Eng-
land, much work remains to be done on the distribution of
birds in Scotland; and remember that this is changing all the
time. The general tendency is for southern species to spread
northwards; this is especially noticeable in Scotland with war-
blers such as the Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Garden Warbler.
The Carrion Crow is also at the present time invading the
Highlands and islands, with a resulting scarcity of its fellow
subspecies, the Hoodie. Birds previously regarded as English

1960 EDITORIAL FOR BEGINNERS 167

rather than Scottish are spreading north of the Border. A
recent number of Scottish Birds described the first nesting of
the Little Owl and now the Nuthatch is said to be nesting in
Scotland, although full details are not to hand. At the same
time arctic birds are growing scarcer at the southern limit of
their range, the Ptarmigan being perhaps the best example.

To get an idea of the distribution of birds in your area the
best method is to walk across country. Here Ordnance Survey
maps can be of great assistance: look out places sparsely in-
habited by humans, especially if they are well watered or well
wooded. You can frequently find large concentrations of birds
by this means, and it is perhaps the best way of finding flocks
of geese. You will meet with frequent disappointments, but
that is part of the game and you will have the consolation of
having covered the countryside thoroughly.

Going out with observers more experienced than yourself is
advisable and, indeed, almost essential, twice as valuable as
the help given by books. You are no longer working in a
void, and better observers can correct your mistakes as a book:
which cannot answer you back, can never do. This is espec-
ially valuable in the case of birds’ calls, which cannot be com-
mitted accurately to paper. You will learn bird noises far
quicker if there is somebody at your side to tell you what they
are, than by turning over the pages of a book, and finding a
written transliteration of the call, which may or may not be
the right one. Gramophone records are, of course, very help-
ful but the cases in which they can be used in the field for
direct comparison are few and far between.

Not all ornithology consists in the identification of birds
and the plotting of their distribution. These are only the initial
steps, but they have to be taken before further progress is
made. One of the spheres of ornithology in which amateurs
can make, and have made their greatest contribution is that
of bird behaviour. Any interesting aspect of this should be
noted down, and amateurs, especially if living in the country,
have unrivalled opportunities for doing this, especially those
that have bird-tables and see the same individuals regularly.
The colour ringing of birds in the garden will greatly help
you in this.

Here it is difficult to know what is worth recording and what
is not, and in most cases only life histories of the birds con-
cerned can help you, together with articles in such journals as
British Birds, Bird Study and so on: but even if a form of
behaviour may have been recorded before, it is often worth
while to report it again, just to see how regular such behaviour
may be.

Finally, this is the last number of Scottish Birds to appear
before the breeding season of most birds gets under way, and

168 EDITORIAL FOR BEGINNERS 1(7)

the question of protection of their nests and eggs arises. It
was Lord Grey who suggested that the best way of protecting
the nest of a bird was not to look at it all, or if it is found
accidentally not to visit it again. Birds are temperamental
animals and quick to desert the nest, and the larger, one-
brooded birds may not be able to lay again if they fail the
first time. Furthermore, if you find the nest of a rare species,
secrecy is the best policy. Your urge, in the excitement of
your discovery, will be to gain as much credit as you can, and
reveal the fact; but human beings have very big ears, and
the race of egg-collectors is not yet extinct, especially in sum-
mer in Scotland, when the invasion of these sportsmen from
south of the Border takes place. If, however, you report your
discovery to the Editor of a responsible journal, you may be
sure that the locality is kept secret, as has been done in the
case of the Redwings reported in this number of Scottish
Birds and of the Wood Sandpipers in the last. Of course, some
large birds, especially when nesting within sight of a road,
cannot escape general invasion; and, in the case of the Ospreys
on Speyside, for example, it was obviously better to invoke
the sympathy of the Press and the public on their behalf than
to try to keep secret what was a secret no longer.

You may, of course, be simply watching birds for your pri-
vate enjoyment and, since this is a personal matter, nobody
can quarrel with your attitude. It may be suggested, though,
that your enjoyment will be greatly increased if your records
are published, with the additional satisfaction of assisting
other people and of cooperating in the large body of ornith-
ological work that it going on all over Scotland.

DR E. V. BAXTER

The names of Miss Baxter and Miss Rintoul may become
something of a legend among future generations of Scottish
naturalists, but to those who knew them, their mention will
always kindle a glow of affectionate personal memory.

Evelyn Vida Baxter, who died on Ist October 1959, found in
her near neighbour, Leonora Jeffrey Rintoul, a kindred spirit
and inseparable companion who shared her love of country
activities and particularly of natural history. Miss Baxter was
born on 29th March 1879, the daughter of John Henry Baxter
of Gilston, Largoward, Fife: Miss Rintoul was born at Largo
in the previous year. While still in their teens they began to
visit Tentsmuir in north-east Fife, which was then being made
into a nature reserve. Intimately connected with this project
were Dr Lewis R. Sutherland, Professor of Pathology in
University College, Dundee, and a pioneer in the study of bird

1960 DR E. V. BAXTER 169

diseases, and Dr Eagle Clarke of the Royal Scottish Museum.
These two eminent ornithologists gave ‘“‘the girls’ every en-
couragement to study birds in the field, for they were them-
selves both field naturalists, no less than workers in laboratory
and museum. To Tentsmuir, also, during the early years of the
century, came naturalists from many parts of the United
Kingdom and overseas. Grouse and blackgame, artificially
introduced to the moor, were being made the subject of special
studies in connection with the Grouse Inquiry of 1904 to 1911.
The Reserve also more than fulfilled the most optimistic
expectations as to its attractiveness for birds on migration.
Miss Baxter used to say that Tentsmuir had been the door
through which she had entered ornithology.

At that time Dr Eagle Clarke was increasingly absorbed in
studying migration. In 1905 he made his first visit to Fair Isle
and his observations stimulated Miss Baxter and Miss Rintoul
to investigate migration at the Isle of May, on approximately
the same longitude as Fair Isle, but some two hundred and
fifty miles further south. They spent a fortnight there in Sep-
tember 1907, staying at the lighthouse, and they returned to
the May to study migration in spring and autumn for the next
twenty-five years. The Observatory in the Isle of May National
Nature Reserve carries on their work—one of the many monu-
ments to their memory.

Eagle Clarke was working on the assumption that migrating
birds followed long-established routes, on which the islands
might serve as essential resting places. Miss Baxter became
impressed, at an early stage in her own observations, by the
apparent influence of weather. In 1918 the two ladies published
their classic paper in the Ibis emphasising the importance of
“drift.” Two quotations illustrate what were then revolutionary
ideas: “The direction of the wind does not prevent birds
migrating—they move when the wind is at every point of the
compass—but although this is so, in our opinion the direction
of the wind has a great influence on the route followed and
therefore on the species which occur on our shores.” “We be-
lieve that the deviation from the direct route is largely, per-
haps mainly due to drift, though voluntary ‘tacking’ may bea
factor.”

Studies of migration led Miss Baxter and Miss Rintoul to
examine afresh the normal distribution of birds in Scotland,
and particularly to establish data against which future changes
might be checked. In 1922 they published Some Scottish
Breeding Duck, their arrival and dispersal and in 1928 came
the indispensable Geographical Distribution and Status of
Birds in Scotland. The joint authors contributed a large num-
ber of papers to The Scottish Naturalist and other journals,
not all devoted to ornithology, and their Vertebrate Fauna of

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Forth was a worthy addition to the nine regional faunas al-
ready issued in the series begun by Harvie-Brown. Their
greatest literary work was the completion, just before Miss
Rintoul’s death in 1953, of the two volumes on The Birds of
Scotland, their History, Distribution and Migration, a book
revealing its authors’ knowledge and love of Scotland, no less
than of its birds.

The achievement which probably ranked first in Miss Bax-
ter’s estimation was the part she played, with Miss Rintoul,
in the creation of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club. It was
founded on 24th March 1936, with only a score of supporters,
and she saw it grow within twenty years to a membership of
nearly a thousand; and to an extraordinarily large number of
the members Miss Baxter was not only the club’s Honorary
President, but a personal friend whose advice was keenly
sought and unstintingly given.

It was not only as an ornithologist and naturalist that Miss
Baxter was well known throughout Scotland. Her versatility
and energy led her in many directions. She was keenly inter-
ested in agriculture and was an organiser of the Women’s Land
Army in the 1914-18 War and again in 1940, when she was also
a member of the Agricultural Executive Committee and of the
Scottish Agricultural Wages Board. She was a leading member
of the Women’s Rural Institute movement and served in many
offices in Institute, Federation, Area and Central Council.
Skilled with her own hands, she took the Demonstrator’s and
Judge’s tests and toured Scotland visiting Institutes from the
Shetlands and Outer Hebrides to the Borders. She was Con-
vener of the Handcrafts Committee of the Central Council.
Young people followed her leadership as keenly as did their
‘parents and she loved to serve them, not more in a broad
field, for example as a Commissioner in the Girls Guildry,
than in the personal intimacy of her Sunday School in Largo
Parish Church.

Many distinctions and honours came to Miss Baxter, but
they seemed only to increase her natural humility. In 1945 she
was awarded the M.B.E. for her war work. In 1951 when she
and Miss Rintoul were made fellows of the Royal Society of
Edinburgh, they were among only eight ladies elected up to
that time, and were the only non-graduates so honoured. In
1955 the University of Glasgow conferred the honorary degree
of Doctor of Laws upon her. Miss Baxter was the first lady to
become a Vice-President of the British Ornithologists’ Union
and at the Centenary Banquet, in March 1959, she was pres-
ented with the Medal of the Union. The reward she valued
most, however, and the one she had most fully earned, was the
universal affection and respect in which she was held by all
who knew her; her integrity would never allow her to condone

172 DR E. V. BAXTER 1(7)

inferior work, whether of hand or head, but her humour and
understanding enabled her criticisms to be constructive, kind
and welcomed. Miss Baxter’s influence will extend far beyond
the fourscore years of her own fine life, now sadly ended.

J.B.

ISLE OF MAY BIRD OBSERVATORY
AND FIELD STATION REPORT
FOR 1959

Prepared for the Observatory Committee by
W. J. EGGELING, Hon. Secretary

The Low Light was manned for 161 days between 28th
March and 24th November. April, May, August and September
were covered almost fully, but observer gaps in June, July and
October resulted in few nestling seabirds being ringed and a
period of considerable migrational activity went unrecorded.

The island’s first Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus was repor-
ted; other unusual species included a Rustic Bunting Emberiza
rustica, a Scarlet Grosbeak Carpodacus erythrinus and a
party of Continental Great Tits Parus m. major. The great ex-
pansion of nesting Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis continued.

Migration
SPRING

The spring was mild and dry; strong winds were noticeably
absent and there was little haze or fog. On only fifteen days
in April and May was the wind in the south-east, and only
once (23rd-24th April) did it stay in that quarter for more
than a few hours.

March. Judging from the birds present on the island on 28th
March, and from what the lighthouse keepers reported, there
had been a slight drift movement involving Continental Hedge
Sparrows Prunella m. modularis and Continental Robins Erith-
acus r. rubecula the previous week. The first Wheatear
Oenanthe oenanthe had appeared on 24th March, the first
Shag’s egg was laid on 25th, the first of the breeding Linnets
Carduelis cannabina returned on 28th and the first Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybita was reported on 30th—this stayed un-
til 3rd April and is the earliest notice to date.

April. The wind was continuously west until 7th, with the
8th and 9th calm. Throughout this period there was a slight
but steady movement of Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis,
Wheatears and on some days Curlews Numenius arquata.
Single Black Redstarts Phoenicurus ochruros were noted on
2nd and 3rd, the first Redstart P. phoenicurus and Willow

1960 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 173

Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus on the 10th, and the first Sand
Martin Riparia riparia and Whitethroat Sylvia communis next
day. South-east winds with haze on 23rd and 24th brought
the first considerable Willow Warbler influx of the year—
about thirty birds, half of them caught. On 25th April the first
Swallow Hirundo rustica and Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla were
seen, there was another Redstart on 27th, the first Whinchat
Saxicola rubetra turned up on 28th, and there was a Corncrake
Crex crex from 30th April to 3rd May.

May. The pattern of movement remained much as before,
but with more birds and species implicated. On the 3rd of
the month a B.B.C. “round-up” of Bird Observatories in-
cluded the Isle of May; its contribution was made up from the
main Lighthouse, looking down on the Top Trap. Although
there was not a great deal of movement on that particular
day, the Corncrake helped to provide a talking point. As the
broadcast proceeded, it was noticeable how well the dates of
arrival of spring migrants in the Forth fitted into the pattern
of systematic northward spread throughout the country.

6th May was noteworthy not only for the visit of over 150
passengers from M.S. Meteor on the National Trust for Scot-
land’s Islands Cruise but also for the obliging appearance of a
first year Rustic Bunting which, after being trapped, was
admired by a number of the visitors. Weighing 16.3 grams, it
arrived on the sixth consecutive day of westerly wind.

The 6th, 8th and 9th were good ringing days, dominated by
Willow Warblers: on 9th, after half a day of south-east wind
on 8th, 63 Willow Warblers and 17 Whitethroats were taken.
A Pied Flycatcher Muscicapa hypoleuca, a Wryneck Jynx
torquilla and a Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus figured
among the birds ringed on 11th. On 13th, thirty Willow War-
blers, seven Sedge Warblers Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, two
Lesser Whitethroats Sylvia curruca and fifteen Whitethroats
were trapped. Whitethroats (22) dominated the catch on 25th
and 26th. A movement of special interest was a northward
passage of 237 Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis, up to seven at a
‘time, on 20th May. Has a steady movement of these birds
ever been recorded?

It is worth noting that none of the unusual birds recorded in
May, for example the Wryneck on 10th and 11th, a Red-back-
ed Shrike Lanius cristatus collurio on 20th and a Bluethroat
Cyanosylvia svecica on 22nd and 23rd came after south-east
winds; in each case the wind had been due east or north for
at least three days. A Garden Warbler Sylvia borin trapped
on 27th May was carrying a Vogelwarte Helgoland ring; it
nee been ringed full-grown on Heligoland on 23rd August

957.

174 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 1(7)

AUTUMN

Observers were present from 30th July to 12th August, 21st
August to 17th September, and 19th September to 7th Octo-
ber. Passage was already in progress on 30th July, when over
200 Curlews, a Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus and nine Swal-
lows were recorded. A Dark-breasted Brent Goose Branta b.
bernicla, probably a bird of the previous year, which may
have been present for some time before it was first seen on
this date, remained until 22nd August, providing the third
recorded occurrence on the island and the first Brent to be
determined racially. The dates are very unusual for Britain.

August. The biggest fall of the month was on 4th, when,
after 2 days of west wind, overnight fog brought down about
120 Willow Warblers, mostly juveniles, 79 being trapped and
ringed. Other birds involved were four Sedge Warblers, two
juvenile Crossbills Loxia curvirostra and a Cuckoo Cuculus
canorus. The 7th was notable for the southward departure of
many Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus argentatus
and fuscus, leaving after the breeding season. Almost 240
(nine tenths Herring Gulls) were counted moving off between
10.30 and 11.30 a.m. Easterly winds with haze and light fog
ensured the arrival of more migrants during the next few days,
with small numbers of Willow Warblers a constant feature.
On 9th there were five more Crossbills, two Redstarts, two
Whinchats and another Cuckoo; the numbers of Turnstone
Arenaria interpres rose by at least fifty to 250, with a further
rise to 300 next day. On 11th four Whinchats, two Pied Fly-
catchers and a Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria arrived. Easterly
wind, Force 2, with fog from 2 a.m. till noon, saw a marked
influx on 12th. Willow Warblers (about fifty; half of them
juveniles; 39 ringed) were again the most numerous species,
other arrivals including five Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler,
two Barred Warblers, two Pied Flycatchers, a Spotted Fly-
catcher Muscicapa striata, five Whinchats, a Redstart, a Gold-
crest Regulus regulus (the earliest autumn notice so far), an-
other Crossbill and a Whimbrel. After a gap in observation
from 13th to 20th August, the party landing in the late after-
noon of 21st (mostly foggy with a fresh easterly wind) ringed
thirty birds before dark, among them thirteen Pied Fly-
catchers, seven Willow Warblers, six Garden Warblers and
two more Barred Warblers. A Reed Warbler Acrocephalus
scirpaceus was caught next day.

Small scale coasting movements, mainly in clear visibility
and with Force 1 to 4 winds from a variety of directions, con-
tinued until the end of the month. Two Manx Shearwaters
Procellaria puffinus had been seen on the 21st, and from 23rd
until 30th never less than eleven were recorded daily, with a
maximum count of 38 on 24th. A Sooty Shearwater P. grisea
was recorded on 25th and two on 26th. On the latter date, a

1960 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 175

clear sunny day with south-west wind abating from Force 6
to Force 1, and veering north-west, there was a considerable
immigration of butterflies, mostly Large, Small and Green-
veined Whites Pieris brassicae, rapae and napi, but with Red
Admirals Vanessa atalanta, and a few Small Tortoiseshells
Aglais urticae and a Peacock Nymphalis io: all arrived from
the east. More butterflies were recorded on 27th, 29th and
30th. On the 28th and 29th a Scarlet Grosbeak provided ex-
citement and on the 3lst the seventh Barred Warbler of the
year occurred.

September. To round off a phenomenally fine summer, Sep-
tember was another hot and almost rainless month. Water had
to be sent out to the Observatory. Winds throughout were very
variable, seldom above Force 3 and then for short periods only.
The weather was thus for most of the time well suited to nor-
mal autumn coasting movements and there was the usual
well-marked passage of Curlews, Great Skuas Catharacta skua,
Arctic Skuas Stercorarius parasiticus, terns, Sterna spp.,
Meadow Pipits, Wheatears and hirundines. In addition there
was a Steady trickle of arriving birds which may well have
been taking advantage of the settled conditions to make a
direct crossing of the North Sea. Goldcrests, for example, were
passing through daily in small numbers, notably in the first
fortnight of the month, and on two occasions small parties
were seen to arrive from the east against what wind there
was. Butterflies—Admirals, Whites and Tortoiseshells—came
in during the first week, as well as some Silver Y moths Plusia
gamma, with further butterfly arrivals on 26th and 30th.

The first autumn Fieldfare Turdus pilaris was reported ex-
ceptionally early on 2nd September, on the third day of light
south-east wind. On the same day there was the unusual
count of nineteen Shelduck Tadorna tadorna, the highest num-
ber yet noted. The first autumn Chiffchaff was trapped on 4th,
and a big passage of Swallows and Rock Pipits Anthus spino-
letta petrosus (several hundreds each), observed early on 6th,
was emphasised by normal Rock Pipit numbers next day. On
7th two Grey Wagtails Motacilla cinerea were recorded; on
9th a Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus and a Greenshank
Tringa nebularia appeared: a Barred Warbler, five Pied Fly-
catchers and another Grey Wagtail were noted on the 11th;
and there were single Grey Wagtails again on 14th and 23rd
September, and 4th October. So distinct a passage of this
species is unusual on the May.

Mid-September brought the arrival of two Blackcaps on
13th, an increased (evening) passage of 250 “Comic” Terns
Sterna ‘“macrundo/hirura”’ on the 14th, and the arrival of a
Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis and a Spotted Red-

176 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 1(7)

shank Tringa erythropus, recorded previously only in 1958, the
same day. The 16th, which saw the trapping of what was by
then the tenth Barred Warbler of the season, was followed on
the 17th by a small movement comprising 10 Pied Flycatchers,
a Red-breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa parva, another early
Fieldfare, a Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla (present on 18th
also), a Robin and a Redstart, with a Sooty Shearwater out to
sea. These birds appeared on the third successive day of NNE
or north-east wind.

The last ten days of September were particularly interest-
ing. On 20th at least 100 Manx Shearwaters and over twenty
Sooty Shearwaters were seen, and on 22nd, after three days
of westerly wind, more than forty of each were recorded. The
24th was showery; the wind was in the south most of the
morning, south-east for a short time about noon, then went
south again, and finally south-west. Next day (25th) twenty-
five Song Thrushes Turdus ericetorum, fifteen Redwings
Turdus musicus, three Bramblings Fringilla montifringilla
and two Pied Flycatchers appeared, but overshadowing all
else were the quite unprecedented numbers of shearwaters of
the east shore, at least 500 Manx and the same number of
Sooty, concentrated mainly into three large rafts.

The 26th brought a Redpoll Carduelis flammea, a duck and
drake Shoveler Spatula clypeata (third occurrence, first in
autumn) and about twenty Red Admiral butterflies. Shear-
water numbers were down by the 27th—over 20 Sooty but
only three Manx noted—but more than 1,000 Kittiwakes Rissa
tridactyla were observed moving south. Only about five Red
Admirals remained but more came in on 28th, when two seen
arriving from the north, low over the water.

On 30th arrivals included a Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes mini-
mus, six Fieldfares, about fifty Song Thrushes, twelve Red-
wings, fifteen Blackbirds Turdus merula, a Ring Ouzel Turdus
torquatus, the male Firecrest already mentioned (it weighed
5.3 grms. on 3rd October, the day before it left), two Red-
breasted Flycatchers, a Reed Bunting and a Lapland Bunting.
A Manx Shearwater and seven Sooty, many terns and an adult
Little Gull Larus minutus (fourth occurrence) were seen.
The wind was south-east, Force 4 to 5, after a light south-east
breeze the previous evening.

October. Only the opening week was watched, but it is
known from the Principal Keeper that there were big move-
ments of birds later in the month. lst October was cloudless
with south-east wind, but the day quickly became overcast,
the wind dropping to nil. Altogether 52 birds were trapped
including 17 Blackbirds, eight Song Thrushes, two Blackcaps,
a Chiffchaff, a Pied Flycatcher, four Hedge Sparrows, six
Chaffinches Fringilla coelebs, five Bramblings, and three out of

1960 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 177

eight Reed Buntings. Throughout the day Blackbirds (about
75), Song Thrushes (about 50), Redwings (12), Chaffinches
(50) and Bramblings (35) were moving: until noon a north to
south passage of Skylarks Alauda arvensis (80 counted) went
on and 4 Siskins Carduelis spinus were also noted. In the mor-
ning and evening of 2nd the wind was light from the south-east
but in the middle of the day was calm. Nineteen birds were
trapped including seven out of about fifteen Reed Buntings,
five out of 25 Song Thrushes and a Yellow-browed Warbler
Phylloscopus inornatus. About thirty Swallows, two House
Martins Delichon urbica, a Sand Martin Riparia riparia, about
thirty Skylarks, fifteen Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis, five
alba wagtails and a flock of 44 Starlings Sturnus vulgaris were
noted passing. About 65 Manx and fourteen Sooty Shearwaters
were seen, and an unusual visitor was a Barnacle Goose Branta
leucopsis, only the eighth notice. Two more Reed Buntings
were included in the thirteen birds trapped on 3rd (wind still
in south-east), when a newly arrived Robin proved to be one
which had wintered the previous year. Over 200 Skylarks
passed between 8 and 10.30 a.m. 4th - 7th October were hectic:
a calm dawn on 4th gave way to a stiff south-east breeze
reaching gale force in the afternoon, with thick mist at night;
throughout 5th and 6th the wind remained south-east, Force 6
to 7, hazy in the mornings but clearing later. On 7th (foggy
in the afternoon) the wind was still south-east, but less strong
(Force 4), dropping at night. On these four days the traps
reaped a rich harvest: 57 birds were ringed on 4th, 107 on
Sth, 60 on 6th and 71 on 7th. Among individuals totals were:
71 Goldcrests, 69 Song Thrushes, 42 Blackbirds, 23 Bram-
blings, 18 Robins, 16 Reed Buntings, 9 Chiffchaffs and 9 Chaff-
inches; there were also five Blackcaps, two Ring Ouzels, three
Siskins, a Red-breasted Flycatcher and a Great Grey Shrike
Lanius excubitor. 7

On 4th October big flocks of Skylarks were again noted
passing in the early morning and parties of Redwings (50),
Bramblings (20) and Chaffinches came in during the forenoon.
Blackbirds (over 100) were in the majority in the morning
but were outnumbered in the afternoon by Song Thrushes
(250). Seven Ring Ouzels were counted. Turdidae were still
numerous on the 5th and a mixed party of between 200 and
300 Bramblings and Chaffinches was seen to arrive at the
North Foghorn in the evening. There was also a big fall of
Goldcrests; 59 were ringed out of over eighty on the island.
Goldcrest numbers had more than doubled by the 6th, with
Redwings (200) more numerous also; Song Thrushes (300) and
Blackbirds (100) were in about the same strength as before.
Starlings were passing and another Great Grey Shrike and
two more Red-breasted Flycatchers appeared. For the first
time no Wheatears at all were seen.

178 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 1(7)

On 7th, when Chaffinches and Bramblings were still coming
in, Siskins (30) and Reed Buntings (12 out of 24 ringed) had
increased. Redwing numbers rose to 300 and the sixth Red-
breasted Flycatcher of the season was reported.

Reduced seas on the 8th unfortunately permitted the de-
parture of the two watchers who had been privileged to par-
take of this feast of movement. The remainder of October
went unrecorded.

November-December. Observers were in residence on lst-
2nd, 7th-9th and 21st-24th November: their records have been
supplemented by notes from the Principal Keeper, Mr W.
Watt.

Three Waxwings Bombycilla garrulus arrived on 2nd Nov-
ember, passing on the same day: two others were present on
17th and 18th. They constitute the fourth and fifth notices for
the island. There was a very high count of 230 Curlews on
23rd, the birds arriving on the North Ness in flocks of thirty
or forty at a time at short intervals from the direction of Fife
Ness. On the same day five Greenfinches Chloris chloris and a
Redpoll were recorded. Two Goldfinches Carduelis carduelis
were seen on 23rd and 24th: on the 24th one of them and a
Long-eared Owl Asio otus were caught in the same drive of
the Low Trap; the Goldfinch was of the British race brittanica.
Two Blackcaps appeared on 17th and one was noted on 2\st.
Although not recorded between 22nd and 24th November, a
male and female were “‘still visiting’ the Watts’ bird-table on
4th December, so that perhaps the same two birds were pres-
ent all the time. A small party of Continental Great Tits had
arrived on the island some time after 7th October and four of
these were ringed on 4th November. Three of the birds stayed
on and were still on the island at the end of the year. Great
Tits have been recorded on the island only four times before.

Unusual Occurrences

Most of the unusual occurrences of the year have been men-
tioned above, but the following are also deserving of notice:

Great Northern Diver Gavia immer. One on 10th November.
Sixth notice.

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata. One on 30th November.
Seventh notice.

Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator. One on 16th May.
Third spring notice.

Quail Coturnix coturnix. One on 12th May. Fifth occurrence.

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola. One from 11th to 14th
May. Third occurrence.

1960 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 179

Knot Calidris canutus. Two on 29th and 31st March. Second
spring notice.

Great Skua Catharacta skua. One on 16th May. Third spring
notice.

Black Tern Chlidonias niger. Three on 25th August. Record-
ed previously only in 1954.

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus. One was seen on 22nd November:
race uncertain. Sixth occurrence.

Fieldfare Turdus pilaris. The single birds on 2nd and 17th
November are the earliest yet recorded.

White Wagtail Motacilla a. alba. One on Ist June is the
latest notice for spring.

Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra. One on 18th May. Only
the sixth recorded occurrence in 35 years.

Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus. The movement from
lst to 7th October, which peaked on 2nd and 7th with 15 and
24 birds respectively, was in larger numbers than ever recor-
ded before.

Ringing

The year’s total of 1,635 birds of 56 species ringed, the high-
est since 1954, can be regarded as satisfactory. Less than one
tenth were nestlings and it is disappointing that so few
people thought it worth visiting the island in the latter part
of the nesting season. The ringing of young Razorbills Alca
torda and Guillemots Uria aalge is especially to be desired,
for their movements are imperfectly known. Like the Shags,
which deserve particular study in view of the continuing in-
crease of their colony, they yield a high percentage of recov-
eries.

The trapping total of 475 Willow Warblers was well in ex-
cess of the previous highest (331 in 1949), Reed Buntings at 32
were also a record (previous highest 20) and so were Song
Thrushes at 117 (94). Several other species produced totals
falling only a little below the previous highest, for example
Pied Flycatcher 53 (59), Barred Warbler 8 (9), Chiffchaff 20
(27), Goldcrest 112 (136) and Rock Pipit 79 (107). In contrast
only 105 Blackbirds were ringed, less than one third of the
average for the ten preceding years.

Recoveries

Two young Shags ringed as nestlings in 1958 have been re-
covered at a distance, one at Chapel St Leonards, Skegness,
Lincs., in January 1959, and the other on the island of Flotta,
Orkney, in July 1959. Two more Guillemots of a batch of
young ringed in June 1957 have been recovered, one on the
west coast of Texel, Holland, and the second in the Oslofijord,

180 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 1(7)

Norway, where eleven other Guillemots ringed on the May
have been reported shot in previous years.

There have been eight Blackbird recoveries since the last
annual report was written, four from Norway, two from
Sweden, one from Holland and one from Ireland. All fit in
well with the pattern of previous movements.

The two most interesting retrappings of breeding species
were those of Fulmar “Joe,” known from the same site since
1949, and of a Herring Gull ringed as an adult in May 1949,
re-caught on a fishing boat four miles ENE of the Bass Rock in
February 1959, and subsequently released. It was then at least
fourteen years old.

A bird which would undoubtedly have yielded valuable in-
formation if it had been caught was a ringed Turnstone seen
on 24th September. 52 Turnstones were caught and marked
on the island between 1952 and 1957, and the probability is
that it was one of these.

Breeding Populations

The pair of Hedge Sparrows which nested on the island in
1958 did not return in 1959, nor did any Blackbirds or Song
Thrushes try to breed. The Swallows, which first nested in
1956, were back again in 1959 and reared two broods, and a
pair of Pied Wagtails Motacilla alba yarrelli was similarly
successful. A second pair may have nested also. The Linnet
population remained at not less than ten pairs, half of them
nesting in the traps and half in grass tufts. There was no not-
iceable change in pipit numbers, but they may have been
rather fewer Wheatears.

A pair of Carrion Crows Corvus c. corone built on the
cliffs and eggs were laid, but this nest was deserted later: the
site may have been used in former years without having been
discovered, for it is extremely well concealed.

In face of the now commonplace superfluity of nesting gulls,
the Puffins Fratercula arctica again failed to establish them-
selves away from the cliffs, and for the second successive year
not a single tern laid. The phenomenal build-up of the Shag
colony continued; 352 nests were counted on 17th May and,
making allowance for nests hidden in caves, it is considered
that about 400 pairs must have bred.

A detailed assessment of the Kittiwake colonies was made
for the first time for several years. On 17th May, when there
were hardly any full clutches and much building was still in
progress, 1,276 nests were counted. Ten days later, on 27th,
there were 1,517, to which about 150 could be added in res-
pect of dead ground, and on 13th June Dr J. C. Coulson coun-

1960 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 181

ted 1,651 nests from the sea. There were eighteen nests in the
East Tarbet colony and thirteen at the South End.

Probably about 37 pairs of Fulmars nested. There were
twelve chicks on the ledges on 9th August and all of these
may have flown.

Miscellaneous Observations

The phenomenally dry summer, combined with the atten-
tions of a multitude of Rabbits (back to pre-myxomatosis
level) and the grazing of over 100 ewes and lambs, reduced the
grass growth to something approaching the close cropped
sward of five years ago. Two more ferrets have been acquired
by the Head Keeper and many hundreds of Rabbits have been
accounted for, although this is unlikely to do more than slight-
ly retard their natural increase.

Grey Seals Halichoerus grypus continue to frequent the
North Ness in numbers. A pup dropped on the island in Nov-
ember is only the third known to have been born there.

During the year six more seals marked on the Farnes were
captured on the May, their serial numbers recorded and the
animals released. One of them provides a record of exceptional
interest: it was tail-tagged on the Brownsman, Farne Islands,
on 23rd November 1959 as a male two to three days old, was
caught and released on the May on 21st December 1959 when
thirty to thirty-one days old, and was found entangled in a
fishing net at Kvalavag, Karamoy, Norway, on 30th December
1959, when 39 to 40 days old.

Several invertebrates new to the island were recorded. They
included a Garden Spider Araneus diademata and the mite
Poecilochirus necrophori, both collected by J. G. Elliott and K.
Holt and determined at the Royal Scottish Museum.

Two weeds of cultivation not previously reported were
found in Lachie’s Garden by Mrs W. Watt, Black Nightshade
Solanum nigrum and Small-flowered Melilot Melilotus indica.
Neither is common in Scotland.

The year saw a number of improvements to the Observatory,
notably the provision of a new range in the living room and
replacement of the piping leading from the water tanks to the
kitchen. Also on the credit side is the fact that an especially
severe storm in November removed one of the island’s war-
time relics, the big naval hut in the Thistle Field. This had
been becoming increasingly derelict yearly and it was a relief
to see it finally collapse, the keepers making a prompt job of
disposing of the remains. Unfortunately this same gale caused
considerable damage to the Low Light roof, the renewal of
which is now a top priority, and also played havoc with the

182 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 1(7)

traps, which will need more than usually extensive repair in
the spring of 1960. The Gully Trap has been so hard hit that,
if it is to become effective once more, it will have to be vir-
tually rebuilt. This trap has never been very productive, al-
though it has sometimes yielded quality if not quantity, and
the final decision may well be that it ought not to be replaced.

Publications

The following articles, papers and notes relating to the May
appeared during the year:

BELL, G. S.—The Vegetation of the Isle of May, Firth of Forth,
in 1957, relative to exposure features. Coturnix (Ann. Rep.
Bishop’s Stortford College Nat. Hist. Soc.) 1958: 23.

CERELY, S. Back to the Isle of May. Country Life, 24th Sep-
tember.

DuNcAN, A. A. M.—Documents relating to the Priory of the
Isle of May, c. 1140-1313. Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. 90: 52.
EGGELING, W. J.—Reports from Bird Observatories: Isle of
May. (a) Spring Migration 1959, Bird Migration 1, 2:43. (b)

Autumn Migration 1959. Bird Migration 1, 3:100.

‘“ESKDALE’—For Sunshine go to the May. Edinburgh Evening
News, 12th June.

FRESHWATER, P. B.—TIsle of May—Structural Features and
Historical Data. Coturnix 1958: 20.

ey. D. R.—Firecrest at Isle of May. Scotsman, 24th Oc-
tober.

GRANT, D. R.—Firecrest on the Isle of May. Scottish Birds 1:
153.

M(EIKLEJOHN), M. F. M.—A new Scottish Bird. Glasgow Her-
ald, 10th October.

OAKLEY, R. G.—The Birds of the Isle of May, Firth of Forth,
August 10-24, 1957. Coturnix 1958: 29.

PRESSLAND, D. E.—The Ant Fauna of the Isle of May, Firth of
Forth, August 1957. Coturnix 1958: 28.

WaTSon, A. D.—Extraordinary Numbers of Sooty Shearwaters
in the Forth. Scottish Birds 1: 144.

Acknowledgments

The debt owed by the Observatory to Principal Keeper W.
Watt and his wife for innumerable kindnesses increases an-
nually, and a similar mounting debt is owed to our boatman
Mr W. Hughes of the Fair Morn. On behalf of everyone who
visited the island in 1959 we say Thank-you to all three.

1960 SHORT NOTES 183
SHORT NOTES

(A number of the notes printed below were originally sub-
mitted to British Birds and, through the courtesy of the Edi-
tors have been forwarded to us for publication in more detail
than would be possible in that journal. The records in question
are those of Little Bittern, Baldpate, King Eider, Goshawk,
Crane, Icterine Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling and Two-
barred Crossbill. They have all been approved by the Rarities
Committee of British Birds, to the Secretary of which, Mr G.
A. Pyman, we are especially grateful for his kindly coopera-
tion.—ED.)

LITTLE BITTERN IN ANGUS

At about 10.30 a.m. on 12th July 1958 I saw a strange bird
going across the road to Balgavies Loch, just below Auldbar
Station, Angus. It was the size of a Woodcock or Lapwing,
about 12 inches long, of a dirty brownish colour, with bill and
legs yellowish. I was about fifteen yards from it and, as it was
crossing the road, its head seemed sunk into its shoulders. I
hurried down to the water’s edge and here it was sitting among
some irises, with neck stretched straight into the air. It seem-
ed to me just like a Heron with wings tight into the body, like
a statue. I mentioned this to a retired gamekeeper, Mr Ander-
son, and before I had given him a full description, he told me it
was a Little Bittern: he had seen a pair a good number of
years ago on Rescobie Loch. I have no doubt whatever that
my bird was a female Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus.

R. MIDDLETON.

(This seems to be the first record of the Little Bittern in
Angus.—ED.)
BALDPATE IN INVERNESS

Midday on 9th October 1958 brought broken skies and bright
sunlight to the Beauly Firth. A strong breeze from the south-
west had roughened the sea and in the lee of the south shore
many parties of waders and surface-feeding duck were resting
and feeding. At 1130 hours I was driving west along the coast
road to Dingwall making frequent stops to enjoy the spectacle.
During one such halt, three quarters of a mile east of Lenham
Station, I was looking through a flock of thirty Wigeon Anas
penelope when I noticed one bird which immediately struck
me as paler than the others. As I watched it move through the
flock I became more and more certain it was not penelope.

Aided by x9 binoculars and a x30 telescope and with the sun
behind me, I examined the bird in detail for fifteen minutes
at a range of forty yards. I made a sketch and field notes, of
which the following is a summary: ‘a Wigeon appearing
slightly larger and distinctly paler than duck penelope; fur-
ther distinguished by dirty cream forehead and fore-crown,

184 SHORT NOTES 1(7)

distinct dark shade behind eye, greyish ear-coverts, throat and
neck (darker on hind neck) contrasting with pinkish buff-
brown chest and flanks (those of duck penelope were much
darker and warmer), greyer back and a bill showing some
bright blue-grey; in flight no prominent white wing coverts
but whitish edges to greater coverts quite prominent.”

In addition to the above differences I was interested to ob-
serve that two Wigeon showed aggressive behaviour towards
it, though the reason remained obscure. I was convinced that
the bird was a Baldpate Anas americana, a species that I got to
know well in Canada in 1956.

Two days later Miss Karin Bryde-Williams (who had been
with me) and I were able to compare my notes and sketch
with the descriptions and plates of americana in The Popular
Handbook. My companion did not hesitate in picking out the
illustration of an immature drake, and I agreed.

We could not find the bird again on 13th October.
D. I. M. WALLACE.
(This appears to be the first record for East Inverness.—ED.)

TUFTED DUCK BREEDING IN SHETLAND

Though the Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula has greatly in-
creased in Shetland since the days of Dr Saxby (1859-1871),
there have previously been only two breeding records for the
islands: brood /6 on the Loch of Hillwell, Dunrossness, 2nd
June 1952 and brood /2 on Loch Kirkigarth, Walls, 31st July
1957.

On 29th May 1958, when we were at the Loch of Collaster,
Sandness, with Dr M. Rusk and Miss I. M. N. Ryan, we were
interested to see a pair of Tufted Ducks and two solitary
males. On 28th July 1959, when Miss M. Sanderson visited
this loch, she found three females with broods on the water
(broods/7, 6, and 3) as well as three other adult females and
six adult males.

None of these localities is a typical acid moorland loch. All
are situated in or below cultivated land with consequent
mineral-rich influx burns, resulting in a good growth of water
plants around the loch shores.

L. S. V. VENABLES.
U. M. VENABLES.

KING EIDER IN SHETLAND
On the morning of 24th June 1959 a King Eider Somateria
spectabilis was seen on Bigton Wick between St Ninian’s Isle
and the mainland of Shetland. It was watched from 11 a.m.
to 5 p.m. by several observers, including Miss Goodfellow, Mr

1960 SHORT NOTES 185

Tom Henderson, Mr and Mrs William Kay, Dr H. Mackay and
myself. The bird spent the greater part of the time at rest,
except for a short flight. and moving from place to place on
the water. It came ashore twice for short periods and was
diving and feeding for approximately an hour and a half. It
was last seen swimming strongly towards the open sea.

The following notes were taken on the spot: 1. Upper parts
black except for white stripe on forewing and white spot near
short tail. 2. Breast off white with all black upperparts seen
several times when bird raised itself to flap wings. 3. Bill or-
ange, with colour continuing to top of head where edged with
black against grey crown. Latter divided from greenish side of
head by clear yellow eyestripe stretching downwards to neck.

We concluded that the bird was an adult male. I enclose
photograph.
E. A. GROVE.

SNOW GOOSE IN ABERDEENSHIRE

On 21st December 1959 at 2.30 p.m. in good light and clear
visibility, standing at the middle of the south shore of the
Loch of Strathbeg, Aberdeenshire, I saw a flock of about 200
grey geese get up from the east end of the loch and fly along
in front of me. Behind this flock was a solitary white bird,
goose-shaped and noticeably smaller than the grey geese it
followed. Its black wing-tips were visible to the naked eye,
and through 8x binoculars I could see that it was obviously
a goose and had a pale bill. I am very familiar with the shape
and flight of Gannets and know that this was not a Gannet.
My father, Dr Alan Lyell, was with me and we agreed that
the white bird could only be a Snow Goose Anser caerules-
cens subsp.

BRIAN A. LYELL.

FEMALE SPARROWHAWK ATTACKING INTRUDER
AT NEST

In the 1957 breeding season I had the nest of a pair of
Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus under observation in a conifer
plantation in the neighbourhood of Dornoch. The nest was
built at a height of over twenty feet in a larch. During the
early stages of incubation the female bird showed no aggres-
sive behaviour. When flushed on Ist June, however, instead of
flying away as she had done on previous occasions, she aligh-
ted in a nearby tree, where she kept up an insistent “kekking”’
and, as I was looking into the nest, which held five eggs and a
chick, she dashed past almost touching my head. On 5th June
she again became very noisy when flushed from the nest. Os
I was climbing the tree the ‘‘kekking’”’ note suddenly ceased
and, next moment, she swooped past, striking me a _ sharp

186 SHORT NOTES 1(7)

blow on the back of the head and sweeping my hat to the
ground. Later I succeeded, without further molestation, in
reaching the nest, which then contained four chicks and two
eggs. Unfortunately a few days later the nest was found
plundered.

I cannot find any reference in the literature to a similar
attack, although J. H. Owen, who had unrivalled experience
of the species, refers to an incident (British Birds 10:25) when
“one bird and only one shrieked ‘kill-kill-kill’, and flew back-
wards and forwards through the next tree after passing within
a few inches of us and on rare occasions even touching us.”

D. MACDONALD.
GOSHAWKS IN ISLAY

On 28th April 1959, at Loch Ballygrant a large bird of prey
was seen flying across the water. It resembled a large Sparrow-
hawk with broad blunt wings and a very long tail. The most
conspicuous part of the plumage was the under tail coverts,
which were white, and noticeable when the bird twisted out
of the trees. The underparts were pale, lined across. The upper
parts brown. As it hung motionless above the conifers it
looked as large as a Buzzard and, compared with a Wood
Pigeon in the immediate vicinity, it was much longer and
larger. It flew with glides and flapping wingbeats, jinking from
side to side. Once it dived into the conifers from a height, very
much like a Sparrowhawk.

S. GREENWOOD.

(Mr B. E. Cooper, who also saw the bird, has submitted a very
similar description, except that he describes the upper parts
as “greyish brown.’’—ED.)

PARTRIDGES NESTING AT HIGH ALTITUDES

The Partridge Perdix perdix is generally a bird of agricul-
tural areas, but in Scotland it is well known to breed at deser-
ted old crofts or farms in upland places, and “a certain
proportion do inhabit the edges of the moors and may even be
found far out on the hillsides’ (The Birds of Scotland: 738).
However, the highest Scottish nesting records in that book
come from Tomintoul (1157 feet) and Dalwhinnie (1153 feet).
In Deeside the Partridge has regularly bred at higher altitudes
at least since 1950. I have records for two years of a pair of
Partridges rearing young near an old crofting place (deserted
after the ’45) at about 1,400 feet in Glen Lui, west of Braemar.
In nearby Glen Ey, I have notes of a pair rearing young several
years near the house at Auchelie, at about 1,450 feet, and in
Glen Muick near Ballater I have seen a pair with small young
near the top of the glen at 1,350 feet. At all these places the
habitat was rough grassland, grazed by deer. In July 1958 I

1960 SHORT NOTES 187

found a pair with small young at 1,600 feet on the moors north
of Balmoral, and eventually this pair reared eight young
which were still there in late October. The habitat was a
shallow basin with patches of grasses among long heather, and
juniper bushes here and there. The nearest deserted croft lies
over three quarters of a mile away. All the above pairs became
resident in these places weeks before egg-laying, so there was
no question of them having bred lower down and later moved
up with their young.
ADAM WATSON.

CRANE IN SUTHERLAND

At 2 p.m. on 6th August 1958 I disturbed a Crane Megalornis
grus from the long grass on the raised beach near Lothbeg
Point, Helmsdale, Sutherland. The Crane flew a short distance
before settling again at a distance of about fifty yards. The
bird was much larger than a Heron, standing very upright
high above the grass. The plumage of the bird was mainly a
light slate grey, except for the very long neck and the wing-
tips. The neck was a very dark grey or black with a broad
stripe of white on each side, running from the eye to halfway
down. The wing-tips were black and the inner secondaries
drooped beyond the tail. The bill and legs seemed to be greyish
in colour. The red crown was not visible.

As I approached the Crane took flight, flying goose-like with
its head and neck fully extended, drooping slightly earthwards,
and its long legs extending well beyond the tail. In flight the
grey scapulars and wing coverts appeared to have a mauve
tint. The primaries were black and in flight they were separ-
ated at the tips, appearing to bend clumsily after a wing beat.
The Crane flew below fifty feet northwards along the coast,
with slow wingbeats. It appeared very wild and its feathers
not damaged at all.

D. J. MITCHELL.

SONG OF THE WATER RAIL

In June 1949 on the marsh at Cley, Norfolk, M.F.M.M. heard
a bird call which was new to him coming from a reed-bed.
This call, which was heard also by a number of other ob-
servers, began regularly at sundown and continued without
intermission for a considerable time, perhaps even all night.
It consisted of a series of ticks—usually three, sometimes
more—followed by a thin, agonised, wheezy scream, often
declining in pitch at the end. It could be rendered as ‘“‘tic tic
tic wheee-oo.”’ The bird responsible, known for convenience
as the Hip-hip hooray Bird, was thought to be possibly the
Little Crake Porzana parva, one of whose notes is described
by The Handbook V, 188) as “‘tjip-tjip-tjip-treeo.”” R. A. Rich-
ardson tells us that in the spring of 1950 there were two, if not

188 SHORT NOTES 1(7)

three, birds making the same noise on Cley Marsh. The possi-
bility of a Water Rail Rallus aquaticus being responsible was
thought unlikely because of the unfamiliarity of the call, and
because no exactly corresponding description could be found
among the Water Rail’s notes described in the literature.

On 12th April 1956 M.F.M.M. heard the same call pro-
ceeding out of a reed-bed at Whitwell, Hertfordshire. He in-
formed other ornithologists and A.R.J., F. C. Gribble, A. C.
Morriss and Henry Key succeeded in hearing the bird. H. Key
made a recording of the call, intending to play it back and
attract the bird within view. A few days later, however,
A.R.J., using 10 x 40 glasses at about fifteen yards, succeeded
in obtaining a very clear view of the bird in the repeated act
of calling. To his surprise it turned out to be a Water Rail!

The Handbook (V, 194) says that the Water Rail has “a
sharp kik-kik-kik and variants. Especially in spring and sum-
mer these may be repeated with great persistence at dusk and
through a great part of night in long sequences, which may
be more or less uniform or increasing in speed to the finish
or rising to a climax and tailing off in a few disconnected
notes, or with other variations.’”’ These remarks are probably
meant to include, but do not accurately describe, the call
heard, which was, by contrast, of a set and formal type, only
varying in the number of tickings and, sometimes, in the
quality of the final scream. It seems likely that the call is
only uttered for a short period in the breeding season and
may be of the nature of a song. This seasonal aspect, together
with the fact that it is more often uttered by night, may ac-
count for its being unfamiliar. The Whitwell bird, however,
frequently called by day, though not continuously. We feel
that this not is worth publishing if only in order to prevent
other ornithologists who hear the sound suspecting the pres-
ence of one of the rarer crakes and going to a great deal of
trouble to prove the identity of the bird.

A. R. JENKINS.
M. F. M. MEIKLEJOMN.

LESSER YELLOWLEGS IN ABERDEENSHIRE

On the afternoon of 15th September 1959, at the Cotehill
Loch, by Collieston, Aberdeenshire, our attention was drawn
to an unusual wader close to two Ruffs Philomachus pugnax.
It was feeding leg-deep in the water, after the fashion of a
Greenshank, but, although we critically examined it from
about fifty yards in a good light, we could not identify it.
A.J.M.S. thought it rather resembled a large Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareola, using a nearby Lapwing for size comparison.
R.M. thought it grey above and white beneath, rather like a

1960 SHORT NOTES 189

delicately proportioned Greenshank. A.J.M.S. approached to
within 30 yards of the birds before the Ruffs flew up and were
joined by the strange wader. Excellent views were obtained
in flight before the birds again alighted in deep grass nearby:
seen from above the upper parts of the stranger again recalled
the Wood Sandpiper. The crown, mantle, wing and rump were
greyish, with large scaly pattern of darker, probably brownish
grey, colour. The tail was whitish, providing Greenshank-like
contrast, and boldly barred with greyish brown. As it alighted
a very good view was had of the legs, a distinct bright yellow,
quite different from the greenish yellow of the legs of one of
the Ruffs. In the general din of other birds calling we thought
we heard the “tew, tew” call, but could not be certain.

We feel that it was a Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes be-
cause its finer proportions, particularly with regard to its
delicate bill, differentiate it from the only other wader it could
possibly be, the Greater Yellowlegs T. melanoleuca.

ALISTAIR J. M. SMITH.
R. MAXWELL.

COLLARED DOVES IN FIFE

On 23rd and 25th August 1959 I observed a Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaocto which was calling regularly and lustily
from a poplar in a garden near the park above Lower Dun-
fermline Station. It was very shy and kept to the treetops
so that it was extremely difficult to get good views of it
among the foliage. I had suspected its identity from the call-
note, an unmistakable deep coo-coo-coo in the tones of a Wood
Pigeon Columba palumbus and with the stress on the second
syllable. I know the call in Norfolk. The bird’s head appeared
to be a bluish grey with a dusty brown crown and a black
half collar round the back of the neck; the general colour of
the rest of the upperparts was pale dusty brown and the
underparts were paler with a pink tinge on the breast; in
flight the primaries showed sooty and darker than the rest
of the wings. I was unable to get a proper view of the tail
but George Dick, who originally drew my attention to the
bird, was able to see the characteristic black and white pat-
tern. We have no doubt the bird we saw was a wild Collared
Dove. We had previously wondered if it could have been an
escaped Barbary Dove S. risoria from Pittencrieff Glen aviary
in Dunfermline, but we were told that escape from the cages
was impossible and that no doves had escaped for years. We
were able to contrast the plumage of these birds with our Col-
oured Dove and among other points noted their creamy colour
and the lack of dark wing-tips. The call was quite different,
being softer, higher pitched, with a rhythm reminiscent of a
crowing cock, and a tone more like a Turtle Dove S. turtur

1$0 SHORT NOTES 1(7)

than a Wood Pigeon. This is the first record of a Collared
Dove in Fife and Forth.
P. G. R. BARBIER.

On 4th October 1959 I found a Collared Dove Streptopelia
decaocto lying under a shrub in my garden at Methil, Fife.
It was very bedraggled and exceptionally tame, allowing me
to pick it up. The tail was almost completely absent, only a
few stumps being left; the rump was bare, as if the feathers
had been ripped out, possibly by a predator. There was no
ring on its legs. After two days, when the bird seemed much
brighter, it was released at Leven.

T. S. WEBSTER.

(There is no doubt, from the description sent by the recor-
der, that this was a Collared Dove. The circumstances of its
arrival and capture, however, might be thought to cast a
little doubt on its truly wild status.—ED.)

ROELER IN SHETEAND

On 20th July 1959 the local postman noticed a Roller Coracias
garrulus in a narrow dale called Trollodaal in the parish of
Northmavine, and on the following day I and some friends also
discovered the bird. Larger than a Blackbird, but not so bulky
as a Rock Pigeon, it resembled a crow in outline. It was an
adult in full plumage, generally greeny blue with chestnut
back. It perched on telegraph wires, from which it repeatedly
flew down to feed, appearing really brilliant when it did so.
It remained for three or four days.

J. PETERSON.

SONG THRUSH CARRYING YOUNG

On 12th May I was walking with my three children at
Bieldside, near Aberdeen. As we walked up a wooded lane one
of the children drew my attention to a “humpy-backed” bird
which had flown from a tree and landed about thirty yards
in front of us on the roadway. I got to within twenty yards
and through my binoculars I identified a Song Thrush Turdus
ericetorum with a fledgling hanging on to its back. It was
positioned well up on the shoulders and facing front. The Song
Thrush remained for a few moments on the ground and then
flew into the trees with the youngster still on its back.

R. MAXWELL.

REDWINGS BREEDING IN SUTHERLAND

Consequent on the recent publication of a note on Redwings
Turdus musicus breeding in Ross-shire (British Birds 52:315),
it now seems opportune to piace on record that there is evi-
dence to suggest that Redwings have bred more or less reg-

1960 SHORT NOTES 191

ularly in Sutherland for about the past six years.

The information that there were breeding Redwings in the
country was first obtained, almost casually, in 1956, by Mr
George Waterston from an unusually interested and alert
gamekeeper. Mr Waterston passed the news on to me and to-
gether we visited the place on 6th May 1956. We were inform-
ed by the keeper that the birds had been there for two or three
years and that in the previous year (1955) there had been three
nests from which a total of nine young had been reared. We
certainly confirmed the presence of several adult Redwings,
which we both saw and heard, although we found them to be
exceedingly shy and unobtrusive. We did not find any nests.
On 31st May 1956 I revisited the place and camped overnight.
Redwings were singing well, particularly in the early morning
and late evening, but again I did not succeed in finding any
nests in spite of a careful search.

For subsequent years I have only the information supplied
by the keeper. In 1957 there were two or three pairs, and later
five flying young were seen. Redwings were present in the
breeding area throughout the winter, though of course there
is no proof that these were not immigrants. Two pairs were in
the breeding area in the spring of 1958, and this year (1959)
two nests were found by the keeper, who thinks there may
also have been a third. The birds were there throughout the
summer and in September it was believed that there was a
total of fourteen around the area, including adults and young.

Redwings nested elsewhere in Sutherland in 1925, probably
1927 and in 1933 (British Birds 40:277). The locality was not
published, but I have good reason to believe that it was at
Skelpick, near Bettyhill, where however none have been seen
subsequently in the breeding season. There is also a record
(British Birds 37: 17-178) of a singing Redwing elsewhere in
north Sutherland on 16th June 1943, though no nest was found.

It is quite possible that Redwings nest in the north of Scot-
land more often than is generally realised, and visitors to the
Highlands should bear this in mind; but it is also worth re-
marking that the Skelpick pair nest in a red-currant bush,
and there is no harm in telling that the pairs described above
have been in rhododendrons in a garden, so habitats other than
birchwoods ought to be looked for.

IAN D. PENNIE.

ICTERINE WARBLER IN SHETLAND

An Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina was watched for
about half an hour by myself, L. S. V. Venables and Miss I. M.
N. Ryan at the west side of Loch Spiggie, South Shetland, on
the evening of 3rd June 1958. The bird was first seen in a small
group of willows but later moved to a nearby croft where it

192 SHORT NOTES 1(7)

spent some of the time inside the derelict buildings. It is of
interest to note that the pale edgings to the secondary feathers
formed a continuous light patch on the closed wings.

Description: size about the same as Whitethroat Sylvia
communis with which it was in company for part of the time.
Head, back and rump olive green. Prominent yellow eyestripe.
Wings and tail dark brown. Light patch on wing. The under-
parts were bright yellow with the exception of the under tail
coverts that were whitish. The bill was flesh-coloured and of
uniform depth for nearly the whole length. Legs bluish black.
The wing when closed was long and pointed, the tip of the
longest flight feather extending about halfway down the tail.
The flight was like that of the Whitethroat. A conspicuous
feature of the bird was the high forehead which was noted at
all times. It was not heard to call or sing.

LESLIE A. BROWN.

(Mr ae has also submitted an accurate sketch of this bird.
—ED.

RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER IN ABERDEENSHIRE

On 12th October 1959 we were mist-netting along the haw-
thorn hedges which border Culterty Field Station, Newburgh,
Aberdeenshire, when we saw a Red-breasted Flycatcher
Muscicapa parva.

Strong easterly winds had sprung up in the early morning
and there was a large influx of drift migrants, including
Blackbirds, Robins, Goldcrests, Blue Tits, three Redstarts, a
Willow Warbler and a male Blackcap. The first three men-
tioned were in large numbers with about 200 passing through
every hour during the early hours of daylight.

When the Red-breasted Flycatcher was first seen, it was
half hidden in the hedgerow and A.J.M.S. thought it resem-
bled a Lesser Whitethroat as it moved away from us in the
thick hawthorns. Then it flew out in front of us and perched
in the open no more than five yards away. In flight it showed
two fairly broad longitudinal white patches, one on each side
of the tail. We watched it with binoculars as it remained in
view for several minutes. It was so close that we had to move
back in order to bring the bird into focus. It was slightly
smaller than a Robin, a dainty bird; brownish upperparts
with pale underparts; light eye-ring; whitish throat and belly,
warm buff on breast; white patches extending from base of
tail slightly more than halfway down the outer tail feathers;
darkish legs.

There was no doubt that it was a Red-breasted Flycatcher.
We continued to watch it for nearly fifteen minutes, while we
viewed it from all angles as we attempted to drive it into the

1960 SHORT NOTES 193

mist-net. Unfortunately when disturbed it flew to the topmost
branches and always passed over the top shelf of the net. A
maddening experience! On several occasions it uttered a
typical flycatcher note, which we rendered as ‘“‘chik.”

ALASTAIR J. M. SMITH.
R. MAXWELL.
(This is the first record for Aberdeenshire and the third for
the Scottish mainland.—Eb.)

ROSE-COLOURED STARLING IN SHETLAND

On 7th September 1958, while I was staying in Fetlar, one
of the residents of the Hubie district reported that he had
seen a “black and white magpie” that morning and that it
seemed rather an unusual occurrence. Others had seen it too
and reports varied: one even said it was “‘as big as a pigeon.”
When I heard, however, that “some of da boys said it wis
pink,” I wasted no further time, but wandered round the
Hubie houses in search of the bird. I soon discovered it perch-
ed on a fence with a flock of Shetland Starlings. I did not
see it stationary at any time for more than a few seconds, so
the crest was not immediately noticeable. I had the impres-
sion that the dark parts (head, neck, wings, tail) were very
much darker than the corresponding parts of the common
Starling. The pink colouring was quite beyond dispute, though
not very brilliant in quality. There was some light colouring
in the bill.

The bird was an undoubted adult Rose-coloured Pastor (or
Starling) Sturnus roseus. It was still present on the following
day.

R. N. WINNALL.

TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL IN SHETLAND

On 21st August 1959, while camping on Foula, Shetland, I
noticed a bird flying along the cliff-top at the north of the
island which I first took to be a female Chaffinch Fringilla
coelebs, an uncommon visitor to the island. I watched it settle
on some rocks and further examination showed it to be an im-
mature Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera. It remained
for about an hour feeding on seeds of Thrift Armeria mari-
tima on the rocks and grassy slopes.

The superficial resemblance to a hen Chaffinch was re-
markable, due to the greenish-grey plumage and white wing
bars. Upper parts grey-green, crown and back with heavy
black streaking, underparts paler with longer narrower
streaks from breast to under tail, most conspicuous on flanks;
wings dark with two very broad white crescent bands, lower
band broader, and with three short white bands on the secon-

194 SHORT NOTES 1(7)

daries, giving barred effect. Bill stout but quite long, upper
mandible strongly hooked, closed bill inconspicuously crossed.
Legs and eyes dark. Smaller and slenderer than Crossbill L.
curvirostra and comparable in size to Chaffinch.

Crossbills were numerous in Shetland at the time, with
other migrants from east Scandinavia. The bird was also seen
by R. I. Duncan and H. G. Rees.

J. V. Boys.
NOTES FROM ISLAY

(The following notes are selected from data provided by A.
Allen, Hugh Boyd, D. Gardener-Medwin, J. E. King, E. A.
Maxwell, M. F. M. Meiklejohn, John Murray, R. J. Olliver, H.
G. Usher and Alan Walker).

Great Northern Diver Gavia immer. A pair were displaying
and calling off the east coast in April 1959 (D.G-M.)

Dabchick Podiceps ruficollis. In April 1959 pairs calling on
Loch Lossit, L. Ballygrant, L. nan Cadhan and L. nan Diol
(J.E.K., J.M.)

Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis. What was probably an
abnormal Barnacle Goose was seen near Bridgend on 25th
January 1959: face usual creamy white, but rest of head and
most of neck brown, not black. Black band encircling lower
neck and upper breast; back and scapulars very pale grey,
barred darker; primaries white. The breast and flanks were
clear white, instead of ash grey; soft parts black. ““We hope
this ugly goose lives a long time and is seen by many people,
as records of its occurrence could help to track the movements
of the Islay geese.” (H.B., E.A.M.)

Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus. Two brown birds in centre of
the island on 16th February 1959 (M.F.M.M.); a male near
Port Ellen on 29th March 1959 (A.A., R.J.O.) and another there
in April 1959 (J.E.K.)

Ruff Philomachus pugnax. In late August 1957 three were
seen near Port Ellen and one near Loch Gruinart (A.W.)

Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides. One at the head of Loch In-
daal on Ist April 1959 (A.A., R.J.O.)

Greater Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major. In April
1959 one was seen in the wood at Loch Lossit and one in a
wood near Ardbeg (D.G-M.)

Carrion Crow Corvus corone. M.F.M.M. saw four at Machrie
on 17th November 1957 and two there on 14th February 1959.
D. G-M. reports one at Port Ellen (April 1959) while J.E.K.
(April 1959) says that it is “widely scattered over island.”

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus. A family party at Kil-
dalton in June 1955 (H.G.U.). Also reported from Port Askaig,
Loch Lossit and Loch Skerrols.

Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita. To the localities reported

1960 SHORT NOTES 195

(antea 1:100) add Ballygrant, June 1955 (H.G.U.).

Goldfinch Carduelis elegans. A pair at Laggan Bridge on
17th November 1957 (John Cameron, M.F.M.M.) and a pair at
Loch Skerrols, lst April 1959 (A.A., R.J.O.).

CORRESPONDENCE

FIRECREST IN SCOTLAND

It has been assumed that the Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus
seen on the Isle of May this autumn (antea 1:153) was the
first for Scotland. Certainly there is no mention of one in The
Birds of Scotland or in The Handbook: there is, however, a
mention of a Firecrest in Gray’s Birds of the West of Scot-
land, p. 100, where he notes the one referred to in The Birds
of East Lothian by Turnbull. I have this week seen for the
first time a copy of this book of Turnbull’s and what he says
about the occurrence is the following, under stragglers or ir-
regular visitors:

“Fire-crested Wren Regulus ignicapillus. Two seen by me
in Gladsmuir Woods in 1848. Afterwards shot one in
Forest Wood.”

The copy of Turnbull’s book which we now have here (The
Nature Conservancy, Edinburgh) is his own working copy,
with an interleaved duplicate at the back containing his
notes from 1863 to 1864. In this he has inserted some addition-
al notes. He has amended his original description by adding
after “Gladsmuir Woods” “in summer of 1848’, and says of
the one shot in Forest Wood: “I shot one in ‘Forest’ Wood in
1848, its markings as described by Jardine in Birds of Great
Britain, Pt. 2, Fol. 160—it was rather larger than the Gold-
crest.

I do not know whether the authors of The Handbook and of
The Birds of Scotland overlooked this record or whether they
dismissed it as unsatisfactory. Just possibly Turnbull’s skin
may have been preserved.

W. J. EGGELING.
HYBRID GEESE

Messrs A. D. Watson and L. A. Urquhart (antea 1: 147-8)
have described hybrid geese seen in Kirkcudbrightshire and
Lanarkshire.

In 1939 one of my Greylag males paired with a Barnacle
Goose, four young being reared. I gave two to Dr John Berry
of Tayfield and left the remaining two loose on Lindores Loch,
Fife. I sold Lindores in 1941, and did not visit the loch again
until 1945 or 1946, when I saw that this pair were still on the
loch with one young one. Whether Dr Berry’s bred and es-
Ccaped, or whether the ones I bred went to Lanarkshire or

196 CORRESPONDENCE 1(7)

Kirkcudbrightshire, I do not of course know, but it does seem
that these were the hybrid geese described.

Holmwood, Perth. J. C. LAIDLAY.

We submitted the preceding letter to Dr John Berry, who
comments as follows:

I had read the note in Scottish Birds with interest and had
considered whether the hybrids seen in south-west Scotland
might have been Tayfield birds. Some of those which have
flown away from Tayfield in recent years might fit the descrip-
tion, but on the whole I am much more inclined to think
that these were genuinely wild hybrids. The two Grey-lag x
Barnacle Geese which, as described by Mr Laidlay, nested at
Lindores Loch, have not been seen or heard of for several
years, nor have their progeny. If only on size, I would res-
pectfully reject Mr Laidlay’s suggestion that the south-west
birds were of Lindores stock.

When Mr J. C. Laidlay sold Lindores in 1941, along with
other geese transferred to Tayfield were two hybrids, Grey-
lag male x Barnacle female. These two geese were pinioned;
two others of the same brood were full-winged and, having
thus escaped capture, remained on Lindores Loch. All four
hybrids bore a remarkable resemblance to Canada Geese
Branta canadensis, except that they were nearer to Barnacle
Geese in size and the black of the neck extended on to the
breast, as in the Barnacle. A photograph of the birds, their
descriptions and measurements, and a discussion of this and
other similar cases of hybridisation, was published in the
Avicultural Magazine 1942 (Ser. 2, VII, pp. 83-6).

The two full-winged hybrids continued to frequent Lin-
dores Loch in subsequent summers and bred there. The
young resembled the parents. The two pinioned birds were
also a male and a female, but the male paired with a Barnacle
Goose. A photograph showing him at the nest was published
in 1945. The accompanying article refers to his threequarter
Barnacle progeny and also notes that hybrids produced by
a Grey-lag gander, who had simultaneously guarded the nests
of three Barnacle females with whom he had mated in that
year, closely resembled the reverse cross of a Barnacle male
x Grey-lag female. Avicultural Magazine 1945 (Ser. 5, X, pp.
102-107).

Plumage and the colour of bills and legs of geese may
change materially during the first few years, and this is not-
iceably the case with hybrids. In subsequent years change in
plumage of the black geese and their hybrids is unusual. In
1960 the Greylag x Barnacle hybrid male is still exactly as
pictured sixteen years ago in the second article mentioned
above. Nor does size normally increase after maturity. In my

1960 CORRESPONDENCE 197

experience few Barnacle hybrids are as large as Grey-lags;
even Barnacle male x Chinese female Anser cygnoides hyb-
rids are conspicuously smaller, although a (Snow x Grey-
lag) male x Barnacle female was an unexpectedly large bird.
Canada x grey goose hybrids are usually about the size of
Grey-lags and resemble Barnacle x grey goose hybrids, ex-
cept that the breast is unlikely to be black unless there has
been Barnacle (? or Brent) in the recent pedigree. Barnacles,
however, seem particularly prone to cross-breed. Miss A. P.
Gray (Bird Hybrids 1958) lists sixteen different crossings
with a Barnacle.

Apart from the significant fact that two of the hybrids re-
corded in south-west Scotland were seen with a Barnacle in
a flock of Grey-lag, I agree, from the descriptions, that the
hybrids were probably Grey-lag x Barnacle, and quite pos-
sibly from fully wild parents.

CURRENT NOTES

These notes are divided into two sections, the first of which
has been held over from the preceding issue of Scottish Birds.
The second section consists of those notes which have been
sent in since lst December 1959.

Part I.

(These notes are considered to be fully authenticated.
Notes from Fair Isle are published in the Fair Isle Bird Ob-
servatory Bulletin and those from the Isle of May in a sep-
arate report in Scottish Birds. Unless otherwise stated, all
dates apply to 1959). |

BREEDING AND DISTRIBUTION

A Black-necked Grebe Podiceps caspicus in summer plum-
age was seen at the Clyde breeding haunt (cf. antea 1:5) on
24th July (P. G. R. Barbier). On 26th August a Fulmar Ful-
marus glacialis appeared as far up the Forth as Longannet
Point, opposite Grangemouth (G. Dick): in Edinburgh single
Fulmars have been seen over St Margaret’s Loch on 18th
June 1958 and near Samson’s Ribs on 5th August (‘“‘Eskdale,”
Edinburgh Evening News, 29.8.59). Gannets Sula bassana have
been seen above the Forth Bridge, all of them immature birds:
one off Culross on 6th September and one off Cults Ness on Ist
October (G. Dick), also two between Grangemouth and Kin-
cardine on 8th September (J. Hoy). In the last week of June
1958 a pair of Gadwall Anas strepera were several times seen
in the Tongue area of Sutherland (R. J. Ross). In late August
numbers of Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasicus were seen

198 CURRENT NOTES 1(7)

on the Forth above the Forth Bridge and on 23rd August
three of these flew beyond the Kincardine Bridge in the
evening (P. G. R. Barbier)). On 14th June at St Serf’s Island
in Loch Leven there were three Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Larus fuscus graellsi and later one of them flushed from three
eggs (A. Macdonald). A Herring Gull with pale yellow legs,
resembling the race Larus argentatus omissus, was at Fig-
gate Pond, Edinburgh, on 22nd October (D. R. Anderson). A
Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur was seen on 19th June near
Bonnybridge Generating Station, Stirlingshire (Ronald
Logan). At the Ayrshire nesting site of the Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaocto (cf. antea 1:125) nine birds were pres-
ent in late October, six adults and three juveniles (Helen C.
Todd). On 16th August a Little Owl Athene noctua was seen
at Barnes Ness, East Lothian: it had a little down above the
eyes, but flew strongly (A. Macdonald). A Grasshopper War-
bler Locustella naevia was heard at Bordie, Kincardine, Fife,
on 3rd June (J. Hoy, P. G. R. Barbier) and another at Cam-
eron Reservoir, Fife, in late July (A. Macdonald, R. I. Mit-
chell). New species for Cramond Island are a Blue Tit Parus
caeruleus seen on 13th December 1958, and single Reed Bun-
tings Emberiza schoeniclus on 3rd May 1958 and 15th August
(P. Holt).

MIGRATION

Two records not previously published are of a female
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros at Stobo, Peebles, on
18th May 1958 (R. Traquair Thin) and of a number of Pied
Flycatchers Muscicapa hypoleuca at Sands of Forvie, Aber-
deen, on 2nd September 1958 (A. J. M. Smith).

Winter 1958-59.

A Greenshank Tringa nebularia was at the Doonfoot, Ayr,
on 25th January, and on 8th and 15th February (L. A. Urqu-
hart). At Barassie, Ayrshire, an immature Iceland Gull Larus
glaucoides was present on 19th April (L. A. Urquhart). A
Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor seen on the late dates
16th and 18th June in the Morar area, W. Inverness (Marion
Dickson per R. W. J. Smith) was doubtless a delayed winter
visitor, aS may have been Crossbills Loxia curvirostra seen
at Ormiston, East Lothian, two on 15th May and one on 14th
June (John Baird).

Spring 1959.
An interesting paper on Spring Migration (1959) at the Butt
of Lewis by B. A. E. Marr, J. Reaney, W. H. Truckle and E.

J. Wiseman was published in Bird Migration I (2). Extensive
northward migration of geese was observed and among the

1960 CURRENT NOTES 199

scarcer species seen were Gadwall, Black-tailed Godwit, Ice-
land Gull and Little Auk.

A drake Garganey Anas querquedula was watched at Aber-
lady on 10th May (John Baird). Large numbers of Little
Gulls Larus minutus have already been reported (antea 1:
129): in addition, at Morton Lochs, Fife, 32 were seen on
12th April, 23 on 23rd April, and smaller numbers on other
occasions: there were also 42 on the sands at Tentsmuir on
29th April (L. Fullerton). Swifts Apus apus were seen in
Skye on the following occasions: six on 21st June at the head
of Portree Loch, three on 22nd June four miles west of Port-
ree, and two, flying south, on 25th June between Portree and
the Storr Lochs (L. A. Urquhart).

Autumn 1959

Two Red-necked Grebes Podiceps griseigena still with
chestnut necks, were at Aberlady Bay on 2nd September (A.
Ablett).

A Sooty Shearwater Procellaria grisea was seen ten miles
south of Sula Sgeir on 8th September (W. A. J. Cunningham).

A female Garganey Anas querquedula was at Hule Moss,
Berwickshire, on 15th August (W. Murray). As many as 21
Pintail Anas acuta were together on Loch Leven on 9th Oct-
ober, and two on Peppermill Dam, Kincardine, Fife, on the
10th (G. Dick). Inland records of Scaup Aythya marila come
from Hule Moss—three on 9th and 15th August and four on
22nd—(W. Murray) and from Peppermill Dam, a duck bird
on 10th October (G. Dick). Early arrivals of Pink-footed Geese
Anser brachyrhynchus are 23rd September at Strathtay,
Perthshire (J. W. Campbell) and 24th September, when 93
were counted over Blackford Hill, Edinburgh (W. J. Egge-
ling). A big southward movement was observed at Strathtay
on 17th October, over 430 birds being counted from a single
spot between 9.30 and noon: others were heard but not seen.
On the same day 80 “geese” flew south over Pitlochry and a
big lot of “geese” near Dalwhinnie. About 200 more passed
over Strathtay on the 18th, but none have been seen since
(J. W. Campbell). Several Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis
have appeared outside their usual areas: two at the Endrick
Mouth, Dunbarton, on 27th September (D. Stalker) and three
there on 10th October (T. Weir); one at North Berwick on
2nd October (T. C. Smout), there having been a single bird
on the Isle of May the same morning; and four at Gladhouse
on 4th October (D. G. Andrew). The first Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnus reported was at Cobbinshaw Reservoir on
19th September (T. Boyd): other arrivals are of 22 flying up
the Forth at Grangemouth on 18th October (J. Potter) and of

200 CURRENT NOTES 1(7)

two adults and two young birds flying west at Seafield, Leith,
on 25th October (A. T. Macmillan).

One Grey Plover Charadrius squatarola was seen at Glad-
house on 20th September (R. W. J. Smith) and two on 27th
(D. G. Andrew). On 28th September two Grey Plovers were
seen at Ardmore, Dunbarton (C. M. Morrison) and one at
the mouth of the River Endrick in the same county on 4th
October; it had been there for over two weeks (T. Weir). We
can trace no previous occurrence of this bird in Dunbarton-
shire (ED.) Two Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa were
seen at Tankerness Loch, Orkney, on 15th September (John
Baird): the other autumn records of this species come from
Forth and Tay—one at Tyninghame, 26th July (R. W. J.
Smith); one at Aberlady, 5th August (A. Ablett); north of
Grangemouth there were one or two from 11th to 22nd Aug-
ust, one on 5th and seven on 20th September, and two on
3rd October (P:G.R.B:, G.D., J-H:, and™3-P3> iene 2och
Leven on 5th September and 4th October (T. Boyd, R. W. J.
Smith); and single birds on the Eden Estuary on 12th and 15th
September (G.D.). A large flock of 500 Bar-tailed Godwits L.
lapponica, many of them in breeding plumage, were at Tents-
muir Point, Fife, on 5th August (Graham Williams) and an
inland record of this species comes from the Endrick Mouth,
Dunbarton, on 4th October (T. Weir). Records of Green Sand-
pipers Tringa ochropus come from Clyde—one near Carstairs
on 16th August (T. Boyd); from Tweed—three at Hule Moss
on 9th August, and single birds on 15th and 22nd August, and
13th September (W. Murray)); from Forth—single birds at
Tyninghame on 10th August (Ian Hay) and on the 23rd (R. W.
J. Smith) and 26th (A. Ablett); also north of Grangemouth
a single bird from 9th to 15th August (P. G. R. Barbier, J.
Hoy) and on 13th September (G. Dick); and one on the Black-
hope Burn, Moorfoots, Midlothian, on 5th September (W.
Brotherston); and from Tay—one at Morton Lochs, 27th July
(A. Macdonald), one at Cameron Reservoir, 7th August (R. S.
Weir) and one on the R. Eden on 15th September (G. Dick).
A number of Wood Sandpipers T. glareola, all solitary birds,
have been seen: at Morton Lochs on 28th July (A. Macdon-
ald), at Gladhouse on 29th July and 22nd August (R. W. J.
Smith), at Cult Ness, Fife, from 3lst July to 10th August
(P. G. R. Barbier, G. Dick and J. Hoy), at Aberlady on 23rd
August (A. Ablett) and north of Grangemouth from 5th to
7th September (G. Dick, J. Hoy and J. Potter). Records of
Spotted Redshanks T. erythropus come from Solway—one at
the Piltanton Burn, Glenluce, on 31st August (A. W. F. Mills,
A. D. Watson); from Clyde—one at the mouth of the R. En-
drick, Dunbarton, on 10th October (T. Weir); from Tweed—a
single bird at Hule Moss from 22nd to 28th August and on
13th September (W. Murray); and from Dee—single birds at

1960 CURRENT NOTES 201

the R. Ythan on Ist and 29th September (A. J. M. Smith); but
the majority of autumn Spotted Redshanks have been seen
in the Forth area—single birds at Gladhouse on 9th and 29th
August (R.W.J.S.), at Cobbinshaw on 22nd August and 19th
September (T. Boyd), north of Grangemouth on 22nd August
and repeatedly between 2nd September and 3rd October, two
birds occurring on 13th September (P. G. R. Barbier, G. Dick,
J. Hoy), at Cult Ness on 3rd September (G. Dick), at Tyning-
hame on 13th September (K. S. Macgregor, R. W. J. Smith)
and at Fife Ness on 29th September (G. Dick). Inland records
of the Knot Calidris canutus include two at Carstairs (Lan-
ark) on 16th August (T. Boyd), single birds at Hule Moss on
22nd and 23rd August, and two there on the 26th (W. Mur-
ray). At Gladhouse numbers were exceptional for an inland
locality, thirteen on 12th August, four on the 13th, six on the
15th, ten on the 19th, nine on the 22nd, eight on the 26th, two
on 6th September: none were seen on 2nd September (D. G.
Andrew, R. W. J. Smith). In connection with these records it
is interesting to note that 25 flew south from Tyninghame at
1650 hours on 9th August on a route that would probably
land them at Gladhouse by way of the Moorfoots: similarly
thirteen took off in the same direction at 1600 hours on 23rd
August (R. W. J. Smith). Another inland record is of one at
Cobbinshaw on 3rd October (T. Boyd). All but two records of
the Little Stint Calidris minuta are from the Forth: two at
Aberlady on 5th August (A. Ablett) and on the 18th (A. Mac-
donald); one at Tyninghame on the 23rd (R. W. J. Smith);
one at Fife Ness on the 30th and 3lst (P. G. R. Barbier, J.
Hoy); one north of Grangemouth on 13th and 14th September
(G. Dick, J. Hoy); one at Gladhouse on the 17th (R. W. J.
Smith); one at Loch Leven on 21st September and 4th Octo-
ber (T. Boyd, R. W. J. Smith); one at Aberlady on 30th Sep-
tember and two there on 4th October (K. S. Macgregor). The
other records are from Clyde—one seen at the Endrick mouth,
Dunbarton, on 10th October (T. Weir); and Dee—two near
Collieston, Aberdeenshire, on 15th September (A. J. M.
Smith). Curlew Sandpipers Calidris testacea have been un-
usually numerous: in Solway—one at Browhouses near
Annan on 27th August (E. and R. Smith) and three there on
13th September (W. Austin, R. Smith); nine at the mouth of
the Piltanton Burn, Glenluce, on 3lst August (A. W. F. Mills,
A. D. Watson); two on the shore of Loch Ryan on 12th Sep-
tember (A. D. W.); one on 14th September on the extensive
mud then exposed on the Ken-Dee marshes at Livingston,
Kirkcudbrightshire (L. A. Urquhart, A.D.W.); and one at
Maryport, Mull of Galloway, on 14th October (A.D.W.). A. D.
Watson comments that Curlew Sandpipers have not often
been recorded from Kirkcudbright and Wigtownshire. In
Clyde—at Hamilton on 5th September two Curlew Sandpipers

202 CURRENT NOTES 1(7)

(W. U. Flower, D. Stalker) and four there on the 6th (W.
K. Richmond, D.S.); five at the Endrick mouth, Dunbarton,
on 4th October (M. Forrester, T. Weir). In Forth the first
Curlew Sandpiper was seen at Aberlady on 5th August (A.
Ablett) and the only others that month were four north of
Grangemouth on the 22nd; later seven were counted there
on Sth September, ten on the 7th and between three and eight
until the 20th; a single bird was present on 5th October (P. G.
R. Barbier, G. Dick, J. Hoy and J. Potter). At Aberlady there
were three or four on 13th September (K. S. Macgregor) and
one on the 19th (R. W. J. Smith); at Tyninghame two on the
13th (T. Boyd); at Gladhouse single birds on the 12th and 20th
(R. W. J. Smith); at Musselburgh two on the 28th (J. Baird);
and at Loch Leven three on 21st September and one on 4th
October (T. Boyd, R. W. J. Smith). In Tay—one Curlew
Sandpiper was at Guardbridge, Fife, on 30th September
(Doris M. Wilson). Inland records of Sanderling Crocethia
alba come from Gladhouse where, as already recorded, one
was seen on 19th July (antea 1:133): on the 25th there were
four and it is interesting to note that the following day the
observer found 150 at Tyninghame, the largest number he has
ever seen there. Single Sanderling were also seen at Glad-
house on 9th and 15th August (R. W. J. Smith) and at Hule
Moss on the 19th and 22nd (W. Murray). The majority of
Ruffs Philomachus pugnax are recorded from the Forth area,
forty having been seen between Ist August and 11th October,
at Cult Ness, Grangemouth area, Cobbinshaw, Gladhouse,
Aberlady and Tyninghame: the largest number (eight) being
at Gladhouse on 2nd September (R. W. J. Smith). Elsewhere
there are records from South Uist, a male moulting into win-
ter plumage on 13th July (R. W. J. Smith); from Hule Moss,
a single bird on 2nd August (W. Murray); from Carstairs, one
on 16th August and three on 6th September; from Hamilton,
one on 9th August (L. A. Urquhart); and from the Endrick
mouth, Dunbarton, five on 2nd October (T. Weir).

On 16th July an immature Pomarine Skua Stercorarius
pomarinus was seen flying south after a north-west gale off
South Uist (T. Boyd, R. W. J. Smith) and another immature
was seen at Aberlady on 4th October (K. S. Macgregor). An
almost adult Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus was seen in
company with Greater Black-backed Gulls L. marinus at
Cult Ness on 16th September (G. Dick) and another Glaucous
Gull on the R. Ythan on 29th September (A. J. M. Smith).
Some details have already been published (antea 1:133) of
Little Gulls Larus minutus in the Leven-Largo area of Fife,
Smaller numbers, up to eighteen, were recorded there
throughout August, the last three being seen on 2nd Septem-
ber; the only number of juveniles seen was ten on 30th Aug-
ust. Six were at Ruddon’s Point, Largo Bay, on 9th Septem-

1960 CURRENT NOTES 203

ber (R. S. Weir). Single birds were seen at Fife Ness on 3rd,
13th and 14th September (J. Hoy, R. S. Weir) and at Cameron
Reservoir on 3lst July, while on 30th July several were seen
in a daylight roost of other gulls half a mile inland on the
road from Lundin Links to Cupar (A. Macdonald). Three
were resting at Tentsmuir Point on 30th September (L. Ful-
lerton), but by far the most interesting and unusual record
is from Loch Earn, Perthshire, on 17th September, when five
or six immature Little Guils were seen at intervals along the
edge of the loch, in one or two cases side by side with Black-
headed Gulls L. ridibundus and mostly standing at the edge
of the water (L. Fullerton). Black Terns Chlidonias niger
have occurred in the Clyde area—one at Castle Semple Loch,
Renfrewshire, on 13th September (Gordon Fraser, Wallace
H. Wild), in Forth—one on 31st July at Lundin Links (R. S.
Weir), one near Torryburn, Fife, on 6th September (G. Dick)
and one at Aberlady on 3rd October (M. F. M. Meiklejohn);
and in Tay—two on the Eden estuary, Fife, on 12th Septem-
ber (G. Dick). The following occurrences of the Guillemot
Uria aalge exceptionally far up the Forth have been noted:
three on 6th September opposite Valleyfield and one a mile
below the Kincardine Bridge on 5th October (G. Dick, J.
Potter).

An early flock of Fieldfares Turdus pilaris were observed
on 27th August on Whiteside Law, Midlothian (W. Brother-
ston).

The immigration of Redwings Turdus musicus was at its
peak about 11th October, when about 1,000 were seen at
Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire (Ronald Logan) and then and on
the ensuing days many Redwings were seen or heard at night
in different parts of Scotland. The situation is well summed
up in Dr J. W. Campbell’s account of passage over Ardrennich,
Strathtay, Perthshire.

“October 6th. The first seen this autumn were two or three
passing south-east at 0730 hours.

“October 7th, 8th and 9th. Odd Redwings passing south-
east.

“October 10th. Small parties passing south-east all day.
One heard calling at 2200 hours.

“October 11th. Small parties passing all morning and early
afternoon. On the 10th and 11th hundreds must have passed
through. Occasional parties perched, but only remained for
minutes. The steady passage was noteworthy and is the lar-
gest movement seen here for some years.

“October 12th. Still a few passing south-east in the mor-
ning.

“October 13th. No evidence of movement.

204 CURRENT NCTES 1(7)

“October 18th. Heard passing after dark.

“On 14th October there was a large flock at 1250 hours,
with a few Fieldfares at the south end of the Sma’ Glen, and
on the 19th many large flocks, hundreds being involved, were
passing south west of Doune, Perthshire.”

On 11th and 12th October there was an extensive fall of
passerines on the east coast of Scotland and at Aberlady on
the 11th Goldcrests Regulus regulus were numerous and a
male Stonechat Saxicola torquata was seen. There had been
another Stonechat (a different individual) present there on
4th October, and a male was seen at Glencorse Reservoir,
Midlothian, on 7th October (A. Ablett). On 11th October a
male and female Stonechat (not together) were seen be-
tween Buchlyvie and Gartmore, Stirling, in an area where
they do not usually occur (M. F. M. Meiklejohn, K. H. Pater-
son). On 9th August thirty Whinchats S. rubetra were coun-
ted between Kincardine Bridge and Skinflats, Stirling, and
sixteen on 15th August (J. Hoy): the observer states that
these birds do not breed there and evidently some sort of
movement was taking place; he has noticed similar move-
ments at this time of year about his house on the other side
of the Forth at High Valleyfield, Fife. An immature Barred
Warbler Sylvia nisoria spent 30th and 3lst August in the
garden of the observer at Rendall, Orkney (E. Balfour) and
single Barred Warblers (of which full notes have been pro-
vided) were seen at Fife Ness on 29th August and 14th Oct-
ober (P. G. R. Barbier, R. S. Weir).

Four “yellow” Wagtails Motacilla flava were at Barnes
Ness, East Lothian, on 9th August (T. Boyd) and a male flav-
issima at Watch Reservoir. Berwickshire, on 29th August (W.
Murray), while a male Blue-headed Wagtail M. f. flava on
the River Esk near Edinburgh on 21st August is described
in The Scotsman (19.9.59).

A Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor occurred at Fife
Ness on llth October (W.J.E., R.S.W.): it remained on the
same Brussels sprout plant while the former went to fetch
his wife from Anstruther. Another Great Grey Shrike was
seen on the Stevenston side of the River Garnock, Ayrshire,
on 25th and 26th October (Gordon Fraser).

A Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus frequented a garden at
Kirkwall, Orkney, for about a week at the end of August
and beginning of September, feeding on cotoneaster berries
(E. Balfour).

Much interesting evidence of yet another invasion
of the Crossbill Loxia curvirostra has been sent in,
in addition to that already reported (antea 1: 134). A small
flock were seen at Lerwick, Shetland, on 25th July (J.P.,
Scotsman, 8th August) and another small flock at Borve, Har-

1960 CURRENT NOTES 205

ris, where they had probably also been earlier in August, on
30th August and Ist September (J. W. Campbell). At Apple-
cross, Wester Ross, there was a party in the first fortnight of
August (I. F. Stewart). At Gladhouse eight arrived on or
about 29th July (R. W. J. Smith). At Coldingham, Berwick-
shire, there were about twenty, including one red male, on
Ist August (C. M. Morrison). A few were reported at the Isle
of May about the second week of August (per W. J. Eggeling).
At Keith Bridge, near Humbie, East Lothian, ten were seen
on 16th August and 13th September, three remaining till
11th October (G. and M. I. Waterston) and five were at Stobo,
Peebless-shire, on 3lst August (R. Traquair Thin). Finally,
the remains of a male, dead for some time, were picked up
in a garden at Muirhouse, Edinburgh, on 12th October (W. A.
Cameron).

Habits.

On October 2nd 1959 boys at Gordonstoun School reported
a nest of the Tawny Owl Strix aluco on the estate. Investiga-
tion showed two chicks estimated at about ten days of age.
The nest was in the hollow of an isolated ash about fifteen
feet from the ground (Roland Richter).

Dr D. A. Bannerman writes from Boreland of Southwick,
by Dumfries: “The last few years we have always had House
Martins Delichon urbica here, as many as eight nests, usually
on the farm house. Last year, in awful rain and gales, the
nests all fell down and, though it was late in the season, no
young were hatched. In 1959 not a single bird came near
the house, until 28th July, when a number of birds came back
with their grown young, at least ten in all, and spent the
whole afternoon flying up to the eaves where the House Mar-
tins had the disaster last year and to the very same spots
where the nests had been, the young ones following the par-
ents’ example. On the 29th all had disappeared.”’

On 24th February 1957 a party of fifteen Twites Carduelis
flavirostris were watched near Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire,
feeding on Marsh Samphire Salicornia herbacea. One was
noticed raising a foot to grasp a plant and feed on it, while
it stood firmly on the wet mud with the other. The observer
adds: “I am familiar with the way in which some passerines,
notably crows and tits, will clamp things with their feet while
they work at them with the bill, but I have not at any other
time seen a bird of this family apparently steadying a food
plant in this way to facilitate nibbling at it. When moving
about among the vegetation the Twites sometimes walked and
sometimes hopped, landing in the latter case on one foot not-
iceably before the other.” (I. F. Stewart). (The Snow Bunting
Plectrophenax nivalis frequently progresses by this “can-
tering” method of hopping.—ED.)

206 CURRENT NOTES 1(7)

Part II.

(In this section, to save space, we are not employing scien-
tific names for species that have been mentioned elsewhere
in this number. Initials denote the following observers: A.
Ablett, J. Baird, H. Boase, J. Hoy, R. W. Marriott, M. F. M.
Meiklejohn, W. Murray, A. J. M. Smith, R. W. J. Smith, L. A.
Urquhart and A. D. Watson. Unless otherwise stated dates
apply to late 1958 and early 1959).

Distribution and Breeding.

A Buzzard Buteo buteo was seen on 18th October 1959 by
Gryfe Reservoir, Renfrewshire, two miles from Upper Green-
ock Station (J. D. Stewart).

Several Sandwich Terns Sterna sandvicensis were seen over
the Kyle of Eriboll, Sutherland, in late July, and one near
Lairg in early August (R.W.M.).

Further records of the Green Woodpecker Picus viridis
are of one seen at Gartcosh, Lanarkshire, about ten years
ago (S. M. Stewart) and of one at Larkhall, in the same
county, on 6th December (D. Stalker). One, possibly two,
Greater Spotted Woodpeckers Dryobates major were seen
near Bonar Bridge, Sutherland, on 20th September (Sir
Charles Connell).

A flock of ten Carrion Crows was seen in the Melness area
of northern Sutherland in late July (R.W.M.), and a Magpie
Pica pica in the parish of Rosskeen, Ross-shire, on 20th Sep-
tember (Sir Charles Connell).

Other interesting Sutherland records are of a Blackcap in
the pine-wood at Lairg on 9th August and five singing Chiff-
chaffs in the same place on 11th August (R.W.M.).

The Pied Flycatcher has nested in a garden wall at Port
he Menteith, Stirling, for the last three years (F. G. S. Gra-

am).

During December 1956 a Hawfinch Coccothraustes cocco-
thraustes was twice watched at close quarters from a caravan
at Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire (J. D. Stewart) and in August
1959 one was seen by two different observers in a garden at
Lochgilphead, Argyll (P. S. Govan).

Tree Sparrows Passer montanus continue to thrive in north
Ayrshire, where eight nests were found in the Overton dis-
trict in May and June, three of them having second broods:
all the nests were in holes in trees (L.A.U.).

Autumn 1959.

Donald E. Baird has sent us an interesting list of non-
breeding species seen in the Flannans between 30th June and
14th August, of which full details have been submitted to
Bird Migration: they include Heron, Kestrel, Lapwing, Ring-

1960 CURRENT NOTES 207

ed Plover, Golden Plover, Curlew, Whimbrel, Redshank,
Knot, Little Stint, Dunlin, Swift, Swallow, House Martin,
Wheatear, Willow Warbler, White Wagtail and Crossbill.

On 17th September a Sooty Shearwater was seen off
Collieston, Aberdeenshire, and on the following day three
between Shetland and Fair Isle (V. M. Thom).

About 150 Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca were offshore near
the mouth of the R. Ythan, Aberdeen, on Ist September
(A.J.M.S.) and an inland record of a duck Common Scoter M.
nigra is from High Dam, Eaglesham, Lanark, on 10th October
(L.A.U.).

A record of an Osprey Pandion haliaetus from near Poolewe
on 16th October, accompanied by a good description, was pub-
lished in The Ross-shire Journal of 30th October (Ian Cam-
eron).

Four Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa were at Kin-
goodie, Perthshire, on 27th August, and fourteen in the neigh-
bouring Invergowrie Bay on the 30th (H.B.): they were last
seen there on 22nd September. Late records (which might
perhaps be better included under wintering birds) are of at
least one at Aberlady on 7th November (W. K. Richmond),
three at the same place on 11th November (A.A.) and of three
on the Clyde above Dumbarton on 11th December—a locality
from which there are but few records (E. M. Brock).

A Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus was seen at the
mouth of the R. Ythan on Ist September (A.J.M.S.) and two
at Lintrathen on both 29th September and Ist October (H.B.).

Other records of Curlew Sandpipers Calidris testacea, in a
year when these were especially numerous, come from
Solway—at least twelve on 16th September at Browhouses,
Dumfries (E. L. Roberts); from Clyde—one at Ardoch on 29th
September (E. M. Brock) and single birds at Barassie on 4th
and 18th October (L. A. U.); from Forth—one at Aberlady on
10th, 17th and 20th October (Alastair Macdonald); and from
Tay—one at Invergowrie Bay on 12th October (H.H.B.).

Single Ruffs Philomachus pugnax occurred at Kinnordy,
Angus, on 29th August and at Kingoodie, Perth, on 9th Sep-
tember (H.B.). At Aberlady there were six Ruffs on 18th Oc-
tober and lst November, but only three on 15th November
and after that no more (J.B.).

A light-breasted adult Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomar-
inus was seen on 27th October at Kingoodie, Perth, on arable
land, feeding on a dead Black-headed Gull (H.B.).

October records of Sandwich Tern are one at Tayport on
4th (H.B.) and three at Seafield, Leith, on 19th (A.A.).

Seven Swallows were seen at Cult Ness, Fife, on lst Nov-
ember (J.H.), one sought refuge in a house at Beauly on the

208 CURRENT NOTES 1(7)

14th (M. L., Scotsman, 28th November), one was still about at
Colinton, Edinburgh, on the 24th (J.B.M., Scotsman, 28th
November), and one flew in from the sea at Gullane Point,
East Lothian, on 6th December (J.B.). A late House Martin
was seen at St Andrews on 10th and 15th November (E. P.
Dickie).

A very late Ring Ouzel, a female, was seen at Dalserf,
Lanarkshire, on 23rd November (D.S.), and one at Barnes
Ness, East Lothian, on 4th October (A. Macdonald).

Of particular interest is a record of a Whinchat Saxicola
rubetra and a Redstart on Ist September at the R. Ythan
mouth, Aberdeenshire, both of which were carrying rings
(A.J.M.S.). On 17th August Redstarts, not usually present in
the locality, occurred in numbers in the hedges at Milton,
Dunbarton (E. R. Brock).

A late Sedge Warbler was at Barnes Ness, East Lothian,
on 4th October (A. Macdonald) and great numbers of Gold-
crests Regulus regulus are reported from Orkney on 14th
October (E. Balfour) and from Unst, Shetland, at the end of
that month (S. Saxby).

An adult male Yellow Wagtail flavissima was at Watch
Reservoir, Berwickshire, on 29th August (W.M.).

Invasions.

In the late autumn and winter several species have been
unusually numerous.

Two Grey Phalaropes Phalaropus fulicarius were seen at
Fife Ness on 28th and 29th October (Mary Henderson), one at
Gullane Point, East Lothian, on 29th October (C. Pountain)
and three at North Berwick on 16th December (I. C. T. Nisbet,
T. C. Smout). (Full details of the above have been received.
The first of them seems to be the first record of the species
in South Fife. Readers of British Birds will know that there
have been many reports of Grey Phalaropes in the south of
England and elsewhere, mainly in October, including a fan-
tastic carpet of some 350 birds in St Agnes Bay, Isles of Scilly,
on the 23rd.—ED.)

Little Auks Plautus alle occurred at many places, mostly
on the east coast, from the end of October throughout Novem-
ber. In Moray: one was found at Evanton, Ross, five miles
inland, on 19th November and survived for a few hours (John
Lees). In Tay: on 15th and 21st November single birds were
seen off the pier at St Andrews (J. Holdroyd, Miss Haig); on
the 18th one was found alive but exhausted in a garden at
Brechin (photograph in Dundee Courier, 19th Nov.); and
about the same date one was found alive but exhausted at
Ladybank, Fife (Dundee Courier, 23rd Nov.). In Forth: at

1960 CURRENT NOTES 209

North Berwick a few were about from 28th October (F. Marr)
and seventeen were flying past Dunbar on 3lst October (A.
Macdonald); on lst November single birds were reported from
Trinity Bay, Edinburgh, (B. R. ‘thomson) and Aberlady, as
well as four probables at Gosford Bay (J.B.); six or seven at
Lundin Links, Fife, on the 3rd (R. S. Weir); one by the Forth
Bridge on the 7th (J. W. Wightman); twelve between Leven
and Lundin Links on the 9th (T. S. Webster); four at Joppa
on the 10th and 11th (J. Milne); four at Gullane Point on the
15th (J.B.); two at Seafield, Leith, on the 21st (A. T. Macmil-
lan, B. R. Thomson); five at South Queensierry at causeway
of road bridge and by the pier from 25th to 30th (John Hyatt);
and one hit by a car at Inverkeithing on about the 27th
(Sheelah Anderson). In Tweed: one occurred on 31st October
at Hule Moss, Berwickshire (W.M.). In Solway: one was shot
in late November at Colvend, Kirkcudbright, by Mr W. Rob-
ertson, who mistook it, as it swam, for the head of an otter
(Dumfries Advertiser, 28th Nov.). In the Inner Hebrides: one
was picked up dead on 17th December near Portnahaven,
Islay (R. M. H. Cree).

Migrant Great Tits Parus major, probably of continental
origin, as follows: there were four pairs at Halligarth, Unst,
and others elsewhere on the island at the end of October (S.
Saxby); two on Fetlar on 16th October and others, at least six,
till the end of the month (L. Brown); and two at Voe, Shet-
land, on 3rd December (Mrs D. Adie). Continental Great Tits
have also occurred on the Isle of May (see above).

A quite extraordinary number of wintering Blackcaps are
reported. Mr Peter Davis informs us that numbers seen and
trapped on Fair Isle in autumn were exceptional, several
staying until late in November, the last one being seen on the
27th. In the Skye area: a male and female on Rhum from 16th
November until at least 3rd December (P. Wormell per W. J.
Eggeling). In Moray: a male was seen at Newton, near
Elgin, from 15th November till 12th December, feeding on
aphis among brussel sprouts, but also at a bird-table (E. Bald-
win); and another male occurred at Lossiemouth on 17th and
18th December, which, like others recorded, was very aggres-
sive to other small birds (E. S. Mingay); and about 22nd Nov-
ember two females and a male were at Evanton, Ross (J.
Lees). In Tay: a male occurred in Perth on 14th October (V.
M. Thom); one at Killiecrankie in late November fed on fat
put out for tits (F. A. Becher); from 4th to 12th December a
female was present in Dundee (B. Neath) and another female
at St Andrews from 18th to 22nd December (J. McFarlane).
Probably also in the Tay area were a male and female in
west Perthshire for a fortnight up to 3rd December (W.A.R.,
Scotsman, 2nd Jan). In Forth: Blackcaps at the Isle of May
have been mentioned above. In Tweed: a pair near West Lin-

210 C'YRRENT NOTES 1(7)

ton, Peebles, on 22nd November (A. D. F. Leishman). In
Clyde: about Christmas a male Blackcap spent two or three
days in a garden at Bardowie, W. Stirling (M. D. Smith) and
a female occurred on 11th and 12th January at Kilmacolm,
Renfrew (D. MacRobert). In Solway: a female Blackcap
haunted a garden at Dalry, Kirkcudbright, from 23rd Novem-
ber to 15th December, apparently feeding exclusively on
rotten apples hung up to attract Waxwings, preferring Cox’s
Orange Pippin to Laxton Superb. At first it was chased by a
Robin and sometimes dispossessed of its apple by House
Sparrows, but after a week became very aggressive: then it
drove away Chaffinches, Dunnocks, Great, Blue and Coal Tits,
stood its ground with Robin and House Sparrows, and only
gave way to Starlings and Blackbirds. It had a fierce battle
with a Robin: result indecisive (A.D.W.). A male Blackcap
was seen at Gatehouse of Fleet on 12th December; it remained
a few days and fed on apples and breadcrumbs (Dr Grace
Fleming).

Details of the invasion of Waxwings are still being collected.

Winter 1959-1960

This appears to be an excellent winter for ducks. W.M. re-
ports that he has never seen so many at Hule Moss, Berwick-
shire, since he started going there in 1946; at one time there
were over 100 Shoveler Spatula clypeata. Teal Anas crecca
seem to be especially numerous: 400 were seen together on
Loch Leven on 24th October “in close company” (H.B.) and 89
at Duddingston on the 27th is three times the previous record
for that loch (D. R. Anderson): at about the same time there
were 800 at Gladhouse (D. G. Andrew, R.W.J.S.). Gadwall
Anas strepera are again wintering in Edinburgh, a pair being
seen at Dunsappie between 7th November and 8th January (T.
C. Smout), and a drake at Duddingston on 8th and 14th Octo-
ber (T.C.S.) and a pair there (perhaps the Dunsappie birds)
some time later (D. R. Anderson). Two Scaup Aythya marila
with white foreheads were at Hamilton on 8th November
(L.A.U.) and between Grangemouth and Kincardine twelve
Scaup on 3rd November and fifteen on the 15th are the first
J.H. has seen in the area during the ten years he has watched
it. 636 Tufted Ducks at Duddingston on 17th January is the
highest number recorded there (D. R. Anderson).

A Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis was on Hule Moss on
3lst October and lst November (W.M.) and a male on Forfar
Loch on 4th November (H.B.). Smews Mergus albellus have
been more widespread than usual this January on the Kirk-
cudbrightshire lochs, one or two, both adult drakes and
“redheads” having been on at least six different inland waters

1960 CURRENT NOTES 211

(A.D.W.). On 9th January there was a “redhead” on Bogton
Loch, Ayrshire (R. Stokoe, A.D.W.).

A European White-fronted Goose Anser a. albifrons (pink
bill noted) flew over the R. Carron at Bonnybridge, Stirling,
on Ist November (R. Logan). Seven dark-breasted Brent
Geese Branta b. bernicla were at Aberlady on 13th and 20th
December (J.B., M.F.M.M.), four Barnacle Geese B. leucopsis
at Gladhouse on Ist November and two at Hule Moss on 3lst
October and Ist November (W.M.).

A Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus bewicki, in company
with six Whoopers, was on the Loch o’ the Lowes, New Cum-
nock, Lanark, on 10th January (J. A. Begg). Still there on 31st.

A Peregrine Falco peregrinus was flying round the tower of
the University, Glasgow, on 27th November (M. J. M. Larkin):
it was probably this bird that was responsible for a headless
pigeon falling at the feet of a lecturer in Eng. Lit. some time
previously.

A late Corncrake Crex crex is reported from near Auchen-

cairn, Kirkcudbright (where it had been for a fortnight before)
on 9th November (Rev. M. D. Walker).

A good year for Jack Snipe, especially at Duddingston (D. R.
Anderson). J.H. saw his first north of Grangemouth on 15th
November, and at Tyninghame on lst January, at high tide,
seven were flushed in an area fifteen yards square; perhaps
they had come in with the north winds (R.W.J.S.). Two were
seen at Stranraer on 16th January (M.F.M.M.).

Wintering Greenshank are reported from Tentsmuir on
20th November (L. Fullerton), Aberlady on 28th November
(J.B.), and Doonfoot, Ayr, on 9th December—there was also
one there between 25th January and 15th February last win-
ter (L.A.U.). Two Green Sandpipers are passing the winter
(last seen 3rd January) alternating between Bells Burn, Ed-
rom, and Duns Sewage Works (W.M.).

A Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus was seen at the Ythan
mouth, Aberdeen, on 29th September (A.J.M.S.) and an adult
Iceland Gull L. glaucoides at Troon harbour on 24th January
(M.F.M.M.).

Large numbers of Wood Pigeons Columba palumbus have
been reported from various areas, but it should be remember-
ed that, despite a general opinion to the contrary, we as yet
have no conclusive evidence that any of these have crossed
the North Sea. On 1lth December W. J. Eggeling was at
Lathones, SSW of St Andrews, out at dawn hoping to see
geese: “just before 8 a.m. Wood Pigeons began to pass over
and pitch in the kale and turnip crops behind me, odd birds
at first, then parties of ten to thirty and then flocks of 100 to
200, till they were pouring past. I was unable to keep a count

212 CURRENT NOTES | 1(7)

in spite of several attempts, but later put the birds up from
the crops; they were in numbers such as I have never seen
before, certainly 3,000 and probably as many as 5,000. All the
birds I saw came from the west and for the most part they
were feeding on the kale leaves. Large numbers of Green-
finches were also coming in at the same time. The same pat-
tern was repeated next morning and again on 19th December.
On the latter there were certainly fewer pigeons and I was
able to estimate that there were about 3,000 (to the nearest
500). All of these birds definitely came from far out of sight
to the west, probably from some huge roost, and were flying
eastwards.”

A male Shorelark Eremophila alpestris was seen at Aber-
lady on 11th November (A.A.).

Two Jays Garrulus glandarius were in the woods at Val-
leyfield, Fife, on 10th November, only the observer’s second
winter record for the area (J.H.).

On 8th November at Herbertshire Estate, Bonnybridge,
Stirling, a Long-tailed Tit was seen which resembled the
northern race Aegithalos c. caudatus: it had a pure white
head and its underparts were also whiter than those of about
ten Long-tailed Tit with striped heads with which it was
associating (R. Logan).

Large numbers of Fieldfares Turdus pilaris, 2,000 to 3,000
in all, were seen in fields between Kincardine and High Val-
leyfield, Fife, on 25th October (J.H.); on the 31st unusual
numbers (150) were seen at Cobbinshaw and movement was
doubtless going on (T. Boyd, R.W.J.S.); and on the following
day they were arriving, with Starlings, all day at Tyninghame,
in small parties (T.B., R.W.J.S.). Unusual numbers were
near Glencorse Reservoir on 7th November, settling in
heather and rough grass, which is unusual too (R.W.J.S.).

Two Stonechats Saxicola torquata were at Cult Ness on Ist
November and two at Longannet Point, S. Fife, on the 30th
(J.H.). A pair were at Threipmuir on 7th November (R.W.J.S.).

Two Great Grey Shrikes Lanius excubitor, one of which
was eating a Linnet, were seen in Orkney about 14th October
(E. Balfour); one occurred at Port of Menteith, Stirling, on
6th December (A. J. B. Loudon) and one at Tarfside, Angus,
on 15th December (D. Jenkins). Another was at Stevenston,
Ayrshire, at the end of October and the beginning of Novem-
ber: on 4th November its song was heard, “a mixture of low
warblings and harsh grating sounds, which on the whole was
rather pleasing” (G. Fraser). We have late news of a sixth
Great Grey Shrike, in Arran, between Brodick and Lamlash,
on 16th November (A. R. Hutchison, I. K. Munro).

Larger flocks of finches than usual seem to be present, as,

1960 CURRENT NOTES 213

for example, in East Lothian (A. Macdonald), big numbers of
Greenfinches being especially noticeable. On 30th November
near Carnbee in Fife there was a very large finch flock in kale
and on recently cleared sugar beet: about 1,500 all told, with
Chaffinches in the majority, but almost as many Greenfinches,
a number of Brambling and a few Goldfinches. Several hun-
dred Skylarks, and numbers of Fieldfare, Redwing and Song
Thrushes were also present. On 11th December at Lathones,
Fife, Greenfinches came trickling in with the Wood Pigeons
till there were at least 1,000; fewer on subsequent dates (W. J.
Eggeling). In the wintering flock of Greenfinches at Seafield,
Leith, there was a sudden peak at the beginning of December,
900 being counted on the 5th (A.T.M.). 500 Greenfinches at
Mount Lothian, near Gladhouse, on 6th December, was a very
big flock for that area (R.W.J.S.). At Fala Toll on 27th Dec-
ember there were about 1,500 Chaffinches and 200 Bramblings
(R.W.J.S.), while at Longannet, S. Fife, there were the ex-
ceptional numbers of about 600 Bramblings on 20th January
(J. Potter) and about 350 two days later (J.H.). A few Bram-
blings, fairly scarce in Clyde, were noted at Dunoon in Dec-
ember (K. M. Kesson). Nearly 400 were seen in fields at
Portmore, Peebles, on 20th December (J. E. King and others).

As is usual in “Crossbill years,’ Siskins have also been
numerous. About fifty were seen near Loch Faskally, Perth,
on 9th October (H.B.) and about 100, in two flocks, at Tyning-
hame on Ist November (T. Boyd, R.W.J.S.), while fifty were
flying west at Dirleton on 8th November (T.B.). One was at
Gosford, East Lothian, on 11th November (T. C. Smout) and
small parties at the end of the year near Milton Bridge, East
Lothian (C. K. Mylne). At Duddingston the first seen there
since 1950 were three on 19th Janaury (D. R. Anderson). From
the west come reports of three at the Doonfoot, Ayr, on 26th
November (D.S.), about fifteen near Milngavie on 14th Novem-
ber, and about thirty, of which one was picked up dead, at
Blanefield, Stirling, on 12th December (J. W. Taylor).

The following wintering Twites Carduelis flavirostris have
been reported: at Aberlady a total of twenty-four on Ist
November was a record, but there were over fifty on the 7th
and 15th, and seventy or more on the 22nd and 28th. The peak
was on 6th December when there were at least 150, mixed with
Linnets: on the 20th numbers were down to about seventy
and on 10th January there were a mere thirty or forty (J.B.).
At Cult Ness there were thirty or forty on 22nd November
(J.H.), north of Grangemouth a large flock on 29th November
(J. Potter), at Barnes Ness forty on 6th December (T. Boyd).

There were several Lapland Buntings Calcarius lapponicus
at Aberlady on Ist November (J.B.). What is the first record
for the Edinburgh area, and doubtless also for Midlothian,

214 CURRENT NOTES 1(7)

comes from Dr I. C. T. Nisbet: ‘while descending Arthur’s
Seat on 14th December I heard the unmistakable ‘teu... teu
... tikitikitik’ of a Lapland Bunting in flight overhead. I am
very familiar with this species and had watched it in East
Anglia only two days before.”

For the first time in ten years J. H. saw Snow Buntings at
Longannet Point, S.W. Fife, nearly forty birds on 30th Novem-
ber, and on 7th December he and J. Potter saw over fifty
there, the numbers rising to 100 by 22nd January. A count of
180 in the Portmore-Gladhouse-Rosebery area on 27th Decem-
ber is unusually high for such a date (R.W.J.S.). They have
also been unusually numerous on the Clyde Coast: on 30th
December, at Girvan, between fifteen and twenty were seen
on the North Shore (R. M. Ramage, J. Shanks); on 17th
January about 150 at Lendalfoot and fifty just south of Girvan
(M.F.M.M.); and on 23rd January several at Stevenston (G. M.
T. Conacher).

Behaviour and Habits

FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis. On 25th May four Fulmar nests
were located in a field at the foot of Saxa Vord hill, Unst.
This is between half and three quarters of a mile from the sea
and, being in a hollow, birds on the ground would not be able
to see the sea either at Haroldswick or Norwick Bay. The
grass near the nests was cropped short, but nearby was a
stream and marshy land almost dry after a period of fine
weather. Three nests were on the ground at the foot of an old
stone pen, two inside the small compound, the walls of which
were about three feet high, and the third in a corner outside
where a wall had been extended. The fourth nest was some
fifty yards away on rising ground in a hollow that may once
have been a rabbit hole. Each nest had one egg. Two nests
came to grief, but on 2nd July the remaining two birds were
still sitting (D. J. Mentier).

GANNET Sula bassana. About 7 a.m. on 23rd November the
caretaker of my flat in Ravelston Gardens, in the centre of
Edinburgh, was surprised to see a large white bird plane down
and crash-land in the rose-bed. From my window above I
saw it was an adult Gannet, appearing in good condition and
able to walk and flap well. I was much relieved when it took
itself off to a patch of waste ground some way from the dogs
and traffic, since the verge of the road seemed no place for a
Gannet. When I left for work, having summoned the
S.S.P.C.A., the Gannet had several admirers, including the
postman and a spaniel. By 10 a.m. it could not be found. Pre-
viously it had seemed unable to take off, but with a rising
wind it had probably been able to make use of a six foot drop

1960 CURRENT NOTES 215

on the waste ground to launch itself into the air. (P. Alexan-
der).

EIDER Somateria mollissima. On 24th January, with a cold
south-east wind blowing, I was waiting at Feolin Ferry,
Jura, opposite Port Askaig, when up the Sound of Islay, fly-
ing due north, came a few flights of Eider. These suddenly
became a stream and I began to count them. In the course of
ten minutes or so over 600 Eider went past. The large flights
I estimated by counting ten and then comparing this with the
whole flock. The largest flight was about seventy birds, but a
few went by in pairs. (K. Townsend).

COMMON TERN Sterna hirundo and Rook Corvus frugilegus.
On 23rd September I was watching Common Terns fishing on
the ebb tide at Kingsbarns, Fife. Every now and then they
would be harried by Rooks, which seemed to be chasing
them out of sheer devilment and not for the sand-eels they
were catching. The Rooks would keep up the chase for some
minutes, although they were outmaneouvred easily. When
they tired of chasing the terns they would return inland to
their rookery, cawing loudly, to return to the fun a few
minutes later. (M. H. E. Cuninghame).

STARLING Sturnus vulgaris. About 22nd November and on
2nd December a Starling was seen in Hermitage Gardens,
Edinburgh, with a bill shaped liked that of a Whimbrel, both
mandibles being elongated, and more than twice as long as
normal. The bill was creamy yellow towards the tip. The
bird fed by probing in the usual way. An interesting discus-
sion of the persistence of this deformity in the area will be
found in The Edinburgh Bird Bulletin (4:55-56). (N. B. Wat-
son).

SOLWAY WEEK-END

Quite often we seem to get some wonderful sunny days at
the beginning of February, and they seem that much more
exciting because of the gloomy weather that has gone before.
For the Club’s Week-end Excursion to the Solway from 5th
to 7th February the weather could not have been better, for,
in spite of the most depressing forecasts and dense fog in
Glasgow, the early morning mist on Saturday cleared away
and gave us two gorgeous sunny and almost windless days
to explore the beautiful countryside around Dumfries.

A record number of fifty-five members and friends, includ-
ing some lone wolves and splinter groups, came for the week-
end and voted it one of the best yet. Members came from as
far away as Peterhead, Aberdeen, Wolverhampton and Ox-
ford. Most of us managed to get to the County Hotel on

216 SOLWAY WEEK-END 1(7)

Friday night to be briefed for the morrow. Thereafter con-
viviality was the order until well after midnight when a very
jolly party found themselves on opposite platforms in Dum-
fries Station waiting to welcome our Irish guests from either
direction. Back at the hotel the staff of a big local garage were
having a great time at their annual dance, and sleepless bird-
watchers were busy rehearsing for the next day their individ-
ual claims to have been sited in the bedroom most directly
above the noise.

After breakfast on Saturday a long line of cars set off to look
for Barnacle Geese at Caerlaverock where, we had already
been warned, we would be unlikely to find them. After turn-
ing back from the correct road, driving several miles up the
wrong cul-de-sac into the wrong farmyard, and twice passing
the same unaccompanied cows on a narrow country lane, the
survivors eventually straggled down to the Reserve. The car
which had agreed to follow behind and round up any laggards
had evidently got there some time earlier.

Led by Langley Roberts, the Warden of the Reserve, forty
eager bird-watchers set off through the mud and disappearing
mist for a four-mile walk over field, fence and ditch—not to
mention ooze. In fact, at one point, when we forded a shallow
but treacherously soft stream, it seemed that we might lose
one or two members in the ooze. By the time half the party
had crossed quickly over, the soft crust got so puddled up
that one member was soon over his knees and sinking
steadily: helpers rushed to his aid and began to sink as well,
or were pulled over by other enthusiastic rescuers. Eventually
a chain of hands hauled everyone out and retrieved all their
footgear, but quite a few people got more than a little muddy
in the process and there were a lot of squelching Wellington
boots for the rest of the morning.

Langley Roberts was most apologetic about the flock of
1,650 Barnacles which had inconsiderately flown off to feed on
the English side of the Solway. However, with the great con-
centration of optical fire-power, two of them were at last
identified as they walked on the distant mud—one of them
with a broken wing. One of the tragedies of the bird world is
the sight of a lone goose by the side of its wounded and flight-
less mate when all the others have gone away. Suddenly the
sky was filled with geese, not Barnacles but Grey Lags and
Pinkfeet, pouring in to settle on the fields at East Park farm
where we ate our sandwiches. Along the road to Glencaple
we saw many more and were able to watch them at point-
blank range without getting out of the cars.

In the afternoon most people went down the west side of
the Nith to Carsethorn passing a flock of thirty-seven Whoop-

1960 SOLWAY WEEK-END 217

ers feeding in a field just outside Dumfries. The tide was out
at Carsethorn but we had superb views of Pintail and there
were flocks of Scaup further out. A skein of black geese
which flew past some way out were thought by several people
to be Brents—very unusual in the area—but local opinion
was against the identification. Subsequent events at Carling-
wark the next day suggested that even good observers might
have been misled.

In the evening Miss Valerie Thom showed her fine 8 m.m.
documentary film of life on Fair Isle, with sequences of all
the activities and industries of the island and a commendable
absence of pictures of bird-watchers. We also saw a short film
of local Waxwings and a fine assembly of Whoopers at Glen-
buck by Mr J. Lockerbie, Sanquhar.

On Sunday morning, lured by tales of the birds to be seen
and undeterred by forecasts of heavy fog, five enthusiasts
were away by 7.45 a.m. to look at L. Arthur as soon as it was
reasonably light. Such keenness was rewarded by the sight of
no less than five Smew on this one small loch, four red-headed
birds and a fine drake swimming and diving as we watched
them. Beside the road we found a party of Long-tailed Tits,
a Tree Creeper and a Great Spotted Woodpecker—and all be-
fore breakfast, to which we returned full of virtue.

On the way to Castle Douglas a brief call at Auchenreoch
turned up a nice variety of birds including a Willow Tit and
splendid views of Goosander glinting in the sun as they flew
past close to the road. On Carlingwark, under the able direc-
tion of Willie Austin, we located two more Smew—red-heads
again—and it cannot be often that one can see seven in so
short a time. A party of about seventy geese flew over honk-
ing aS we were leaving and hardly anyone gave them a second
glance. After they had gone the local experts set about ex-
plaining that they were not Grey Lag but Bean Geese and
that we should probably see no more that day. In fact we did
see some twenty-five close to the road later in the day, but
they have been difficult to find and numbers are low this year.

From Castle Douglas we headed up L. Ken in a long con-
voy of cars with Willie Austin to the fore. At the expected
spot Greenland Whitefronts were duly located. The first was
only a head sticking up behind a grassy bank on which a fine
flock of Wigeon was resting, but we saw others later.

On Woodhall Loch we found yet another species of duck.
Very few dissentient voices were raised when a distant black
and white blob was diagnosed as another Smew, but a quar-
ter-mile walk along the road turned it into a Long-tailed Duck
(more or less tailless of course)—a very unexpected visitor
there. This was the sixteenth, and probably the seventeenth,
species of duck to be seen in two days.

218 SOLWAY WEEK-END 1(7)

At the New Galloway end of L. Ken an abortive search
for Willow Tits was not kept up for very long. A few more
persistent souls, however, were well rewarded for their greater
enthusiasm by hearing a Willow Tit and a Jay almost at the
same time. On a carpet of washed-up vegetation and seeds by
some marshy willow-scrub we found a small party of birds
including Siskins and Redpolls which were chased by a
Sparrow Hawk that appeared from nowhere. Even a Tree
Creeper took to the thicket growing in the water and looked
most out of place climbing the thin stems of the bushes.

So ended a superb week-end as people disappeared in search
of food, buses, trains and the road home. About eighty-five
different species of birds were seen by one of the writers, and
the tally for the whole party cannot have been very far short
of a hundred—not bad for a week-end in the coldest month of
the year. |
ANDREW T. MACMILLAN.
GEORGE WATERSTON.

UNUSUAL MORTALITY OF YOUNG.
PUFFINS ON ST KILDA, 1959

DAVID BODDINGTON

The population of Puffins Fratercula arctica on St Kilda
during the breeding season probably numbers one million
pairs, the largest and most dense colony being on the island
of Dun, which forms the south side of the Village Bay. Land-
ing on Dun is only possible in periods of calm weather, but
the colonies on Hirta are accessible more easily.

On 20th July 1959 a large number of dead young Puffins,
from two to four weeks old, were found on the Hirta colony
of Carn Mor, most of which showed no signs of injury. On
24th July a number of dead birds were lying on the talus
slopes below Ard Uarchdarachd. There were freshly dead
young among the boulders of Carn Mor on 3lst July. On the
next day a landing was made on Dun and a transect of 1,100
yards was made at a height of 200-300 feet as far as Point
of Dun, thereby covering all but 200 yards of the complete
length of the island. Weather conditions did not allow more
than three hours stay and the luxuriant vegetation, of which
Sorrel Rumex acetosa was the dominant species, made a
thorough search impractical. In the five yard wide transect
through the most densely populated area, 205 dead birds were
counted on the way to the Point of Dun and 166 along a slight-

The Isle of May from the south-east. On the top of the island the
Lighthouse can be seen. and the Low Light, where visitors stay, is at the

end of the white wall to the right of it. The May is just over a mile
long. Aerofilms Ltd.

FIRECREST on the Isle of May, 50th September 1959 (see antea 1:155).

The characteristic head markings of this species are well shown.
Photograph Dennis Munns.

220 YOUNG PUFFINS ON ST KILDA 1(7)

ly higher level on the return journey. All the birds were
estimated to be between twelve and 40 days old, and only a
small number showed any evidence of injury.

On the assumption that fifty acres of this eighty acre island
are as thickly colonised by Puffins, there must have been at
least eight thousand dead birds, not counting those below
ground or in thick vegetation. Examination of several birds
was made and three specimens, thirty to forty days old, were
sent to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Veter-
inary Laboratory, Lasswade, Midlothian, where R. H. Duff,
ee: made a pathological report, of which an extract
follows.

“Post-mortem examination showed that the Puffins had died
in very poor condition. The crops and gizzards were empty.
The intestines were very narrow and thin-walled and flaccid.
The kidneys were brownish ...and the livers were small. No
parasites were in the intestines and the presence of Esche-
rischia coli was of no pathogenic significance... From these
findings starvation is the most likely cause of death.”

Lockley states that the young Puffin is deserted about the
fortieth day. At this time and until it goes to sea it would be
expected that the alimentary canal would contain no food,
but younger birds examined showed similar features. Fish is
stated to constitute 32 per cent of the animal matter in the
Puffin’s diet (The Handbook of British Birds), being composed
of Sand Eels Amnodytes spp. and the fry of Herring Clupea
harengus and of Pollack Gadus pollachius. Boyd et al. have
recorded specimens of Norway Pout G. esmarkii in a puffinry
on St Kilda.

It seems likely that food shortage was the main cause of
the unusually high mortality and the fact that, during the
many hours spent in the St Kilda Puffin colonies, no discarded
fish and few birds bringing in fish were seen, lends support
to this.

1960 OFFICIAL SECTION 221

The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

SUMMER EXCURSIONS

IMPORTANT—Members intending to come on Excursions must, where
necessary, inform the respective organisers immediately, so that ar-
_rangements can be made for numbers which in some cases are limited.
Bookings will be accepted in strict order of application. Members of
the Club are entitled to attend ANY Branch Excursion, and guests may
be invited where numbers are not limited.

ABERDEEN

Applications for all Excursions to be made to Miss E. A. Garden,
Eider Cottage, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire (Tel. Newburgh 95) one week
in advance. Transport will be by private cars, and members having spare
seats should inform Miss Garden.

Saturday, 7th May :

YTHAN ESTUARY AND LOCHS—Leader, Miss E. A. Garden. Meet
Ythan Hotel 2 p.m. Bring picnic tea.

Sunday, 5th June :

CRATHIE AREA—Leader, Mr C. Murray. Meet Crathie Post Office 11
a.m. Bring picnic lunch and tea.

Sunday, 4th September :

FORVIE MOOR (Autumn Migrants)—Leader, Mr A. Smith. Meet Ythan
Hotel 10.30 a.m. A ferry service will be arranged over the river, so

nat a walk up the coast to Collieston can be made. Bring picnic lunch
and tea.

DUNDEE

When private cars are to be used, applications for all Excursions should
be made to Mr Jack Scobie, 3 Constitution Road, Dundee (Office Tel.
3141) one week in advance. _

Sunday, 6th March :

FORFAR RESCOBIE AND BALGAVIES LOCHS—Meet City Square
10 a.m. Transport by private cars. Bring picnic lunch.

Sunday, 3rd April
FORT ALAN AND RIVER TAY—Meet Perth Bus 10.30 a.m. Bring picnic

lunch.
Sunday, 15th May:

NORTH ESK ESTUARY AND AUCHMITHIE—Meet City Square 10 a.m.
Transport by private cars. Bring picnic lunch and tea.

Sunday, 12th June:

TENTSMUIR AND SHELLEY POINT—Meet Tay Terries 9.45 a.m. Trans-
port by private cars. Bring picnic lunch and tea.

ISLE OF MAY—Date to be announced later. Limited to twelve members.

Sunday, 18th September :
EDEN ESTUARY (GUARD BRIDGE to ST ANDREWS)—Meet Tay Ferries
9.45 a.m. Transport by bus. Bring picnic lunch.

222 OFFICIAL SECTION 1(7)

EDINBURGH

Times of buses and trains should be checked with Summer Time-
tables. Costs may also be subject to alteration. Private hire buses
will only be provided at the charges shown on condition that a
minimum of 30 attend. Anyone unable to attend, and having booked
a seat, may be required to pay the fare unless one week’s notice is
given.

Saturday, 14th May:

ABERLADY BAY NATURE RESERVE (Spring Migrants)—Leaders,
Mr W. Birrell and Mr C. N. L. Cowper. Meet Timber Bridge 2.30 p.m.
Bring picnic tea. (S.M.T. Bus leaves Edinburgh Bus Station at approx.
1.40 p.m.)

Saturday, 21st May:

PENICUIK HOUSE GROUNDS (by kind permission of Sir John_D.
Clerk, Bt.)}—Leader, Mr R. W. J. Smith. Meet outside Penicuik Post
Office 2.30 p.m. Bring picnic tea. (S.M.T. Bus leaves Edinburgh Bus

Station at 1.30 p.m.)
Sunday, 29th May :

THE HIRSEL, COLDSTREAM (by kind permission of the Earl of
Home)—Limited number. Applications by 21st May to Mr Andrew T.
Macmillan, 66 Spylaw Bank Road, Edinburgh 13. Leader at the Hir-
sel, Major the Hon. Henry Douglas Home. Private bus will leave
Waverley Bridge at 11 a.m. returning at approx. 7 p.m. Picnic lunch
and tea to be taken. Cost : bus approx. 8/- per person.

Saturday, 11th June:

ISLE OF MAY Limited number (12)—Leader, Dr W. J. Eggeling. Appli-
cations by 4th June to Miss O. T. Thompson, 52 Inverleith Row,
Edinburgh. Train to Anstruther leaves Waverley Station at 9.10 a.m.
Boat leaves harbour 11.40 a.m. prompt. Time on Island approx. 12.45
to 4.30 p.m. Return train leaves Anstruther 6 p.m. arriving Edinburgh
8.56 p.m. Bring picnic lunch and tea. Cost: Day return rail ticket,

8/11; boat approx. 9/-.
Sunday, 19th June:

PARADISE WOODS, DUNS, AND ST ABBS HEAD CLIFFS (Limited
number)—Applications by 11th June to Miss O. T. Thompson, 52 In-
verleith Row, Edinburgh. Leader at Paradise Woods, Mr W. Murray.
Private bus will leave Waverley Bridge at 10.45 am. and return
approx. 6.30 p.m. Picnic lunch and tea to be taken. Cost: approx. 8/-.

Sunday, 3rd July :

FARNE ISLANDS (Limited Number)—Applications by 25th June to
Mr A. G. Ablett, 7 Craigmount Gardens, Edinburgh 12 (COR 4258).
Leader from Seahouses, Dr E. A. R. Ennion. Private bus_ leaves
Waverley Bridge 9 a.m. arriving Seahouses 12.30 p.m. Boats leave
harbour on arrival. Bring picnic lunch. Cost : Bus 11/-; boat 11/-; High
tea at Monks House, 6/-.

Saturday, 16th July:

BASS ROCK (by kind permission of Sir Hew Hamilton Dalrymple, Bt.)—
Applications by 9th July to Mr John King, 103 Marchmont Road,
Edinburgh 9. Boats leave North Berwick Harbour 2.30 p.m. and return
at 7 p.m. Bring picnic tea. Cost : Boat 7/6.

Saturday, 20th August :
ABERLADY BAY NATURE RESERVE (Autumn Migrants)—Leaders,
Mr W. Birrell and Mr K. S. Macgregor. Arrangements as for 14th
May.

1960 OFFICIAL SECTION 223

GLASGOW

Times of buses and trains should be checked with Summer Time-tables.
For all Excursions, excluding the first, applications must be made as
stated so that adequate reservations may be made.

Saturday, 30th April ;
HAMILTON BIRD SANCTUARY (by kind permission of the Town
Council of the Burgh of Hamilton)—Leader, Mr D. Stalker. Meet at
Hamilton Cross at 2.30 p.m.

Sunday, 29th May :

THE HIRSEL, COLDSTREAM (by kind permission of the Earl of
Home) (Limited number)—Joint Excursion with Edinburgh Branch.
Train to Edinburgh leaves Queen Street Station at 9.40 am. and
arrives 10.54 a.m. Private bus leaves Waverley Bridge at 11 a.m. re-
turning approx. 7 p.m. Applications by 2lst May to Mr Andrew T.
Macmillan, 66 Spylaw Bank Road, Edinburgh 13. Picnic lunch and tea
to be taken. Cost: Bus approx. 8/-.

Saturday, 4th June:

AILSA CRAIG—Maximum number, two parties of 14. Applications by
28th May to Miss M. G. Scott, 68 Evan Drive, Giffnock, Glasgow.
Boat leaves Girvan Harbour with first party at 11 a.m. Time on Ailsa
Craig, 3 to 4 hours. Bring picnic lunch and tea. Cost: Boat 10/- per
person,

Saturday, 19th June:

LITTLE CUMBRAE—Applications by llth June to Miss M. G. Scott,
68 Evan Drive, Giffnock, Glasgow. Boat leaves Fairlie 11.30 a.m. Bring
picnic lunch and tea. Cost: Boat 3/6 per person.

ST ANDREWS

Applications for the Excursions to the Isle of May and Loch Leven
must be made to Miss M. M. Spires, 2 Howard Place, St Andrews (Tel.
852) not later than 1st June.

Saturday, 28th May :

LINDORES LOCH—Leave St Andrews Bus Station on Perth Bus at
12.45 p.m, Bring picnic tea.

Sunday, 12th June:

ISLE OF MAY (Limited number, 12)—Boat leaves Anstruther Harbour
10 a.m. Bring picnic lunch and tea.

Sunday, 26th June :
LOCH LEVEN (by kind permission of Kinross Estates)—Boats leave
from the Sluices, Scotlandswell, for St Serfs Island at 11 a.m. Bring
picnic lunch.and tea.

SCOTTISH BIRDS: VOLUME I, No. 1

A number of requests have been received from Libraries for complete
sets of “Scottish Birds” to date. As the first issue, Volume I, No. l,
(September 1958) has been out of print for some time, the Secretary will
be very glad to receive any copies, in whatever condition, which mem-
bers can spare to enable these orders to be fulfilled.

224 OFFICIAL SECTION 1(7)

WEEK-END EXCURSION TO AVIEMORE

Arrangements have again been made with Mrs M. J. Grant, The Dell
Hotel, Rothiemurchus, Aviemore (Tel. 216) for a week-end Excursion to
Speyside.

Accommodation for up to twenty members has been reserved for the
week-end 6th to 8th May at inclusive terms of 45/- per person as follows :
Bed on Friday night 6th; breakfast, packed lunch, dinner and bed on
Saturday 7th; breakfast and packed lunch on Sunday 8th.

Members wishing to come on this Club Excursion should book direct
with Mrs Grant, mentioning that they are members of the Club, and are
asked to send her a postcard to acknowledge their booking, once this
is made. Members may bring guests. Reservations will be accepted in
strict order of application. Arrangements for transport by private cars
should be made through Branch Secretaries.

CLUB LIBRARY

Members are asked to note that the Club Library will not be open
on Wednesday evenings during the summer months. The Secretary will
be glad, however, to welcome members who wish to use the Library in
the evenings if previous arrangements are made. There will be no Junior
Meetings during the summer months.

Dr N. TINBERGEN ON “BEHAVIOUR OF GULLS”

Members who were present at the Stirling Conference and who heard
Dr Tinbergen’s fascinating talk will be interested to hear that he has
kindly presented copies of reprints of his recent work, “Comparative
studies of the behaviour of Gulls : A Progress Report,” 1959, to the Club
Library. They are available for borrowing.

DUNDEE BRANCH

Owing to a mis-print in the Syllabus of Winter Lectures, the date of
the Dundee Branch Lecture in April has been given as 26th; this should
read 28th April.

OPERATION OSPREY, 1960

There are still vacancies for Volunteer Wardens (male) and Cook-
caterers (female) during the period 28th May to the end of August. Any-
one prepared to assist should contact George Waterston, 21 Regent Ter-
race, Edinburgh 7, at once.

THE LATE T. LESLIE SMITH

Members will learn with regret of the death of Mr T. Leslie Smith
who served on the Club Council as the Dundee Branch Representative
since March 1959.

Mr Smith was a man of wide interests, particularly in Youth work,
and was president of the Y.M.C.A. in Dundee for nearly twenty years.
He joined the Club in 1956 and took a keen interest in all its affairs. |

.
70

PesCOTTISH
BIRDS

The Journal of
The Seottish Ornithologists’ Club

Vol. I No. 8 Summer 1960

FIVE SHILLINGS

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

HE Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was founded in 1936 and membership

is open to all interested in Scottish ornithology. Meetings are held

during the winter months in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and

St Andrews, at which lectures by prominent ornithologists are given and

films exhibited. Excursions are organised in the summer to places of
ornithological interest.

The aims and objects of the Club are to (a) encourage and direct the
study of Scottish Ornithology in all its branches; (b) co-ordinate the
efforts of Scottish Ornithologists and encourage co-operaticn between field
and indoor worker; (c) encourage ornithological research in Scotland in
co-operation with other organisations; (d) hold meetings at centres to be
arranged at which Lectures are given, films exhibited, and discussions held;
and (e) publish or arrange for the publication of statistics and information
with regard to Scottish ornithology.

There are no entry fees for Membership. The Annual subscription ts
25/-; or 7/6 in the case of Members under twenty-one years of age or in
the case of University undergraduates who satisfy the Council of their status
as such at the time at which their subscriptions fall due in any year.
“Scottish Birds” is issued free to members.

The affairs of the Club are controlled by a Council composed of the Hon.
Presidents, the President, the Vice-President, the Hon. Treasurer, one
Representative of each Branch Committee appointed annually by the
Branch, and ten other Members of the Club elected at an Annual General
Meeting. Two of the last named retire annually by rotation and shall not
be eligible for re-election for one year.

A Scottish Bird Records’ Ccmmittee, appointed by the Council, produce
an annual Report on “Ornithological Changes in Scotland.”

Full details are given in the Syllabus of Lectures Card of the names of
the present Office-bearers of the Club.

An official tie with small white Crested Tits embroidered on it can be
obtained in dark green or in navy blue by Members only from Messrs R.
W. Forsyth Ltd., Princes Street, Edinburgh, or 5 Renfield Street, Glasgow,
C.2 at a cost of 16s 9d post extra. A small brooch in silver and blue can be
obtained tor the use of Members ot the Club. Price 2s 6d each from the
Secretary, or from Hon. Branch Secretaries.

Forms of application for Membership, copy of the Club Constitution,
and other literature is obtainable from the Club Secretary, Mrs George
Waterston, Scottish Centre for Ornithology and Bird Protection, 21
Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7. (Tel. Waverley 6042).

CLUB-ROOM AND LIBRARY

The Club-room and Library at 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7, will
be available to members during office hours, and on Wednesday evenings
from 7 to 10 p.m. (except the Wednesdays of Branch Meetings). Mem-
bers may use the Reference Library and borrow books from the Dupli-
cate Section. Facilities for making tea or coffee are available at a nominal
charge and members may bring guests by arrangement. The Aldis 2” x
2” slide projector and screen may be used for the informal showing of
slides at a charge of 2s 6d per night to cover the replacement of bulbs.

Informal meetings for Junior members will be held in the Club-room
on the first Friday of each month from October to April at 7.30 p.m.

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

All notes dealing with birds in the eastern Lowlands, from Berwick-on-
Tweed to Dundee, shculd be submitted to A. T. Macmillan, 66 Spvlaw
Bank Road. Edinburgh, 13; all other contributions to M. F. M. Meikle-
john, 16 Athole Gardens, Glasgow, W.2. It would be helpful if notes were
typewritten, if possible, and double spaced.

SCOTTISH BIRDS oN

THE JOURNAL OF THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB ie ae

Vol. I No. 8 Summer 1960

Edited by M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN, with the assistance of D. G. ANDREW and
A. T. MACMILLAN. Business Editor, ARTHUR J. SMITH. Cover design
(Whimbrel) by LEN FULLERTON. Published quarterly.

Editorial

AFTER our mammoth spring number, the summer number

returns to a smaller size, but we hope it will be possible
to bring out larger numbers from time to time, especially when
the accumulation of material demands it. At present our
main difficulty is acquiring material as regards photographs:
we prefer to publish those taken in Scotland and by members
of the Club—whether they show birds or places of ornitho-
logical interest—and we would therefore be grateful for the
gift of any photographs which the photographer himself
thinks worthy of publication.

ASSISTED PASSAGE
C. P. RAWCLIFFE

_ The substance of this article was delivered to the members

of the Edinburgh branch of the S.O.C. on 17th February 1960.
In it I deal with the birds I have found upon ships arriving at
Leith Docks.

llth April 1953. M/v Bucklaw from Holland. About twenty
miles north of Ymuiden, the wind being southerly and the
weather fine and clear, a Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
came on board. Others flew over, but only this one alighted.
Time about 2000 hrs GMT on the 10th. Bird flew away at the
Imperial_Docks.

19th November 1953. A damaged Starling Sturnus vulgaris
found on M/v Midsland from Rotterdam.

221954. A Snipe Capella gallinago came on board the S/s
Gothland from Copenhagen. It died ashore and the skin was
preserved by the Royal Scottish Museum.

12th October 1957. On the S/s Mansuria from Gothenburg

226 ASSISTED VRAS SAGE 1(8)

I found the following dead birds on the decks in out of the
way places: two Skylarks Alauda arvensis, one Chiffchaft
Phylloscopus collybita, one Goldcrest R. regulus, two Meadow
Pipits Anthus pratensis, one Starling and one Linnet Carduelis
cannabina. Unfortunately the bodies were decomposed. The
vessel had left Gothenburg on the 9th. The 10th was over-
cast and birds, mostly Starlings, came on board during the
night.

6th November 1958. When the M/v Midsland arrived from
Amsterdam, I found a dead Skylark aboard. I was told that
many had come on the ship and that those which fell into
the sea were soon snapped up by gulls.

doth October 1959. In the alleyways amidships of the M/v
Dryburgh from Rotterdam I found two live birds, a Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs and a phylloscopus. I was able to catch the
Chaffinch and from the brightness of the ruddy breast judged
it to be of one of the Continental races.

6th October 1959. On this day the M/v Cantick Head came
from Leningrad. I found dead on board a Skylark and a Long-
tailed Tit of the Northern race Aegithalos c. caudatus. Many
birds came on board; many died and went overboard during
the washing-down of the decks. The Long-tailed Tit was a
lovely bird to handle even when dead; its head was pure
white, but when the feathers were disturbed one could see
that the basal half of each feather was black.

8th October 1959. On M/v Midsland from Rotiedon there
was a dead Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus. On M/v
Heriot from Amsterdam there were three live Starlings
crouched under a winch. Captain Masson reported that many
Goldcrests had come on board, but they left when the ship
was abreast of the Longstone Light.

16th October 1959. When the M/v Frida Blokzul came from
Maasluis, Holland, and the holds were opened up for dis-.
charge of cargo, Starlings flew out. It was thought that they
had gone in to roost before the hatches were put on and thus
became trapped. One dead Starling was also found.

19th October 1959. This day the M/v Haskerland arrived
from Harlingen, Holland. Captain Kuiper reported to me that
an owl came on board, the first in his long experience, but
was later lost in the gale, He remarked that migratory birds
crossing the North Sea fly down-wind and that, if the wind
direction changes, then the birds too change direction. He
had seen this happen.

10th November 1959. M/v Peka from Copenhagen. The
Captain had a female Continental Twite Carduelis f. flavi-
rostris in a budgerigar cage. The bird had come on the ship
when it was about 120 miles west of the Skag Lightship (6
p.m. MET). It had fed on seeds and was in good condition. On

1960 ASSISTED PASSAGE 227

behalf of the Captain I released it on the dock, where it fed
on grass and dandelion seeds.

Corrigenda

Antea 1:206. Part II of “Current Notes” apply to late 1959
and early 1960, not, as stated, to late 1958 and early 1959.

Antea 1:206. For “Port of Menteith, Stirling” read ‘Port of
Menteith, Perthshire.”

Antea 1:207. For “Eaglesham, Lanark” read “Eaglesham;
Renfrew.”

Antea 1:213-4. The Lapland Bunting on Arthur’s Seat is
not the first record for Midlothian. It has been recorded from
Gladhouse (Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 4:4).

CURRENT INO i Ess

(These records, all of them believed fully authenticated,
apply to late 1959 and early 1960 unless otherwise stated.
Initials denote the following observers: J. Ballantyne, P. G.
R. Barbier, H. Boase, T. Boyd, W. Brotherston, W. A. J. Cun-
ningham, George Dick, W. J. Eggeling, Sir Robert Erskine-
Hill Bt., Miss W. U. Flower, J, lela, als de Isotrayen Vas aks liileve=
millan, M. F. M. Meiklejohn, W. Murray, Je Potter:Go.P.
Rawcliffe, Reeve. Smith, ib. © Smout, Lk. A. Urquhart, G.
Waterston and M. I. Waterston).

The Great Northern Diver Gavia immer is not so numerous
off the east coast as off the west: T.C.S. notes the follow-
ing occurrences—single birds off Gullane Point on 16th Dec-
ember and 12th March; one at Broughty Ferry on 13th Feb-
ruary and two on the 14th. The Slavonian Grebe Podiceps
auritus, common in East Lothian, is not so often recorded for
one one was at Eastfield, Edinburgh, on 5th March

.B.).

A Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis flew past the windows of the
Scottish Centre for Ornithology on 8th April (G.W., M.I.W.).

A Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo bearing the character-
istics of the “southern race” sinensis was seen at Hamilton
on 10th April: “neck and head hoary white except for a
black crescent from the throat to the forehead” (A. S. Temple).
These white-headed birds are not infrequent, especially in
S.W. Scotland, and recent studies by R. Stokoe (British Birds
01:165-179) show that the two races cannot be separated in

_ the field. Numbers of Shags P. aristotelis come into Leith

Docks on infrequent occasions (see Edinburgh Bird Bulletin
4:65) and C.P.R. sends the following totals from there: 22 on
4th February, 34 on the 5th, and 12 on 1st March.

228 CURRENT NOTES 1(8)

(Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax. In late July 1959 up
to seven were noted at dusk flying down the R. Almond to
feed on the mud at the mouth (per J. E. King) and an adult
was seen at the mouth of the Water of Leith at 2230 hours on
17th February 1960 (C.P.R.). Though certainly escapes from
Edinburgh Zoo, we are recording these occurrences in case
the bird ever establishes itself in the wild.)

Duck—large numbers. The 400 Teal Anas crecca reported
from Loch Leven (antea 1:210) seem to have been nothing
much! R.W.J.S. on 2lst September saw at least 2,000, and
probably closer to 3,000, flying in a swirling mass over St
Serf’s Island. On 13th December, after a period of strong eas-
terly winds and driving rain, there was a very large concen-
tration of duck between Kincardine and Grangemouth: 1,285
Mallard, 1,280 Shelduck Tadorna tadorna, 516 Teal, 330 Pintail
A. acuta, 14 Shoveler Spatula clypeata, four Tufted Duck, 13
Goosander Mergus merganser and 42 Merganser M. serrator.
The figures for Shelduck and Pintail are quite exceptional.
Shelduck were down to 750 on 17th January and 650 on 13th
February (previous maximum recorded 400-500). Pintail down
to 200 on 17th January and only eight on 13th February (pre-
vious maximum. recorded 20-30). Pintail were also in numbers
at Loch Leven at the time and were recorded from Peppermill
Dam for the first time (G.D., J.P.). There is a hitherto unrec-
orded concentration of Pintail in early spring on Tullibody
Island above the Kincardine Bridge. On 28th February their
numbers rose to 190, and two hours later 215 were seen north
of Grangemouth (as above) (T. Paterson).

A pair of Garganey A. querquedula, the first for Lewis, were
seen on a flooded field at Fivepenny Ness on 27th March
(W.A.J.C., A. McEachern, M.F.M.M.). A pair were at Hamil-
ton Low Parks on 2nd April and a drake on the 16th (L.A.U.,
M. Forrester, D. Stalker, A. S. Temple).

Three Gadwall A. strepera at Quothquhan, Lanark, were the
first the observer has seen there (R.E.-H.). The Edinburgh
wintering pair continue to be seen, mainly at Dunsappie
(latest date 13th April), but also at Figgate Pond (T.C.S., G.W.,
M.I.W.). On 30th March one was at sea off the Doonfoot, Ayr
(L.A.U.).

A female Scaup Aythya marila was at the mouth of the R.
Endrick on 24th January (W.U.F.). Goldeneye Bucephala
clangula have also been numerous. On 19th November 300+
at the sewer outfall at Stannergate, Dundee, is a record—
about 60 per cent were adult drakes. On 17th November there
were 200, and 250+ on 22nd December (H.B.). Off the Edin-
burgh coast in midwinter there are up to 700 at Seafield and
others elsewhere in smaller flocks (A.T.M.). On 14th December
800 flew east at Portobello (T.C.S.), possibly the total from
this section of the coast. On 23rd March rather more than

1960 CURRENT NOTES 229

1,000 arrived at Musselburgh in the evening (90 per cent from
the direction of Portobello) between 1630 and 1830 hours—
still a few coming when observer left (J.B.). This eastward
movement may well be regular. A Long-tailed Duck Clangula
hyemalis was on Loch Ken on 20th March (M.F.M.M., A. D.
Watson).

Smew Mergus albellus have been seen regularly at L. Ar-
thur, Kirkcudbright, the latest date reported being 5th April,
when a “red-head” was still there (D. Lawson). A duck and a
drake were on Carlingwark Loch, Castle Douglas, on 21st
March (M. D. Walker). Numerous observers have seen a “red-
head” at the Endrick mouth and an adult drake in the Hamil-
ton area during the early months of the year. One “red-head”
was at Threipmuir on 6th February and 5th March (T.B.,
R.W.J.S.), three near the sluice on Loch Leven in second week
of February and two on river below sluice on 24th February
(G.D.).

An albino Grey Lag Goose Anser anser was seen near Bridge
of Dee on 6th April. Size of accompanying Grey Lags; pale
orange bill and flesh-coloured legs. Plumage dirty white, with
some brown markings on back (D. Lawson, A. McConnell). 43
Bean Geese A. fabalis were at Hule Moss, Berwick, on 7th
November (W.M.). A pale buffish-coloured goose, almost cer-
tainly a Pink-foot A. brachyrhynchus, was seen with Pink-feet
at East Fortune on 28th January and elsewhere later (A. Mac-
donald) and at Tynninghame on 28th February (T.B.,R.W.J.S.).

On 6th December a pale-breasted Brent Goose Branta ber-
nicla hrota was seen with Pink-feet near Middleton, Mid-
lothian (W.B.). Two Barnacle Geese B. leucopsis were seen
with Pink-feet at Middleton on 29th October, and from 13th
November to 5th December a party of eight were with Pink-
feet in the same area (W.B., R. Walker). One was seen with
Pink-feet at East Fortune on 28th January (A. Macdonald)
and at Tynninghame on 28th February (T.B., R.W.J.S.): the
presence of the pale Pink-foot (see above) shows that the same
flock was involved in the two cases.

An immature Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii
was with Mute Swans on Biggar boating pond from 16th
December until 11th January (R.E.-H., Rona S. Hunter). A Mr
Murdoch reported an adult at the mouth of the Esk at Mussel-
burgh on 20th April and A.T.M. saw it there on the 21st.

On 16th January a Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos was
disturbed on Barra just after it had killed a Barnacle Goose;
this is the first eagle the observer has seen on the island
(Alick Ross). An Osprey Pandion haliaetus was found on 7th
April by J. Hoy at Tulliallan Loch, Fife: it was sitting on a

_ dead tree eating a fish. Later it was seen to catch a trout, and

the skin and bones of another were found below its perch. It

| remained until the 10th.

1(8)

230

‘(puowyoRy, Yyouuoy “AA Aq

dvisojoy )

‘plezzng

1960 ‘CURRENT NOTES 231

An interesting movement of Lapwings Vanellus vanellus
was observed at various places on 27th/28th February:

Tynninghame, 28th. Continuous movement of small parties
up the coast northwards offshore and others heading inland
up the Tyne—several hundreds in all (R.W.J.S.).

North Berwick, 27th, 3 to 5 p.m., strong S.W. wind, warm,
sky clear. Constant movement from Tantallon towards Craig-
leith and due west. Small parties and usually low over the
water—hundreds in all. At least thirty Snow Buntings and

- other passerines as well (T.C.S.).

Aberlady, 27th. Several parties offshore heading up Forth.
Fresh to strong S.W. wind. Perhaps return passage after a
cold spell (R.W.J.S.).

Gladhouse, 28th. A few came in from the north (D. G.
Andrew).

A nest with one egg at Penicuik on 23rd March (W.J.E.).

A Grey Plover Charadrius squatarola was seen at Hule
Moss, Berwickshire, on 20th September 1959 (W.M.). A great
flock of some 1,500 Golden Plover C. apricarius in every
grade of plumage was seen at Humbie, East Lothian, on 28th
March (A. Macdonald).

Ten Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa were at the Nith
estuary, Glencaple, Dumfries, on 17th March and for about a
week after (E. L. Roberts). Seven at the mouth of R. Endrick
on 24th April and six on lst May (M. Forrester, D. Stalker).
A Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus was on the Clyde at
Quothquhan on 21st September (R.E.-H.). A Spotted Redshank
T. erythropus is reported from Hule Moss on 20th September
(W.M.); two from Loch Leven on 21st September (apparently
the first record for Kinross) (T.B., R.W.J.S.); and one near
Fraserburgh on 3rd March (T. G. H. Woods). A Greenshank
T. nebularia is reported from Islay on 25th or 26th January
1959 (I. Rainier) and one was seen at St Andrews and an-
other on the Eden estuary on Ist February 1960 (B. Neath). A
Little Stint Calidris minuta was seen at Aberlady on 27th
September (David Hope).

On 22nd October at the mouth of the Galson River, Lewis,
A. McEachern saw four Grey Phalaropes Phalaropus fuli-
carius and two Red-necked P. lobatus: this was the day before
ine fantastic invasion’ in the Isles of Scilly (British Birds
52:439). A fresh headless male Grey Phalarope on the beach
at Gullane on 29th December may have been the one earlier
at Gullane Point (antea 1:208). One, perhaps two, at Lundin
iinkcwon 22nd January (J. W. A. Hill).

On 19th and 22nd December a Scandinavian Lesser Black-
backed Gull Larus f. fuscus was seen at Drumpellier Loch,
near Coatbridge, Lanark (W. Stein). The following Glaucous
Gulls L. hyperboreus (all immature) are reported: one, Loch

232 CURRENT NOTES 7 1(8)

Fleet, Sutherland, 3lst May 1959 (T. Hedley Bell); one at
Monifieth, Angus, on 30th January (B. Neath); two, Loch
indaal, Islay, 14th February (John Cameron, M.F.M.M.); one,
Saltcoats, Ayrshire, 12th March (G. Fraser); one, Stornoway,
29th March (W.A.J.C., M.F.M.M.); one, Mallaig, 30th March,
and one, Dunbar, 17th April (M.F.M.M.). An Iceland Gull L.
glaucoides was at Girdleness, Aberdeen, on 20th March (D. I.
M. Wallace): one spent most of the winter in Stornoway Har-
bour and a second bird was there on 27th March (W.A.J.C.,
M.F.M.M.).

On 30th January at Monifieth, Angus, there was a contin-
uous stream of Little Gulls L. minutus moving east towards
the mouth of the Tay over at least three hours; well over 100,
probably 200, seen. About one in twenty was immature (B.
Neath). Two at Dundee on 29th March (C. M. Morrison), and
one at Guilane Point on 14th February (P. Gardiner, D. R.
Grant, R. P. Snodgrass, etc.).

A Black Tern Chlidonias niger was seen at Aberlady on
18th August (David Hope) and an exceptionally late Common
or Arctic Tern at Lundin Links on 7th November (R. S. Weir).

Three pairs of Wood Pigeons Columba palumbus and four
Long-eared Owls Asto otus have wintered in a small patch
of trees in Unst, Shetland, the former not having wintered
there before (S. T. Saxby).

A Green Woodpecker Picus viridis at Quothquhan on 2nd
August is R. E.-H.’s first for the area. One at Colinton Dell on
3rd February is the first for that part of Edinburgh (W. Pryde
per I. V. Balfour-Paul). :

The three Continental Great Tits Parus m. major on the Isle
of May stayed over winter and, on 3rd April, five more arrived
and fought with them—all were caught as they bickered in
the trap (W.J.E.). Three also passed the winter in Unst (5S. T.
Saxby). Cf. antea 1:178 and 209.

A Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus, a rare visitor to Shet-
land, was at Baltasound, Unst, during the latter half of
March. A Ring Ouzel T. torquatus on 18th October at Garvald
Farm, Peebles-shire, was evidently from farther north, as
the local birds were all gone and the first Fieldfares ‘arrived
then (W.B.). |

A Stonechat Saxicola torquata at Middleton Mains Farm,
Midlothian, from 11th November until at least 26th Decem-
ber, is only the third the observer has seen in the area in
eight years (W.B.). A pair in Leith Docks, with a Robin, on
4th February (C.P.R.). A pair and another female on coast
opposite Fidra, East Lothian, 20th March (C: P2 Ross). On
24th January, J.P. saw a male Black Redstart Phoenicurus
ochruros among huts in the W.D. enclosure at Longannet, Fife.

On 17th March a male Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla was seen

1960 CURRENT NOTES 233
in a garden at Bearsden, Dunbartonshire (G. E. R. Young)

and another was seen at Falkirk from 3rd March to Ist April:
it fed on food put out on a window-sill (Mrs V. Meadows).

At the height of the frost on 15th February a Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybita appeared in an Edinburgh garden (A.
P. Meiklejohn). One was seen near Libberton, Lanark, on 13th
March (M.F.M.M.). On 26th March one, which had apparently
been present for a few days, was seen at Borve, Harris, and
on the 27th one was singing at Laxdale, north of Stornoway
(W.A.J.C., M.F.M.M.). On 3rd and 4th April one was seen
and heard at Dornoch, and on the 9th one at Loch Evelix,
three miles west of Dornoch: these are only the observer’s
third and fourth records for S.E. Sutherland (D. Macdonald).

A Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor was seen several
times at Tarfside, Angus, between November and February
(cf. antea 1:212) and what was probably the same bird was
found dead in March (D. Jenkins). Another was seen on a
number of occasions between 20th January and 17th March
near Thornhill, Dumfries-shire and was once heard to sing
(J. H. Swan): what may have been the same bird was seen at
Durisdeer on 8th February (W.U.F.). Other single birds have
been seen at milepost 5 on the road from Stirling to Doune
on 3lst March (W.J.E.); one near Loch Mhor, between Inver-
ness and Fort Augustus, on 16th April (R. E.-H.); and one be-
tween Brodick and Lamlash, Arran, on 16th and 17th April
(D. Stalker).

Hight or ten Siskins Carduelis spinus were in the Royal
Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, on 12th February and single birds
for a few days after (Jane Sandeman). About sixty -Twites
were at Longannet, Fife, on 7th January and twenty at Cul-
ross on the 10th (P.G.R.B.). R.E.-H. saw an immature male
Crossbill Loxia curvirostra at Quothquhan, Lanark, on 2nd
May 1959 and there were about twelve there, including two
adult males, on 30th July 1959.

Between twenty and thirty Bramblings were in a field by
Loch Ardinning (W. Stirling) on 25th January and 26 there
on 13th February (W.U.F.), and about twenty near Crawford-
john on 4th April (D. Lawson, A. McConnell). On 21st Feb-
ruary one visited the Scottish Centre for Ornithology (G.W..,
M.I.W.) and there was a great flock of over 1,000 on 20th
March at Mount Lothian, Midlothian (R.W.J.S.).

A small flock of Snow Buntings Plectrophenax nivalis was
in the grounds of Jordanhill College, Glasgow, on 13th Feb-
ruary (C. M. Morrison); eight on the north shore at Troon on
22nd February (R. M. Ramage, J. Shanks): and one—a new
bird for the locality—in Hamilton Low Parks on 13th March
(D. Lawson, A. McConnell).

A flock of 200 Tree Sparrows Passer montanus on 24th Jan-

234 CURRENT NOTES 1(8)
uary at Crichton Castle, Midlothian, is very large for the
area (C. K. Mylne).

SHORT N Op Es

(The note on the Scarlet Grosbeak is published through the
kindness of the Editors of British Birds).

BITTERN IN ROXBURGHSHIRE

A Bittern Botaurus stellaris was reported at a small pond
near Riddell, Roxburghshire, on 27th January 1960. I visited
the area on 3lst January and received an excellent description
of the bird from a farmer who had had a clear view of it
standing in open water. He telephoned me next morning that
he had seen it again, so I hurried out, taking some fish offal,
since natural food would be scarce, there having been a
heavy snowfall since its first appearance. Eventually, a lighter
“tuft of grass” by the pondside proved to be the Bittern
crouching down with neck retracted, only the streaks on the
long neck feathers giving it away. The beak was held ver-
tically. When a shepherd approached the neck was suddenly
extended, the beak still vertical, and so it remained until a
noisy tractor came near, whereupon the Bittern stalked into
the cover of willowherb stems in slow motion and hunched
attitude, giving me a view of green legs and long feet.

On 4th February it could not be found, but at the place
where it was last seen was a heap of jelly on the grass and,
poking among this, I discovered a group of unlaid frog’s eggs
without covering jelly. It seems probable that a frog had been
gutted, perhaps by the Bittern. It is an early date for a frog
and too early for spawn this year.

The last local record was in December 1947 when a Bittern
was found dead in Yarrow, Selkirkshire.

ARTHUR J. SMITH.

STELLER’S EIDER IN SUTHERLAND

In bright sunshine on the afternoon of 22nd September 1959
we were looking at ducks from the roadside at the south-east
corner of Loch Fleet, near Dornoch, Sutherland. The tide was
in and there were many common Eiders Somateria mollissima
swimming quite near us. A.W. noticed that one duck, only
about 150 yards from the road, seemed unusually dark and
also had a prominent purple speculum edged with bright
white bars. Near this bird a very white common Eider was
swimming as well as another duck with a purple speculum:
(this was a common Eider; —KEp.). All three
were away from the main mass of Eiders. When P.G. saw the

1960, SHORT NOTES 235

first duck swimming away from him, he said that it looked like
a Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula. D.J.’s first comment was that
it looked like a small edition of a cross between a common
Eider and a Mallard Anas platyrhynchos.

We watched these birds with binoculars for the next quar-
ter of an hour and were able to get within a hundred yards
of them by walking down to the water’s edge. The first bird
was about the size of a Tufted Duck and was less mottled,
much darker and much smaller than the common Eider fe-
males nearby. It sat very high on the water, with head and
tail erect like a Tufted Duck. The speculum on its wing was
a dark purple edged with two clear white bands, and it had a
slight sheen in the sun unlike the matt surface of the rest of
the plumage. The head was more delicate than a common
Eider’s and the bill more slender. Like most species of duck
the bird had a fairly steep forehead, and the head and bill
did not give that characteristic flattish impression given by
the common Eider. This impression in the common Eider is
heightened by the strip of feathers running far forward below
the forehead, a strip absent in our bird. These characters were
so distinct that we considered the bird to be a Steller’s Eider
Polysticta stelleri.

PHILIP GLAZIER.

Davip JENKINS.

JAMES ROBERTSON-J USTICE.
ApamM WATSON.

LITTLE CRAKE IN SHETLAND

During April 1959 a male Little Crake Porzana parva was
picked up dead on the shore of a small loch at Umyeasound
in the south part of Unst. One side of this loch is only about.
twenty-five yards from the sea, the other is bordered by hay-
fields. The prevailing winds during the month had _ been
southerly. The identification of the bird was confirmed by Mr
George Waterston and the bird is now in the Royal Scottish-
Museum.

S52) L. SAKBY:,

SLENDER-BILLED CURLEW IN SCOTLAND

On 25th February 1960 some boys appeared at my door,
carrying a curlew-like bird, and Robert Robertson of Avoch,
Easter Ross, explained how he had seen this bird probing
about in the snow in his garden as if looking for food. When
he approached it, it walked away, making no attempt to fly,
and, in the enclosed space of the garden, a capture was easily
made. A single glance at the carried bird showed me that
here was no ordinary curlew: the Whimbrel size, the absence
of Whimbrel headstripe, the bill more slender at the base
than the Whimbrel’s, combined with the grey colour to make

236 SHORT NOTES 7 1(8)

the identification of the bird as certainly a Slender-billed
Curlew Numenius tenuirostris, and a detailed examination
confirmed this.

Most of the feathers of the bird had considerable areas of a
light colour, which gave the impression of a bird much lighter
in tint than common Curlew N. arquata or Whimbrel N. phae-
opus. |

Head feathers were grey, white fringed; mantle brown-grey
with white fringes; rump white with some spotted feathers;
underparts pure white, spotted on the flanks with very defin-
ite and mostly heart-shaped sepia marks. These marks tailed
out almost completely on the belly. Primaries were dark
brown and the upper tail was barred brown and white.

A few measurements were taken: Length of bird, 385 mm.;
wing, 255 mm.; beak, 80 mm. (From Handbook data a female).

I could find no injury, but the bird was suffering from
hunger and exhaustion, as if it had flown a great distance be-
yond its strength. The open shore seemed to give it the best
chance of rest and food, so I asked Mr John Macintosh next
door to ring the bird and release it there. Later, after con-
firming the identification, he told me that on the shore, the
curlew seemed unwilling to move, but soon had disappeared
entirely. Had it turned up dead upon the shore I think I should
have heard of it. This is the first record for Scotland of this
species.

JOHN LEES.

(The Rev. Mr Lees submitted a typical feather from the
underparts of this bird. Although the heart-shaped mark was
not precisely identical with that illustrated in The Handbook
(vol. 4, 179), it was very similar, and examination of skins of
tenuirostris and other curlews in the Royal Scottish Museum
show that there can be no doubt about the correctness of his
identification. We can see exactly what Mr Lees means by its
looking “grey, not brown.” The centres of the mantle feathers
in tenuirostris are a less intense brown that in the two com-
mon species, arquata and phaeopus (Curlew and Whimbrel),
but more striking are the broader, paler grey fringes.—Ep.)

PECTORAL SANDPIPER IN DUNBARTONSHIRE

On 18th October 1959, on the Dunbartonshire bank of the
river Endrick at the point where it enters Loch Lomond, I
flushed a small wader from the edge of a small pond fringed
with persicaria. It flew off a short distance with a tritt-tritt
call. Approaching its new resting place I saw it was slightly
larger than a Dunlin, with long greeny yellow legs, a very
obvious bib and a long neck with smallish head.

The head was brown with dark streaks and pale eyestripe;

1960 | SHORT NOTES 237

bill dark, slightly down-curved and pale at base; back brown
with ashy-edged feathers, like a scaly Ruff Philomachus pug-
nax; also on the back was a very distinct V marking; breast
greeny yellow, with brown streaks and speckles ending in an
apron very white below; tail black in the centre, white at the
sides.

On several occasions I found myself being watched by the
bird, which stretched its neck, peered at me and ducked down
out of sight again. It showed a distinct preference for the
grassy persicaria-edged pond.

I have no doubt that the bird was a Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotos.
M. FORRESTER.

(This is the locality where the only other record of the
species for the Clyde area was made, in 1882; see McWilliam,
Birds of the Firth of Clyde, p. 117—Eb.).

COLLARED DOVE IN PERTHSHIRE

On 16th February a Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
entered the loft of a local pigeon fancier near Faskally, Pit-
lochry. The bird was brought to me and fully recovered, its
identity in the meantime being confirmed by Dr James
Campbell. It was released on 27th March in perfect health,
when it flew strongly and high to a fir wood about a quarter
of a mile away and was then lost to view. The delay in setting
it free was due to it having moulted all its tail feathers en
bloc, perhaps as a result of its hardships before it reached me.
New quills, however, appeared almost immediately and were
in use for several days before its release.

Jo Wate SUG URUT.

(Mr Stuart has enclosed several of the moulted tail feathers
which leave no doubt as to the bird’s identity. This record
is of considerable interest in showing how often the Collared
Dove arrives in a new locality in an exhausted condition (cf.
antea 1:190) and also shows how much this species is depend-
ent on human support; but although the Collared Dove is likely
now to turn up unexpectedly anywhere in Scotland, observers
should be reminded of the existence of the very similar Bar-
bary Dove S. risoria, a species only known in captivity, which
nas a black neck ring like the Collared, but differs from it in
its more sandy colouration, in its pale primaries, and in the
lack of a black base to the underside of the tail feathers. Its
call also differs, that of the Collared Dove being a Wood
Pigeon-like coo-COO-coo. The possibility of the Barbary Dove
appearing in strange localities in the same way as the Collar-
ed Dove is illustrated by the fact that one arrived tailless
ea “ao at Port Ellen, Islay, at the end of October 1959,
— U0)

238 SHORT NOTES 1(8)
SNOWY OWL IN KINCARDINESHIRE

On 38rd March I travelled from Aberdeen to Dundee by way
of Cairn O’ Mount. Over the summit (1488 feet a.s.l.), with the
ice hacked back to the roadsides, I stopped and scanned the
rising ground to the west. Some four or five hundred yards
away there was a large pale bird beating along the broken
ground. With 8x40 binoculars I saw that it was not only pale
but white—not detergent white, but rather like the other girl
in the advertisement. As it flapped and glided slowly towards
me I saw the obvious head of an owl. Once it rested on a
boulder, then on its fairly low-flying way. It was big—Buzzard
size—and, as it neared, it seemed whiter. The upper wing was
flecked irregularly with pale, milk chocolate marks—partic-
ularly in mid section. The head, tail and back were white: I
could see the feet. Once the bird flipped over to pass behind
some rocks and I saw the underwing and belly—white and
unmarked. I know the Short-eared Owl; this was lighter and
bigger. In all I watched it for five minutes, broken by the
excursions it made behind the folds in the terrain, and it fin-
ally climbed high over the hill to the west. I take it that the
bird was a Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca.

A. S. TEMPLE.

CHOUGH IN ARGMWEE

On a day between 30th May and 13th June 1959 my wife
and I saw a bird which we are convinced was a Chough Cora-
cia pyrrhocorax on a cliff face about a quarter of a mile north
of Gannavan Sands, near Oban. Its unusual boisterous note
first attracted me and, as it was disturbing the foliage of the
creeper covering the cliff, I was able to focus my glasses on
the spot before the bird showed itself. In size it resembled a
Jackdaw, certainly no smaller, and its plumage was shiny
bluish black. Its head was slightly elongated with a very bold
eye and the most striking feature was its long, slightly down-
curved bill, which was bright orange red. I was unable to see
the bird’s legs because of its position.

JOHN WHYTE.

(On 20th January 1960 a Chough was seen at Blairgowrie
(Mrs Jean Hodge per Henry Boase) but, since it alighted in a
garden, we cannot help thinking that it must have been an
escape from captivity.—EDb.).

DUSKY THRUSH IN ARGYLL

Just before the end of 1959 a strange bird arrived in our
garden at Port Appin, Argyll. Although ravenously hungry,
it was most wild and shy. It was in a very battered and storm-
tossed condition. At first glance I thought it was a Redwing
Turdus musicus, then the larger build, black breast, feathers

1960 SHORT NOTES 239

with white edges and outstanding white eye-stripe sent me
running for the bird-books. I just did not know what to look
for, but eventually found that the description of the Dusky
Thrush Turdus eunomus tallied exactly with the bird I had
seen. Neither my husband nor I are “out for rare birds” and
so decided to say nothing about it, as we felt that people might
think we were imagining things, but, when we heard on the
wireless of one having been seen by experts, I decided to
write to the B.B.C. about it.

In size the Dusky Thrush was smaller than a Mistle Thrush
T. viscivorus, but a more robustly built bird than the Song
Thrush T. ericetorum; it resembled the Redwing rather than
either of them. It had a white (not cream or buff) eyestripe.
Under the body could be described as white, but the breast
and sides were definitely streaked with black. There was not-
iceable rufous colouration on the rump and the quills appear-
ed to be bordered with rufous. When it took flight the rufous
shade under the wings was easily seen.

CATHERINE McLENNAN.

(We agree with Mrs McLennan’s identification of this bird
as a Dusky Thrush; there can be no possibility of confusion
with a Redwing—a species which she knows well. Another
bird of the same species was found in Co. Durham in the
same month (British Birds 53:96). The. only other Scottish
record of the Dusky Thrush is placed in square brackets in
The Birds of Scotland —EDb.).

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER IN LEWIS

W. A. J. Cunningham writes: “On 10th November 1959, Mr
A. McEachern, Principal Keeper at the Butt of Lewis light-
house, telephoned to say that there was a Yellow-browed War-
bler Phylloscopus inornatus in his garden. His description
tallied with The Field Guide in characteristics and behaviour
and: he is not unfamiliar with the bird, having handled one
in Wales. He had been within six feet of it and at once noticed
its small size, flycatcher-like flight and two wing-bars.”

(We have since had the opportunity of discussing this oc-
currence with Mr McEachern personally and are convinced
that it is correct.—ED.).

ALBINO MEADOW PIPIT IN BENBECULA

On 26th May 1957, near Loch Torcusay, Benbecula, my wife
and I discovered an albino pipit which was completely pale
café-au-lait in colour. We both had excellent views (x12 bino-
culars) of this bird in flight, and from a few yards when it
perched on a fence. No obvious markings could be seen in its
plumage, so that it appeared of a uniform shade. Its legs

240 SHORT NOTES 1(8)

‘ were pale pinkish and the eye dark; both its voice and its size
were those of the Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis. The albino
was mildly mobbed at times by two or three normally plum-
aged Meadow Pipits collecting food for nestlings, but it was
not in any way deterred, and, in fact, on occasions appeared
to be attempting to court one of them.

Since albino pipits are infrequent this observation seems
to be worthy of record and it is of interest that a somewhat
similar individual was recorded on Ist August 1958 on the
Isle of May by Donald Watson (antea 1:43). —

JAMES W. CAMPBELL.
SCARLET GROSBEAKS ON FOULA

On 2nd September 1959 a Scarlet Grosbeak Carpodacus ery-
thrinus appeared in a small croft garden at the south end of
Foula, which also contained Crossbills, two Barred Warblers
and an “impossible”? Acrocephalus—probably a Marsh War-
bler. It was watched at close range for a long time. First seen
front view, very close, a drab brown bird, not unlike a heavily
built Twite with uniform thin streaking on the sides of the
grey-brown breast, and a large steely sparrow-like beak. In
side view it was a featureless bird, except for the two well
delineated but very narrow bars on the closed wing, and the
rather large and beady eye. In flight over short distances it
was very sparrow-like, but with a forked tail, and flight rather
undulating.

This bird was seen regularly in the same place up to the
evening of 5th September, but on that day an identical bird
appeared a mile further north in a cabbage-patch—first seen
in the morning and still there the next day, when the other
bird had gone.

JOHN Boys.

Obituary

THE LATE SAMUEL BRUCE

With the passing of Sammy Bruce at the age of eighty-one,
Shetland has lost a great character and many bird-watching
visitors to the islands have lost a staunch friend.

Bruce was a native of Whalsay and a boat-builder by trade.
Among the boats which he and the late Peter Tulloch built
was the Soldian, formerly owned by Mr G. Theo Kay, a yacht
which took many keen bird-watchers on island trips. In Ler-
wick everyone knew Sammy, with his old-fashioned “Shetland-
type” moustache and his keen blue eyes. During the migration
periods he was often to be seen peering over garden walls
into shrubberies with his small telescope, seeing whether there

1960 OBITUARY 241

were any “streenge birrds” about. He had a life-long interest
in ornithology and was a first-class taxidermist.

His contributions to Shetland ornithology are considerable.
His outstanding achievements were the addition to the Scottish
List of the Greenish Warbler (1945) and the Collared Flycatch-
er (1947), while his Red-flanked Bluetail (1947) was the first
for Britain. Bruce was an Honorary Member of the S.O.C. and
a Life Member of the B.O.U. In June 1947 he attended the
joint B.O.U./S.0.C. Conference in Edinburgh.

G. W.

The Invasion of Waxwings Bombycilla garrulus in Scot-
land in October and November 1959

ANDREW T. MACMILLAN

INTRODUCTION. When the editors of “British Birds” refer to Wax-
wings almost disdainfully as a “now perennial subject” one almost feels
that some excuse is needed for publishing a mere summary of records.
This is the fourth successive winter in which there has been a sizeable
invasion but, in spite of this unprecedented series of Waxwing-years, it
should not be assumed that we can look for further annual irruptions.
Furthermore, no two invasions seem to follow quite the same pattern,
and this one was certainly strikingly different from those of the previous
three winters. It therefore seems worth putting down some comments on
the invasion while it is still fresh in mind, and also by way of thanking
the very large number of observers who have sent in records and who
are sO numerous that there is unfortunately too little space to mention
them by name.

THE INVASION. There were two early reports of Waxwings seen in
the northern isles before the general invasion of Scotland; a single bird
in Kirkwall from the end of August (antea 1:204) and a number observed
in Unst during September and October. These records have not been in-
cluded in the various tables and analyses of the invasion.

There were few other records until the last two days of October.
The earliest report comes from Pitlochry—a place much favoured by
the Waxwings this winter—where an observer who had Waxwings in
the garden for six weeks up to 15th April 1959 heard them again on 22nd
October and saw 5 two days later. The first few arrived at Thurso and
Banchory about this time, and two were seen at Glassel on the 27th.

The invasion really got under way on Friday 30th October when a
single Waxwing was seen at Dornoch, and there were 30 at Killin. On
the last day of the month 10 were at Gullane—in the usual garden—six
at Comrie, and odd birds at Fair Isle. Easter Ogil, and on the Isle of
Canna. The only other record for October was of one in Newtyle at the
end of the month.

From Ist to 25th November there were first reports from various places
each day; thereafter there are very few records of new arrivals. A large
proportion of the records came in answer to letters in the “Glasgow Her-
ald” and “Scotsman” on 20th and 24th November respectively. Very few
letters were received after the first flood of replies in spite of individual
appeals for information sent to all correspondents. This was in complete
contrast to last year when notes came trickling in for months and many
observers wrote several times. That the Waxwings did not linger any-

242 WAXWINGS 1(8)

where for long is clear both from the abrupt end to this correspondence
and from the notes sent in. This was the most striking feature of the
invasion when compared with those of recent winters. There seems little
doubt that the reason for it was a general shortage of berries in Scot-
land. Thus there would be nothing to induce the birds to pause in their
irruption-type migration (see Svardson: “British Birds,” 1957 :314-343).
One is led to speculate whether they continue towards the south-west
until they are lost in the Atlantic. In that case one might expect reports
from Ireland and perhaps from ships at sea. Even in a ‘normal year it is
very difficult to get any direct observation of the departure of the birds
—they just seem to fade away. Professor M. F. M. Meiklejohn has sug-
gested to me that this fourth invasion in three years may be the last
meantime; he suggests that very few of the birds which reached Scotland
are likely to survive the winter and return to their breeding haunts this
time.

The following table lists the places where new arrivals or increases
were noted each day during November; the number of birds is given in
brackets. Much data cannot, of course, be tidily fitted into this table,
and there is naturally no guarantee that the birds had arrived on the
dates when they were first seen and reported, but the table does give
the impression of a steady movement into and through the country.
There is no obvious peak day for new arrivals, and it will be noted
that the dates for which the most records have been listed were usually
at the week-end.

ARRIVAL OF WAXWINGS IN NOVEMBER 1959-—sFor earlier rec-
ords see above. This table includes only accurately dated observations,
though there is no guarantee that the birds actually arrived on these
dates. A plus sign indicates an increased count at a place where Wax-
wings were already present.

Ist—Poolewe (2) Stonehaven (15) Invergowrie (12) Kinnoull (7) Aber-
lady (18) Buchlyvie (4) Houston (5) Bridge of Weir (1) Isle of Cum-
brae (6) Sannox, Arran (4 & 6) Girvan (5 & 2).

2nd—Forres (1) Pitlochry (+20) St Andrews (1) N. Berwick (18)
Haddington (6) Loganlea (7) Greenock (6).

3rd—Kirkwall (6) Isle of May (3) Levenhall (14).

4th—Dornoch (+7) Ardgay (25) Aberdeen (1) Dundee (—) Kingoodie

5th—Unst (1) Findhorn (20) Edinburgh (7 & 5) Glasgow (2) Maidens
(1) Haugh of Urr (1).

6th—Golspie (7) Ullapool (1) Forres (+30) Crianlarich (12) Oban (1)
Galashiels oe

7th—Voe (—) Golspie (+18) Cromarty (12) Nairn (25) Old Meldrum (1)
Montrose (7) Pitlochry (++) Elie (1) Barnacarry (2) Chapelton (2)
Corrie, Arran (1) Moniaive (14).

8th—Inverness (20) Ellon’ (2), Laurencekirk’ (2) Gupar 4G) Dysart)
Kirkcaldy (30) Coldingham (2).

9th—Balintore (2) Pitlochry (+) Lochore (3) Stirling (4) Bearsden (2)
Uplawmoor (1) Dumfries (15).

10th—Munlochy (2) Poyntzfield (6) Connel (2) St Andrews (+7) Crail
(5) Dunbar (6) Castle Douglas (14).

11th—Avoch (3) Stornoway (1) Borve (1) Ullapool (+10) Ardrishaig (7)
Kilmacolm, (—) Gourock (1).

12th—Lerwick (1) Plockton (1) Rhum (4) Torphins (4) Strathtay (1)
Coshieville (1) Rathillet (12) Milngavie (1).

13th—Wick (1) Huntly (1) Rosyth (11).

l4th—Nigg (1) Aberfeldy (6) Largo (1) E. Linton (6) nr. Tarbert (5).

15th—Plockton (+6) Aviemore (1) Kingussie (2) Killiecrankie (3)
3roughty Ferry (12) Polmont (1).

16th—Helmsdale (2) Evanton (50) Gairloch (1) Aviemore (+3) Milton

1960 WAXWINGS 243
of Balgonie (5) Duns (2) Lochmaben (6) Dalry, Kirkcudbrightshire

17th—Arbroath (12) Kilmelford (15) Isle of May (2) Milnathort (25)
Mauchline (30). 7

18th—Callander (8) Selkirk (2) Caerlaverock (1).

19th—Rogart (12) Aviemore (+13) Benmore, Dunoon (1).

20th—Appin (4) Newton Mearns (1) Kilmarnock (2) Ayr (9).

Zlst—Lybster (1) Skye (6) Coupar Angus (2) Dalmally (1) Crarae (?15)
Grangemouth (1) Ayton (1) Reston (2) Earlston (40) Greenlaw (6)
Dumfries (++) Caerlaverock (15).

22nd—Inverinan (1) Rattray (2) St Andrews (+20) Inverkeithing (2) S.
Queensferry (15) Heiton (2) Gattonside (2) Galashiels (+10) Biggar
(6) Kilmarnock (+6) Langholm (7).

23rd—Scourie (2) St Boswells (2).

24th—Invergordon (3) Dyce (1) Peterculter (2) Lochgilphead (3) Eye-
mouth (1) Hawick (1).

25th—Barcaildine (6) Dirleton (3).

26th & 27th—

28th—Pitcaple (+7).

29th—Burntisland (—).

30th—

As in many past years, it is most noticeable that some of the earliest
records are from the west of the country—on lst November for example.
On the other hand there was a definite pause before more than odd
birds reached the Solway area. The biggest, though not the first, influx
in the south-west appears to have been on 2lst November when Wax-
wings were seen in over a dozen sites about Dumfries. On the same day
they were also noted elsewhere in the Solway area, numbers increased
in Ayr, and they were seen in a number of places in Berwickshire.

LARGE FLOCKS. No exceptionally big flocks were reported except
for one, mentioned in the “Inverness Courier’ on 24th November 1959,
which arrived at Fort Augustus one day the previous week and fell to
devouring the elder and cotoneaster berries. There were over 200 birds
in this flock. In previous years there has also been evidence of movement
south-west down the Great Glen. The dates on which large flocks were
seen are fairly complete so that it is perhaps worth listing all those of
more than about 20 birds. The following table indicates the approximate
numbers in the flocks and the dates on which they were first seen in
such numbers. The popularity of flocks of 25 to 30 birds is rather striking.

30th Oct.—Killin (28)

2nd Nov.—Pitlochry (25)

4th Nov.—Ardgay (25)

6th Nov.—Forres (30)

7th Nov.—Golspie (25) Nairn (25)

8th Nov.—Kirkcaldy (30)

9th Nov.—Pitlochry (now up to 60)
c. llth Nov.—Earlsferry (35)

14th Nov.—Kilmacolm (25)

16th Nov.—Evanton (50)

17th Nov.—Milnathort (25) Mauchline (30)
c. 18th Nov.—Fort Augustus (200)

21st Nov.—Earlston (30) Ayr (40)

22nd Nov.—St Andrews (30)

There is one further record—of 50 at Cardoness near Gatehouse of
Fleet on 12th or 13th January. The presence of these birds when there
were few Waxwings anywhere in the country, may have been connected
with a remarkable hard-weather movement about this time which is
mentioned in “British Birds” (1960:141).

AA WAXWINGS 1(8)

LATE RECORDS. A mere 20 reports (96 birds) refer to Waxwings
seen after the end of November. In December there were 12 reports (32
birds); in January, 6 reports (59 birds including the flock of 50 at Car-
doness); in February, 3 reports (10 birds). Because some birds were
present at the end of one month and the start of the next these figures
do not agree with the totals given above. The January records come
from Aberdeen (1 on 8th) Invergowrie (1 on 9th, 11th & 20th) Dundee (4
on 29th) Edinburgh (2 on 15th) Eskbank (1 on 6th) and Cardoness (50 on
12th or 13th). In February Waxwings were seen in Invergowrie (5 on
6th) Dundee (4 on 14th) and Burnside, Rutherglen (a single bird—the
last reported—on 20th & 21st).

DISTRIBUTION. These meagre totals for the later months of the
winter should be compared with a grand total of over 400 reports which
were received recording more than 2,100 birds. A summary of these
records is given at the end of this paper, and it will be seen that they
come from all over the country. High totals come, as one would expect,
mainly from the east coast, but the large numbers reported from the
Clyde and Solway Faunal Areas are noteworthy. Relatively many more
birds were reported from the west than last winter, and the dates of
these records confirm that the Waxwings did not linger for long on their
way across Scotland. This invasion seems to have been on a larger scale
than the previous three, and the relative shortness of it heightened the
impression one got of this at the time.

When Baxter & Rintoul compiled “The Geographical Distribution of
Birds in Scotland” (1928) they sub-divided the Faunal Areas of Scotland
into 50 smaller areas. They had records of Waxwings for 43 of these
areas, and by 1939 they had added a further 3 in their annual lists of
additions. Only Kinross and the islands of St Kilda, Bute, and Arran
were Waxwingless. In their report on “The Migration of Waxwings into
Scotland, 1946” (Edinburgh, 1947) the same authors give records for the
Island of Bute. This winter there are several records from the Isle of
Arran which seem to be the first; and the reports from Kinross would
appear to be the first for that county so that only St Kilda still awaits
the arrival of its first Waxwing.

This winter, Waxwings were recorded in no fewer than 44 of the
50 areas; the only areas in which none was seen being St Kilda, North
Sutherland, West Inverness (a rather small area), South Inverness,
Banff (but if one includes with Banff the small part of Aberdeenshire
in the Moray Basin there are two records), and West Stirling.

On 19th November 1959 a dead Waxwing was picked up in Kirkcaldy
bearing a Stockholm ring YM 3496. This bird had been ringed when full-
grown, near Kalix in the Norrbotten district of northern Sweden (65.51 N,
23.08 E). Miss E. P. Leach reports that this is the first British recovery
of a foreign-ringed Waxwing.

FOOD. In spite of the general scarcity of berries in Scotland this win-
ter, Waxwings were not recorded taking other food to any great ex-
tent. Their favourite berry, as in the past two winters, was cotoneaster
(116 reports). There are quite a few records for rose hips (40) and
berberis (31) but the only other fruits of any significance were apples
(11) and haws (10). A few observers named the Species of cotoneaster
visited and the total includes five records each of horizontalis and simon-

su and single records of frigida and prostrata. The berberis records in-
clude two each of thunbergii and wilsonii.

The exceptionally sunny summer of 1959 may account for Waxwings
being able to find pears (4) still on the trees in Forres, Huntly, Edin-
burgh and Stevenston. Other berries and fruits mentioned were elder
(3), privet (3), honeysuckle (2), rowan (2), bramble (2), viburnum (2)—
including the yellow berries of v. opalis sterile fructa luteo), escallonia
(2), holly (1), juniper (1) and crab apple @y

1960 WAXWINGS 245

In Shetland, where berries are hard to find at the best of times, Wax-
wings were seen taking the fruit of St John’s-wort at Voe, and feeding
on scraps in Lerwick with a group of Starlings. In Aberdeen one took
brown bread put out on the lawn, and even fed it to another—possibly
an immature bird. In St Andrews sultanas were taken. Young willow
buds were tried at Kilmelford but the bird did not appear to like them.
In their breeding haunts Waxwings freely take insects but this is an
unusual item in their winter diet in this country. Birds seen at Nigg in
elder bushes and at Montrose on a damson tree were thought to be
searching for and taking insects, but it is difficult to be quite certain as
both elder and damson might be visited in search of the fruits.

SUMMARY OF RECORDS. In this list a “report” means each sep-
parate group or movement reported by each observer. Thus, where the
same birds have been reported | independently by more than one observer,
they count as more than one “report.” So far as possible, each bird has
been counted only once in the total column. Where observers have not
given exact counts of the birds, estimates have been made and the total
for that place has been shown in brackets.

No. of Total No. Earliest
ORKNEY & SHETLAND reports of birds record
Shetland

*Unst 1 1 5 Nov.

Voe 1 (5) 7 Nov.

Lerwick 1 1 “12 Nov.

Fair Isle 1 2 Si Oct.
Orkney

{Kirkwall 1 6 3 Nov.

z 15 31 Oct.

*A number were seen in Unst during September and Oc-
tober.

qOne was seen in Kirkwall for about a week at the end
of August and beginning of September (antea 1:204).

Both these early records have been left out of all the
totals as they do not seem to belong to the main
invasion.

OUTER HEBRIDES

Borve, South Harris 1 1 11 Nov.
Stornoway, Lewis 1 1 11 Nov.
Leurbost, Lewis 1 1 c. 20 Nov.
3 3 11 Nov.
NORTH COAST &
CAITHNESS
Caithness
Thurso 4 5 Gae75) Oct
Wick 1 1 13 Nov.
Lybster i 1 21 Nov.
6 7 Coe Oct.
MORAY BASIN
Sutherland
Dornoch 5 12 30 Oct.
Golspie 3 29 6 Nov.
Brora 1 (5) early Nov.

Helmsdale
Rogart
Ross
Ardgay
Cromarty
Balintore
Munlochy
Poyntzfield
Avoch
Nigg
Evanton
Invergordon

Inverness

Inverness
Aviemore
Kingussie

Fort Augustus

Nairn
Nairn
Moray

Forres
Findhorn
Lossiemouth
Elgin
Aberdeen
Huntly

DEE

Aberdeen

Aberdeen
Oyne
Ellon
Kintore

Old Meldrum

Pitcaple
Torphins
Culter
Dyce
Peterculter
Kincardine

Banchory
Glassel
Stonehaven

TAY

Kincardine

Laurencekirk

Angus
Newtyle
Easter Ogil
Invergowrie
Dundee
Montrose
Forfar

WAXWINGS

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16 Nov.
19 Nov.

4 Nov.
7 Nov.
9 Nov.
10 Nov.
10 Nov.
11 Nov.
14 Nov.
16 Nov.
24 Nov.

8 Nov.
15 Nov.
15 Nov.
c. 18 Nov.

7 Nov.

2 Nov.
5 Nov.
early Nov.
c. 10 Nov.

13 Nov.
30 Oct.

4 Nov.
7 Nov.
8 Nov.
early Nov.
early Nov.
early Nov.
12 Nov.
ce loaiNowve
c. 18 Nov.
24 Nov.

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1 Nov.

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8 Nov.

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7 Nov.

4 Nov.

7 Nov.
early Nov,

247

1960

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248.

WAXWINGS

Monifieth
Broughty Ferry
Arbroath
Kirriemuir
Tealing

Perth

Pitlochry

Wallin

Comrie
Rosemount
Kinnoull
Kingoodie
Crianlarich
Bridge of Tilt
Coshieville
Strathtay
Aberfeldy
Killiecrankie
Coupar Angus
Rattray

Fife

Newburgh
*St Andrews
Cupar
Gateside
Rathillet

rs tt DD

ms RTD Ht et DQ GC It St st tt oa)

—
a ie ae)

73

385

c. 10: Nov.
15 Nov.
17 Nov.
mid Nov.
early Dec.

heard 22 Oct.
seen 24 Oct.
30 Oct.

31 Oct.

ec, end) Oct

1 Nov.

5 Nov.
6 Nov.
early Nov.
12 Nov.

12 Nov.

14 Nov.

15 Nov.

21 Nov.

22 Nov.

c.- 2 Nev:
2 Nov.

8 Nov.
early Nov.
12 Nov.

22 vor 24 Oce

1(8)

*Onlvy a single bird in St Andrews before 10th Nov. in
spite of the large number of reports.

FORTH
Isle of May Z 3 2 Nov.
Fife
Colinsburgh Z 6 Ist wk. Nov.
Elie 2 8 7 Nov
Dysart 1 1 8 Nov
Kirkcaldy 9 35 8 Nov
Lochore 1 3 9 Nov
Crail 4 12 10 Nov
Earlsferry 1 35 c. 11 Nov
Rosyth 1 11 13 Nov
Milton of Balgonie 1 5 16 Nov.
Inverkeithing 1 2 22 Nov
Burntisland 1 (5) 29 Nov
Anstruther 1 (5) — Nov
Lundin Links 1 (5) — Nov
Kinross
Milnathort 4 30 12 Nov
Clackmannan
Alloa 1 4 c. 24 Nov.
Perth
Callander 2 (15) early Nov.
Stirling
3uchlyvie 3 8 1 Nov.
Stirling 1 4 9 Nov.
Cambuskenneth 1 2

c. AZ iNow

1960! WAXWINGS 249

Polmont 1 1 15 Nov.
Grangemouth 2 3 21 Nov.
West Lothian
South Queensferry 1 15 22 Nov.
Midlothian
Loganlea 1 i} 2 Nov
Levenhall 2 14 3 Nov
Edinburgh 12 28 5 Nov
Kirknewton 1 (5) — Nov
Eskbank 1 1 6 Jan
East Lothian
North Berwick 2 22 eu Oct
Gullane 1 10 Sil Oct
Aberlady 8 20 1 Nov
Haddington 3 16 2 Nov
Dunbar 3 15 10 Nov
East Linton 1 7 14 Nov
Dirleton 2 4 25 Nov
Berwick
Coldingham 3 8 Nov.
Paxton 1 (5) c. 11 Nov.
Duns 10 15 16 Nov
Ayton 1 1 21 Nov
Reston 1 2 21 Nov
Earlston 8 AO 21 Nov
Greenlaw 1 6 21 Nov
Eyemouth 1 1 24 Nov
Whitchester 1 1 13 Dec
Peebles
Broughton 1 (5) — Nov.
Selkirk
Galashiels 4 t7 6 Nov.
Selkirk 1 3 18 Nov
Roxburgh
Denholm Z (7) c. 21 Nov
Gattonside 1 Zz 22 Nov
Heiton 1 Z 22 Nov
St Boswells 1 2 23 Nov
Hawick 1 1 24 Nov
39 113 6 Nov
NORTH-WEST HIGHLANDS
Sutherland
Scourie 1 Z 23 Nov
Ross
Poolewe y 4 1 Nov
Ullapool 2 15 6 Nov
Plockton 3 8 12 Nov
Gairloch 1 1 16 Nov
“9 30 1 Nov
SKYE & INNER HEBRIDES
Isle of Canna Z. 2 Bilge Oct:

250 WAXWINGS 1(8)
Isle of Rhum 1 4 12 Nov.
6.

Scorrybreck, Skye 2 21 Nov.
5 12 Sil ‘Crear:
ARGYLL
Argyll
Ledaig 1 8 2 ‘or, 3uNowy,
Oban i 1 6 Nov.
Airds Bay, L. Etive 1 5 Pearly Nov.
Connel 1 2 10 Nov.
Tarbert 1 5 14 Nov.
Kilmelford 1 15 17 Nov.
Appin 1 4 20 Nov.
Dalmally 1 1 21 Nov.
Inverinan 1 1 22 Nov.
Barcaldine 1 6 25 Nov.
CLYDE 10 48 Zor 3) Now,
Bute
Isle of Arran + 14 1 Nov.
Millport, Cumbrae 1 6 1 Nov.
Argyll
Barnacarry 1 Z 7 Nov.
Ardrishaig Z i 11 Nov.
St Catherine’s 1 Z, c. 11 Nov.
Tighnabruaich 1 2, c. 14 Nov.
Benmore, Dunoon 1 1 19 Nov.
Crarae 1 (10) 21 Nov.
Lochgilphead 1 3 24 Nov.
Dunbarton
Helensburgh 3 2 8 Nov.
Bearsden 1 6 9 Nov.
Milngavie 1 1 12 Nov.
Lanark
Glasgow 8 35 5 Nov.
Chapelton 1 2 7 Nov.
Biggar 4 16 22 Nov.
Burnside, Rutherglen 1 1 20 Feb.
Renfrew
Houston 1 5 i
Bridge of Weir 5 13 c. 1 Now:
Greenock 1 6 2 Nov.
Uplawmoor 1 1 9 Nov.
Gourock 2 Z 11 Nov.
Kilmacolm 4 26 11 Nov.
Kilbarchan 2 tal c. 12 Nov.
Howwood 1 (5) mid Nov.
Lochwinnoch 1 (5) mid Nov.
Newton Mearns 1 1 20 Nov.
Giffnock | (5) CrIZ ENO:
Ayr
Girvan 5 1 :
Maidens 1 : 5 Noe
Prestwick 2D c. 5 Nov.
Stevenston 1 9 Nov.
Largs 1 14 Nov.
Mauchline 1 17 Nov.

1960

WAXWINGS

Kilmarnock Z
Ayr 5
70

SOLWAY

Wigtown
Stranraer 1

Kirkcudbright

Haugh of Urr 1
Kendoon 1
Castle Douglas 3
Kirkcudbright 2
Dalry 2
Gatehouse of Fleet 1
Cardoness 1

Dumfries
Moniaive il
Tynron 1
Dumfries 14
Lochmaben 2
Caerlaverock 2
Thornhill il
Lockerbie 1
Annan 1
Langholm 1
36

To summarise these details:
Orkney & Shetland 5
Outer Hebrides 3
North Coast & Caithness 6
Moray Basin 49
Dee 28
ddeky 73
Forth 81
Tweed 39
North-west Highlands 9
Skye & Inner Hebrides 5
Argyll 10
Clyde 70
Solway 36
Ail 4.

—

9 20 Nov
62 20 Nov
332 1 Nov
6 eli Nove

1 5 Nov.
(5) early Nov.
15 10 Nov.
5 ce, 1S) INWoe
4 « 16 Nov.

1 early Dec.
50 Zou lSaian:
14 7 Nov
(5) c. 7 Nov
(70) 9 Nov
16 Nov

16 18 Nov
(5) mid Nov
(5) mid Nov
(5) mid Nov
22 Nov

220 5 Nov
15 31 Oct
3 11 Nov
7. C251 Oct
505 30 Oct
112 Cy 257Ock
S650 lteard, 22, Oct.
Seen 24 Oct.

367 eo Oce
113 6 Nov.
30 1 Nov.
12 DINOct:
A8 2 (Or 23 Now
332 1 Nov.
220 5 Nov.

2149 Heard 22 Oct.
Seen 24 Oct.

nd

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB
OFFICIAL SECTION
CLUB LIBRARY

The Club is much indebted to the following members and friends whe
have generously donated books and Journals to the Club Library: T. C.
Cairns, James Fisher, Dr Ronald Fairbairn, P. W. G. Gunn, Peter Holt.
John King, Ronald Logan, R. A. MacBride, Derek H. Mills, Dr Ian

252 OFFICIAL SECTION 1(8)

Pennie, Ian M. Thomson and A. Dick Wood, Mr and Mrs J. H. B. Monro,
the Misses C. C. Campbell, Rona Hunter and E. A. Munro, and the
Nature Conservancy. In addition, nearly 200 books were received from
the estate of the late T. Leslie Smith of Dundee. These books have
greatly increased the scope of the reference and lending sections of the
Library, and members are reminded that it is possible to borrow dupli-
cate volumes. Anyone wishing to borrow a book on a specific subject
should consult the Secretary.

During the winter, Discussion groups for both Members and Junior
Members were held monthly and were well attended.

J.B.R.C. CONFERENCE

The Junior Bird Recorders’ Club (the Junior Branch of the R.S.P.B.)
held a very successful’ weekend Conference in the Club Library from
8th to 10th April 1960, when approximately twenty members met for
lectures, films and discussion.

CLUB TIE AND BADGE

Members should note that the cost of the Club tie, a crested tit motif
in silver on a blue or green background, has now been increased to 16/9
post extra. The ties are available at R. W. Forsyth Ltd., Edinburgh.

The Club badge, a crested tit in silver on blue enamel brooch, is avail-
able from the Secretary, price 2/6.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The thirteenth Annual Conference and twenty-third Annual General
Meeting of the Club will be held in the Marine Hotel, North Berwick,
from 28th to 30th October 1960. The Conference programme will be pub-
lished in the next issue of “Scottish Birds,’ and this intimation is given
in order that members may make reservations at hotels in North Ber-
wick in good time. Bookings for the Marine Hotel should be made through
the Secretary, Mrs George Waterston, 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7.
Bookings for ALL OTHER HOTELS must be imadedinectawith ume
hotel in which you wish to stay. Owing to the shortage of single rooms,
members are urged to make arrangements to share a room with a friend.
Private arrangements must be made with your hotel for lunches each
day.

Hotel Accommodation in North Berwick

MARINE HOTEL (Tel. 2406). Special Conference charge: Dinner and
bed on Friday 28th; breakfast; lunch, Annual Dinner and bed on
Saturday 29th; breakfast and lunch on Sunday 30th—#4, 15s Od.

DALRYMPLE ARMS HOTEL (Tel. 2969). Bed and Breakfast from 25s.

ee: HOTEL, 17 High Street (Tel. 2989). Bed and Breakfast from

S.

tee HOTEL, Quality Street (Tel. 2381)" Bed and) Breaktast
rom Zils.

BRAMERTON HOTEL, 27 Dirleton Avenue (Tel. 2228). Bed and Break-
fast from 17s 6d.

SEABANK PRIVATE HOTEL, 12 Marine Parade (Tel. 2479). Bed and
Breakfast from 17s 6d.

Ube ONG terms are quoted as a guide ONLY, and prices should be con-
1rmed.

The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club Tie

Illustrated is the Official Club Tie,
of which R. W. Forsyth’s are the
sole suppliers. The tie is made
from Terylene with the
bird motif in silver. Blue
or green background.

16/9.

Forsyth’s
also provide &
“warm clothing -
for bird w atchers -
gloves, scarves, under-
wear, shoes, caps, weath-
erproof trousers, jerkins,
raincoats and overcoats.

re W. FORSYTH

R. W. Forsyth Ltd. Princes Street Edinburgh And at Glasgow

BIRDS AND MAMMALS
OE She LEAN D

LE S\Vana Unie Vienaoles

In this, the first zoological study made by naturalists
resident in Shetland, Mr and Mrs Venables have
recorded the results of observations made during a
period of eight years, and a thorough study of the
zoological literature relating to Shetland.

“This book contains so much of valuable ornithological experience,
succinctly analysed and pleasantly set forth that no naturalist can

afford to be without it.”—Scotsman
404 pages 8 plates 305 net
OMEVER AND BOYD
Tweeddale Court 14 High Street Edinburgh
aa MRE EG GR OT

ill

|
|

Leaflet Bd8/SK
on request

S Z /
Ses “pS

Cc
Uf

=,

bicoculos an
BARR & STROUD LID

ANNIESLAND, GLASGOW W.3
KINNAIRD HOUSE, ! PAEL MALI BASE EONDONS Sawa

Walter Thomson, Printer, Selkirk,

LL
90
(F843

meoCOTTISH

BIRDS

| The Journal of
| The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

| Wolk I No. 9 Autumn 1960

1® IEW J9) Sey LN Ges

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

HE Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was founded in 1936 and membership

is open to all interested in Scottish ornithology. Meetings are held

during the winter months in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and

St Andrews, at which lectures by prominent ornithologists are given and

films exhibited. Excursions are organised in the summer to places of
ornithological interest.

The aims and objects of the Club are to (a) encourage and direct the
study of Scottish Ornithology in all its branches; (b) co-ordinate the
efforts of Scottish Ornithologists and encourage co-operation between field
and indoor worker; (c) encourage ornithological research in Scotland in
co-operation with other organisations; (d) hold meetings at centres to be
arranged at which Lectures are given, films exhibited, and discussions held;
and (e) publish or arrange for the publication of statistics and information
with regard to Scottish ornithology.

There are no entry fees for Membership. The Annual subscription is
25/-; or 7/6 in the case of Members under twenty-one years of age or in
the case of University undergraduates who satisfy the Council of their status
as such at the time at which their subscriptions fall due in any year.
“Scottish Birds” is issued free to members.

The affairs of the Club are controlled by a Council composed of the Hon.
Presidents, the President, the Vice-President, the Hon. Treasurer, one
Representative of each Branch Committee appointed annually by the
Branch, and ten other Members of the Club elected at an Annual General
Meeting. Two of the last named retire annually by rotation and shall not
be eligible for re-election for one year.

A Scottish Bird Records’ Committee, appointed by the Council, produce
an annual Report on “Ornithological Changes in Scotland.”

Full details are given in the Syllabus of Lectures Card of the names of
the present Office-bearers of the Club.

An official tie with small white Crested Tits embroidered on it can be
obtained in dark green or in navy blue by Members only from Messrs R.
W. Forsyth Ltd., Princes Street, Edinburgh, or 5 Renfield Street. Glasgow,
C.2 at a cost of 16s 9d post extra. A small brooch in silver and blue can be
obtained for the use ot Members of the Club. Price 2s 6d each from the
Secretary, or from Hon. Branch Secretaries.

Forms of application for Membership, copy of the Club Constitution,
and other literature is obtainable from the Club Secretary, Mrs George
Waterston, Scottish Centre for Ornithology and Bird Protection, 21
Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7. (Tel. Waverley 6042).

CLUB-ROOM AND LIBRARY

The Club-room and Library at 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7, will
be available to members during office hours, and on Wednesday evenings
from 7 to 10 p.m. (except the Wednesdays of Branch Meetings). Mem-
bers may use the Reference Library and borrow books from the Dupli-
cate Section. Facilities for making tea or coffee are available at a nominal
charge and members may bring guests by arrangement. The Aldis 2” x
2” slide projector and screen may be used for the informal showing of
slides at a charge of 2s 6d per night to cover the replacement of bulbs.

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

All notes dealing with birds in the eastern Lowlands, from Berwick-on-
Tweed to Dundee, should be submitted to A. T. Macmillan, 66 Spylaw
Bank Road, Edinburgh, 13; all other contributions to M. F. M. Meikle-
john, 16 Athole Gardens, Glasgow, W.2. It would be helpful if notes were
typewritten, if possible, and double spaced.

2,

SCOTTISH BIRDS

VEZ ULL

THE JOURNAL OF THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

Vol. 1 No. 9 Autumn 1960

Edited by M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN, with the assistance of D. G. ANDREW and
A. T. MacMILuaAN. Business Editor, ARTHUR J. SMITH. Cover design
(Leach’s Petrel) by LEN FULLERTON. Published quarterly.

Editorial

EADERS of the present number of Scottish Birds will

notice such details as a number of records of the Chiffchaff
from the northern Highlands or a report on the increase of
the newly established Cormorant colony in the Forth, and
we feel that information on alterations in the range or pop-
ulations of birds in Scotland is of special interest and, in the
long run, of more importance than isolated records of very
rare vagrants. The first recorded nesting (in 1958) of the
Green and Wood Sandpipers in Scotland, the re-establish-
ment of the Osprey, and colonisation by the Collared Dove
are of course sensational, but the spread into the north and
west of such species as the Carrion Crow, Garden Warbler
and Chiffchaff needs to be as fully documented, as does the
spread over the Border of southern species like the Turtle
Dove, Little Owl and Green Woodpecker, or the spread of
such a well-known bird as the Eider. Several of these pro-
blems are already in capable hands, but there is a lot still to
be investigated: does the Nuthatch, as rumoured, really breed
in Scotland—and so on? These few words are, in short, a plea
for less attention to rarities and for more attention to distri-
bution and changes in distribution.

REVIEW OF ORNITHOLOGICAL CHANGES
IN SCOTLAND IN 1959

JAMES W. CAMPBELL
Introduction

In 1954 the Council of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club
appointed a Scottish Bird Records Committee to review an-
nually the records of importance to Scottish Ornithology. This
committee was under the Chairmanship of the late Dr E. V.
Baxter; in January 1960 I was invited by the Council to act
as Chairman and to prepare a report on the findings of the

254 CHANGES IN 1959 1(9)

Committee relating to records published during 1959.

The members of this committee at the present time are:
: DG. Andrew, A. G. 5S. Bryson, A. B. Duncan cee,
Eggeling, Commander Sir Geoffrey Hughes-Onslow, Professor
M. F. M. Meiklejohn, Dr Ian D. Pennie, George Waterston,
Kenneth Williamson and Professor V. C. Wynne-Edwards.
This is the seventh report to be published; it is concerned
primarily with records published during 1959. The following
journals have been searched: Scottish Birds (S.B.), British
Birds (B.B.), Bird Migration (B.M.), Bird Study (B.S.), Fair
Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin (F.I.B.O.B.), Ibis, Bulletin of
the British Ornithologists’ Club and Scottish Field. The abbre-
viations used in this report are shown in brackets; in addition,
S.N. refers to The Scottish Naturalist.

Records published in Country Life, The Field and Bird
Notes have been considered in the past, but are not included
in the present report; any relevant observations, however, for
1959 will be included in the 1960 report. A certain number of
1959 records not referred to here are being held over for fur-
ther consideration.

Previous Reports by this Committee were published in The
Scottish Naturalist 1955:98, 1956:1, 1957:37, 1957:170, and
Scottish Birds 1958:30, 1959: 117.

BIRDS NEW TO SCOTLAND

SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER Calidris acuminata. One near Ham-
ilton, Lanark, 18th-2lst October 1956 (S.B. 1:94).

GREAT SPOTTED Cuckoo Clamator glandarius. One at Ting-
wall, Orkney, 14th-30th August 1959 (S.B. 1:152).

GREAT REED WARBLER Acrocephalus arundinaceus. One Loch
Brow, Shetland, 4th-5th June 1958 (F.I.B.0.B. 4:61). See also
caveat B.B. 53: 168.

FIRECREST Regulus ignicapillus. One Isle of May, Forth, 30th
September-3rd October 1959; trapped and photographed (S.B.
1:153). The possibility of earlier records has been suggested
in S.B. 1:195, but in our opinion these cannot be accepted on
the information available.

SONG SPARROW Melospiza melodia. One Fair Isle, Shetland,
27th April-10th May 1959; trapped and photographed (B.B.
52:419). There appears to be no previous European record of
this American species; the closely allied M. lincolnii has oc-
curred once, in Germany.

NEW BREEDING RECORDS FOR SCOTLAND

GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus. A par, with one chick,
found in Inverness-shire 29th May, 1959 (B.B. 52: 430).

Woop SANDPIPER Tringa glareola. Adult, with two flying
young still with traces of down, found in Sutherland 23rd
July 1959, and subsequently until 5th August (S.B. 1:150).

1960 CHANGES IN 1959 259
BIRDS NEW TO AREAS AND COUNTIES

WHITE-BILLED DivER Gavia adamsii. Two near Avoch Har-
bour, 4th February 1959 (S.B. 1:91); first for East Ross.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus. One on Loch Fyne,
lith December 1955 (S.B. 1:100); first for South Argyll.

Manx SHEARWATER Procellaria Pein. In the Review for
1957 (S.B. 1:39), the Committee rejected a record of one seen,
Moen even, 2oth.July; 1997 (Field 1997 :279): Further infor-
mation has been published showing that G. 'T. Jamieson also
observed a Manx Shearwater on toch Leven on 26th July
1957 (S.B. 1:73). We now accept ooth these records as the first
for Kinross. 7

GARGANEY Anas querquedula. A pair east of Endrick Mouth,
19th April 1959 (S.B. 1:100); first for West Stirling.

GADWALL Anas strepera. A pair with young on Loch Ghuil-
pm enor of Loch Ossian, 29th July 1957°(S.B. 1:92); first
for South Inverness.

Scaup Aythya marvila. One at St Kilda, 19th May 1957 (S.B.
1:56); first for island.

TuFrTeD Duck Aythya fuligula. One at St Kilda, llth May
£95G4OS BF 256); first for island.

LONG-TAILED Duck Clangu'a hyemalis. Four on Lake of Men-
teith, 16th November 1957 (5.B. 1:64); first for South Perth.

VELVET ScoTER Melanitta fusca. One on Loch Leven, 15th
Mareh 1959 (S.B. 1:92); first for Kinross.

CoMMON ScoTER Melanitta nigra. One at St Kilda, 19th May
iar AGS 256)> first for island.

SMEW Mergus albellus. One on Loch Macanrie, Ist March
1959 (S28: 1:99); first for South Perth.

SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna. One at St Kilda, llth July 1959
CoeVievien 4s). first’ for ishand:

EUROPEAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifrons albifrons.
One, sometimes two, in a locality in Kirkcudbrightshire, 18th
December 1955 (B.B. 49:227); first definite record of the eas-
tern race for Solway and Kirkcudbright.

GREENLAND WHITE-FRONTED GOooSsE Anser albifrons flaviros-
Muss Omeray Elamilton, 29th October 1957 (S.B. 1:65) 1s: the
first record of the western race for Clyde and Lanark.

BEAN GOoOoSE Anser arvensis. One at St Kilda, 15th Septem-
beml95a¢ GS.B. 1:-56):-first for, island.

PINK-FOOTED Goose Anser brachyrhynchus. At least 110 at
Suewldas 25th April 1957 (S.Bo 1:58); first: for island:

Snow Goose Anser caerulescens. One shot near Errol, about
30th November 1957, was identified as “of the Lesser form
A.c. hyperboreus’, now A.c. caerulescens (S.B. 1:121); first
for North Perth. Three Loch of Strathbeg, 22nd October 1958
(S.B. 1:68); first for Dee and Aberdeen. One Appin, 6th Nov-
ember 1958 (S.B. 1:67); first for Argyll and North Argyll.

256 CHANGES IN 1959 1(9)

Four near South Queensferry, 30th November 1958 (S.B. 1:
121); first for West Lothian. One between Pityoulish and Tul-
loch, Sth: April 1959) .(S.B. 1:122): first for East Imwerness: It
has been reported (B.B. 53:162) that three Snow Geese, two
of them of the blue phase, wandered from a collection near
Dumfries early in 1958.

BaRNACLE GoosE Branta leucopsis. Twenty-six at St Kilda,
24th April 1957 (S.B. 1:58); first for island. One at Auldhouse,
mid-November 1958 (S.B. 1:77); first for Lanark.

Buzzarp Buteo buteo. One at St Kilda, 24th August 1958
CS 25) ln 50) ey tinst tommislands

QuaIL Coturnix coturnix. One at St Kilda, 20th May 1959
(B.MOAl=73)2 first tor island:

MoorHEN Gallinula chloropus. One at St Kilda, 13th May
1957 «(S15 158) i test ftorsisiamce

AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER Charadrius d. domenicus. One
at Fair Isle, 14th September 1956 (S.B. 1:68); first for Shetland
and Fair Isle.

TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres. One east of Endrick Mouth,
19th May 1957, and two in Clyde Valley above Hamilton, 11th
August 1957 (S.B. 1:65); first for West Stirling and Lanark
respectively.

DowilTcHER Limnodromus sp. One at Hule Moss, 20th Sep-
tember 1958 (S.B. 1:34 & 76); first for Tweed and Berwick.
Two species of Dowitcher are recognised, but there is insuffic-
ient detail for specific determination.

JACK SNIPE Lymnocryptes minimus. One at St Kilda, 21st
September 1957 (S.B. 1:59); first for island.

GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus. One at St Kilda, 26th
July 1959 (B.M. 1:148); first for island.

Woop SANDPIPER T'ringa glareola. One at St Kilda, 25th May
1958, caught and ringed (S.B. 1:59); first for island. One at
Hamilton Low Parks, 30th May 1959 (S.B. 1: 124) first tor
Lanark, One in the Isle of Skye. 3nd June a 959sSebae. slo):
first for North West Highlands and Skye.

SPOTTED REDSHANK Tringa erythropus. One between Grange-
mouth and Kincardine, 3lst August 1958 (S.B. 1:71); first for
East Stirling. One at Hule Moss, 16th September 1958 (S.B.
1:71); first for Tweed and Berwick. One on Isle of May, 17th
September 1958 (B.M. 1:5); first for island.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS Tringa melanoleuca. One at New-
burgh, Ythan Estuary, 25th October 1957, subsequently found
dead (S.B. 1:94); first for Scottish Mainland, Dee and Aber-
deen.

GREENSHANK Tringa nebularia. One at St Kilda, 3rd August
1957 (S25... 1759) eVisit onaislande

LITTLE STINT Calidris maritima. One at St Kilda, 13th Sep-
tember 1957 (S.B. 1:59); first, for island.

SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER Calidris acuminata, (See Birds New

1960 CHANGES IN 1959 ZS)

to Seotland); first for Clyde and Lanark.

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER Tryngites subruficollis. One at
Fair Isle, 18th September 1958 (B.M. 1:3); first for island and
second Scottish record.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus fuscus fuscus. Three at
Milngavie Reservoir, llth January 1958 (S.B. 1:65); first
record of Scandinavian race for Dumbarton.

Giaucous GuLL Larus hyperboreus. One at Craigmaddie,
8th February 1959 (S.B. 1:100); first for West. Stirling.

COLLARED Dove Streptopelia decaocto. Three in Ayrshire,
26th May 1959; may have been present since 1957 (S.B. 1:125);
first for Clyde and Ayr.

GREAT SPOTTED Cuckoo Clamator glandarius. (See Birds
New to Scotland); first for Orkney.

LONG-EARED OWL Asio otus. One at St Kilda, 10th August
1958 (S.B. 1:60); first for island.

SHORT-EARED OWL Asio flammeus. One at St Kilda, 22nd
May 1957 (S.B. 1:60); first for island.

BEE-EATER Merops apiaster. One near mouth of Halladale,
14th August 1959 (S.B. 1:153); first for North Sutherland.

GREEN WOODPECKER Picus viridis. One at West Loch Tarbert,
28th March 1959, and one at Blanefield, 9th May 1959 (S.B.
1:132); first for Argyll and North Argyll, and West Stirling
respectively.

SHORT-TOED Lark Calendrella cinerea. One, “probably of the
race brachydactyla” at St Kilda, 29th May 1957 (S.B. 1:60);
first for island.

SAND MartTIN Riparia riparia. One at St Kilda, 27th May
fae GS) l= 61): first. for island.

CaRRION CROW Corvus corone corone. One at St Kilda, 30th
mest 1959 (6M. 1:143): first for island.

RinG OvuZzeL Turdus torquatus. One at St Kilda, 28th April
Mags 1:72); first for island.

[PIED WHEATEAR Oenanthe leucomela. One Dunrossness,
30th March 1958 (F.1.B.0.B. 4:62); we consider the published
evidence insufficient for acceptance. |

Biack ReEpstarRT Phoenicurus ochruros. One at St Kilda,
26th October 1958 (B.M. 1:25); first for island.

NIGHTINGALE Luscinia megarhynchos. One trapped at St
Kilda, 12th May 1958 (S.B. 1:61); first for Outer Hebrides and
St Kilda.

BLUETHROAT Cyanosylvia svecica. One, ?race, at St Kilda,
15th May 1959 (B.M. 1:73); first for island. One, C.s. cyan-
ecula, caught at St Ola, 3lst March 1958 (F.I.B.0.B. 4:65);
first for Orkney.

Great REED WARBLER Acrocephalus arundinaceus. (See
Birds New to Scotland); first for Shetland.

Woop WarBLER Phylloscopus sibilatrix. One at St Kilda, 4th
August 1957 (S.B. 1:61); first for island.

258 CHANGES IN 1959 1(9)

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER Fhylloscopus imornatus. One at
St Kilda, 20th September 1957 (S.B. 1:62); first for Outer
Hebrides and St Kilda.

FIRECREST Regulus ignicapillus. (See Birds New to Scot-
land); first for Forth and Isle of May.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Moscicapa striata. One at St Kilda, 10th
Miay) 1957) (Sey 2 62)h jairst for islance

HEDGE SPARROW Prunella modularis. One at St Kilda, 10th
May 1958 (S.B. 1:62); first for island.

Rock Pipir Anthus spinoletta petrosus, One at Loch Leven,
16th November 1958 (S.B. 1:97); first for Kinross.

‘“BLUE-HEADED’ WactTaiL Motacilla flava. One, resembling
the race flava, west of Grangemouth, 22nd June 1959 (S.B.
I 129) nirst tor Mash) Stirhime!

NORTHERN BULLFINCH Pyrrhula pyrrhula pyrrhula. One,
northern foothills of Cairngorms, 28th October 1958 (S.B.
1:98); first for Moray and East Inverness. In accepting this
record the Committee were not influenced by the moorland
habitat in which this bird was reported.

TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL Loxia leucoptera bifasciata. One
found dead at Newtonmore, 2lst August 1959 (S.B. 1:154);
this is the first record for Moray and East Inverness.

RED-HEADED BUNTING Emberiza bruniceps. One at North Rona,
25th June 1958 (B.S. 6:168); first for Outer Hebrides other
than ot Kilda (See S-B) 1219).

REED BUNTING E'mberiza schoeniculus. One at St Kilda, 5th
May (195% CS.18-12 62); first tor asiland:

SONG SPARROW Melospiza melodia. (See Birds New to Scot-
land); first for Shetland and Fair Isle.

House SPARROW Passer domesticus. One at St Kilda, 11th
May 1958: (S.B. l:63)- first’ for island:

FIRST BREEDING RECORDS FOR AREAS AND
COUNTIES

GADWALL Anas strepera. (See Birds New to Areas and
Counties); first breeding for South Inverness.

E1pER Somateria mollissima. The finding of a nest near
Navidale in 1915 or 1916, hitherto unpublished, is the earliest
record of breeding in South-East Sutherland (S.B. 1:66).
First bred in Caithness 1931 (B.B. 36:114). First evidence of
breeding for Banff obtained June 1950 (S.N. 1952:178).

WateR Rai Rallus aquaticus. Pair with five newly hatched
chicks seen) near Balmaha, U9th May) 195%) (Si Be 65) a tise:
breeding for West Stirling.

GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus. (See New Breeding
Records for Scotland); bred Inverness-shire 1959, area not
disclosed.

Woop SANDPIPER Tringa glareola. (See New Breeding Rec-

|
|

|
|

1960 CHANGES IN 1959 145\9)

ords for Scotland); bred Sutherland 1959, area not disclosed.

GREAT SKuA Catharacta skua. First confirmation of breed-
ing in Outer Hebrides obtained June 1955 when nests and
eggs found; reports suggest breeding at least ten years earlier
(SibareL56):

CoLLARED Dove Streptopelia decaocto. Bred in Ayrshire,
1959 (S.B. 1:125); first breeding record for Clyde and Ayr,
and second breeding! locality for Scotland.

BIRDS AT NORTH RONA, OCTOBER 1959

J. MORTON BOYD
Nature Conservancy, Edinburgh

AN expedition from the Nature Conservancy visited the

North Rona National Nature Reserve from lst to 26th
October 1959 to study the seal herd. A daily record of the
birds was maintained by the author, including observations
made by the other members of the party, H. R. Hewer, J. D.
Lockie and J. MacGeoch. A general analysis of the migration
is given elsewhere (Boyd 1959) and these notes cover the re-
mainder of the observations.

North Rona has been described by Bagenal and Baird (1959)
who also supvly a sketch map showing the places referred to
here. All times are G.M.T.

The party was based on the ruined village and the fank at
Fianuis was our advance post for seal study. Each day the
author made a circuit of the island, usually starting at 0930
hours. The route was to the cliff edge about Gaedha Blatha
Mor, round the north and west cliffs to Sceapull, along the
south coast to the southern slopes of Toa Rona, over the sum-
mit down to Geodha Mairi and across the slope to Geodha
Leis, Sgeildige and the Tunnel Cave. The chasms at Geodha
Mairi and Geodha Leis were the main refuges for small mi-
grants. At about 1600 hours another partial circuit was made
from fank to village, usually by way of the north-west cliff
edges in easterly winds, and by Toa Rona in westerlies. On
a few days the route and times were modified by bad weather.
The recording of the birds on Fianuis was not systematic due
to restrictions on movements caused by the seal study, but a
large part of the peninsula was visited daily.

SYSTEMATIC LIST
(new records for the island are marked with an asterisk)

Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica. One on 10th and 12th.
_Leach’s Petrel Oceanodroma leucorrhoa. The party was
living in the village, which possesses a dense breeding colony

260 BIRDS AT NORTH RONA 1(9)

in July and August (Atkinson 1949: Bagenal and Baird 1959):
the author was sleeping in the “Manse” under a tarpaulin
roof and the others in tents nearby. No young was heard
calling from the walls during the occupation and no adult
attempted to enter under the tarpaulin canopy during the
first week—later the canopy completely covered the chamber
and entry was impossible; nor were young heard calling else-
where in the village, One chick was discovered on Ist Octo-
ber under a stone on the south side of the Manse. It had
moulted about three quarters of its infant plumage when first
seen and the burrow was inspected every other day. It was
last seen on the 12th.

Adults were heard flight-calling over the village on the
2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 9th and 13th, but not thereafter. The cessa-
tion of flight-calling coincided with the departure of the
chick. It was dark by 1800 hours, but flight-calling did not
occur until 2300, 2320, 0130, 0230, 9400 and 0415 hours approx-
imately. On the 2nd and 3rd flight-calling was heard twice
on the same night, at 0230 and 0430 hours. On all occasions
the calling lasted for a few moments and each time the im-
pression was of a single bird flighting. No further evidence
of the presence of the species was found after the early hours
of the 13th.

Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus. Young were heard
calling from the walls of the fank on the Ist and at the storm
beach on the 5th. Cheeping similar to calls of young were
heard at about 2100 hours on the 20th in St Ronan’s Cell.

Sooty Shearwater Procellaria grisea. Three seen during the
voyage to the island on the Ist.

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis. Large numbers were present on
the cliffs, but none inland. They left the cliffs daily and
formed rafts on the water to the lee-side of the island.

Gannet Sula bassana. Small flights of mature birds were
seen flying past the island daily in the direction of Sula Sgeir:
solitary birds were common.

Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis, Small number present, par-
ticularly on Lisgeir Mhor.

Heron Ardea cinerea. One on the 4th and 5th.

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos. One to four on the 3rd, 7th,
6th and 14th.

*Teal A. \erecca. One to six on the 3rd andiZ2nd,
= eieeon A. penelope. One to four on the 8rd, 7th, 17th and

nd.

“Tufted Duck Aythua fuligula. One on the 9th.

Goldeneye Bucephala clangula. Four on the 3rd.

Hider Somateria mollissima. Probably more than 100 be-
tween the Ist and 26th.

|White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons. Four, probably of
this species, on the 24th.]

1960 BIRDS AT NORTH RONA 261

*Pink-footed Goose A. brachyrhynchus. Forty-two on the
16th, as well as one immature on the island. They appeared
from the north-east in full cry at about 1630 hours, flew
across the island to Sceapull and altered course sharply.
Climbing, they disappeared in the direction of Sutherland
which was visible on the horizon.

Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis. Eleven to twenty-three
on 24th to 26th.

Buzzard Buteo buteo. One found dead on the 7th.
Peregrine Falco peregrinus. One on the 3rd and 18th.

Merlin F. columbarius. One to three each day from the 2nd
ton 20h

*Water Rail Rallus aquaticus. One on the 11th.

*“Corncrake Crex crex. One on the 17th.

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus. Two on the 3rd and
one on the 14th.

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus. One from the 14th to the 17th.

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula. One to ten between
the 3rd and 12th.

Golden Plover C. apricarius. One to fifteen between the
4th and 12th; thirty on the 16th.

Turnstone Arenaria interpres. More than twenty among
seal wallows and along shore, lst to 26th.

Snipe Capella gallinago. One to eleven daily between the
Ist and 26th, but at least twenty on the 15th and 16th.

Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus. One to eleven daily be-
tween the Ist and 26th, but at least twenty on the 11th and
12th.

Woodcock Scolopax rusticola. One to three on the 11th,
ree tsth and 19th.

Curlew Numenius arquata. One to five daily between the
Ist and 26th. .

Redshank Tringa totanus. One to ten daily between the Ist
and 26th, but thirty on the 15th.

Knot Calidris canutus. One on the 14th and 19th.

Purple Sandpiper C. maritima. One to twelve, 9th to 11th;
one to twenty, 18th to 26th.

Little Stint C. minuta. Single birds on the 6th, 7th and 20th.

Dunlin C. alpina. One to three daily between the 6th and
20th.

Greater Black-backed Gull Larus marinus. Flocks, includ-
ing a small number of Herring Gulls, of up to 200 birds from
the Ist to 26th, but about 500 on the 11th. They were concen-
trated on the fringes of the seal grounds of Fianuis (see plate
on vo. 263) and Sceanull.

During the period 4th to 24th about 1962 seal pups were
born on the island, and about 280 vups died. The afterbirths
and carcases provided food. If the pup died lying on its ven-
tral side they were only able to nick out the eyes; if on the

262 BIRDS AT NORTH RONA 1(9)

dorsal side they found access to the body cavity by tearing
open the umbilicus, The hole was small owing to the tough-
ness of the skin and the connective tissues, and evisceration
was difficult. Even in the case of a two year old bull, of which
the abdomen was dissected and the carcase left with viscera
fully exposed, the gulls made little impression on the tough
musculature of the body wall and diaphragm. Only occasion-
ally were gulls seen picking at a carcase, though they were
quick to discover and squabble over the placentae. Several
were killed or maimed by the seals while feeding on after-
births or molesting pups.

The newly born pup is vulnerable to attack by gulls. Im-
mediately a birth takes place the birds gather in the vicinity
and, depending on how tightly packed the seals are, fly in to
feed. At this stage, though the umbilical cord is severed, the
pup is still attached or close tc the placenta. On wriggling
free of the membranes it rolls over on its back flexing its
body and exposing the ruptured umbilical cord. If a gull gets
hold of the cord at this stage it could probably eviscerate the
pup fairly easily, but this can seldom happen owing to the
aggressive behaviour of the dam. Pups of more than two
weeks old, except when ailing, are capable of warding off
gulls without parental help.

Despite the great amount of carrion littering the seal
grounds, therefore, very little of it appeared to be accessible
to the gulls.

Herring Gull L. argentatus. A few were present with the
Greater Black-backs.

Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus. One on the 16th.

Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla. Two seen during the voyage to
the island on the list: one found dead on the 17th.

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle. One in East Bay on the
St

Rock Dove Columba livia. One to ten daily at Poll Thotha-
ton and elsewhere between the Ist and 26th.

Short-eared Ow] Asio flammeus. One on the 18th.

“Skylark Alauda arvensis. One to five on the 3rd, 7th, 11th-
14th, and 17th.

Raven Corvus corax. Two to four seen daily, Ist to 26th.

Hooded Crow C. cornix cornix. A single bird on sixteen oc-
casions between 7th and 25th.

“Wren Troglodytes troglodytes. One on the 4th, 13th, 15th,
16th and 18th, ard two on the 22nd. The Wren has not been
recorded as a breeding species and is absent from the sum-
mer and autumn lists of Harrison (1932), Atkinson and Ainslie
(1937), Darling (1940) and Bagenal and Baird (1959). The
birds seen were probably migrants.

Fieldfare Turdus pilaris. Passage occurred between the 5th
and 23rd, heavy between the 13th and 18th, and particularly

‘yl punoie
‘(Yooorjoeyy soe, Aq ydersojyoyd) I

aS ose > 299s AQIS TAG ‘uO XM UIO
SoATVI puv sMOD JO JoquINuU odIv] B puR MOTLM oY} Ul [NG V SUIMOYS siInuel,y; UO MOTTRM [eos AdIs YW “6C6] al heen

264 BIRDS AT NORTH RONA 1(9)

so on the 17th and 18th, when probably more than 200 were
present each day.

Redwing T. musicus. Passage occurred from the Ist to 26th,
heavy between the 5th and 18th, and very heavy on the 17th
and 18th when up to 1,000 were present each day.

Song Thrush T. ericetorum. Light passage from the 6th to
18th; odd birds with Redwings.

“Ring Ouzel T. torquatus. Two on the 10th, one on the 12th
and 14th.

Blackbird T. merula. A few present daily from the 5th to
26th. They were frequently seen in the chasm of Geodha
Mairi, usually foraging in Kittiwakes’ nests and flighting
among the rank Scurvy Grass on the north slope of Toa Rona.

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe. Passage between the lst and
26th, heavy from the lst to 8th, when probably more than
fifty were present daily.

“Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus. One on the 8th.

*Robin Erithacus rubecula. One from the 14th to 18th.

“Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla. One on the 6th and 16th; ten
on the 7th.

“Garden Warbler S. borin. One on the 7th.

Willow Warbler Fhylloscopus trochilus. One on the 7th,
8th and 20th.

*Goldcrest Regulus regulus. One on the Ist, and one to six
on nine of the days between the 7th and 18th.

Pied Flycatcher Muscicapa hypoleuca. Two on the 6th and
one on the 14th and 15th.

*Red-breasted Flycatcher M. parva. One from the 10th to
Sith.

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis. Passage between the Ist
and 26th, heavy between the lst and 10th and very heavy
from the 16th to 18th when about 500 were present daily.

Rock Pipit A. spinoletta petrosus. Present in small numbers
on the coast, sometimes mixing with Meadow Pipits.

Alba Wagtail Motacilla alba. An immature on the 2nd.

Starling Sturnus vulgaris. About 200 daily from the lst to
26th associating with a flock of about 170 sheep.

*Redpoll Carduelis flammea. One on the 20th and 22nd.

*Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs. Two on the 15th, one to twelve
from the 17th to 25th.

*“Brambling F. montifringilla. One to fifty from the 7th to
24th, but more than fifty on the 17th.

“Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus. One or two on the
4th, 5th, 14th, 20th and 24th.

Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis. Passage from the 3rd
to 26th, usually more than fifty daily and more than 100 from
the 10th to 14th and on the 18th.

“House Sparrow Passer domesticus. One to six daily from
the 3rd to 26th at the fank and village.

1960 BIRDS AT NORTH RONA 205

According to the literature 106 species of bird have now
been recorded at or around North Rona. Of the seventy
species recorded here (White-fronted Goose being discounted)
twenty are new to the list.

WhECKvOr THRUSHES AND PIPITS

from the 14th to 17th large numbers of thrushes and pipits
arrived on light to moderate SE winds. From the 14th to
16th the visibility was less than fifteen miles—Sula Sgeir
just visible—and there were probably about 300 Redwings,
00 Fieldfares and 100 Meadow Pipits on the island daily. On
the 17th the wind veered from ESE to SSE and the visibility
increased to more than fifty miles—hills of Sutherland
Clearly visible—and the numbers on the island increased
dramatically to not far short of 1,000 Redwings, 200 Fieldfares
and 500 Meadow Pipits daily. With the island thus heavily
stocked the wind veered to west Force 4 on the 18th and NW
Force 9, with visibility of less than twelve miles, on the 19th.

On the morning ot the 19th the island was strewn with
dead Redwings and Meadow Pipits. Six corpses were found
in a direct walk in the gale trom the village to the fank, and
later the entire island was seen to have a similar scattering,
Many others were probably out of sight in rocky crevices. A
few dead Fieldfares and one Song ‘'hrush were also found.
The carcases had very reduced flight muscles and seemed
much underweight.

During the period Ist to 16th visibility had been less than
twelve miles and probably no more than three, except during
the night of the 12th when the Cape Wrath light could be seen
forty miles away. Late in the afternoon of the 16th a change
was evident; the hills of Sutherland were just visible and the
first flight of geese arrived. On the 17th the air was crystal
clear with the distant mountains standing out vividly on the.
horizon. There was an immediate movement of birds different
from any which had been seen up till then. Large flocks of
thrushes and pipits were leaving the SE corner of the island
directly into the light wind and towards the mountains. Fol-
lowing the departure of one flock with binoculars the author
could see beyond it other flocks in line ahead and the moun-
tains beyond. The only detectable difference in the day from
the many other bright days with similar winds during the
period was the visibility. The appearance of the mountains to
the SE, with continuous sunny but hazy weather, was accom-
panied by large scale movement. This movement continued
on the 18th, when the wind went into the west, and by the
19th the wreck had begun.

References
J. A. Ainslie and R. Atkinson. 1937. Summer Bird Notes:

266 BIRDS AT NORTH RONA 1(9)

from North Rona. Scot. Nat. 1937: 7-13.

R. Atkinson. 1949. Island Going. London.

T. B. Bagenal and D. E. Baird. 1959. Birds of North Rona in
1958, with notes on Sula Sgeir. Bird Study 6: 153-174.

J. M. Boyd. 1959. Reports from Bird Observatories, Autumn
Migration 1959 (North Rona, O.H.). Bird Migration 1: 145-6.

F. F. Darling. 1940. Island Years. London.

T. H. Harrisson. 1932. Resident and Migratory Birds of
North Rona, the remotest Scottish island. Ibis 1932 : 441-457.

A LANDING ON SULE STACK

KENNETH WILLIAMSON
British Trust for Ornithology

AND

JEFFERY BOSWALL
B.B.C, Natural History Unt

ROUGH the kind co-operation of Captain Knut Maurer,

of the Norwegian M.S. Meteor and the skill of his cox-
swain and boat’s crew, we were able to land on Sule Stack
late on 20th May 1960, during the National Trust for Scot-
land’s “Islands Cruise” and to make recordings for B.B.C.
sound radio programmes.

Sule Stack is a twin hump of hornblende gneiss, divided by
a narrow cleft, at latitude 59°02’ N, and longitude 4°30’ W,
some forty miles NNE of Cape Wrath and an equal distance
west of Orkney. It is the site of a well-known gannetry esti-
mated to number 3,500 pairs in 1939, and 2,010 pairs in 1949.
Owing to the almost constant swell, aggravated by the flow
through the narrow channel separating the two rocks, landing
is extremely difficult and defeated Harvie-Brown in 1887 and
1889 and the Duchess of Bedford in 1914. Apart from the gan-
net-raiders from Ness the only previous landings have been
by Malcolm Stewart on the northern half on 31st July 1937,
and Dr Ian D. Pennie and Francis Huxley on the southern
half on 17th July 1949 from H. G. Haslar’s yawl Petula.

We got ashore on the eastern side of the northern rock,
probably at the same spot as Malcolm Stewart, at 2225 hours,
and on the eastern side of the southern rock at 2240 hours.
There was little swell and the climb up a narrow chimney
to a wide shelf on the East Ledges (see sketch-map in Fisher
and Vevers 1948, p. 194) was not difficult, though the rock
was treacherously slippery with guano. For this reason and
because of the rapidly failing light and the great unrest
among the breeding birds, we did not climb to the summit:

1960 A. LANDING ON SULE STACK 26/7

nor were we able, in the half darkness and the brief time
ashore, to make any assessment of the strength of the gannet-
ry. Rapid counting done by James Fisher and Dr W. J.
Kggeling from the bridge of M.S. Meteor while she was hove
to, and later circumnavigating, suggests that the total breed-
ing strength may be of the order of 2,800 pairs.

The Duchess of Bedford, who rowed round Sule Stack in
her dinghy, stated that only the upper third of the northern
rock, from the main eastside ledge upwards to the summit
(see her Plate IV and Fisher’s sketch-map) was occupied by
nesting Gannets. Both Stewart, and Fisher and Vevers,
showed that nesting birds extended much lower down than
this, and such was also the case on our visit. There were at
least a score of nests on a broad shelf some fifty feet above
our landing point, and scattered among them we were inter-
ested to find a number of Guillemots’ eggs lying on the bare
platform, suggesting that these birds occupied the ‘dead
ground” between individual Gannet territories—if one may
regard the Gannet’s “territory” as an approximate circle of
about two feet radius around its egg. At the northern side of
this shelf a three foot wide gully between the main wall and
a bastion of rock was so crowded with Guillemots that they
seemed to roll back along it hike a carpet as we approached,
leaving green and blue eggs spinning everywhere: probably
this cleft was too deep and narrow to find favour with nest-
ing Gannets. Stewart found “only a few Guillemots”, but our
impression was that they were very common and widely dis-
persed among the Gannets, at least on the lower section of
the rock; there may have been an increase since his visit.

The smaller southern rock was much less interesting. We
found we could not reach the summit from our landing-point,
a steep initial pitch taking us to the inner part above the
channel between the stacks, where a near-vertical wall barred
our way to the top. No nests were seen seen and from the
ship it was obvious that the southern sloping face of this
section accommodated largely non-breeders, as has been re-
marked by previous parties.

Eight Grey Seals were counted quite close to the lesser
rock on the western side of the channel. When we approached
the main northern section to make our first landing a seal
about four feet long, in a white or greyish white coat, slipped
into the water. These seals are probably from North Rona.

References

Duchess of Bedford. Spring bird notes from various Scot-
tish islands. Scot. Nat. 1914:173-181, pls. I-VII.

T. E. Buckley and J. A. Harvie-Brown. 1891. A Vertebrate
Fauna of the Orkney Islands. Edinburgh.

James Fisher and H. G. Vevers. 1943. The breeding distribu-

208 A LANDING ON SULE STACK 1(9)

tion, history and population of the Narth Atlantic Gannet
(Sula bassana) Part I. A history of the Gannets’ colonies, and
the census in 1939. J. Anim. Ecol. 12: 173-213.

Malcolm Stewart. 1938. Notes on the gannetries of Sule
Stack and Sula Sgeir. British Birds 31: 282-294.

REVIEWS

D. A. BANNERMAN. THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES,
Vol. VIII. Illustrated by G. E. Lodge. Oliver & Boyd,
Edinburgh, 1959. pp. 397. 26 coloured plates. £3, 3/-.

This volume covers the cormorants, gannet, petrels, shear-
waters, grebes, divers, doves and sandgrouse. By now the
pattern of this monumental work will have become familiar
to all serious bird-watchers. The discursive essays on each
species are a far cry from the highly condensed treatment
in such modern textbooks as The Handbook and this may well
prove to be the last book of its kind that can be recommended
as reading for pleasure. There are occasional inaccuracies and
omissions, but these are relatively insignificant and do not
detract from the work’s value as a major contribution to our
knowledge of British birds. Perhaps its strongest point is Dr
Bannerman’s immense industry as an editor in tapping un-
familiar sources of information, often from abroad, and the
result is refreshingly original and particularly valuable in
throwing the status of British birds into true perspective
against a wider background.

The present volume is a worthy successor to the earlier
ones, and among the more valuable personal contributions
are several most readable accounts from Dr _ Banner-
man himself on the tropical Atlantic petrel colonies.
The text is always commendably up-to-date and includes
accounts, but unfortunately no _ illustrations, of such
recent additions to the British List as the Magnificent
Frigate-bird and Collared Dove, and also the Cape Pigeon,
which Dr Bannerman would add to the List on the strength
of three old records which appear perfectly convincing.
Equally convincing is his rejection of the two single British
records of the Kermadec and Collared Petrels, both being
species which breed in the Pacific on the side of the world
diametrically opposite from Britain. One further reason, not
mentioned by Dr Bannerman, for suspecting the British
specimen of the Collared Petrel is the fact of its being in
full moult when shot in November or December 1889, which
is inconsistent with our other information on the yearly cycle
of this species—young in down in February, .adults in full
moult in June. Of particular interest to our own members

1960 REVIEWS 269

are the breeding accounts of Slavonian Grebe and Turtle
Dove in Scotland, while on a broader scale the essays on the
White-billed Diver and Pallas’ Sandgrouse make the most
superbly thrilling reading.

The general effect of the plates is pleasing but they are all
too often lacking in accuracy to serve as definitive bird por-
traits. The strained attitude and dishevelled appearance
which characterise so many of Lodge’s birds presumably rep-
resent his attempt to break away from the lifeless “museum”
representations that were prevalent when he started paint-
ing, but the result is often so exaggerated as to destroy the
semblance of reality.

The production is of the high standard we have come to
associate with the name of Oliver & Boyd, and even at three
guineas it represents remarkably good value.

ID iGa ee

FRANK D. HamMiILToN and KEITH S. MacGrRecor, THE BIRDS
OF ABERLADY BAY NATURE RESERVE. Reprinted
from the Transactions of the East Lothian Antiquarian
and Field Naturalists’ Society, Vol. VIII, by the Scottish
Ornithologists’ Club. pp. 33. 6 plates and map. 5/- (post-
age 4d extra).

Aberlady Bay contains more bird-watchers per acre than
any other part of Scotland and this booklet will be of the
greatest use in telling them what birds they may expect to
see there, as well as what birds have not been recorded.
Copies can be got from the Secretary of the S.O.C., 21 Regent
Terrace, Edinburgh 7, and those who do so will find they have
excellent value for their money.

This is a model of local ornithology and shows how much
ean be achieved by industry and regular (though perhaps
often tiresome) routine visits to the same locality. The bulk of
this paper is in the form of a check-list, in which it is not
so much the rarities that are of interest—there are, indeed,
listed only eight “top rarities’ —as “the definite patterns to
the migrations of several species”, patterns which would not
have emerged without conscientious census work by the
authors.

One small point: full details of the Dowitcher reported in
November 1959 will not be published in Scottish Birds for the
simple reason that they have not been submitted to that Jour-
nal. We understand also that this record has not been accep-
ted by British Birds.

CORRIGENDUM
Antea 1:65. Dr J. W. Campbell points out that the record of the San-

270 CORRIGENDUM 1(9)

derling thought to be the first for Lanarkshire is not so. See “Scot. Nat.”
1957 :41.

SHORT NOTES

NOTES ON PLUMAGE VARIATION IN THE
COMMON EIDER

The white bird, swimming near the Steller’s Eider described
antea 234, was a common Eider in very’ unusual
plumage. It was creamy white all over, except for a lght
brown patch on the forehead and around the eye, and two
other light brown patches, one on the side of the lower breast
and the other on the flanks. THe lightness was also patchy,
some parts being very creamy, others almost pure white and
others a diffused mixture of the two. The third duck along-
side the leucistic bird had a prominent purple speculum edged
with white bars as in the Steller’s Eider, but in every other
respect was a typical common Eider Somateria mollissima.

When we looked at the other common Eiders on the estuary,
we saw that many of them also had a prominent speculum.
In some it was a very clear purplish blue, edged with con-
spicuous white bands as in the Steller’s Eider, while others
had white bands but only a speculum of very dark brown
without any blue or purple. Others again had a speculum and
only one white wing bar, and in others the white bars were
narrower, sometimes so narrow as to be almost invisible ex-
cept in very good light. Excluding adult drakes, roughly a
third of the Eiders had this character developed to some ex-
tent, though not many had a speculum as clear as in the
Steller’s or the third duck along with it.

The same day we passed the Ythan estuary in Aberdeen-
shire and here also about one common HEider in every three
(excluding adult drakes) in a flock of about two hundred had
specula, though again there was a lot of variation.

An interesting plumage character that we noticed in many
of the duck common Eiders at both places was the occurrence
of a clear light stripe extending from behind the bill to above
and behind the eye. Some had the stripe fairly broad and
white, others had a narrower, merely lightish, stripe, and most
had no trace of a stripe at all.

Reference to many books on bird identification showed that
the occurrence of a speculum in the common Hider is not
mentioned, though this character sometimes figures in illus-
trations. For example it is neither illustrated nor mentioned
in the text by Coward (The Birds of the British Isles and their

1960 SHORT NOTES 271

Eggs 1920), Witherby, Jourdain, Ticehurst and Tucker (The
Handbook of British Birds vol. 3 1939) or Bannerman (The
Birds of the British Isles vol. 7 1958). The speculum, however,
or one or more of the wing bars, is illustrated in some of the
pictures in Kirkman (The British Bird Book 1913), Fitter and
Richardson (The Pocket Guide to British Birds 1952), Peter-
son, Mountfort and Hollom (A Field Guide to the Birds of
Britain and Europe 1954), Durango (Fdglarna i fdrg 1952) and
the Annual Report of the Wildfowl Trust (1951-52). Fisher
(Bird Recognition vol. 2 1951) is the only author so far as
we know to mention the two light bars on the wing, writing
that the duck has “two obscure light wing-bars.” It seems to
us misleading that identification books should not give such
distinct plumage variations in either text or plates, and mis-
leading that other books should show them in the plates
without mention in the text, thus giving the impression that
all duck common Eiders have these characters.

DaviD JENKINS.
ADAM WATSON.

LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE IN WIGTOWNSHIRE
AND CLACKMANNAN

On 27th March 1960 the Merse below and northward from
Wigtown was packed with geese, something like two thousand
Pink-feet and some hundreds of Grey-lags. Looking through a
powerful binocular telescope within minutes I was focussed
on a small goose with a white front and came to the con-
clusion that it was a Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser
erythropus. It was at long range, over half a mile, so even
with the powerful magnification (60x) I could not possibly see
the colour of eyelids or even bill colour for sure; but the fol-
lowing points seemed to me convincing and Miss Mary
McKinna and Mr Duncan Griffiths agreed with me on them.

1. Small size: looked distinctly smaller than Pink-feet with
which it was feeding, though possibly not much smaller than
some first winter Pink-feet.

2. Very striking white “front,” as with previous Lessers |
have seen—not very noticeable side-on, but standing out face-
on, coming well up on to top of head.

3. Upper parts darker than in Pink-foot, breast and belly
rather light with no detectable barring; small bars such as a
Lesser Whitefront might have in, say, its second year would
probably have been impossible to see at the range.

4, Very noticeable, much faster feeding rate than Pink-foot.

272 SHORD INOS 19)

The bill was presumably small as I could not make out any
details and it did not appear to have a larger bill than the
Pink-feet. The association with Pink-feet is recognised as
unusual.

Incidentally the number of Pink-footed Geese Anser
brachyrhynchus appears to be much greater than any pre-
viously recorded for Wigtownshire.

DoNnaALD WATSON.

On 20th January 1960 a Lesser White-fronted Goose was
shot at the mouth of the R. Devon at Cambus, Clackmannan-
shire. I did not see the bird, but the description, given by the
man who shot it, and later verified by my brother-in-law,
who plucked it, leaves no doubt. The bird was about the size
of a Shelduck, very dark, with the white reaching well back
on the head like the yellow on a Wigeon drake. At the side
the white almost touched the eye, and my brother-in-law,
when asked about the eye, said without any hesitation that it
was ringed with yellow.

T. PATERSON.

SNOW GEESE IN LANARKSHIRE

During the early months of 1960 three Snow Geese were
discovered one by one with a flock of Pink-feet at Libberton,
near Carnwath. None of them was ever seen to associate with
either of the others and they seemed to move about quite
independently. This is a most puzzling feature, as it is hard
to believe that three birds of such rarity can each have found
its own way to this one flock of Pink-feet. The birds were
all dissimilar and are worth describing in detail.

(°?Greater) Snow Goose: white bird. On 4th March Sir
Robert Erskine-Hill, Bt., learned from a local farmer that a
white goose had been seen with the Pink-feet in the area for
at least one month, and probably since December 1959. He
was able to locate it and identify it as a Snow Goose Anser
caerulescens and subsequently it was admired by many
people including Andrew T. Macmillan, W. K. Richmond, G.
and M. I. Waterston. This was a magnificent pure white bird
substantially bigger and standing higher than the Pink-feet
and locally it was known as the “gret white yin”. It was a
burly bird, somewhat thick-necked, and with a massive
pinkish Grey-lag type bill and pink legs. W.K.R. got the im-
pression that it was comparatively short in the leg. The tips
of the wings were black on the trailing edge and greyish on
the leading edge so that it looked extremely like a Gannet as
it circled over the fields, visible to the naked eye at an enor-
mous distance. W.K.R. noted that in flight its wing action was
much slower and more stately than the Pink-feets’, though in

1960 SHORT NOES Zs

fact its air-speed was greater and it forged ahead of the
gaggles.

Size is a rather unreliable distinction between Greater and
Lesser Snow Geese, but the description points strongly to
this bird being a Greater Snow Goose A.c. atlanticus. The
snag about this is that the other two birds must have been
Lesser Snow Geese A.c. caerulescens as they were of the blue
phase, which is not known to occur in the Greater. Blue and
white birds may be found in the same brood of Lessers. The
Greaters and Lessers, however, neither breed in the same
areas nor migrate in the same direction, so that if the white
bird was a wild Greater it must have travelled to join the
Pink-feet independently of the two blue birds. There is,
though, as will be seen, the possibility that it was an unus-
ually large Lesser.

Adult Lesser Snow Goose: blue phase. On 8th March Miss
R. S. Hunter discovered a second strange goose with the Pink-
feet. This bird also was seen by many people and it proved to
be a Blue Goose, or, more correctly, a blue phase Lesser Snow
Goose. On the ground it was about the same size as the
Pink-feet, but in flight it seemed a shade larger and A.T.M.
noted that it had a greater wingspan as it flew directly away
from him. The forewing showed paler than the Pink-feets’,
the tail was white with a grey terminal band, and there was
a very striking wedge of white extending well up the rump
and back. There appeared to be at least one white stripe
across each wing, close to and parallel with the body. G.W.
obtained very good views of the bird on the ground, and noted
its pure white head setting off the dark eye; white neck with
dark line running down back of neck from rear of crown;
pink legs and bill; mantle darker and not so slaty as the
Pink-feets’; breast dark but flanks white (W.K.R. describes
the underparts in flight as pure white with darker markings
on the sides of the body); striped appearance of folded wings
towards tail; bill and forehead different shape from Pink-
feets’. Of the Blue Geese shown in Wildfowl of the British
Isles (Scott and Boyd 1957) it most nearly resembled the adult
(darkest form) on Plate IV except that the flanks were white.
The striped markings on the folded wings are well shown in
this plate.

Immature Lesser Snow Goose: blue phase. This was the
third to be discovered and was overlooked by everyone ex-
cept W.K.R., who saw it several times. On the ground it could
be picked out, but in the air it was rapidly lost among the
Pink-feet. It was a dusky, thick-set goose with blackish—or
at any rate dark—bill and legs, and the typical pale wing-
linings; light-edged black scapulars very prominent. It had
less white on the head than the immature figured in Wildfowl

274 SHOR gNORES 1(9)

of the British Isles: indeed, apart from a few lighter flecks
on the face, the only touch of white feathering was on the
chin. It resembled rather the illustration in black and white in
Peterson’s Field Guide to the Birds (Eastern).

The adult Blue Goose was last seen on 25th April by R.E.-H.
and the white Snow Goose two days later with some 2,000
Pink-feet. They were all very restless and had gone by the
evening of 28th April.

There is a possibility that one or more of these birds may
have been escapes from Mr Walter Duncan’s collection at
Newlands, near Dumfries. Mrs Duncan has kindly supplied
the following details. In August 1954 a wair of Blue Geese
was obtained from Slimbridge and in May 1957 this pair
reared five blue and one white young. These birds were un-
ringed and full-winged and on 11th February 1958 after
severe frost and a SW gale the white bird and two of the
blue disappeared (see British Birds 53:162). Subsequently all
three were seen feeding by the Solway near Glencaple on
various occasions until the end of February. They were pre-
sumed to have left the country in April 1958. It should be
noted that these were Lesser Snow Geese but that the white
one was larger than normal; they also associated with Pink-
feet but, unlike the Carnwath birds, were always together. If
any of the Newlands birds were involved two winters later
at Carnwath it is interesting to speculate whether they had
made the double migration each summer with the Pink-feet.

The immature Blue Goose is really the key to the problem
as it was almost certainly a wild bird; being in immature
plumage, it could not have been one of the Newlands birds.
This raises the probability of the wild status of the other two.
especially when we consider the possibility of the white bird
being a Greater Snow Goose and the fact that in recent win-
ters increasing numbers of Snow Geese have been reported,
far more than can be accounted for by known escapes.

A. T. MacmiLian.

SMALL RACE OF CANADA GOOSE IN ISLAY

On oth April 1958 at Laggan Point, Islay, I noticed, among
about a thousand Barnacle Geese, a goose with the head pat-
tern of a Canada Goose Branta canadensis (black head and
neck with white cheek and throat patch), but slightly, though
distinctly, smaller than the surrounding Barnacles. It was
also comparatively short-necked and, when lifting its head in
alarm, had not the long slim-necked appearance of the typ-
ical Canada. Also striking was the general dark colour of the
body: feathers of the back dark grey-brown (almost as dark
as in the Greenland Whitefront), edged noticeably with lighter
colour; whole of underparts slightly lighter, including breast,

1960 SHORT NOTES 275

and with distinctly rufous tinge; this colouring very dark in
area next to white under tail-coverts; tail-coverts white; tail,
beak and legs black as in typical canadensis. The bird was not
seen afterwards.

J. SHEPPERD.

(This bird has been accepted by the Rarities Committee of
British Birds as belonging to “one of the small races of Canada
Goose from the North American Arctic.” The description
closely resembles that of the Cackling Goose B. c. minima
from the extreme north-west of America and Mr Peter Scott
says: “I would almost have thought it safe to say it was
minima,’ adding that he does not consider that the bird could
have been an escape.—ED.)

GOSHAWK IN KIRKCUDBRIGHT

On Ist March 1958, together with Charles Cowper, we saw
a Goshawk Accipiter gentilis over Loch Ken in Kirkcudbright.
The first indication of its presence came from a Coal Tit
which started to chitter excitedly above us and made us look
around for the cause. We saw the bird almost overhead about
100 feet up gliding along the slope of a pine-covered hill, giv-
ing an occasional wing-beat. The first thought was of the size
of the bird and of its shape which was definitely like that
of a Sparrowhawk on a large scale. It had large rounded
wings and a long tail, with prominent barring on the under-
parts, especially on the under wing-coverts. C.C. saw the barr-
ing at the end of the tail.

F. D. HAMILTON.
K. S. MacGREGor.

HOBBY IN INVERNESS

At 2010 hours on 15th May 1960 I was watching the Ospreys
from the forward R.S.P.B. hide near Loch Garten, Inverness.
The weather was fine and still, with no cloud.

A falcon, which I identified as a Hobby Falco subbuteo flew
on to a branch of a small dead pine about 75 yards off. For
about forty minutes it preened itself and I watched it through
a x 60 telescope. In addition to the dark slaty upperparts, the
white underparts with black streaks, rusty red thighs and un-
der tail-coverts, broad black moustachial stripe and long
pointed wings, I saw the full wing-shape as it flew off towards
me overhead at a low altitude.

Ro C. DAWKINS.

GREENLAND FALCON IN PERTHSHIRE

On 13th April 1960, after climbing Stuchd an Lochan,
Perthshire, we stopped for about twenty minutes to watch a
pair of Peregrine Falcons through binoculars before we de-

276 SHORT NOTES 1(9)

scended towards Loch Giorra. A few minutes later a bird flew
across the slopes above the loch making up the valley. It was
obviously a falcon, but different from the pair we had just
been watching. The wing-beats were heavier and more delib-
erate, giving the impression that this bird was finding the
going much harder than the others. It was also very much
paler and this almost whitish appearance struck us both most
forcibly. Despite the high wind and snow and the few seconds
we were able to watch it, it was quite definitely a falcon of a
type we had not previously seen.

DOREEN KNIPE.

HARRY KNIPE.

At the time of Mr and Mrs Knipe’s observations I was some
500 feet higher up the mountain and directly above them.
From this position the falcon’s upperparts appeared to be uni-
formly white, virtuaily pure white, with darker pinions. I, too,
was struck by the heavy deliberate wing-beats. In the squally
conditions (gale-force winds and sleet showers) it was impos-
sible to gain anything like a satisfactory view of the bird,
which was heading NW in the direction of Rannoch Moor,
but, after comparing notes, the three of us concluded that it
was a Greenland Falcon Falco rusticolus candicans.

W. KENNETH RICHMOND.

HOOPOES IN PERTH, FIFE, ROXBURGH AND ARRAN

On 15th May 1960 I saw a Hoopoe Upupa epops at Mill of
Keir near Dunblane. I was driving to visit a patient when I
saw a bird of a light horn colour probing zealously with a
long beak in the grassy strip in the middle of the little used
road. He allowed me to bring the car to within fifteen feet of
him and continued feeding, though he appeared to be alerted
and occasionally raised and lowered his beautiful crest. When
I opened the car door he flew off at once, with a brilliant dis-
play of black and white barred wings. I saw the bird twice
more on the same day. I am familiar with Hoopoes in India.

J. N. M. Fatr.ey.

On 16th May 1960 I watched a Hoopoe feeding and resting
in the long grass of the sand-dunes at Elie Golf Course. In
flight its rounded wings and its tail were boldly barred with
black and white. When it settled to pick in the grass with its
long curved beak I could see the pale cinnamon front and
underparts. It flew off after fifteen minutes when some Lap-
wings mobbed it.

PaTrRictIa G. BAxTER.

On 17th May 1960 Col. M. Johnson reported a Hoopoe about

1960 SHOR YNOGES 277

a mile south of Riccarton Junction, Roxburgh. He saw the
crest raised several times, and as he has lived in India for
many years the Hoopoe is a familiar bird to him.

W. S. MEDLICOTT.

On 22nd May 1960 my wife and I saw a Hoopoe at the point
at which the Arran west coast road crosses the Dougarry
Water. It was less than the width of the bridge away and we
had binoculars. It gave a display of hammer-like strokes on
the grass verge; it did not hop, but moved with a running gait.

DAVID ORR.

(Dr Orr has attached a detailed description of the bird’s
plumage. We have also received satisfactory details of a
Hoopoe at Dirleton, E. Lothian, on 2nd May (reported in The
Scotsman on 4/5/60). Others, of which we have not had de-
tails, include three from about 5th to 12th May at Denholm,
near Hawick, reported in The Scotsman: also one near Gor-
donstoun, Moray, about 18th May (C. J. A. Baker). Unusual
numbers of Hoopoes have been seen in England this spring
(see British Birds 53: 318-9.)—Eb.)

EARLY NESTING OF CORN BUNTING

While watching Corn Buntings Emberiza calandra a few
miles west of Dornoch, Sutherland, on 3rd June 1960, I was
surprised to see a female Corn Bunting drop into a hay crop
with food her bill. Having seen her make two further visits
to the same place, each time carrying food, I went to the
spot and, after a short search, found a nest containing five
down-clad nestlings. Egg-laying at this nest must have begun
not later than 16th May, possibly one or two days earlier.

The Handbook (1:111) states that breeding “begins late May
but often not till well in June.” Ryves and Ryves, who made
an intensive study of the species in north Cornwall (British
Birds 28:2-26) found that it was futile to search for nests
until early June. Even in southern England eggs by mid-May
are an exception, as Walpole-Bond (A History of Sussex Birds
I1:130) gives the beginning of nesting in Sussex as from 20th
May onwards.

. D. MAcpDoNnaLp.

CURRENT NOTES

(The observers denoted below by their initials are: A. Ablett, D. R.
Anderson, D. G. Andrew, W. Austin, J. Ballantyne (J.B.), P. Barraud,
Mess) PSG Baxter, ©. H. Bell; Dr J. Berry (J.By.), H: Boase, W. Q.
Brown, J. Cameron, Dr J. W. Campbell, G. M. T. Conacher, A. Cowieson,
BZ Cowieson, S. Cramp, R. H. Dennis, Dr W. J. Eggeling, H. F. D.

278 CURRENT NOTES 1Q)

Elder, M. Forrester, G. Fraser, D. A. Holmes, The Hon. H. Douglas Home,
D. Hope; J. Hoy, EN. Hunter) Ps Kerr, R: Logan) sD raA ey elAn ia
donald (A.M.), A. MacEachern (A. MacE.), K. S. Macereson, AST. Miac-
millan, Col. W. S. Medlicott, M. F. M. Meiklejohn, R. I. Milne, W. Mur-
ray, *B. Neath, J./Oliver, L.J. Reed, W-- KK” Richmond) ] Ea eaonerts:
R. W. J.-Smith, 1 C. Smout, DD: Stalker,” J. D.9Stewarten) ve ay lo:
Dr R. S. Weir, T. Weir, W. H. Wild. Dates apply to 1960 unless other-
wise stated).

LATE WINTER VISITORS

A slightly oiled Black-throated Diver was seen at Peppermill
Dam, Fife, on 18th March (J.H.). A very large concourse of
fifty Red-throated Divers off Gullane on 29th April is note-
worthy (T.C.S.).

Two oo and one Q Scaup were at the mouth of the Esk at
Musselburgh on 24th May (J.B.) and a o& at Gullane Point
on 16th June (D.H.). Eight Velvet Scoter oo’ were seen flying
north past Arbroath on 25th May (M.F.M.M.), and a long
dead Common Scoter o was found at the edge of St Helen’s
Loch, Bonnybirdge, on 38th May (R.L.).

Five Grey-lag Geese were still at Kingoodie, S. Perth, on 21st
June (H.B.), a Pink-footed Geese near St Fergus, Aberdeen-
shire, from 20th to 26th June (W.Q.B.), and a Barnacle Goose
on a football pitch at Musselburgh on 14th June (J.B.).

The Bewick’s Swan at Musselburgh (antea 1:229) was last
seen on 26th April (A.M.) and there were five of this species
at Harperrig Reservoir on 25th April (J.By.).

A single Coot was at the mouth of the Esk at Musselburgh
on 8th May, an unusual date for a bird in such a situation
(oe)

A Lesser Black-backed Gull of the Scandinavian race was
seen, together with a bird of the British race, at Seafield,
Leith on 7th March (A.A.) and a Glaucous Gull, the first occur-
rence in the locality, paid a short visit to Duddingston Loch
on 7th May (D.R.A.).

Late Waxwings, not reported in A.T.M.’s paper (antea 1:
241-251) were seen at Invergowrie, one on 14th February and
three about 18th March (H.B.): four at Dundee on 19th Feb-
ruary (S.C.): one at Dumfries on 25th February (W.A.): one
near Udny, Aberdeenshire, for three weeks up till 24th April
(E.C.): two at Aberdeen from lst to 5th March and one there
from: 22nd to 2th Marchy GACE:).

A Great Grey Shrike was seen being chased by Meadow
Pipits between Loch Mallachie and Loch Garten, Inverness,
on 6th April (R.H.D.): full plumage details have been received
of this bird.

Sixteen Crossbills were at Manderston, Duns, on 28th Feb-
ruary (W.M.) and a female at Yellowcraig Wood, Dirleton, E.
Lothian, on 8rd May (A.M.).

1960 CURRENT NOTES 279
SPRING MIGRATION

A Marsh Harrier, probably immature, flew over Kingoodie
on 22nd May: it had a pale crown (H.B.). Another, also
creamy-headed, bird was at the mouth of the R. Endrick on
ieieaneesin duly (VCE. W.K.R. T.W.).

An Osprey visited Peppermill Dam, where it was mobbed
by Carrion Crows, on 15th May and again on 29th May (J.H.)
and about the middle of May a pair were at Loch Lossit,
Islay, for several days (J.C.). Another Osprey turned up on
4th July at the mouth of the R. Endrick, where it was seen
with a fish in its claws (M.F., T.W.).

A Grey Plover was seen near the Butt of Lewis in mid-May
(A.MacE.), a Dotterel was watched at short range at Aberlady
on 8th May (J.O.), nine Dotterel were seen on Elie Golf
Course on 10th May and seven there on the llth (P.G.B.,
R.S.W.). Those seen on the 8th and llth were accompanied
by a single fine Northern Golden Plover.

There was a Black-tailed Godwit at Aberlady on 9th March
(A.A.), nineteen at Glencaple, Dumfries, on 17th April (E.L.R.)
and two on the Eden estuary on 24th May (R.I.M.). A Wood
Sandpiper stayed at Gladhouse Reservoir from 29th April to
Ist May and from 8rd to 5th May (D.G.A., R.W.J.S.) and an-
other stayed for a short time at the Endrick mouth on 5th
June (M.F.).

Only one Curlew Sandpiper has been reported—at Aberlady
on 28th May (T.C.S.) and on 10th June (A.C., W.M., R.W.J.S.).
A Sanderling at Longannet, Fife, on 14th May was the first
seen there by the observer (J.H.) and a Reeve was seen at
Gladhouse on 17th May (R.W.J.S.).

A Q Red-necked Phalarope on Unst, where the species is no
longer known to breed, on 11th June, may have been on
passage (J.D.8.).

Numerous Little Gulls are reported from the Tay estuary
area: on 9th April one immature at Tentsmuir Point (B.N.)
and eight immature at Kingoodie on the 14th (H.B.). On the
25th there were no fewer than 64 at the mouth of the Bud-
don Burn, Monifieth, of which eighteen were adults: all
were restless and noisy (B.N.).:On 27th April there were
seven, mostly immature, at Barnhill, Broughty Ferry (H.B.),
and on Ist May thirty (including two adults) at Morton Lochs
and eight on the Eden estuary (B.N.). On 6th May there were
25 immature birds at Monifieth (B.N.), there were eight at
Morton Lochs on 17th (R.I.M.) and two at the Buddon Burn
on the 26th (B.N.). A more unusual record of the Little Gull,
since it is from the west, is of an immature bird at the En-
drick mouth—seen both in Stirling and Dunbarton—from
29th May to 5th June (T.W. and others). At the Buddon Burn

280) CURRENT NOTES 1(9)

there were nineteen immatures on 6th June, at least one
nearby on the 29th, and thirty with one adult on 2nd July
(B.N.). A single adult on the 19th carries these records
through the summer to the week in which the first autumn
birds were noted in 1959 (antea 1:133) (H.B.).

A Black Tern at Peppermill Dam on 15th May was still partly
in winter plumage (J.H.), but one at the Endrick mouth on
the same day was in complete summer dress (M.F., D.S.,
T.W.). At the Endrick mouth have also been observed an
Arctic Tern on 29th May (M.F., T.W.) and a Little Tern on 5th
June (M.F.M.M.), both interesting records for W. Stirling.

At Fife Ness on 26th May about 75 Roseate Terns were coun-
ted, a large congregation for this locality (R.S.W.).

A. Turtle Dove, doubtless on passage, was seen feeding in a
field near Ele on 17th May (P.G.B., R.S.W.).

The arrival of the Swift was unusually early in 1960. First
records are: 26th April, one at Carter Bar, Roxburgh (W.S.M.)
and six at Maddy Moss, near Dollar (J.H.); 28th April, six at
Duddingston (D.R.A.), and five or six at Strathtay, Perth
(J.W.C.); 30th April, sixteen at Bardowie, W. Stirling (J.W.T.).
Two at Bonnybridge, Stirling, on 29th April and by 4th May
they had arrived in numbers, a flock of 150 to 200 being present
at Carron Reservoir (R.L.).

March records of the Chiffchaff not previously reported (cf.
antea 1:233) are of one on Rhum on 15th (W.J.E.) and one
heard at Fife Ness on the 27th (R.S.W.).

A Yellow Wagtail o (flavissima) was at the same place at
Skinflats, west of Grangemouth, as in 1959, on Ist June: again
no 9 was seen. (J.H.).

A Siskin o heard singing at Valleyfield, Fife, on 21st April
is the observer’s first spring record for the area (J.H.).

BREEDING AND DISTRIBUTION

Single Black-necked Grebes were seen at their breeding haunt
in the Clyde area on 29th May and 19th June (J.W.T.).

The only breeding colony of Cormorants in the Forth, on the
Lamb, has increased from 44 nests in 1959 to 65 in 1960
(R.W.J.S.).

At least five broods of Common Scoter were seen at their
Hebridean breeding haunt in early June (K.S.M.).

On 23rd April two Canada Geese were seen disputing with
Carrion Crows on an island in Marlee Loch, near Blairgowrie
(H.B.), and one was at Gladhouse on 19th June (D.G.A.).

A. Quail was both heard and seen near Stevenston, Ayr, on
3rd June, and on 7th July was again heard calling at a spot
about a mile distant from the first (G.F.).

On 29th May an unusual nest of the Common Gull was shown

1960 CURRENT NOTES 281

by H.D.H. to about thirty members of the S.O.C. returning
from an excursion. It was in the middle of a large field of
young wheat at Houdslow, between Greenlaw and Lauder, and
contained four eggs. It seems to be the first occurrence of
this species breeding in Berwickshire.

The colony of Black-headed Gulls at the Crane Loch in the
Pentlands, Lanarkshire, is reduced to about 250 birds, about
a quarter of the 1959 population (A.T.M.). The colony of
Kitttwakes on the Lamb (Forth) has increased to 38 nests as
opposed to sixteen in 1959, and a nest of this species has
been found for the first time on Inchkeith (R.W.J.S.).

A pair of Stonechats with two young were seen at Buddon
Ness, Angus, on 26th May (B.N.), while on Tulliallan Moor,
Fife, two pairs fledged young and there may have been a
third pai, (J-H.).

Six nestling Redstarts were ringed on 13th June at Pepper-
mill Dam: the first local breeding record (J.H.).

The Grasshopper Warbler is a scarce and local species in east
scotland and the following records are therefore of interest.

Haddington to Humbie road: two on 7th May, singing all
day (H.F.D.E.).
Near Cameron Reservoir, Fife: one seen and heard on

llth May (P.G.B., R.S.W.).

Penicuik, Midlothian: one on 20th May (R.W.J.S.).

Upper Dalhousie, Midlothian: one on 30th May (A.T.M.).

Tulliallan: heard from 3lst May (J.H.).

Gladhouse: two singing on 3rd June (R.W.J.S.).

One mile NW of Gladhouse: one on 30th June (A.T.M.).

Temple, Midlothian: three singing in spring (per
ve Wed-S.).

In addition Grasshopper Warblers have been reported from
places where they are scarce, at Caerlaverock, Dumfries, on
Zist April (H.L.R.) and at Bowmore, Islay, on 5th July
(M.F.M.M., L.J.R.).

A nest of the Blackcap (a rare breeding species in south
Fife) was found near Culross on 14th May, the young fledging
successfully by 12th June (J.H.).

Both the Garden Warbler and Chiffchaff are extending their
range in the north of Scotland. A Garden Warbler was seen
and heard at Dingwall in mid-May and another seen at Garve
(H.B.). Records of the Chiffchaff from Ross-shire are all of
birds singing: one at Loch Maree, late May 1959 (T.H.B.), one
at Glenshiel on 5th April (D.A.H.), one at Inverewe through-
out June (E.N.H., P.B.) and one at Kerrysdale, near Gairloch,
on 10th June (E.N.H.). Mr Hunter comments that these are
the first Chiffchaffs he has heard in ten years’ acquaintance
with the district.

Other northern records of the Chiffchaff come from Boat of
Garten on 9th April (A.L.) and Loch Morlich on 15th June

1(9)

282

‘(sopooyq, Nyy Aq ydessojoyd) ‘poieol A
[[NJsseoons 9IOM

YIYM spliq sunod J [
paiq A INO} SuIeJUOD jysoU OUT, ‘NOH A[N{ ‘“SuljiyS “sou ye soysniyy suog juoiedg

1960 CURRENT NOTES 283

(B.N.), while the following occurrences are indicative of its
increasing frequency in the Forth area:
Near Crail, Fite: one on 26th April (R.S.W.).
Tulliallan: one on 7th April (J.H.).
Valleyfield: three singing birds, of which two apparently
remained mateless, while the third fledged six young (J.H.).
Turnhouse Golf Course, Edinburgh: 24th to 27th April
(PAC):
Polton Glen, Midlothian: 17th April (R.W.J.S.).
Dalhousie Castle, Midlothian: 28th and 30th May (A.T.M.).
Two broods of Spotted Flycatchers were seen in late June in
a garden at Melvich, north Sutherland (T.W.). On 6th May a
Pied Flycatcher was seen in two different gardens at Bridge of
Weir (G.MLT.C., W.H.), and another at Tulliallan on 12th May
(J.H.). One was singing (close to a known breeding site) near
Temple Bridge, Midlothian, on 28th and 30th May (A.T.M.).
A o& Grey Wagtail, a rare species in Shetland, was seen at
ioe Iii on shaw, Unst, on 12th June (J.D.S.).

HABITS

An interesting letter from John Peterson in The Scotsman
(13th May 1960) describes the nesting of the Starling in rabbit
burrows in Orkney: “disused raboit warrens had become
eolonies of nesting Starlings. Two which I observed had over
a dozen pairs each, and s ‘everal were seen using the same
entrances. That Orkney has neither stoats nor weasels makes
nesting in this manner less precarious.”

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE
CAPERCAILLIE
JEANETTE HARRIS

The following observations on the Capercailliie Tetrao
urogallus were made in Central Perthshire during the 1958
breeding season. The area in which the birds were studied
consisted of small hocks of middle-aged coniferous wood-
land, mainly Scots pine, with open patches of birch scrub,
heather and bilberry in between.

Nests were found within this area in the following situa-
t_ons:

Nest 1. On the edge of a sixty year old mixed plantation of
cots pine, larch and Norway spruce, with open ground near-
by. The nest was at the foot of a aia pine and under a licht
covering of dead branches. It was lined with pine needles
and “decorated” with a pine cone. WA iiiude 350 feet.

284 THE CAPERCAILLIE 1(9)

Nest 2. In a Scots pine plantation thirty-five years old,
about forty yards from the edge, hidden in thick, recently
cut branches with open ground nearby. Altitude 350 feet.

Nest 3. On the side of a rocky knoll above plantations of
Scots pine, larch and Douglas fir, forty years old. In grass
under heather bush. Altitude 400 feet.

Nest 4. On the edge of a thick untouched plantation of Scots
pine, twenty-five years old. Altitude 700 feet.

Nest 5. On an open ride in a pure Scots pine plantation,
fifty years old, under a light covering of dead branches. Alti-
tude 1,000 feet.

The smallest full clutch recorded was four (Nest 5) and the
largest nine (Nest 2). The intensity of the egg markings, as
well as the shape of the eggs, varied between clutches. In
spite of this variation individual hens seemed unable to
distinguish their own eggs. In one nest, over half the clutch
was replaced by the eggs of another, but the strange eggs
were readily accepted.

At the lower altitudes clutches were completed and incub-
ation begun within the first fortnight of May. The chicks
hatched within the first fortnight of June. At Nest 5, and in
two other nests at 1,000 feet in another area fifteen miles to
the west, incubation began in the last fortnight of May with
a corresponding delay of hatching until the end of June.

From the beginning of incubation the hen birds sat very.
closely, relying on their colour to keep them effectively con-
cealed. When flushed (at about twenty feet) they always
made off in the same direction, irrespective of the direction
of the approach of danger. The hen at Nest I invariably left
the nest, even early in incubation, “injury feigning,’ running
thus for thirty or forty yards along a path before taking
flight into the open. The hen at Nest 2, on the other hand, was
never observed to “injury-feign’’ even after the eggs had
hatched. She always took flight as soon as she was clear of
the nest, downhill into a plantation. At this nest and at Nest
4 the cock bird was usually in attendance nearby, and also
after hatching. The cocks of Nests 1 and 3, however, showed
little interest in their mates’ activities.

The eggs chip at least twenty-four hours before hatching.
One chick examined in the egg fifteen hours after chipping
began still had a considerable portion of the yolk sac to ab-
sorb. In one clutch the first egg began to chip one evening
and the other three eggs the following day. The first chick
emerged about twenty-four hours after first chipping the egg,
followed by the other three within twelve hours. As soon as
the egg is chipped the bird can be heard calling strongly
within.

Once dry the chicks are remarkably vigorous and active.

1960 Wiss, CA? inal 1 285

A chick a few hours old was seen to snap up a fly. They run,
scatter and crouch in the undergrowth if disturbed, and are
very difficult to find. The chicks are very soon taken away
from the area of the nest to more open ground, and as a rule
can be found in quite a restricted area during the fledgeing
period. The hen scratches the ground for them like a domestic
fowl. Although the chicks are thought to be mainly insectiv-
orous in the early stages (British Birds 51:189), droppings,
at about fourteen days old, contained a high proportion of
grasses, especially Festuca ovina, and bracken fronds. The
young birds grow rapidly and at three weeks were the size
of a Song Thrush and fluttering strongly.

Once they are able to fly the chicks no longer scatter into
the undergrowth when the hen gives the warning guttural
kok kok at the approach of danger. Instead they flutter up
into the trees, where they assume a peculiar attitude like
that of a Bittern when concealing itself. The body appears to
elongate and the neck is extended with the bill pointing ob-
liquely to the sky. The young bird remains immobile in this
manner as long as the hen is giving the danger call, The
chicks are difficult to pick out in this attitude unless they
have been observed flying into the trees. As long as danger
threatens the hen bird walks about in the trees nearby, call-
ing kok kok all the time, with head and neck extended, and
jerking her body and tail.

The hen and young continue to roost on the ground after
the young can fly. One brood, when about four weeks old,
was disturbed at dusk. The chicks flew silently up into the
trees and, after they were safely out of reach, the hen bird
rose and flew noisily away, calling loudly as she went. This
particular bird “injury-feigned” to a dog when she had chicks,
but not to a human being.

In one area a mixed covey was recorded. Two hens had
joined up with broods of different ages, one about three weeks
and the other about five weeks old, with the birds nearly
twice as big.

On 9th September the brood from Nest 4 was still being
suarded by the hen. They were then thirteen weeks old and
the hen still “injury-feigned” to a dog on this occasion. At
this age they were difficult to distinguish from the mother
and were still in the area they had moved to from the nest.

In The Handbook it is stated that the Capercaillie is found
“mainly on the ground in summer and autumn.” With the
birds studied this certainly applied to the females and young.
but the males did not appear to be on the ground any more
than usual. One interesting item of food taken by the adults
was the seed of Scots pine. The scales were completely strip-

286 TAE CAPE RG Eine 1(9)

ped off the cone and the seeds nipped from the seed wing.
Cones attacked by Capercaillie are readily distinguished from
those damaged by Crossbills and squirrels.

HOODED CROW AND RED-NECKED GREBE
AS PREDATORS OF SALMON |

Dete Vie ES

1. On 24th May 1959 a Hooded Crow Corvus c. cornix was
observed taking and killing smolts of the Salmon Salmo salar
at a salmon trap on the River Meig, a tributary of the Conon,
Ross-shire. The smolt migration was at its peak, 2,807 smolts
having passed over the trap in the preceding seven days, and
it is possible that the fish had been taken unobserved on other
oecasions. The weather was bright at the time and the flash-
ing of the fish as they were washed on to the grid of the trap
probably attracted the birds in the first instance. When the
observation was made the bird was hopping across the top of
the trap and catching smolts as they came over. It was seen
to kill a number of fish by catching them crosswise between
its beak, apparently breaking their backs, and then dropping
them. It eventually flew off with one fish held crosswise in its
beak. Seven smolts with beak marks on their flanks were
found dead on the grid of the trap. A bird, presumably the
same one, was shot a short while later on the same day at
the trap, and a stomach examination revealed smolt remains.
The bird’s beak was encased in smolt scales. After this bird
was shot no further visits from other birds were noticed.

2. On 23rd March 1960 a Red-necked Grebe Podiceps gris-
eigena was shot by mistake during a drive for Mergansers and
Cormorants on the lower reaches of the River Beauly, In-
verness-shire. The bird weighed 32 ounces and was acquiring
its summer dress. Examination of the stomach contents re-
vealed: salmon smolts (2), salmon parr (2), salmon fry (3)
end fish remains. The following invertebrates: were also
present: Plecoptera Taenionteryx nebulosa, nymph: Ephemop-
tera Ecduonurus sp. and Rithrogena sp., nymphs; Trichoptera
Hydroptila sp. and Limnophilus sw., larvae; Gasteropoda
Hydrobia jenkinsi. A large number of feathers, from the back
and underparts of the bird, were intermingled with the food
and it is probable that it swallowed these wltile preening.

(Mr Mills has included a plumage description of this bird.
which, incidentallv. appears to be the first recorded from
East Inverness.—Ep.)

1960

OFPEICIAL SECLON 287

THIRTEENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Marine Hoiel, North Berwick, 28th/30th October, 1960

Pn One hy ASM ME

Friday, 28th October :

ppsOn 7-30) prin sand
8.30 to 9.30 p.m.

Onl Syepetmn:

6.30 p.m. to midnight

9.30 p.m.

Conference Office in the Marine Hotel opens for
Members and Guests to register (/s 6d each).
Collect Name Cards and Annual Dinner tickets

(12s 6d each).
Meeting of Council.

Lounges reserved for informal discussions and re-
freshments, and the showing of films and _ slides.
Exhibition of original paintings by Archibald
Thorburn in the Neptune Suite. Also an exhibit
arranged by Dr David Jenkins of the Red Grouse
Enquiry.

Excursion Leaders will describe the places of in-
terest to be visited on Saturdav and Sunday after-
noons; in the Main Lounge of the Marine Hotel.

Saturday, 29th October :

SAE ve) GUUS ainaay,

720 u ania:

9.30 a.m.

945 a.m.

10:45 a.m.

LS) etna

Z215) p.m.
12.30 p.m.

lo, Z onan

Z wo 54'S) Dena

Conference Office opens for registrations.

Official Opening of the Conference in the Dining-
FOOMOMmuthie Noval hotel (mean the Station, 6
mins. walk from the Marine Hotel).

ADDRESS OF WELCOME by James R. Wishart,
Fsq., J.P., Provost of North Berwick.

DID RASS out asirds. in Witeratune > by | Sin
Charles G. Connell, retiring President of the Club.

PEChORE oni Ornitholocy, in Europe’, by E.
Max Nicholson, Esq., Director of the Nature Con-
servancy.

INTERVAL for coffee and biscuits.

PECDURE on! Ornithology in’ America’, by Dr
I. C. T. Nisbet, Kings College, Cambridge.

_ DISCUSSION on Lectures.

CONBERENEES GROUP PHOTOGRAPE, out-
side the Royal Hotel.

INTERVAL for informal lunches (Hotels must be
informed).

EXCURSIONS by private cars leaving the Marine
Hotel Car Park. Details of the Excursions will be

288

6.15 p.m.

7.30 for 8 p.m.

OFFICIAL SECMON 1(9)

posted on the Conference Notice Board.

24th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE
CLUB in the Neptune Suite of the Marine Hotel.

BUSINESS :—
(1) Apologies for absence.

(2) Approval of Minutes of 23rd Annual General
Meeting held in Stirling on 24th October, 1959.

(3) Report of Council for Session 23.
(4) Approval of Accounts for Session 23.
(5) Appointment of Auditor.

(6) Election of.,..President Jot them Glub = Gir
Charles G. Connell, having completed three
years term of office, is due to retire and is
ineligible for re-election). The Council recom-
mend the election of Proftessonm Me oe Me:
Meiklejohn.

(7) Election of Vice-President: The Council re-
commend the election of Dr lan D. Pennie to
succeed Professor M. F. M. Meiklejohn.

(8) Election of two Members of Council in place
of those who retire.

(9) Consideration of the following alteration to
the Club Constitution under MEMBERSHIP
(e):— “Married couples shall be eligible for
joint Membership at an annual subscription of
40s and shall enjoy all the usual privileges of
Membership with the exception that they shall
be entitled to receive only one copy of “Scot-
tish Birds” (Club Journal) between them’.
Note: This alteration is recommended by the
Council to give effect to the results of the dis-
cussion at the last Annual General Meeting.

(10) Any other competent business.

ANNUAL DINNER in the Diningroom of the
Marine Hotel.

Sunday, 30th October :

9.30 a.m.
10.45 a.m.

1115, to; 12730 pm

lietowe2, spsime

/4 i050

EXHIBITION of films in the Diningroom of the
Royal Hotel.

INTERVAL for coffee and biscuits.

By kind permission of the Town Council, the
North Berwick Burgh Museum will be open to
Members and Guests.

INTERVAL for informal lunches.

EXCURSIONS by private cars leaving the Marine
lotrel Gareanic:

1960 OFFICIAL SECTION 289
INFORMATION

(1) In order to simplify arrangements, it is essential that Members in-
tending to be present should complete the enclosed printed post card and
send it to the Club Secretary not later than 24th October.

(2) Members may invite Guests; and are particularly asked to provide
private cars where possible for the Excursions. Petrol expenses should be
shared. Leaflets will be available in the Conference Office giving infor-
mation on the Excursions. Members are urged to bring maps of the
area (Ordnance Survey 1” maps: old Edition, Nos. 68 and 75; new Edition
Nos. 62 and 63). Members who wish to go out on their own are particularly
asked not to go in advance of led Excursions to avoid disturbing the

birds.

(3) Everyone attending the Conference must register (7s 6d each) on
arrival at the Conference Office (opening times—see Programme).
Members wishing to attend the Annual General Meeting ONLY do not
require to pay the Registration fee which covers incidental expenses—
hire of rooms, projection equipment, mid-morning coffee, etc.

(4) Tickets for the Annual Dinner (price 12s 6d inclusive of tips) should
be purchased when registering on arrival. Members and Guests staying in
the Marine Hotel and the Royal Hotel will be charged for the Annual
Dinner in their inclusive Hotel bill, but MUST obtain a ticket from the
Conference Office, All tickets will be collected at the Dinner. NO PAY-
MERES SHOULD BE MADE IN ADVANCE TO THE OFFICE IN
EDINBURGH.

(5) Booking for the Marine Hotel should be made through the Secretary,
Mrs George Waterston, 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh, 7. Booking for
ALL OTHER HOTELS must be made direct with the Hotel in which
you wish to stay. Owing to the shortage of single rooms, Members are
urged to make arrangements to share a room with a friend (Single
rooms at the Marine Hotel are now fully booked). Private arrangements
must be made with your Hotel for lunches each day.

As the Conference Lectures are to be held in the Royal Hotel, it has
now been arranged that accomodation will be available there at the
inclusive charge of £4, 15s. All meals except breakfast will be taken at the
Marine Hotel. The cost of the Annual Dinner will be included in the

Hotel bill (see 4.)

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION IN NORTH BERWICK

MARINE HOTEL (Tel. 2406) Special Conference charge: Dinner and
bed on Friday, 28th; breakfast, lunch, Annual Dinner and bed on
Saturday, 29th; breakfast and lunch on Sunday, 30th—#4, l5s.

ROYAL HOTEL, Station Road (Tel. 2401) Special Conference charge as
above, all meals except breakfast taken at the Marine Hotel—#4, I5s.

DALRYMPLE ARMS HOTEL (Tel. 2969) Bed and breakfast from 25s

COUNTY HOTEL, 17 High Street (Tel. 2989) Bed and breakfast from
2ls.

IMPERIAL HOTEL, Quality Street (Tel. 2381) Bed and breakfast from
2\s.

BRAMERTON HOTEL, 27 Dirleton Avenue (Tel. 2228) Bed and breakfast
from 17s 6d.

SEABANK PRIVATE HOTEL, 12 Marine Parade (Tel. 2479) Bed and
breakfast from 17s 6d.

The above terms are quoted as a guide ONLY, and prices should be
confirmed,

290 OPPICIAL SE CMON Ko)
S.0.c. PUBLICATION

“The Birds of Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve’, by F. D. Hamilton and
K. S. Macgregor. This article, which has been reprinted in booklet form
by the Club from the “Transactions of the Bast Lothian Antiquarian and
Field Naturalists’ Society’, Vol. VIII, is now available to Members for
5s (postage 4d extra) and may be obtained from the Club Secretary or
from Branch Secretaries. (See Review on p. 269).

DEEDS OF COVENANT AND BANKER’S ORDERS

The Club has now obtained permission from H.,M. Inspector of Taxes
to reclaim Income Tax on subscriptions paid under Deed of Covenant.
This will be of great benefit to the Club as it will almost double subscrip-
tions paid in this way. The Council therefore invites Members who pay
Income Tax at the full rate to undertake a seven-year Deed of Covenant
for their subscriptions (this does not apply to subscriptions to the
Journal only). Full details, with a suitable form, are enclosed with this
issue. Completed Forms should be returned to the Secretary, who will
forward a Certificate for the Deduction of Tax for signature each year.

Members who wish to pay their subscriptions by Banker’s Order may
conveniently do so by using the form enclosed with this issue. This form
should be returned to the Secretary and not to the Bank.

LIBRARY AND CLUB ROOM

Members are reminded that books are available in the Club Library for
borrowing. It is regretted that meantime it is not possible to publish a
list of the books available, owing to the amount of work this would entail,
but the Secretary will be glad to supply a short list of books on a
particular subject for any Member who is making a specific study. Details
of Library opening hours are printed on the front cover of this Journal,
The Library is normally open to Members on Saturday mornings between
9 am. and 12 noon; there are occasions however when the office is
unavoidably closed. If Members wish to visit the office on Saturday, they
would be advised to telephone beforehand to avoid disappointment.

JUNIOR MEETINGS

It has been decided that owing to homework and other ties in termtime,
the Meetings arranged for Junior Members in the Scottish Centre on the
first Friday of each month should be discontinued this winter. Instead,
it is proposed to hold two Meetings in the Club Room, one in the
Christmas holidays and the other at Easter. Dates and further details will
be published in the December issue of “Scottish Birds”.

CHANGES IN TIMES OF BRANCH LECTURES

Members of the St Andrews Branch are particularly asked to note that
the October Meeting will be held on Monday, 3lst October instead of the
usual Friday, due to the dates fixed for the Annual Conference,

Members in the Edinburgh area are asked to note a change in the time
of the last two lectures of the winter Session. As quite a number are un-
able to attend lectures at 5.30 p.m., the Branch Committee feel that they
should be given an opportunity of hearing two of the Lecturers this
winter. The Meetings in March and April therefore, will commence at
7.30 p.m. and not at 5.30 p.m. The later hour will also ensure that black-
out arrangements for slides and films will be more effective at this time
of the year.

1960 OFFICIAL SECTION 291
WHOOPER SWAN ENQUIRY

The British Trust for Ornithology and the Wildfowl Trust have agreed
to sponsor an Enquiry on the Whooper Swans in Great Britain this
coming winter.

The purpose of the Enquiry is to ascertain (a) status and distribution
of the species; (b) proportion of young in the wintering herds; (c) dates
of arrival and departure; and (d) general feeding habits especially in
relation to agricultural crops.

To supplement the regular Wildfowl Counts, observers in Scotland and
Northern England are asked to make counts of Whoopers as frequently
and in as many places as possible. Careful observations of feeding habits
are particularly wanted in the Spring.

The Organiser is Miss Betty Garden, Eider Cottage, Newburgh,
Aberdeenshire, from whom copies of a Questionnaire may be obtained.
It is hoped that as many Members of the Club as possible will co-operate.

NATIONAL WILDFOWL COUNTS

Regular monthly counts of wildfowl are made on lochs, estuaries,
coastal waters, etc., from September to March. Counters are required in
Scotland. Anyone interested in helping should write to Miss E. A. Gar-
Taal Cottage, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, who will supply full

etails.

292 ADVERTISEMENT 1(9)

PUBLICATIONS OF THE BRITISH TRUST FOR ORNITHOLOGY

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Original papers on Migration Problems.

Contents of No. 4 (August 1960) include:

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SEA BIRDS

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SEA BIRD

CHARLES VAUCHER
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Charles Vaucher is an ornithologist who has a passion for the sea
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BIRDS

The Journal of
The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

Vol. I No. 10 Winter 1960

JP IC WY 18 Seale NEGsS

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

HE Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was founded in 1936 and membership

is open to all interested in Scottish ornithology. Meetings are held

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films exhibited. Excursions are organised in the summer to places of
ornithological interest.

The aims and objects of the Club are to (a) encourage and direct the
study of Scottish Ornithology in all its branches; (b) co-ordinate the
efforts of Scottish Ornithologists and encourage co-operation between field
and indoor worker; (c) encourage ornithological research in Scotland in
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There are no entry fees for Membership. The Annual subscription is
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be eligible for re-election for one year.

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Full details are given in the Syllabus of Lectures Card of the names of
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NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

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just published

NELSON’S

Atlas of

European Birds

Professor K. H. VOOUS
preface by Sir A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON

Here is an original and valuable work, which fills a real
want for all students of ornithology, both professional and
amateur. A clear and concise description of the life habits
of the 419 species of birds known to breed in Europe
grouped systematically in families, genera, and species
(under the headings Faunal Type, Distribution, Habitat,
Food, Nest, Movement) is accompanied in each case by
an outline map in colour making it possible to identify
the distribution of the bird at a glance. The majority
of the birds themselves are portrayed in a series of arresting
plates, the work of many of the most distinguished European
ornithological photographers.

355: half-tone plates and 419 maps
TAM OS 284 pp 70S

THOMAS NELSON AND SONS LTD
Parkside Works 20) Parke Sirect
Edinburgh 9 London W1

SCOTTISH BIRDS

THE JOURNAL OF THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGIS1'S’ CLUB

Vol. I No. 10 i Winter 1960

Edited by M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN, with the assistance of D. G. ANDREW and
A. T. MACMILLAN. Business Editor, ARTHUR J. SMITH. Cover design
(Red-breasted Mergansers) by LEN FULLERTON. Fublished quarterly.

Editorial

SCOTTISH bird-watchers are exceptionally fortunate in

winter time, regularly seeing species for which their
English colleagues would be liable to organise bus trips. Scots
would, for example, be astonished to hear that there is a
distinguished and experienced English ornithologist who has
never seen a Grey Lag Goose, a species which flies over our
houses about once a week. In winter we can see all the regular
geese, and there can now be few Scottish bird-watchers who
have not also seen a Snow Goose or Lesser Whitefront. Ducks,
sea birds and birds of prey are much more numerous than in
England: English “list-makers” are proud of themselves if
they see a hundred species before the first summer visitors
arrive in March, but their Scottish rivals can make their
century in a winter week, or even a winter week-end. This
winter Waxwings have already been noted in several places,
Great Grey Shrikes appear to be numerous, and many mem-
bers of the S.O.C. have seen a single Rough-legged Buzzard.
A report of Lady Chatterley’s Plover from Aberlady is un-
confirmed, but we nevertheless wish all members of the S.O.C.
a successful winter’s bird-watching.

REVIEW

KENNETH WILLIAMSON and J. Morton Boyp: “St Kilda Sum-
mer.” London 1960. Hutchinson. pp. 224. Photographs and
line drawings. 25/-.

All the outliers of the Outer Hebrides, from North Rona to
Rockall, are possessed of a certain charm for the naturalist by
virtue of their remoteness and wealth of wild life. Of them
all, the best known is St Kilda and, while it cannot be said

294 REVIEW 1(10)

that naturalists have flocked there, at least there has been a
steady trickle of Fortunates over the years.

Access became more difficult with the evacuation in 1930
and consequent cessation of regular sailings and for 27
years St Kilda lay uninhabited and relatively seldom visited.
In 1957 St Kilda again became news, when an R.A.F. task-
force went out to set up a radar installation. With this party
went the authors of this book, representing the interests of
the National Trust for Scotland, who own the island, and the
Nature Conservancy, to whom it was leased. How these inter-
ests could have clashed with those of the Rocket Age is dem-
onstrated in the early chapters, and a lively account is given
of how the present situation, satisfactory to both, was
achieved.

This volume is more than the narrative of the activities of
mid-20th Century Man on the island, however: there are chap-
ters dealing ably with the problematical history of the civil-
isation which existed almost unchronicled for over a thousand
years, with the well-known forms of Wren, Field Mouse and
Sheep peculiar to the island, and with the resident, migrant
and vagrant birds. It is enlivened with accounts of often haz-
ardous but always profitable landings on the other stacs and
islands which, together with the main island of Hirta, make up
the St Kilda group.

Over all, the authors are to be congratulated on producing
a well balanced story of St Kilda as it is to-day and as it was
in days gone by. Written in an easy style and well illustrated
with black-and-white plates and line sketches, it is worthy of
a place on any naturalist’s bookshelf.

Throughout even the most factual chapters there runs the
thread of the spell which St Kilda casts over those who visit
it; a spell proof even against Bailey bridges, oil drums and
Nissen huts. It is a spell which is almost tangible as I write
these words perched 1,100 feet up on the shoulder of Con-
achair watching the evening sun slanting across the quiet
meadows of Village Bay as we draw towards the end of yet
another St Kilda Summer.

D. E. B.

CORRIGENDA

Antea 1:260. The asterisk against the word “Teal” should be
omitted: Dr Morton Boyd informs us that R. Atkinson saw a
Teal on North Rona in 1936 (Island Going p. 96), so this is not
a new species for the island.

Antea 1:280, eight lines from bottom. For “early June” read
“early July.”

1960 DRIFT MIGRATION 295

A COMPARISON OF “DRIFT-MIGRATION” AT
FAIR ISLE, THE ISLE OF MAY AND
SPURN POINT

BY

David Lack

EDWARD GREY INSTITUTE, OxFORD

Introduction

After my analysis of “drift-migration” into eastern England
in autumn (Lack 1960a), various persons pressed me to make a
similar analysis for Fair Isle, especially because Williamson’s
theory of drift-migration was developed with primary refer-
ence to this island (Williamson 1952, 1955, 1960 etc.). The
present paper shows that the methods which proved fruitful
for eastern England in autumn were not nearly so productive
further north, primarily, I think, because the weather is much
more variable around Fair Isle than in the southern North Sea,
so that broad tabulations of the number of arrivals in differ-
ent types of weather involve a deceptive over-simplification
when applied to Fair Isle. Nevertheless, the broad picture
presented here will, I hope, supplement the detailed analyses
of particular drift-arrivals given by K. Williamson and P.
Davis in successive numbers of the “Fair Isle Bird Observatory
Bulletin.” To save space, full knowledge of my earlier paper
on “drift-migration”’ into eastern England is assumed, includ-
ing the summary of views on migrational drift, and also my
reasons for the methods of analysis there used. My aim being
to make the present paper as comparable as possible, I have
used closely similar methods of analysis, and have not repeated
my reasons for them here except where differences were intro-
duced.

I am extremely grateful to the Fair Isle Bird Observatory
Trust, founded by George Waterston, for permission to ana-
lyse the Fair Isle data, which from 1948 to 1956 were collected
by the pioneering efforts of the first warden, K. Williamson,
and subsequently by his successor, P.E. Davis, helped by num- ~
erous amateur visitors. I am similarly grateful to the Isle of
May Observatory and W. J. Eggeling and to Spurn Point Ob-
servatory and R. Chislett. I am also extremely grateful to all
of these workers, also to W. R. P. Bourne, R. E. Moreau and
M. T. Myres of the Edward Grey Institute and to R. C. Homes,
for their valuable criticisms of an earlier draft of this paper.

Fair Isle was manned every day in August, September and
October 1948-59 inclusive, except from 22 to 31 October 1952

296 DRIFT MIGRATION 1(10)

and 13 to 31 October 1953, and it was also manned every day
in May 1949-60 inclusive, but I had to omit Ist May 1953 be-
cause no record was available for the previous day. Fair Isle
was manned much less often in April, and since no big drift-
arrivals were recorded in this month, it has been omitted from
my study. The Isle of May was manned during most of the
same periods as Fair Isle, but with occasional gaps in most
years, so that I have not made a full analysis for this island.
Spurn Point was manned almost every day during the autumns
of 1949-59 inclusive, analysed in the earlier paper, but there
were occasional gaps in May in most of the years between
1949 and 1959.

This paper, like the earlier one, is concerned with the typ-
ical “drift-migrants,” i.e. the night-migrant chats, warblers
and flycatchers. But one of the commonest chats, the Wheat-
ear Oenanthe oenanthe, had to be excluded, because on Fair
Isie there was possible confusion between British, Scandin-
avian, Icelandic and Greenland birds, and this paper is
essentially concerned with birds migrating between Scandin-
avia and southern Europe or Africa. As in the earlier paper,
the number of arrivals each day was assessed as the number
of each species present in excess of the number on the previous
day, or the day before that, whichever was the greater. This
figure will have been too low when birds stayed only briefly,
while particularly on Fair Isle, with its extensive cliffs, mig-
rants will sometimes have been first recorded a day or two
after they actually arrived.

Average Totals at Fair Isle

The average number of arrivals of each common species on
Fair Isle each autumn and each May is shown in Table 1. The
sparse but almost regular species are listed in note (i) to this
table, while note (ii) shows the effect on the spring figures of
including the available data for April. The number of arrivals
varied greatly in different years, as shown by the smallest and
largest annual totals, placed in brackets after the averages.
These marked variations were due primarily to a few large
and sporadic arrivals, which once in September 1956 and once
in September 1957 included over a thousand birds of the
species studied here, a total not otherwise exceeded in the
course of a whole autumn. Likewise an arrival in May 1960
included over three hundred birds, a total exceeded for the
whole of May in only one other year. Table 1 also shows that
the number of Redstarts varied in different autumns between
4 and over a thousand, and in different Mays between 0 and
over three hundred, and similar variations occurred in all
other species.

Hence the averages in Table 1 mean little. But they at least

1960 DRIFT MIGRATION 297.

show the excessively small totals involved, on an average
little more than six hundred birds each autumn and two
hundred each May, with far fewer in some seasons. In only
two species, Redstart and Willow Warbler, did the average
exceed a hundred per autumn, and one per day in May, and
only one other species at each season, the Whinchat in autumn
and the Whitethroat in May, approached even these small
totals. Hence it is misleading to term Fair Isle “the British
Heligoland,” for in autumn many of the same species are
numerous on Heligoland at times. This conforms with the
view that Heligoland is regularly crossed by Scandinavian
night-migrants, while Fair Isle is not. Both islands, however,
agree in having a fantastic list of rarities.

The arrivals of thrushes Turdus spp. on Fair Isle have not
been analysed in this paper, but the autumn totals are worth
mention. Adding the average for September and October,
based on ten seasons of observation, to the average for Nov-
ember based on three seasons of observation, the average for
the autumn on Fair Isle works out at about 1800 Fieldfares T.
pilaris, about 4000 Redwings T. musicus, mainly Scandinavian
but many Icelandic, about 1400 Blackbirds T. merula, about
100 Song Thrushes T. ericetorum and 5 Ring Ousels T. torqua-
tus. Hence on Fair Isle, the Fieldfare, Scandinavian Redwing
and Blackbird have been well over ten times as numerous in
autumn as any species of warbler, flycatcher or chat (omitting
the Wheatear). Their much greater abundance suggests that
Scandinavian Fieldfares, Redwings and Blackbirds pass much
nearer to Fair Isle on their way to Scotland than do the Scan-
dinavian chats, warblers and flycatchers, also Song Thrushes
and Ring Ousels, on their way to southern Europe or Africa,
as I suggested earlier from other evidence (Lack 1959 pp. 382-
3).

Comparison between spring and autumn totals

Table 1 shows that the average total for all species in May
Was just over one-third of that in autumn, and note (ii) sug-
gests that the proportion would not be appreciably raised by
adding the figures for April, though the latter are based on
too few years to be sure. It does not, of course, follow from
this that nearly two-thirds of the migrants passing Fair Isle
in autumn have died by the following spring, since the cir-
cumstances favouring arrivals might well differ at the two
seasons. The latter view is supported by Table 2, which shows
that at Spurn, the average number of migrants in May is
about one-sixth of that in the autumn, i.e. half of what it is at
Fair Isle.

Table 1 shows that, on Fair Isle, most species have been be-
tween two and eight times as common in autumn as spring,
the latter figure being reached in the Garden Warbler, with

298 DRIFT MIGRATION 1(10)

an average of 28 in autumn and almost 3.5 in spring. The Gold-
crest appears to have been proportionately far commoner in
autumn than spring, but in spring it passes mainly before
May, and it may be merely by chance that as yet no big arrival
of this species has been recorded there in April. Three species
that are rare everywhere in Britain, the Barred and Yellow-
browed Warblers and the Red-breasted Flycatcher, are sparse
but almost regular on Fair Isle in autumn, but totally absent
in spring; nearly all the truly rare species have occurred in
autumn, not spring.

Seven species, notably Sedge Warbler and Common White-
throat, also Black Redstart, Stonechat, Lesser Whitethroat,
Grasshopper Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher, differ from the
rest in being less uncommon on Fair Isle in spring than aut-
umn. In five of these species, the breeding range does not ex-
tend north beyond southern Scandinavia, and this also holds
for the Sedge Warbler, apart from its reappearance in the
extreme north of Scandinavia, while in the Spotted Flycatcher,
which is more widespread, the Scandinavian population (un-
like the German) migrates southeast in autumn (Creutz 1941),
so is unlikely to occur on Fair Isle at this season. In contrast,
nearly all the other common migrants in Table 1 breed well
north in Scandinavia and migrate southwest in autumn. Pro-
bably species of the latter type are as likely to be displaced
to Fair Isle in autumn as spring, but birds breeding only in
Scotland or on the Continent to the southeast of Fair Isle are
much less likely to be displaced there in autumn than in
spring, since in autumn they are heading southward, whereas
in spring they are heading northward, and “overshooting” with
a following wind is a well-known phenomenon in spring in
western Europe and North America. This suggestion was
earlier made by Davis (1960) to account for the much more
frequent occurrence of the Stonechat on Fair Isle in spring,
chiefly in March, than in autumn, and also in connection with
various other species.

Comparison with Spurn Point and Isle of May

Spurn Point in Yorkshire lies some 420 miles south of Fair
Isle. Precise comparison between the numbers at the two ob-
servatories may be misleading since Spurn Point is a low-
lying headland attached to the mainland, whereas Fair Isle
is a high and isolated island, so presumably attracts a greater
proportion of the passing migrants. Further, the total number
of migrants present is more easily assessed on Spurn Point
than on the rocky cliff-bound Fair Isle. Finally, an important
fraction of the migrants on Spurn Point in autumn probably
consists of departing British summer residents and not “drift-
migrants” from Scandinavia (Lack 1960a), but such probable

1960 . DRIFT MIGRATION 299

British departures were excluded from the present compar-
ison, as explained in note (11) to Table 2.

Table 2, which refers to the same dates at both observatories,
shows:that the migrants at both observatories consisted of the
same species in, for the most part, very similar numbers. The
total number of all species was rather greater in autumn at
Spurn than Fair Isle, but the reverse applied in spring. Most
of the apparent differences in the average numbers of par-
ticular species at the two observatories can be attributed to
the random influence of a few big arrivals, notably of Red-
starts on Fair Isle in September, and of Robins and Goldcrests
at Spurn in October. But a few species resident in England in
summer, notably the Stonechat, Sedge Warbler and White-
throat, were commoner at Spurn than Fair Isle in autumn,
while two sparse northern species, the Bluethroat and Yellow-
browed Warbler, occurred more often on Fair Isle than at
Spurn, At Spurn, like Fair Isle, most species were commoner
in autumn than spring, with the same main exceptions, since
the Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat were commoner at Spurn
in spring than autumn, while the Lesser Whitethroat, Grass-
hopper Warbler (very sparse) and Spotted Flycatcher have
been about equally frequent at the two seasons. (The Stone-
chat and Black Redstart were seemingly commoner in autumn
than spring at Spurn, but Table 2 does not include much of
their times of passage).

The number of days with an arrival of at least 50 warblers,
flycatchers and chats (omitting the Wheatear) was, in the
autumns covered in Table 2, 20 at Spurn but only 11 at Fair
Isle. On the other hand, in the months of May covered in
Table 2, there was only one such arrival at Spurn, but 8 on
Fair Isle; however, if arrivals of 47-49 birds had been included,
and if allowance were made for the days missed at Spurn,
there were 4 at Spurn and 9 on Fair Isle, which is probably a
truer comparison: Although the total number of migrants in
autumn was greater at Spurn than on Fair Isle, the number of
rarities was much greater on Fair Isle. In addition to the 19
regular or almost regular species listed in Table 2, and also
the Wheatear, 15 occasional or rare species of warblers and
chats occurred on Fair Isle, but only 6 at Spurn, in the autumns
reviewed here.

The Isle of May lies almost half-way between Fair Isle and
Spurn Point. As it is an island, but at the mouth of the Firth
of Forth, the proportion of passing migrants attracted is
probably lower than at Fair Isle but higher than at Spurn; the
terrain probably makes observation easier than at Fair Isle,
though harder than at Spurn. Comparing all days on which
both observatories were manned, there were at both seasons
more arrivals of at least 50 migrants on the Isle of May than on

300 DRIFT MIGRATION 1(10)

Fair Isle, 17 as compared with 10 in autumn, 18 as compared
with 11 in May. The corresponding figures for the Isle of May
compared with Spurn Point were 17 to 11 in autumn and 17
to about 4 in May, (by chance, the Isle of May was not man-
ned on quite a number of the days in autumn when over 50
migrants arrived at Spurn Point). These comparisons indicate
that, for the species studied in this paper, the Isle of May is
the most favoured of the three observatories in both autumn
and spring; though even on the Isle of May the numbers are
negligible compared with the Scandinavian migrations from
which the birds concerned are presumably drawn.

Weather factors analysed

The influence of the weather was analysed primarily with
respect to the migrants arriving on Fair Isle, as this obser-
vatory provided the fullest record. Analysis was restricted to
the years from 1950 onwards, as before this the British Daily
Weather Charts were not sufficiently detailed for northern
Europe. In autumn, the period selected was between 19th Aug-
ust and 14th October inclusive, as no sizeable arrivals were
recorded outside these dates (except as specified in note (i) to
Table 4).

Wind-directions, as in the earlier paper, were assessed from
the isobars on the Daily Weather Charts. In autumn I used
those for the sea east of Fair Isle, at 06.00 hours because K.
Williamson informs me that in autumn most migrants arrive
on Fair Isle early in the morning. In May I used those in the
sea south and somewhat east of Fair Isle, at 12:00) hours
because P. E. Davis informs me that in May many migrants
arrive around midday. It may be added that these times of
day gave a slightly better fit between arrivals and south-
easterly winds than did earlier or later times of day. The
wind-speed was taken as that recorded in the Daily Aerological
Reports at 900 m. above Lerwick, 40 miles north of Fair Isle
and the nearest meteorological station to it. For overcast, I
used the readings at Lerwick in the British Daily Reports, at
06.00 and 12.00 hours each day in autumn, and at these times
and 18.00 hours in May. As in the earlier paper, I scored full
overcast as present when 8/8th cloud, fog, mist or rain were
recorded at the selected times, and otherwise as absent; the
objections to this method were discussed in the earlier paper.
In May, wind-directions were also assessed from the isobars
east of the Isle of May, while overcast was noted at Leuchars
in Fife, the nearest meteorological station to the Isle of May,
the readings being for the same times of day as at Fair Isle.

If most Scandinavian “drift-migrants” reach Fair Isle by
lateral displacement, as I concluded in the earlier paper for
eastern England, then in autumn they probably set out on

1960 DRIFT MIGRATION 301

the previous evening from mid-Norway some 400-500 miles to
the northeast of Fair Isle, between about latitudes 62° and 65°
N., while in May they were probably near that part of France
bordering the eastern part of the English Channel on the
previous evening. But if, as postulated by Williamson (1952,
1955, 1960), most such migrants reach Fair Isle by a flight
directed down-wind, since nearly all of them arrived with a
southeasterly wind, they probably came from the Skagerrak,
some 400 miles to the southeast of Fair Isle. Hence to examine
the possible influence of the weather at the place of departure,
one has to make a provisional decision between these two
views. So far as I can judge, however, a firm decision is not
possible on the basis of the available data from Fair Isle, due
partly to the sporadic nature of the few sizeable arrivals, and
partly to the changeable weather, which has to be assessed
over the sea from records at distant land stations. Since, how-
ever, the chief aim of this paper is to provide a comparison
with the earlier results from eastern England, I have here
tabulated the weather data on the same assumption of lateral
displacement, so have used for the autumn the figures for the
previous evening in mid-Norway, and in May those for the
eastern side of the English Channel. I would stress that this
is to see whether the trends found in eastern England hold
for Fair Isle, and not because the method by which the “drift-
migrants” reach Fair Isle can be certainly established.

Wind-directions, wind-speed at the surface, and overcast, in
mid-Norway in autumn and round the eastern side of the
English Channel in May, have been assessed from the Daily
Weather Charts. So was the general weather situation, which
whenever possible was classified as either anticyclonic (A), or
disturbed (D) owing to the presence of a depression or front,
with transitional (T) for intermediate situations, but the last
category was used as little as possible, though necessarily
more than in the earlier paper.

As already mentioned, the weather tends to be much more
disturbed around Fair Isle than in the southern North Sea, and
more disturbed in autumn in mid-Norway than southern Nor-
way. Further, the sea-areas crossed by most migrants reaching
Fair Isle in autumn are further from meteorological stations
than the sea-areas crossed by migrants reaching eastern Eng-
land in autumn. For these reasons, the weather summaries in
Tables 3-10 are probably much less reliable than the similar
tables in the earlier paper for eastern England in autumn.
Provided that this limitation is kept in mind, however, it may
be helpful to see what a broad classification of arrivals in
different types of weather may show. This summary refers
to only a few of the possible weather factors whose influence
might have been examined, but Tables 3 and 8 give the dates

302 DRIFT MIGRATION 1(10)
of all big arrivals should the reader wish to test for others.

Arrivals of over 50 birds in autumn

In the autumns of 1948 to 1959 inclusive, there were 14
arrivals of over 50 chats, warblers and flycatchers on Fair
Isle, 4 of them in 1951, 3 in 1959, 2 in 1956 and 1957, one in
1950, 1953, and 1958, and none in the other five seasons. Al-
though arrivals of this'size occurred on only 14 days, the birds
coming on them comprised 63% of all recorded on Fair Isle in
the twelve autumns, which once more emphasizes the for-
tuitous nature of the average figures. Some details have been
set out in Table 3, together with the arrivals of over 50 birds
on the Isle of May in the same period, but the weather data
refer only to Fair Isle. This table may be compared with Table
II for eastern England in the earlier paper.

Of the 14 such arrivals on Fair Isle, 6 occurred with anti-
cyclonic weather in mid-Norway, and 8 with what I classified
as transitional weather there. Of the 17 such arrivals on the
Isle of May, 10 occurred with anticyclonic weather and 7 with
transitional weather 400 miles to the northeast (1.e. somewhat
south of the area selected for Fair Isle migrants). The corres-
ponding figures for arrivals in eastern England averaging 50
birds were 18 with anticyclonic and one with transitional
weather in southern Norway; while including those with at
least 50 birds at one observatory but a lower average, they
were 31 with anticyclonic and 4 with transitional weather.
Hence the proportion of arrivals with anticyclonic weather 400
miles to the northeast was markedly lower for Fair Isle than
for eastern England, with the Isle of May intermediate. On
my system of classification, transitional weather was propor-
tionately commoner further north, which doubtless had much
to do with this difference. The most important point is that no
arrival of over 50 birds occurred at any of the observatories
in question with disturbed weather 400 miles to the northeast.
Probably this is mainly because small passerine night-mig-
rants do not normally set out from Norway in autumn in
disturbed weather, though weather of this type usually means
westerly winds, and hence no westward drift, further south.

It was found in the earlier paper that arrivals of over 50
birds in eastern England were not significantly influenced by
the weather in Norway on the five days previous to the day
in question and that, in particular, they did not come espec-
ially on the first fine day after a disturbed spell. The same
lack of correlation with the previous weather applied to the
14 arrivals of over 50 birds on Fair Isle, for which the weath-
er in mid-Norway on the preceding five nights was usually
transitional, sometimes settled, occasionally disturbed, and
sometimes mixed.

1960 DRIFT MIGRATION 303

The wind in mid-Norway on the night before these arrivals
on Fair Isle was normally light or moderate, the average for
the surface-wind at the coastal stations being 13-15 knots on
4 nights and 10 knots or less on the other 10 nights. A similar
correlation with light winds in Norway was found for arrivals
in eastern England in autumn. The same point was earlier
stressed by Williamson (1955, also 1960), and I differ from him
only in thinking that other weather factors are also important
in initiating migration (Lack 1960b).

The wind in mid-Norway prior to an arrival of over 50 birds
on Fair Isle was N.E. on 3 nights, S.E. on 4, S.W. on 5 (on all
of which it was S.E. somewhat further south, as indicated in
brackets in Table 3), S.S.W. throughout on one, and very light
southerly on one. Similarly, the wind was easterly, usually
S.E., rather further south in Norway on the night before 13
of the 17 arrivals of over 50 birds on the Isle of May, and in
south Norway before 31 of the 35 arrivals of over 50 birds in
eastern England.

Table 3 fully supports Williamson that most arrivals on Fair
Isle occur with a S.E. wind over the island. This held unequi-
vocally for 7 of the 14 arrivals in Table 3. Further, for the
arrival on 21st August 1950 the wind was S.E. during the
night though S.W. by 06.00 hours, on lst September 1951 it
was S.W. round Fair Isle itself but S.E. in part of the sea-area
between Fair Isle and mid-Norway, on 3lst August 1953 it
was S.E. during the night. N.W. in the morning, but S.E. again
by 18.00 hours, on 4th September 1956 it was N.E. at 06.00 hours
but S.E. by noon, and on 20th September 1957 it was N.E. at
06.00 hours but E. by noon. Hence for 12 of the 14 arrivals in
Table 3, the wind was S.E., or once E., i.e. blowing across the
presumed track of migrants heading south from mid-Norway,
for at least part of the day or part of the track concerned.

The two apparent exceptions, to judge from the weather
maps, were the arrivals of Robins with, respectively, a very
light southerly wind, and a moderate S.S.W. wind, on 13th and
14th October 1959, but P. E. Davis informs me that on the 13th
the wind was light easterly for most of the day, and on the
14th moderate to fresh S.E. at Fair Isle itself. Hence these two
arrivals were not so exceptional as the weather maps suggest.

Similarly, 13 of the 17 arrivals of over 50 birds on the Isle
of May occurred with a S.E. wind in the morning, while for
one other the isobars indicated a S.W. wind but it was recorded
as S.E. at the surface, and for another it was S.W. off-shore in
the morning but E. further north, and S.E. off-shore by 18.00
hours; the other two arrivals came with a N.E. wind. Similarly
of the 35 arrivals of at least 50 birds in eastern England, 29
occurred with a wind between E. and S.E. in the southern

304 DRIFT MIGRATION 1(10)

North Sea; the few exceptions were discussed in the earlier
paper.

On the three occasions in Table 3 with an arrival of over 50
birds on Fair Isle but a negligible one on the Isle of May, the
wind was S.E. for at least part of the day off Fair Isle but
westerly off the Isle of May. However, for the 10 days with
an arrival of over 50 birds on the Isle of May but a small or
negligible one on Fair Isle, there seemed to be no correspond-
ing difference in wind-direction. On about half the days with
an arrival of over 50 birds at either Fair Isle or Spurn Point,
but not both, the wind was easterly off the observatory receiv-
ing the arrival but westerly off the other, but this did not hold
for the other half. }

Full overcast was recorded at Lerwick on 10 of the 14
mornings with an arrival of over 50 birds on Fair Isle. It was
not recorded at 06.00 hours or noon for three arrivals of 50-71
birds, nor for one of the two outstanding arrivals, that of 20th
September 1957, for which Davis (1958) noted that on Fair
Isle “the weather was fine and clear throughout this ‘great
rush’.” Full overcast was recorded at Leuchars for 13 of the
17 arrivals of over 50 birds on the Isle of May. But it was re-
corded round the southern North Sea for only 17 of the 35
arrivals of over 50 birds in eastern England, a difference that
perhaps reflects a greater prevalence of full overcast in north-
ern than southern waters in September.

Influence of weather on autumn arrivals

To allow for points such as that raised in the last sentence,
it is essential to analyse the weather on all the days covered
by this study, and not merely on the few with arrivals of over
50 birds, and the arrivals at Fair Isle were used for this pur-
pose. Table 4 provides a broad summary on the same lines as
Table III in the earlier paper for eastern England (Lack 1960a).
Comparison of the two tables shows that whereas in eastern
England nearly all arrivals of over 50 birds and many of 20-49
birds occurred with anticyclonic weather to the north and east
winds throughout the presumptive journey of the migrants
(type 1), at Fair Isle this type of weather was apparently less
favoured than some others. This may not have been true,
however, since four days with big arrivals on Fair Isle and
a S.W. wind in mid-Norway, but a S.E. wind rather further
south, were doubtfully classified under type 4 weather. There
was almost as good a case for classifying them under type l,
which would have greatly raised the average for type 1
weather and reduced that for type 4. Even so, transitional
weather with easterly winds (type 7) was proportionately
much more favoured at Fair Isle than in eastern England, as
already noted in the last section. In Table 4 ,the high average

1960 DRIFT MIGRATION 305

number of arrivals for type 2, and especially for type 6, were
based on too few days to be trustworthy.

Comparison of Table 4 with the corresponding table for
eastern England also shows that, with westerly winds through-
out the presumptive journey, arrivals of 10 or more birds
were much rarer on Fair Isle than in eastern England, sug-
gesting that westward drift is essential for a sizeable arrival
on Fair Isle, but not in eastern England. (An arrival of over
00 birds on Fair Isle on Ist September 1951, rated as with
westerly winds both in Norway and off Fair Isle in Table 4,
is deceptive since there was a S.E. wind in between).

Table 4 also shows that 1-9 birds arrived on Fair Isle on just
over half the days studied. While migrants sometimes elude
discovery on the cliffs or elsewhere, small increases were so
frequent, sometimes on consecutive days over long periods,
that most of these must have been genuine arrivals. More-
over only a small proportion of them might perhaps have been
redetermined movements from Shetland after previous drift,
since there were very few big drift-arrivals, and it also seems
unlikely that night-migrants starting from Shetland would
often alight again after only some twenty miles. There there-
fore seems to be a thin trickle of Scandinavian migrants pass-
ing Fair Isle in autumn in all types of weather. No arrivals
were recorded on just over one-third of the days concerned,
on most of which the wind was westerly throughout, though
on a few there were easterly winds off Fair Isle with anticyc-
lonic or transitional weather in mid-Norway.

In Table 5, the wind-directions off Fair Isle have been ana-
lysed in greater detail. This shows that the proportion of days
with an arrival of at least 20 birds was only 6 out of 371
(2%) with a wind between N.W. and S.W., 5 out of 45 (11%)
with a N.E. wind, and 20 out of 91 (22%) with a S.E. wind.
Including the data in the second half of the table for days on
which the wind changed in direction between 06.00 and 12.00
hours, the figure for all occasions with a S.E. (or E.) wind for
at least part of the day was 30 out of 121, or 25%. But while
most birds arrived with a S.E. wind, there were 40 out of 91
(44%) other days with a S.E. wind on Fair Isle when at most
only 2 birds arrived.

Much the same was found earlier for eastern England in
autumn, and here the wind-speed was evidently critical, big
arrivals occurring with a strong but not with a weak S.E.
wind. This point has been tested in Table 6 for all days with
a S.E. wind off Fair Isle at both 06.00 hours and noon, and
suggests, though less clearly than for eastern England, that
arrivals were fewer in light than moderate’S.E. winds. On
the basis of the figure for the wind around sunrise each day
at 900 metres (3000 feet) above Lerwick, arrivals of at least

306 DRIFT MIGRATION 1(10)

20 birds occurred on only 4 out of 30 days with a S.E. wind
of less than 18 knots, but on 10 out of 30 days with a SE:
wind of 18-27 knots; the corresponding figures for arrivals
of less than 10 birds were 22 out of 30 for light winds and
only 14 out of 30 for moderate winds (see also Appendix
Table 1, however, which suggests that for arrivals in the most
favourable types of weather, wind-speed had little if any in-
fluence).

The general tendency for arrivals on Fair Isle to occur with
a S.E. wind favours the idea of drift, but there were some
puzzling exceptions, Three of these involved an arrival of
over a hundred birds. I have already mentioned the big arriv-
als of Robins on 13th and 14th October 1959. The big arrival
on 5th September 1956 was also puzzling, since though it
occurred with an E.S.E. wind, the wind was extremely light.
There had been a much bigger arrival on the previous day
with a strong S.E. wind and rain and it may be suggested
that the birds arriving on the 5th were likewise blown off
course on the 4th, but did not make land till next day. There
were also some puzzling arrivals of 30-49 birds, notably on
12th September 1950 in col conditions with an excessively
light, if anything westerly, wind in the morning, and a mod-
erate S.W. wind later, also on 21st August 1954 with a 10-knot
N.E. wind, on 25th August 1954 with a 13-knot north wind
(the wind being N.E. that night in mid-Norway), and on 31st
August 1957 with a 3-knot wind from slightly north of east.
I would stress, however, that these were the exceptions, and
that most arrivals came with a moderate S.E. wind.

It may be added that four of the arrivals of over 50 birds on
the Isle of May listed in Table 3 occurred with a wind of less
than 6 knots in the morning at 900 m. above Leuchars, Fife,
those of 24th August 1950, 18th September 1953 and 20th
September 1957 with a S.E. wind, and that of 8th September
1956 with a N.E. wind. Of the 35 arrivals of at least 50 birds
in eastern England, that of 20th September 1957 occurred
with an exceedingly light easterly wind, two others with a
S.E. wind of only 8 knots and three others with a N.E. wind
of 5-9 knots. But such occurrences seem much less remark-
able in eastern England, where some migrants probably pass
without being drifted, than at Fair Isle or the Isle of May,
where westward drift would seem essential for their occur-
rence.

Certain sparse species

In the earlier paper, I showed that in eastern England in
autumn, Bluethroats occurred chiefly on days when other
Scandinavian migrants arrived, and chiefly with 5.E. winds,
whereas Barred Warblers, Red-breasted Flycatchers, and

1960 DRIFT MIGRATION 307

more doubtfully Icterine Warblers, occurred chiefly when few
other migrants arrived, and in a variety of winds, including
westerlies. The Icterine Warbler was too sparse on Fair Isle
for a similar analysis, but the Yellow-browed Warbler could
be added to the other three, the results for which are shown
in Table 7. In interpreting this table, it should be kept in
mind that an individual rarity can easily be overlooked for
a day or two after its first arrival on Fair Isle, particularly
if it arrives with many other birds or shelters on the cliffs.
But this objection should apply as much to the Bluethroat
as to the three other species, and Table 7 suggests a marked
difference between them, of the same type as was found in
eastern England.

Firstly, almost a quarter (24%) of the Bluethroats, but only
4% of the other three species, occurred on the 14 days with
an arrival of at least 50 chats, warblers and flycatchers on
Fair Isle. Secondly, 60% of the Bluethroats, but only 28% of
the other three species, occurred on days with a S.E. wind
off Fair Isle during the morning (including the days when it
was N.E. for part of the time, but not those when it was west-
erly for part of the time), Thirdly, in the Bluethroat, as
shown in Table 1, the ratio of spring to autumn arrivals was
similar to those of most other autumn migrants, whereas the
Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler and Red-breasted
Flycatcher were never recorded in spring.

If, as these figures suggest, Bluethroats arrived on Fair Isle
in similar conditions to the common migrants, then presum-
ably the high proportion (26%) of Bluethroats first recorded
with a westerly wind consisted in part of individuals that had
arrived earlier with S.E. winds but had been overlooked,
while a few others may have been on re-determined passage
from Shetland. It is reasonable to suppose that these same
two factors accounted for a similar proportion of the records
of the other three rarities with westerly winds, but in these
three species, the overall proportion first recorded with west-
erly winds was 48%, nearly double that for the Bluethroat.
Since easterly winds are much less common than westerlies,
more Barred Warblers, Yellow-browed Warblers and Red-
breasted Flycatchers reached Fair Isle with easterly winds
than would have been expected by chance, but the proportion
first recorded with a westerly wind was much higher than in
most species. Presumably, therefore, many of them arrived
from the Continent with a westerly wind, 1.e. not down-wind.
It also seems safe to conclude that these three species are
not “markers” of the place of origin of the main Scandinavian
drift-arrivals.

Discussion of autumn arrivals
The data reviewed in the foregoing sections are far too in-

308 DRIFT MIGRATION 1(10)

adequate for a full appraisal of the reasons why Scandinavian
night-migrants sometimes arrive on Fair Isle in autumn.
Firstly, the numbers involved are extremely small, indeed
negligible compared with the numbers leaving Scandinavia,
or with the numbers that can be seen when conditions are
right on the Continent of Europe. Secondly, more than three-
fifths of all those recorded on Fair Isle during the 12 autumns
analysed here came on one of 14 irregularly distributed days.
Thirdly, the weather often changes rapidly round Fair Isle
and in Norway in autumn. Finally, the critical sea-area be-
tween Fair Isle and Norway is distant from land-based meteor-
ological stations, so it is hard to assess the weather in it. For
these reasons, it was perhaps to be expected that statistical
correlations could not be established between the arrivals on
Fair Isle and particular weather factors, except for the already
well-known tendency for arrivals to occur with south-east-
erly winds.

Most of the migrants that reach Fair Isle in autumn are
presumably drawn from populations heading from Scandina-
via in the direction of the Iberian peninsula, but since Fair
Isle lies some 200 miles to the west of the most westerly line
running directly between these two areas, the birds reaching
it are evidently well off-course. For this reason, and because
Fair Isle is twenty miles from land, it seems likely that at
least most of the Scandinavian chats, warblers and flycatchers
that come in sight of it in autumn alight there, 2.e. that the
insignificant numbers on Fair Isle mean an insignificant pas-
sage overhead. Further, the general paucity of arrivals, and
their tendency to come with a southeasterly wind fully sup-
port Coward (1912) and later Williamson (1952, 1955, 1960),
as against Clarke (1912), that the migrants in question do not
have a regular route through Fair Isle, but occur there chiefly
owing to westward “drift.”

In my view, however, the available data from Fair Isle do
not allow one to determine the nature of this drift, and in
particular, they do not appear to provide critical or positive
evidence in favour of Williamson’s view of drift as a down-
wind directed flight. Williamson put forward this theory at a
time when it had not been shown that night-migrants can
navigate by the stars, and he assumed, by analogy with cer-
tain diurnal migrants in Holland, that in autumn Scandina-
vian night-migrants reaching the west or south coast of
Norway turn along it south and southeast, using it as a
“guiding line” for navigation. When the migrants come to
the Skagerrak, however, they are ex hypothese forced to
put out to sea, so here they are in danger of getting lost. Since
the Skagerrak lies to the southeast of Fair Isle, and most
Scandinavian migrants reach Fair Isle with a southeasterly

1960 DRIFT MIGRATION 309

wind, it was reasonable, on this view, to conclude that they
reach Fair Isle down-wind. But if it is accepted that night-
migrants can navigate by the stars, they do not. need the
coast-line for navigation; and it has lately been shown by radar
that small night-migrants leaving East Anglia S.S.E. at night
in autumn do not, in fact, follow the coastline, but put out
to sea on a broad front, as do the thrushes and other species
leaving East Anglia eastward at night in spring (Lack 1959).
It seems reasonable to suppose that the same holds in Norway,
though the matter has not yet been tested there. (There is
also the possibility, in my view remote, that while some of the
night-migrants fly high out to sea on a broad front, others
follow the coastline too low to be detected by radar). If Scan-
dinavian night-migrants do not follow the west and south
coasts of Norway as Williamson postulated, and if, instead,
they put out to sea whenever their heading lies that way,
then there is no need to postulate that most of the birds
reaching Fair Isle started their drift in the area of the Skag-
errak, and hence the basis for this argument in favour of
down-wind arrival is greatly weakened.

Secondly, the frequent association of drift-arrivals with full
overcast led Williamson to postulate that migrants over the
sea reorient to fly down-wind when bad visibility prevents
their following coastlines or navigating by the stars. But one
of the two big arrivals on Fair Isle of the species studied
here, that of 20th September 1957, in the season after William-
son left Fair Isle, occurred with fine and clear weather round
the island, as did a few other arrivals of between fifty and a
hundred birds. Further, the undoubted frequency of arrivals
on Fair Isle and the Isle of May in autumn in full overcast
might be at least partly incidental and due to the prevalence
of overcast with easterly winds at this season. Dr G. V. T.
Matthews informed me (in litt.) that at the Isle of May in
September and October 1926-35 inclusive, the frequency of
days with a visibility of 0-2 miles was 16.8% with a wind be-
tween N.E. and S.E. but only 3.3% with a wind between S.W.
and N.W. Hence it is far from certain that “drift-arrivals” are
correlated with full overcast as such, and one of the two big
arrivals definitely occurred in its absence.

Thirdly, Williamson supposed that the rarities coming with
the main drift-migrants were “markers’ of where the drift
originated, and since they included species like the Barred
Warbler and Red-breasted Flycatcher, which breed to the
east and southeast, but not to the northeast, of Fair Isle, this
seemed to provide further support for a southeastern, and
hence down-wind, origin. But the evidence given in the last
section suggests that Barred Warblers and Red-breasted Fly-
catchers are not reliable “markers” of the main “drift-arriv-

310 DRIFT MIGRATION 1(10)

als,” and that they reach Fair Isle under rather different
conditions.

I therefore consider that, while Williamson’s theory was not
unreasonable on the evidence available in 1952, three of the
main points on which it rested are at least doubtful, and I have
elsewhere raised certain more general objections to it (Lack
1959). Moreover on any view, and particularly on William-
son’s, large numbers of Scandinavian night-migrants cross the
SkKagerrak, yet hardly any reach Fair Isle, which fits better
with the view that Fair Isle receives the westernmost fringe
of the Scandinavian departures than that, on the nights with
full overcast and a southeasterly wind, the migrants crossing
the Skagerrak are disoriented and then turn to fly down-wind,
since on the latter view one might have expected many. more
at Fair Isle on occasional days. I conclude that there is, on
present evidence, no need to accept Williamson’s view, but
that the Fair Isle data do not allow of its exclusion.

Radar observations in the southern North Sea have not as
yet provided any evidence in favour of Williamson’s view but
have demonstrated two other types of “drift.” Firstly, and
normally, when migrants can see to navigate by the sun or
stars, they maintain an oriented heading but do not allow for
lateral displacement by a cross-wind, Secondly and rarely,
when they meet fog or rain, they are disoriented and fly at
random, which presumably means that they drift (not fly)
down-wind at the speed of the wind (Lack 1958, 1959). Most
Scandinavian “drift-migrants” to eastern England in autumn
probably come by lateral displacement from their $.S.W.
heading, while if disorientation in full overcast has any im-
portant influence, it is probably through delay rather than
drift on the sea crossing, since fog usually occurs with light
winds (Lack 1960a).

The birds reaching Fair Isle in autumn are mainly of the
same species as in eastern England, so it is not unreasonable
to suppose that their heading is likewise S$.S.W.; moreover
this is the bearing of Iberia from Norway. On this view, since
Fair Isle lies 200 miles west of any line between Norway and
Iberia, it is understandable that Scandinavian migrants should
be scarce, and also that they should come mainly with south-
easterly winds, for displacement will be greatest with a wind
at right angles to the birds’ heading. Hence while the data
are inadequate, I suggest that they are not inconsistent with
the view that most drift-arrivals to Fair Isle came either by
the lateral displacement of birds heading 8.S.W. or by the
down-wind drift of birds disoriented in full overcast. The data
do not, however, allow one to decide between these two meth-
ods, since any possible correlation between arrivals and full
overcast near Fair Isle was inconclusive, and one is ignorant

1960 DRIFT MIGRATION 311

of the extent of overcast in the seas north of Fair Isle, as they
are distant from meteorological stations. Since in this area full
overcast seems frequent with a strong southeasterly wind, it
is possible that disoriented drift down-wind plays a larger
part than in eastern England, but this is a guess. It is also
possible that some of the drift-migrants came by a combin-
ation of both methods, being disoriented for part of their
journey and resuming their southerly heading when they
emerged from the overcast area.

One tends to assume that Scandinavian night-migrants
landing by day on Fair Isle set out from Norway on the pre-
vious evening, on which view they flew for some 12-18 hours,
and one would not expect them to be exhausted or seriously
under-weicht on arrival. On the basis of the size of the migra-
tory fat deposits in relation to energy-consumption, Odum
(1960) estimated that a long-distance small passerine night-
misrant should have enough fat to fly continuously for 1750
miles (for 58 hours at 30 m.p.h.). This figure is based on the
energy consumed by a hovering hummingbird, which might
be more than that consumed by a migrant in level flight, so if
anything the figure may be an understimate. If it is even
roughly correct, it suggests that long-distance migrants reach-
ing Fair Isle badly under-weight set out, not on the previous
evening, but two or three evenings before. Hence one may
have to seek an explanation for the westward drift of some
nf the mierants in terms of the weather two or three days
before they reached Fair Isle. Conceivably some under-weight
birds might have reached Fair Isle solely by lateral displace-
ment from an oriented heading. on the supposition that they
flew continuously from north Norway with a strong south-
easterly wind all the way. But it seems likely that most under-
weight birds would have been drifted out to sea in full over-
east for part of their journey, after which they might resume
their southerly heading to bring them past Fair Isle. I sugges-
ted earlier that this was what might have happened on oth
September 1956.

While most arrivals on Fair Isle occurred with a moderate
south-easterly wind, a few, as already mentioned, did not.
If these arrivals were primarily due to events two or three
days earlier, it is hard to be sure that one has examined the
weather in the relevant area at the relevant time, while if the
relevant area was the sea well north of Fair Isle, it might
not have been possible to infer the weather there correctly
from the records at distant land-stations. This gap in know-
ledge offers a loophole for difficult cases, but it is fairer to say
that, while the evidence allows one to postulate lateral dis-
placement or disoriented drift in south-easterly winds for
most arrivals. a few sizeable arrivals are unexplained, and

312 DRIFT MIGRATION 1(10)

seem extremely hard to explain, on this view.

Further observations are needed on the times of day at
which the passerine night-migrants actually land on Fair Isle.
This may be hard to establish when the birds seek cover on
arrival and stay in it for a few hours before emerging to feed.
Also, while many of the birds presumably arrive during the
hours of daylight, others perhaps come during the night. One
would expect the latter primarily on foggy nights on account
of the attraction of the lighthouses in these conditions, since
on other nights the birds would presumably be flying high and
not attracted to the island. If this view is correct, then there
may well be a correlation between some arrivals and fog at
night round Fair Isle—a point that needs further study.

The foregoing discussion refers to nearly all the species
mentioned in this paper, but not without modification to two
groups. Firstly, the Fieldfare, Scandinavian Redwing and
Blackbird occur in much larger numbers each autumn than
the chats, warblers and flycatchers, so presumably pass much
nearer to Fair Isle than the other species, as is reasonable if
they cross on a broad front from Norway to Scotland on their
way to British wintering grounds (Lack 1959). Presumably,
a comparatively small westward displacement is needed to
brine these three species of thrushes to Fair Isle. Secondly,
the Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler and Red-breast-
ed Flycatcher occur relatively more often with westerly
winds and less often with south-easterly winds than the reg-
ular warblers and flycatchers, and they are also rare in big
arrivals of the other species. I cannot suggest why their occur-
rences should be of this pattern, nor why these eastern birds
should occur on Fair Isle as often as they do.

Arrivals of over 50 birds in May

Arrivals of over 50 birds in a day on Fair Isle and the Isle
of May during the month of May are set out in Table 8. Note
(11) to Table 8 refers to the only big spring arrival so far
recorded on Fiair Isle in March or April, note (iii) gives the
arrivals in May of 30-49 birds at both observatories, and note
(iv) the few sizeable arrivals at Spurn Point in May. I have

included all arrivals of at least 30 birds in the following dis-
cussion.

Table 8 and note (iii) show that in May, like the autumn,
most arrivals of at least 30 birds occurred with a south-east-
erly wind, this holding for 14 out of 17 such arrivals on Fair
Isle and for 21 out of 27 such arrivals on the Isle of May. It
should be added that on a few of these days the wind was
S.E. for only part of the time, having occasionally been S.W.
in the first part of the morning, and once S.W. from noon on-
ward, On the few other days with an arrival of over 30 birds,

1960 DRIFT MIGRATION 313

the wind was almost due east once at Fair Isle and three
times at the Isle of May, N.E. once at Fair Isle and twice at
the Isle of May, and S.W. once at Isle of May. The last arrival
on Sth May 1956, with a S.W. airstream over Britain, con-
sisted of 10 Whinchats, 6 Redstarts and 49 Willow Warblers.
As these three species breed commonly in Scotland, this was
probably a northward movement of Scottish summer residents
drifted somewhat eastward and precipitated by the frontal
rain which passed over the Isle of May that day. Nearly all
the other arrivals, both on the Isle of May and at Fair Isle,
presumably consisted of Scandinavian summer residents
drifted off course to the west by easterly winds, while a few
individuals, as already discussed, may have been more south-
erly birds which overshot their breeding area with a partly
following wind.

Table 8 shows that, on most occasions in May with an ar-
rival of at least 30 birds on either Fair Isle or the Isle of May,
there was a negligible arrival on the other. Differences in the
direction of the wind off the two islands were evidently res-
ponsible for a few of these. Thus for one arrival of over 30
birds on Fair Isle but not the Isle of May, the wind was E.
off Fair Isle but N.E. off the Isle of May, while for another
it was S.E. for part of the day off Fair Isle but S.W. all day
off the Isle of May. Again, of the arrivals of at least 30 birds
on the Isle of May but not Fair Isle, five occurred with a S.E.
or E. wind off the Isle of May but a N.E. wind off Fair Isle,
one with a S.E. wind off the Isle of May but a S. wind off Fair
Isle. two with a S.E. wind off the Isle of May but a S.W. wind
off Fair Isle, and one with an E. wind off the Isle of May but
a N.W. wind off Fair Isle (also one with a S.W. airstream
throughout Britain, already discussed). However, for the
other nine such arrivals on Fair Isle but not the Isle of May,
and for the other 13 such arrivals on the Isle of May but not
Fair Isle, the direction of the wind off the two islands was
either similar, or did not differ in a way likely to cause the
observed difference in arrivals.

In Table 8, I have also included the wind-direction in the
southern North Sea off East Anglia at 06.00 hours each day.
This was usually similar to that off the Isle of May at noon;
when it differed, it seemed to make no difference to the num-
ber of arrivals, but the data are inadequate.

I have also included the general weather situation around
the eastern side of the English Channel at midnight before
the arrivals on Fair Isle and the Isle of May. Using the same
terminology as before, this proved to be transitional on 24,
disturbed on 10, and anticyclonic on 6 such occasions. How-
ever, the arrivals of over 30 birds were too sporadic for this
to mean that the species concerned set off mainly in transl-

314 DRIFT MIGRATION 1(10)

tional weather, and probably it means chiefly that, in the
period studied, south-easterly winds were commonest off
eastern Scotland when the situation in the Channel was
transitional. It shows, however, that migrants sometimes set
off in disturbed weather in spring, which was not found in
autumn, and this fits with the evidence from other sources
(Lack 1960b).

As regards full overcast, 8 of the 17 arrivals of at least 30
birds on Fair Isle occurred on days when full overcast was
recorded at either 06.00, 12.00 or 18.00 hours at Lerwick, and
9 when it was not so recorded, which suggests that it had no
influence. Again, of the 26 arrivals of at least 30 birds at the
Isle of May with easterly winds, 18 occurred when full over-
cast was recorded at Leuchars and 8 when it was not; but this
is close to the proportion expected on a random distribution,
since at Leuchars with easterly winds in the months of May
studied, full overcast was recorded on twice as many days as
it was not. (The one arrival at the Isle of May with a south-
westerly wind may have been precipitated by frontal rain,
as already mentioned).

Influence of weather on arrivals at Fair Isle in May

In May, as in the autumn, the possible influence of the
weather on arrivals needs to be analysed for all days. and
not merely for the few with arrivals of over 30 birds. Table
9 gives the number of days with arrivals of each size on Fair
Isle, in terms of the wind just south of Fair Isle and also 200
miles further south, off the Isle of May. This shows that four-
fifths (36 out of 45) of all the arrivals of at least 10 birds on
Fair Isle occurred with a S.E. wind at noon in at least part of
the sea-area studied, Further, the mean number of arrivals
per day with a S.E. wind off both Fair Isle and the Isle of May
was 26, while with a S.E. wind off one but not the other (types
iii, v) it was 16. On the other hand, with a N.E. wind off both
islands it was only 2 and with a westerly wind off both islands
It wasvomly, 1

Differences in the prevailing wind were largely responsible
for the marked differences in the total number of migrants
recorded each year in Mav. In particular, only 50 warblers,
flycatchers and chats (omitting the Wheatear) were recorded
on Fair Isle in the whole of May 1956, when the wind was
westerly almost throughout the month, and 14 of these birds
came on one day, 24th May, when the wind was S.E. for the
morning only.

Although arrivals in May were strongly favoured by a S.E.
wind, Table 9 shows that, as in the autumn, there were other
days with a S.E. wind but few or no arrivals. In Table 10, the
possible influence of the speed of the wind has been investi-

1960 . DRIFT MIGRATION 315

gated for the 62 days with a S.E. wind off both Fair Isle and
the Isle of May, and it suggests that, as in autumn, big or
moderate arrivals occurred chiefly with fairly strong S.E.
winds, and not with light winds from this direction. As in the
autumn, however, some arrivals occurred with a very light
wind, including four of over 50 birds on Fair Isle, included in
Table 8, which, as it happened, were not among the 62 days
with general S.E. winds analysed in Table 10. The days in
question were 8th May 1950, 5th May 1954, 4th May 1955 (when
the wind was light S.W. for most of the day but changed to
light S.E. in the late afternoon), and 28th May 1955. On all
four days, the arrivals included characteristic Scandinavian
migrants such as Robins, Bluethroats or Pied Flycatchers, so
they were presumably birds on passage to Scandinavia, and
though in three of the four instances there had been S.E.
winds during part of the preceding few days, I think that
they were probably too large to have been derived from re-
determined movements of birds drifted earlier to Scotland
that were heading back to Norway. Table 8 shows that there
were also three arrivals of at least 50 birds on the Isle of
May with a very light S.E. wind, on 5th May 1952, 8th May
1953 and 13th May 1959, while on 25th May 1959 the wind was
an extremely light easterly.

The 62 days with S.E. winds off both Fair Isle and the Isle
of May can also be used to test the possible influence of full
overcast, as in the upper part of Appendix Table 2. This is
inconclusive, but suggests that full overcast, at least as record-
ed at Lerwick, had little if any influence. The lower half of
this table shows that, provided the analysis is restricted to
days with general S.E. winds, the weather situation on the
previous night on the easterly side of the English Channel
also had little if any influence. Arrivals appeared to be slightly
Sparser with disturbed than with transitional weather,
as might be expected, but the comparative paucity with anti-
cyclonic weather may merely have been due to the accom-
panying light winds in the North Sea.

Discussion of arrivals in May

Almost all the comments made in discussing the autumn
findings apply equally to the spring, in particular the diffi-
culty of establishing correlations when arrivals are sparse
and irregular and the weather is changeable and, in large
areas, unrecorded. The paucity of migrants and their occur-
rence chiefly with south-easterly winds indicate that in May,
as in the autumn, they come mainly through drift, though in
May some are evidently birds carried beyond their breeding
area by a following wind. The correlation with south-easterly
winds was, if anything, stronger in May than in the autumn,

316 DRIFT MIGRATION ; 1(1v)

but perhaps merely because the weather is more stable in
May, so that the tabulated weather data were more accurate.
Full overcast near Fair Isle was associated with proportion-
ately fewer of the arrivals in May than in the autumn, which
perhaps means that it had little or no influence, and that most
if not all the migrants arrived by lateral displacement from an
oriented heading, but this is far from certain.

The anomalies; or apparent anomalies, in May were similar
to those in the autumn. A few arrivals of over 50 birds at either
Fair Isle or the Isle of May occurred with an extremely light
south-easterly wind, and one of 31 birds on Fair Isle and two
of 52 and 227 birds on the Isle of May with a N.E. wind (of
12-14 knots). Also most arrivals of any size on Fair Isle occur-
red on days when hardly any birds arrived on the Isle of May,
and conversely, and on most of these days the difference was
not associated with a difference in wind-direction over the
two islands. Finally there were many days with a moderate
or strong south-easterly wind and no appreciable arrival at
either observatory.

Occasional big arrivals with a light south-easterly wind,: or
with a north-easterly wind, also marked differences in the
number of arrivals on the same day at adjacent observatories,
and days with a south-easterly wind but no appreciable arriv-
al, were likewise found at Cley, Gibraltar Point and Spurn
Point observatories in autumn (Lack 1960a). But Scandinavian
migrants evidently pass fairly regularly over eastern England
in autumn even without: westward displacement, and such
occurrences here seem most readily explained through marked
variations, in the proportion of passing birds that alight at the
coast. On the other hand, ,there is every reason to think that
Scandinavian chats, warblers and flycatchers do not usually
reach Fair Isle or the Isle of May in spring or autumn unless
drifted westward, and it also seems likely that, when they
reach these islands, they normally alight. Hence though one
is reluctant to adopt a different explanation for similar occur-
rences in two areas, it is unlikely that the primary factor at
Fair Isle is variation in the proportion of passing migrants
that alight. I suggest, instead, that at least some of the appar-
ent anomalies may be due merely to ignorance, both of the
track of the migrants before they reached Fair Isle and of
the weather in sea-areas far from land, and that had more
been known, the influence of drift by south-easterly winds
might have been apparent. But as stressed for the autumn,
such a possible loophole is dangerous, and there may be other
as yet unknown factors involved.

Finally, it should be kept in mind that the “drift-migrants”
to Fair Isle and the Isle of May constitute a minute fraction
of the migrations of the species concerned and this, coupled

1960 DRIFT MIGRATION 317

with the sporadic nature of the few arrivals, and ignorance
of the weather at sea far from land, provide the chief reasons
why the conclusions reached are so indecisive. Nor do I think it
likely that more extended records of the same nature, even for
- twice as many years, will suffice. However, the combination of
such records with radar observations has great possibilities,
and one object of this paper is to provide a background for
such studies.

Summary

1. An average of rather over 600 chats, warblers and fly-
catchers (mainly Scandinavian) landed on Fair Isle each
autumn, and an average of rather over 200 each May, the
number varying greatly in different years. Over 50 birds ar-
rived on one day 14 times in 12 successive autumns, and 12
times in 12 successive months of May.

2. Arrivals of over 50 birds in a day were twice as frequent
on the Isle of May as on Fair Isle at both seasons, while on
Spurn Point they were twice as frequent as on Fair Isle in
autumn, but far scarcer in May.

3. Big arrivals were so sporadic, the weather was so change-
able, and the weather data for the critical sea-areas were so
incomplete, that it was hard to establish any certain correla-
tions between arrivals and particular weather factors. ~

4, At both seasons, however, most arrivals came with a
moderate or strong S.E. wind, so were presumably due to
drift, but while Williamson’s view of drift as a reoriented
down-wind flight seems unlikely, it was not possible to deter-
mine whether the lateral displacement of oriented birds or
the down-wind drift of disoriented birds was the more im-
portant.

5. At both seasons there were a few arrivals with extremely
light south-easterly winds, or with a N.E. wind. There was
often a big arrival at Fair Isle but not the Isle of May, or
conversely, and there were many days with a S.E. wind and
no arrival at either, Most of these anomalies have not been
explained.

6. Fieldfare, Redwing and Blackbird were comparatively
numerous on Fair Isle in autumn, presumably because they
pass regularly close to the island.

7. In autumn Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler and
Red-breasted Flycatcher rarely occurred with big arrivals of
other drift-migrants. They did not occur in spring and were
relatively more frequent with westerly winds.

318 DRIFT MIGRATION 1(10)

TaBLeE 1.—Annual totals at Fair Isle in autumn and spring
10th Aug. - 3lst Oct. (1948-59) May (1949-60)

Mean Limits Mean _ Limits
TODA 636 (161-2428) 239 (50-699)
Whinchat 82 (6-513) 18 (2-52)
(Saxicola rubetra)
Redstart 190 (4-1103) 49 (0-310)
(Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
Black Redstart 0.7 (0-2) 2 (0-8)
(Phoenicurus ochruros)
Bluethroat i} (1-19) + (2-8)
(Cyanosylvia svecica)
Robin 52 (4-423) 16 (0-59)
(Erithacus rubecula)
Sedge Warbler 1 (0-2) He (2-37)
(Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
Blackcap 18 (3-36) 3 (0-5)
(Sylvia atricapilla)
Barred Warbler 6 (0-19) 0
(Sylvia nisoria)
Garden Warbler 28 (6-62) 3 (0-11)
(Sylvia borin)
Whitethroat 8 (2713) 26 (0-69)
(Sylvia communis)
Lesser Whitethroat 8 (1-17) 10 (0-55)
(Sylvia curruca)
Willow Warbler 102 (122535) 55 (7-306)
(Phylloscopus trochilus)
Chiffchaff 13 (3-27) 1 (U-5)
(Phylloscopus collybita)
Yellow-browed Warbler 3 (0-7) V
(Phylloscopus inornatus)
Goldcrest 63 (2-317) 0.4 (0-2)
(Regulus regulus)
Spotted Flycatcher 7 (1-22) 11 (3-46)
(Muscicapa striata)
Pied Flycatcher 4] (7-212) 9 (1-42)
(Muscicapa hypoleuca)
Red-breasted Flycatcher Z (0-11) 0

(Muscicapa parva)

NOTES: (i) The: following 5 species occurred with a frequency of more

than 0.5 but less than 2.0 per annum, the autumn average being given
before the May-one: Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia) (0.4, 1.3),
Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) (1.1, 0), Icterine (Hippolats
icterina) (1.1, 0.3), Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) (1.3, 0.6) and
Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis) (0.7, 0). In addition, 4+ other
species in May and 11 in autumn occurred with a frequency of less than
0.5 per annum.
(ii) The addition of the mean figures for April, watched in 1956, 758, 759
and ’60, would have raised the mean spring total by 17 in the Robin, by
6 in the Goldcrest, by 2 in the Chiffchaff and by 1 in Redstart, Black
Redstart, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Stonechat (Saxicola torquata).
The inclusion of 500 Robins on 30 March 1958 would have greatly raised
the spring average for that species.

1960 DRIFT MIGRATION 319
TaBLE 2.—Comparison between Fair Isle and Spurn Point.

Annual means between dates specified in 1949-1959 inclusive for all
species with a mean of at least 2 at one observatory at one season.

20th Aug. - 10th Oct. Ist - 3lst May
Fair Isle Spurn Fair Isle Spurn
Stonechat 0.3 6 0 0.2
Whinchat 84 40 15 9
Redstart 205 63 43 7
Black Redstart 0.1 2 2 0.6
Bluethroat 7 1 4 0.2
Robin 15 76 12 2
Sedge Warbler 1 6 12 13
Blackcap 14 5 3 1
Barred Warbler 6 1 0 0
Garden Warbler 26 13 3 3
Whitethroat 7 29 23 AS
Lesser Whitethroat 7 3 10 4
Willow Warbler 106 50 32 41
Chiffchaff 7 5 1 0.4
Yellow-browed Warbler 2 0.3 0 0
Goldcrest 57 410 0.3 0.3
Spotted Flycatcher 8 ) 11 8
Pied Flycatcher 41 09 6 3
Red-breasted Flycatcher 2 Z () 0)
TOTAL (including rarities) 603 827 179 138

NOTES: (i) The means for Fair Isle are not identical with those in Table
l as they refer to a somewhat different period.

(ii) The means for Spurn in autumn exclude all birds that were probably
departing from England, the criterion for exclusion being considered in
Lack (1960a). Inclusion of all migrants at Spurn would have raised the
overall mean to 916 and those of the Whinchat to 56, Redstart to 69,
Sedge Warbler to 10, Whitethroat to 51, Willow Warbler to 82, Spotted
Flycatcher to 12 and Pied Flycatcher to 102 (cf. Lack 1960a Table 5).

(iii) In 11 years’ observations in May at Spurn, 74 out of a possible 341
days were missed, so the totals of arrivals were increased proportionately
in calculating the annual means.

320 DRIFT MIGRATION 1(10)

TABLE 3.—Autumn arrivals of over 50 birds on Fair Isle and
[sle of May, and possible weather factors influencing Fair Isle.

Date No. of arrivals mid-Norway at midnight Fair Isle 06.00 hrs.
Fair I, May I Gent wand Full Wind Wind Full
Sit Dir. Overcast) @oim Str. Overcast

(F - front)
21.8.50 96 - aS 2 SWoGEyZsea ar)
24.8.50 iL 57 Aa Ske 0 SE (NE) 04 +
12.10.50 3 72, at WwW 3 SW. (GE) Melon as
1.9.51 7) (347). a eSiWs CSE a0 SW 150)
24.9.51 53 11 dp us SE SO at
1.10.51 265 650+ A- SW. GE) ase 10) erg
2.10.51 38 650+ A ay SB, IO» sae
12.10.51 56 67 SY (Sid) O SSiv 40 O
14.10.52 0 79 Tae Sie 0 SE Oe st
31.8.53 bil 0 ee NES 0 NW. (SE) e070
15.9.53 3 52 ee ONY, 0 SE S0na0
16.9.53 18 55 A SW 0 SE 250)
17.9.53 44 80 TNE. 0 SE 24 0
18.9.53 3 62 ie AB, 0 SE ZO car
4.9.56 1945 157 INGE 3 NES GE) ie2Z aes)
5.9.56 319 73 INS, 4 Se, (De) | maar
8.9.56 6 99 D SE NW 407 NGG) OG at
24.9.56 3 63 De SWI (SE) aa SE Ty
19.9.57 162 4 oss e) Oe 40 +
20.9.57 1064 409 SIS 0 NE (E) 11.50
ZV O57 Z 154 IP SEIN, 0 NE 02 =O
2.9.58 51 - AY @SWea(SE) a0 Si 3255+
5.10.59 Sy 108 SNE (S13) 2 Ss Sing Gar
13.10.59 160 - Aer SiG) +) SO NES Gay OO a Gh)
14.10.59 201 - ie ISN FSS 18 ae CB)

NOTES: (i) The table covers all autumn days 1950-59 when at least 50
birds arrived on Fair Isle or the Isle of May, but the weather is set out
solely with respect to Fair I. - means that the Isle of May was not
manned on the date in question.

(ii) Under “gen. sit.” A means anticyclone, T transitional and D distur-
bed weather.

(iii) Wind-directions were assessed from the isobars :“‘v” means variable,
usually very light, winds: A second direction placed in brackets after the
first means, for mid-Norway, that the wind was S.E. rather further
south than lat. 62 deg. N. on the night in question, and for Fair Isle
that the wind blew from a different direction before 06.00 hours (on
21.8,50) or later in the day (all other instances).

(iv) Full overcast in mid-Norway was assessed from up to 4 stations on
the west coast, being scored as + when all recorded it, } when at least
one but not all did so, and 0 when none did so. At Lerwick near Fair
Isle, it was scored as + when recorded at 06.00 or 12.00 hours, and 0 if
at neither. (F) was added if the weather chart showed a front over the
area.

1960 DRIFT MIGRATION 321

TaBLeE 4.—Influence of weather situation on arrivals at Fair
Isle 19 Aug.-14 Oct. 1950-59.‘

S S

> “ > ‘Sg «Aa
ee) S 26
3 oe Sip
OZ UA hae _ = No. of days with an arrival of a's

a eS | ge See oO 20) Wes eles ON aS

oe Sey Bey 86 AS IO Eau
iL A E E ZOE EM: 4 NG Bs SP kG 10
2, A v. E Bea ei Sec Dut ac ala 25
8. A E W Seal) Cole ee, ROK Un 5
A A W E Ze INO VOM pW ELIS) Gk 2 35
5, A W WwW SOM GI MZer WY Mii 2 cig 12
6. A S S AO le. Ceres VE Til nee) wri 41
i c E E SShero) SW oc Ay wl nye” 1610 74
8. a E W Sh PRN ie We ar a 15
Oe whi W E 23a Bots SM endosth ey ill 1
10. aly iy Sinai Pr 40) 003i 3
11. Tr S S 3 Dips orideines 4
12. D E E 23 1 ee Shite! wad ROR SEO 4
13. D E W 54 ety 8719) 1126 1
14. D W E 16 ene eye BOW oa 3
15. D We Ww 179 Tee it 2 ORs 88 1
DORAL S70 Ae 30) 32a nl06" 188) 2200 12

NOTES: (i) The dates analysed were as shown in the title, except that
the observatory was not manned on 13th and 14th October 1953, while I
added in small arrivals on 15th and 16th October 1952.

(ii) A means anticyclonic, T transitional and D disturbed weather in mid-
Scandinavia.

(iii) The wind was recorded as E or W provided it had any appreciable
easterly or westerly component, and S (southerly) only when it had not
got such a component both in mid-Scandinavia and between Fair I. and
southern Scandinavia. It was recorded as “v”’ when very light indeed in
mid-Scandinavia with an easterly wind further south.

(iv) For a corresponding analysis of arrivals in eastern England, see
Lack 1960a, Table III, but the numbering of: the weather-types differs
owing to the insertion of type 6 above.

(v) In 1948 and 1949, omitted from the above analysis, there were 3
arrivals of 20-49 birds, 11 arrivals of 10-19 birds, 34 arrivals of 3-9 birds,
25 arrivals of 1-2 birds and 41 days with no arrivals.

322 DRIFT MIGRATION 1(10)

TaBLE 5.—Influence of wind-direction off Fair Isle in morning
on arrivals 19 Aug.-14 Oct. 1950-59.

= | Wind-direction Total No. No. of days with arrival of
of days 505> 220249 102199 )-2
similar at
06.00 & 12.00 hrs
NE 45 5 3 10 PAL
SE 91 6 14 13 18 AQ)
SW, W 239 3 1 yf 41 187
NW 132 Zz 1 23 106

different at
06.00 & 12.00 hrs.

(i) NE Gi) SE or E 6 3 3 :
(G) SE or E Gi) SW, W or NW 24 1 6 4 5 8
Gi) NE (ii) SW or NW 7 ; 1 , 2 4
miscellaneous (mainly N or S) 26 1 1 1 7 16
OWA 570 14 30 32 106 388

NOTES: (i) The directions N and S were used as little as possible as it
seemed specially important to decide whether the wind had an easterly or
westerly component, while easterly winds were always classified as NE
or SE acording to whether they had a northerly or southerly component,
and westerly winds (from 260-280 deg.) were grouped with SW winds.
(ii) Changes in direction between 06.00 and 12.00 hours were in either
direction and not necessarily from that placed first to that placed sec-
ond above.

TaBLE 6.—Influence of wind-speed on autumn arrivals at Fair
Isle for all days with SE wind.

Speed of Total No. No. of days with arrival of
SE wind ofdays 50+ 20-49 10-19 3-9 0-2
(in knots)

4-17 30 il 3 4 7 15
18-27 30 1 9 6 2 12
28-45 31 + Z 3} 9 13
{KOGA 91 6 14 13 18 40

NOTES: (i) The wind-speed in knots was at 900 m. above Lerwick, at
the time nearest to 06.00 hrs. each day, for all days with a S.E. wind
off Fair Isle at both 06.00 and 12.00 hours.

(ii) For convenience the wind-speeds were grouped so as to give an
almost equal number of days in each group. For easier comparison with
Table 10, the 18 days with a wind of 4-12 knots included 14 on which
at most 10 birds arrived.

(iii) On 5th September 1956, 319 arrivals were recorded with a 5-knot
S.E. wind, this being the only big arrival with a light S.E. wind. Pos-
sibly, many of those arriving that day were drifted off-course on the
previous day.

(iv) The average number of arrivals for different wind-speeds depends
too greatly on the few big arrivals to be of significance. The mean
figures for winds of 4-17, 18-27, and 28-45 knots respectively were 1/7,
22 and 20 birds, but had 5th September 1956 been excluded as doubtful,
it would have been only 7 birds for winds of 4-17 knots.

1960 DRIFT MIGRATION 323

TaBLE 7.—Autumn arrivals of four sparse species on Fair Isle
19 Aug.-14 Oct. 1950-59 inclusive.

— re oD
Sep
w <1) aa a sa
= 2-5 O82 te
5) Oye ore Se =
= se > ws =>
faa Os ee ee) AS
Size of arrival as a oe >,
of all spp. = SS a am asin
Number of arrival of above species
over 50 17 4 0 1 5
10-49 22 29 13 8 50
3-9 1, 17 9 12 38
0-2 16 16 4 4 24
Direction of wind
off Fair I. at 06.00
hrs.&12.00hrs.
NE 2 6 1 1 8
SE i 16 5 10 31
SW, W 14 20 9 10 39
NW 5 14 1 2 W7/
Niza. i SE 6 2 0 0) Z.
SE & SW, W,NW 6 5 6 2 13
NE & SW, NW 0) 1 1 () 2
N, S, or misc. 2 2 R) 0) 5
OGATE 72 66 26 25 Wy

Proportion of arrivals with
50+ arrival of , 3
all spp. 24% 6% 0) 4% A%
S.E. wind (including
oceasions when it was

N.E. for part of morn) 60% 27% 19% 40% 28%
SW, W or NW wind all i it 4
morning 26% 52% 38% 48% A8%

324 DRIFT MIGRATION 1(10)

TaBLE 8.—Arrivals of over 50 birds on Fair Isle and the Isle of
May in May 1950-60 inclusive.

Lali 3 © 3
S = ms < a ow
aa re Ea 3 2 2
So See Cea 8 @ a OL ea
Date pe ete De ore oot as Oo OG
“> So g-S ete: sos Tete
0 6 Dike ESS. ve ° pie ° =} @) 3
Ss sh Git Bis 228 Fes Sees
8. 5. 50 7 SoD) NE NE E
20. 5. 50 RON oe ae) Sipe wie NE ~
DI S'S a ay ie ibe Nee, Sa NE + +
23) S50) h2Gy, a a: NW NIE NE - -
2 BC) 93 Duis) Sig) Sie SE ~ +
7s il 52 Oa TE NE > NE - NE
18.5. 51 67 Ved wae Nee Sia S
2005) 51 Al 1090) Si Gin SE +
Sees 2) bye PD) Se Sis SE + +
Gin S05 115 (G07 u) (O27) me Sw SW (GEISE + +
Gis) 52) Vaz iG2N ip) Swit | SE SE +
AG, 68 54 Cer E SE NE =
Dl. &, se 54 By ab SEY) Sir SE + +:
D, By Oe 50 iD Swot) ip E “i +
B54) Mlle THE NW SE (SE) + +
Ae 5155 ie) 86g ae Sw sw SW Si
Zo SS Gla SE Sp E
5. 5. 56 65 ees SW Sy Sw +(F)
29. 5, 58 0 5 Tf.) SW) (SiKGmESieSE
©, GB 80 eae SE. 4S SE +
13. 5, 59 58 Fe ae E SE SW +
25. 5. 59 50 6) Caan ND 1S v.(NW) + +
11. 5. 60 2 OF SE sr Sp
12. 5. 60 7) O30 ran Su S/8, SE
13. 5. 60 DN Gye! ana So Sis SE + ss
14. 5. 60 88 OA SW Sis SE + +
15. 5. 60 20 Se dN E SE SE <

NOTES: (1) The methods of assessment and abbreviations used were
the same as for Table 3, except that + was recorded for full overcast
at one of three times each day, 06.00, 12.00 and 18.00 hours.

(ii) The only other big arrival so far recorded on Fair I. in spring was
of 500 Robins on 30 March 1958, with disturbed weather in the Chan-
nel, strong S:.E: winds off EH. Anglia, Isle of Mayrandi iain imeandsnata
at Leuchars and Lerwick.

(ii) Arrivals of 30-49 birds in May 1950-60 were recorded 5 times on
Fair I. (once when the Isle of May was not manned) and 8 other times
on the Isle of May (i.e. in addition to 20 May 1951 in Table 8). For
these 13 days, the weather situation in the Channel was A for 1, T for
I11 and D for. 1. The wind off the Isle of May was) S)2 tonsa least
part of the day for all 8 arrivals there (but westerly for part of + of
these). The wind south of Fair Isle for the 5 arrivals there was S.E.
for 4 and N.E. for 1. Full overcast was recorded at Leuchars for 5 of
the 8 arrivals on the Isle of May, and at Lerwick for 2 of the 5 arrivals
Onmnatiele

(iv) At Spurn Point in May 1950-60 there was only one arrival of over
50 birds (omitting Wheatears), namely on 10th May 1958, and 3 more

1960 DRIFT MIGRATION 325

of 30-49 birds on 5th May 1951, Ist May 1954 and 8th May 1959,
but the record was incomplete. On all four days there was full overcast,
on one an east wind and on the other three a S.E. wind for part of
the day due to a depression to the southwest moving northeast.

TABLE 9.—Influence of wind-direction on arrivals at Fair Isle
in May 1950-60.

Number of days with ie

So arrival of Phe

oar
6

Z, 2”

Wind-direction at 12.00 hrs a Q 9 -

DEIR Ney and) Fair L Le eee ee ety au WARES

Oe wy NX = Vi

ae) Ai
(Gi) NE off both 48 | 1 Os; 2
Gi) SE off both 62 8 9 By AD 0) oko
(iii) easterly, SE off one 8 1 1 2 2 1LASlO
(iv) easterly, SE off neither 21 1 3 0 sald! 7
(v) westerly off May, SE off Fair I. 18 2 2, 5 3 (i, aly
(vi) other mixed 54 : : ASS 2
(vii) westerly off both 129 ; : 1 20" 108 |
TOTAL 4 Oil Zeal lOmin 24a eS

NOTE: In May 1949, omitted from the above analysis, there was one
arrival of 38 birds, 7 arrivals of 3-9 birds, and 23 arrivals of 0-2 birds.

TaBLE 10.—Influence of wind-speed on arrivals at Fair Isle in
May, for all days with a S.E. wind off both Fair Isle and the
Isle of May.

Speed of Total No, No. of days with arrival of
SE wind of days 50+ 20-49 10-19 3-9 0-2
in knots
12 1 (1) 2 2 6 10
13-20 21 5 5 1 6 4
21-35 20 2 Z 2 8 6
MOAI 62 8 9 5 20 20

NOTES: (i) The wind-speed in knots was that at 900 m. above Lerwick,
at the time nearest to midday each day, for all days on which the wind
was S.E. at midday off both Fair Isle and the Isle of May.

(ii) For convenience, the wind-speeds were grouped so as to give an
almost equal number of days in each group. Had the last group been
for winds of 25-35 knots, the only two 50+ arrivals, also two 0-2 arriv-
als, would have been excluded.

(iii) The only big arrival with a wind of 1-12 knots was bracketed, be-
cause though the wind was S.E. south of Fair Isle as judged from the
isobars, it was N.W. at 2 knots above Lerwick (on 5th May 1954).

(iv) The average number of arrivals for different wind-speeds depends
too greatly on the few big arrivals to be of significance, The mean
figures for winds of 1-12, 13-20 and 21-35 knots respectively were 8, 39
and 31 birds, for winds of 1-12 knots omitting 5th May 1954 5 birds, and
for winds of 25-35 knots 7 birds. It should be added that 500 arrived
with a 48-knot S.E. wind above Lerwick on 30th March 1958.

326 DRIFT MIGRATION 1(10)

APPENDIX TABLE 1.—More detailed analysis of influence of
weather in autumn of types 1, 2, 4 and 7 (as defined in Table 4)
on arrivals on Fair Isle.

No, of days of each type with arrival on Fair I. of
50+ 20-49 10-19 3-9 1-2 0)
Weather in Mid-Norway at midnight

Wind
NE 2 4 3 7 10 8
E : Z 1 3 1 Zz,
SE § 6 9 9 6 5
S : ; 1 ; : 1
SW 4 4 1 4 Z :
W' 3 1 2 2 2
NW 1 P 3 1 :
V. 5 ; 1 ,
Full overcast
Recorded 6 15 6 9 W, 11
Not recorded 3 8 12 17 11 7
Weather near Fair I. at 06.00 hours.
Wind
NE 1 6 3 6 9 10
E ; 2 1 2 1 ;
SE 8 5) 14 18 13 8
Full overcast
Recorded 7 5 12 18 17 9
Not recorded 2 8 6 8 6 9
Mean speed in knots of
E-SSE winds 27, 22 22 22 Zi 25

NOTES: (i) This table is based on 9 days with arrivals of 50+ birds, 22
of 20-49, 18 of 10-19, 26 of 3-9, 23 of 1-2 and 18 of 0, but for the mean
speed of E-SSE winds at 900 m. above Lerwick, the corresponding
numbers of days were 8, 17, 15, 20, 14 and 8 respectively.

(ii) For the 4 arrivals of 50+ birds with a S.W. wind in mid-Norway
the wind was S.E. rather further south.

APPENDIX TABLE 2.—Influence of full overcast and general
situation on arrivals at Fair Isle in May, for all days with a
S.E. wind off both Fair Isle and the Isle of May.

Total No. No, of days with arrival of
of days 50+ 20-49 10-19 3-9 O=2
Full overcast at Lerwick
recorded 6 7 2 15 9
not recorded 23 72 2 3 5 11
General situation in Channel
anticyclonic 9 1 1 0 2, 5
transitional 37 5 6 3 13 10
disturbed 16 2 2 2, 5 5

1900 DRIFT MIGRATION 327
NOTES: (1) Full overcast was considered as present when recorded at
Lerwick at 06.00, 12.00 or 18.00 hours on the day in question.

Gi) The general weather situation was that on the eastern side of the
English Channel at midnight.

(iit) The mean number of arrivals in each type of weather is too greatly
affected by the few big arrivals to be of significance, but it was 28

when full overcast was recorded, 23 when it was not, and 13 with anti-
cyclonic, 37 with transitional and 15 with disturbed weather.

References

Clarke, W. E. (1912): “Studies in Bird Migration.” 2 vols. Lon-
don & Edinburgh.

Coward, T. A. (1912): “The Migration of Birds.” Cambridge.

Creutz, G. (1941): “Vom Zug des Grauen Fliegenschnappers,
Muscicapa striata striata (Pallas)”. Vogelzug, 12: 1-14.

Davis, P. E. (n.d. 1958?): “Fair Isle Bird Observatory Annual
Report tor 1957;” p. 19.

Davis, P. E. (1960): “Aspects of spring migration, 1959.” Fair
Isle Bird Observatory Bull. 4: 98-104.

Lack, D. (1958): “Migrational drift of birds plotted by radar.”
Nature, 182: 221-223.

Lack, D. (1959): “Migration across the sea.” Ibis, 101: 374-399.

Lack, D. (1960a): “Autumn ‘drift-migration’ on the English
east eoast. british. Birds, 53:°° 325-352, 379-397.

Lack, D. (1960b): ‘“The'‘influence of weather on passerine
migration.’ Auk, 77: 171-209.

Odum, E. P. (1960): “Lipid deposition in nocturnal migrant
picds. Act: Cong. Int. Orn, 12: 563-576.

Williamson, K. (1952): “Migrational drift in Britain in autumn
1951.” Scot. Nat., 64: 1-18.

Williamson, K. (1955): ‘“Migrational drift.” Act. Cong. Int.
Orn., 11: 179-186.

Williamson, K. (1959): “The September drift movements of
1956 and 1958.” British Birds, 52: 334-337.

Williamson, K. (1960): “The work of the British bird obser-
vatories.” Act. Cong. Int. Orn., 12: 749-7957.

It is regretted that our illustrations have had to be omitted
in this number owing to pressure of space.

328 SHORT NOTES 1(10)
SHORT NOTES

ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD IN EAST LOTHIAN

At 10.30 am. on 2nd October 1960 we raised a large bird
from the edge of a stubble field by the R. Tyne below East
Linton. In size and appearance it was clearly a buzzard, and,
as it rose 15 yards ahead and flapped heavily into a near-by
willow, we saw that it had a conspicuous white tail with a
dark terminal band. The general colour was brown above and
very pale below. Mobbed by Rooks it soon moved to another
tree, and we noted the dark primaries and black carpal
patches on the underside of the wings. We deduced that it
was a Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus.

In the late afternoon we returned with T. Boyd and R. W. J.
Smith and flushed the bird from the edge of a patch of scrub
where it was feeding on a dead rabbit. It landed again be-
hind a bank of trees where we found it with another rabbit,
freshly killed. This time, as it flew past only eight yards
away, we saw the dark belly and the feathered legs.

There are many rabbits in the field, some with myxomatosis,
and both the dead ones had the skin ripped off round the nape.

IaIn B. Roy.
WILLIAM M. SKENE.

(We have received a very detailed description from Alas-
tair Macdonald, who saw the bird at the same place on 3rd
October. He mentions the pale creamy buff head and neck
streaked with brown, the streaks getting thicker towards the
dark brown waistcoat; orange yellow legs feathered to the
feet; flight heavy and leisured. It seemed to like perching on
straw bales, which made it easy to watch, especially when
it was so relatively approachable. R.W.J.S. describes the
wings as roughly the same colour as a Short-eared Owl’s, with
alternate dark and buff patches, but with a white crescent
near the tips caused by the whitish bases of the primaries:
wings very “fingered.”

The bird was seen again early on 4th October by Andrew T.
Macmillan when it was feeding on a dead rabbit in the same
corner of the field close to the scrub.and willowherb. Excellent
views were had as it flapped and glided from bale to bale—a
just reward for rising two successive mornings at 6 a.m.! It
was quite unlike the Rough-legged Buzzards illustrated in

1960 SHORT NOTES 329

The Handbook, but there is a good likeness in the Field Guide,
except for the tail, which was not so clearly black and white
as shown.

The bird was seen again in the area on 6th, 15th and 22nd,
and on 29th and 30th October by various people attending
the S.O.C. Annual Conference at North Berwick.—ED.).

GOSHAWK IN EAST STIRLING

Near Skinflats, on the upper Firth of Forth, on the afternoon
of 21st August 1960 we saw a Goshawk Accipiter gentilis chase
and strike a Herring Gull, then break off the attack after the
gull had lost a handful of feathers.

In size the Goshawk was. about the same as the Herring
Gull, but appeared the longer bird. As it circled the immed-
iate area, its flight, resembling that of a large Sparrowhawk,
seemed almost leisurely compared with the speed and ease
with which it had closed with its quarry a few moments be-
fore. The bird was dark brown above with a paler underside
heavily streaked with brown, with dark bars under the wings.
The tail, fanned out in several quick turns, had three dark
bars on a creamy buff ground, the last of these forming a dis-
tinct terminal band. The under tail-coverts were pale, but in
this individual not a particularly noticeable diagnostic feature.
We both saw a pale patch on the side of the head, but cannot
be certain whether it was an eyestripe or simply a pale area
on the cheek.

We assumed the bird to be an immature female from its
size and breast markings.

G. DIck.
JeePOrrEen.

RED GROUSE AT ST KILDA

On 5th December 1959, together with five other men, I
flushed a cock Red Grouse Lagopus scoticus near the top of
Gleann Mor, St Kilda. This is a bird with which I have long
been familiar, having been employed as a grouse-beater on
several occasions, The bird was observed twice that afternoon
and not seen again. On both occasions we were close enough
to observe its chestnut colouring and red wattles over the eyes.
It rose with the familiar call and whirring wing-beat of the
Grouse. During the previous week there were easterly gales,
with wind speeds of up to 90 m.p.h. at sea level. This is the
first record of a Red Grouse at St Kilda, though a Ptarmigan
Lagopus mutus was recorded in winter by the Rev. Neil Mac
Kenzie who lived there from 1829 to 1848.

J. A. MacKay.

330 SHORT NOTES 110)

DOWITCHERS IN EAST LOTHIAN AND
LANARKSHIRE

On 29th September 1960, at the west side of Gullane Point,
East Lothian, my wife and I saw a wader alight on some
seaweed about 25 yards away. Although at close range, I
realised that I had not seen its like before.

The bird was about Redshank size, and portly. The most
striking features were its very long, straight, snipe-like bill,
and its method of feeding. It repeatedly jabbed its bill into
the weed with a rapid piston motion like a steam hammer.
The general colour was grey, with legs clearly olive-green
and shorter than a Redshank’s. The crown, nape and mantle
were light grey with no apparent markings; very pale eye-
stripe; underparts whitish, the breast very faintly streaked
with grey on a lighter grey ground; rump very noticeably
white extending well up the back and as prominent as a
Greenshank’s. We had an excellent view of this as the bird
flew ten yards to land on a rock, and we also saw that the
tail was white, though not so obviously white as the rump.
I took particular note of a faint white stripe or pattern on the
after edge of the wing.

After a few minutes the bird took off and flew eastwards
round the point. It did not call and we could not find it again.
I feel certain we were watching a Dowitcher Limnodromus sp.
in winter plumage. The picture of a Dowitcher in “fall” plum-
age in Peterson’s Field Guide:to the Birds fits our bird per-
fectly.

A. ABLETT.

A Dowitcher Limnodromus sp. was seen in the Low Parks,
Hamilton, by W.K.R. on 8th, 10th and 11th October 1960, and
by M.F. and D.S. on the 12th, when it was observed from about
25 yards.

The following description is compiled from notes by the
three observers. Size, smaller than Redshank, but larger than
Dunlin. General appearance, plumage very dark; at times and
in certain lights a purplish effect was given. When alarmed,
with head and neck stretched out, looked very Reeve-like.
Head, head and crown dark brown, pale eyestripe not very con-
spicuous and not very obvious :at a distance. Back, general
colour dark brown but with lighter edgings to some feathers
(“mouse-brown” W.K.R.); long narrow white patch extending
from. rump well up on to back, contrasting with rest of plum-
age. Trailing edges of wings markedly whitish. Underparts,
white, with occasional dark mottling: this was noted on the
flanks by W.K.R., while D.S. says it was more obvious in front
of neck, giving slight “apron” effect when bird facing. No sug-
gestion of chestnut on breast. Bill, extremely long, snipe-like,

1960 SHOKD NOLES 351

appeared black. Legs, very dark, but not black: rather short
compared with Redshank’s. Call-note, constantly repeated. “A
weak, shrill cheet... cheet” (W.K.R.): “tleet—softer and more
liquid than that of the .Redshanks” (D.S.). Flight, straight,
fast, and without any of the twists and turns of the Common
Snipe. Feeding, Fed quickly, probing in the mud and some-
times immersing whole head; “energetic pumping motion”
(W.K.R.); feeding mostly in water, with graceful gait, always
in the open.

W.K.R. considers the bird to have been a Long-billed
Dowitcher L. scolopaceus, adding: “Though I have seen and
heard Eastern Dowitchers L. griseus on autumn passage in
Canada and New York State, the call-notes of this individual
at once struck me as entirely unfamiliar. Outside the breeding
season the Eastern Dowitcher’s callnote is a threefold whistle,
often compared with that of the Yellowlegs, and not unlike a
Greenshank’s. Peterson (A Field Guide to the Birds) describes
that of the Long-billed as “a single, thin keek, occasionally
trebled.” In view of the distinctive quality of the call-notes
I now feel that the field identification of the two is relatively
simple. Length of bill is not a reliable characteristic, certainly,
but this particular bird’s was quite as long as a common
Snipe’s. I was also struck by the darkness of its plumage: all
the Eastern Dowitchers I have seen were rather paler, besides
being less vocal. The lateness of the date also points to the
probability of this vagrant being a ‘Long-bill’.”’

M. FORRESTER.
W. K. RICHMOND.
D. STALKER.

(These seem to be the fifth and sixth records of Dowitchers
in Scotland, being respectively the first for Forth and East
Lothian, and the second for Clyde and Lanark.—Eb.)

WOOD SANDPIPER BREEDING IN WEST
INVERNESS-SHIRE

On 10th June 1960 my wife and I, accompanied by a friend,
Mr Roderick Cameron, were watching a pair of Greenshanks
Tringa nebularia on the shore of a large loch in a desolate
glen in West Inverness-shire. As they seemed to have young
in the vicinity we spread out to search for them. The terrain
was rough peat hagg, divided by boggy channels, with firm
patches of heathery ground amongst which grew bog myrtle
Myrica gale. After about twenty minutes searching my wife
noticed a small long-legged wader standing on top of a
heathery hillock about fifty yards away from the loch. She
called me over and, as I approached, the bird rose into the
air and flew around in an agitated way, very like the flight
of a Redshank when its young are in danger. The wings were

332 SHORT WNOMES 1(10)

arched and pointing downward: it hung in the air and moved
from one position to another with quick erratic beats of the
wing, and vibrating primaries.

It was at once joined by a second bird which acted in a
similar manner, both birds all the while calling a constant,
loud ‘‘Kleep—kleep—kleep—kleep...” Sometimes one bird or
the other would alight on a small knoll in the heather and,
with drooped wings, continue to call loudly.

As they allowed close approach, I was able to view them at
close range with 8x binoculars and, even with the naked eye,
I could see the white rump, barred tail, brown speckled back
and feet projecting beyond the end of the tail in flight. They
were easily identified as Wood Sandpipers Tringa glareola. On
the ground the bird had a long-legged appearance, with grey-
ish underparts, buff toward the flanks and pale buff line over
the eye.

As I was sure they had eggs or young in the vicinity, we
retired some distance, dropped into the heather and watched
them with binoculars. One bird settled on a small knoll, the
second alighted on the heather, both still calling. After a
minute or so, both birds were silent and standing motionless.
We watched them for a further ten minutes but, as they did
not move, we decided to go into cover behind the hillock on
which my wife had first seen the bird. There we waited for
about ten minutes, crept over the top of the hillock and
shouted. At once both birds were in the air again calling their
“Kleep—kleep—kleep...” One bird rose from the direction of
the small knoll and the second appeared from a point some-
where between us and the edge of the loch about fifty yards
away, but we did not see exactly where it rose. We made a
short search but found nothing.

I then went into hiding behind a large boulder at the foot
of the hillock and asked my wife and our friend to walk
away from the spot. After about three minutes all was quiet.
I gave the birds a further eight or nine minutes to settle down,
and rushed out and over the top of the hillock and down the
other side. As I went over I saw one of the birds rise quickly
out of the heather about twenty yards from the base of the
hillock. I went straight to the spot and there was the nest con-
taining four eggs. The time was 4.45 p.m.

The eggs were lying point to point. They varied in size and
marking, two of them being noticeably larger. They were sub-
pyriform in shape, with slight gloss. The ground colour was
of light stone slightly inclined to green. Two of the eggs were
heavily spotted and blotched with dark brown and greyish
purple, the brown being slightly more concentrated toward
the rounded end. The remaining two eggs were similarly col-
oured, but with speckled markings rather than blotches.

1960 SHORE NODES 333

The nest was sited among sparse heather and bog myrtle.
It was a slight depression in the ground lined with a few broad
blades of dead grass and near a small surface pool.

On the following day, in overcast, rainy weather, we re-
turned to the nest, and I photographed both the site and the
nest in the poor natural light, and again with flash bulb.

We then measured the eggs and nest with Vernier calipers
before leaving. The egg measurements were as follows: 1. 40.2
Me veGmmaimer2 as G:0 x 2f-4'm.m, 3.37.4 x 27.3 mm. 4. 37.3 x 26.8
mm. Average 38.35 x 27.27 mm. The nest measurement was
80 mm. across the cup.

RONALD COOK.

EXCEPTIONAL NUMBERS OF LITTLE STINTS
IN MORAYSHIRE

At Findhorn Bay, Morayshire, on 18th September 1960, on
a large stretch of mud and sand, I picked up several hundreds
of small waders at about half a mile range. I noticed immed-
iately than many were much smaller than Dunlin Calidris
alpina, which were in the majority. I got to within twenty
yards of the outermost birds and worked along the line with
the setting sun behind me. I found two Curlew Sandpipers C.
testacea and then a Little Stint C. minuta. The latter was a
little wild: it worked rapidly along the line of Dunlin and
eventually flew to join another group of waders nearer the
shore. I examined this group, but could not find any smaller
bird among them. To my amazement every bird was a Little
Stint. I examined size and-bill and counted 106. A group of
106 birds every one of which was a Little Stint!

On 20th September counts made by A. Pringle and A. Raffan
showed that about the. same number were still present, and
the same is probably true of the 21st when, however, the birds
had broken up into smaller parties and were less easy to count.

W. CRAWFORD.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER IN EAST STIRLING

On 19th September 1960, near Grangemouth, we found a
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos resting on the mud of
a recently flooded field, so tame that we were able to observe
it from several angles at 30 feet using a 25x telescope on a
tripod.

Its most noticeable features were the yellowish green legs,
brown bill shorter than Dunlin’s and very slightly decurved,
and the warm brown bib with dark markings running like
dotted lines to the point where the bib ended and the pale
underside began: the underside shaded from pale grey on the
breast to white on the under tail-coverts.

334 SHORM NOmss 1(10)

The dark eye seemed large and had a prominent orbital
ring. The bird had a small brown cap. The pattern of markings
on the neck, nape and mantle were not so clear as on the bib;
they began small and faint on the neck and became progres-
sively larger and darker in the regular pattern towards the
mantle. The wing-coverts were dark-centred, edged with buff,
so arranged that the bird appeared to have a body stripe like
a Snipe. This feature was not prominent in flight, when, how-
ever, the bird showed a tail pattern like a Dunlin’s. The call-
note suggested that of the Dunlin, but was harsher: it was
repeated at short intervals.

G. Dick.
J. POLrEer.

(Mr Dick has submitted sketches af the bird which confirm
its identity.—ED.).

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS IN EAST LOTHIAN
AND SUTHERLAND

While we were playing golf on Gullane No. 3 course on 18th
September 1960, my wife drew my attention to a small wader
in the middle of the fairway. It was immediately obvious to
me that I had never seen a bird of this sort before. I noted
details at once of what I thousht to be the diagnostic features
and, while playing the next hole, went back to see it again
and then wrote on a slip of paper exactly what I had obser-
ved.

At first sight the outstanding feature was its trim, neat
appearance, with slender neck and short head. It was entirely
buff underneath with a light ahead and short black bill about
an inch long; its legs were unmistakably yellow and its back
had clear-cut markings in black and buff. In a closer view I
saw that the eye was black and that there was the slightest
suspicion of a light mark above and round the eye, not amount-
ing to an eyestripe, perhaps a facial disc slightly lighter than
the top of the head and the neck.

The bird was exceptionally tame, quite unworried by our
nearness to it, but tended, when we got very near, to hold
itself more horizontally, with its neck stretched out. I would
have liked to hear its alarm note, but had no wish to flush it.
It was feeding throughout on the short grass of the fairway
and seemed to be taking flies as part of its food.

On looking at the Field Guide my wife, a friend who was
with us and myself all, without consultation, decided that the
bird we had seen was a Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites
subruficollis.

eb cies

While crossing the saltmarsh adjoining Dornoch Point on

|

1960 SHORT NOTES 335

2oth September 1960, I saw a small wader which I did not
recognise. Throughout the fifteen to twenty minutes that I
watched the bird it remained in company with a small flock
of Grey Plover and for a short period I was able to view it
through binoculars at a range of about 25 yards. From the
following details, which were noted while the bird was still
under observation, I later identified it as a Buff-breasted Sand-
piper Tryngites subruficollis. Size, slightly more than half
that of a Grey Plover and slightly larger than a Dunlin. Gen-
eral impression, a slim wader with a noticeably rounded head,
slender neck, short thinnish bill and scaly pattern of plumage
on mantle. Crown, dark. Mantle and back, dark feathers with
pale edgings similar to Ruff. Wing, sharply pointed: no wing
bar visible in flight. Rump, dark; no light colour visible in
flight. Face, neck, throat and upper breast, brownish buff, no
eyestripe. Lower breast and underparts, paler; whitish be-
neath; no visible line separating the buff higher up from the
paler colour below. Underwing, glimpse of white in flight.
Eye, dark. Bill, black. Legs, not too clearly seen but appeared
to be pale brown, certainly not dark.

During most of the time the bird was very active and pro-
gressed by a fairly quick walk with legs slightly bent. At no
time was it seen to run. A noticeable feature was the rapid
motion with which it turned its head in various directions as
it probed the short grass in search of food. No call-note was
heard.

D., MAcDONALD.

(These are the third and fourth records of the Buff-breasted
Sandpiper in Scotland.—EbD.).

AVOCET IN EAST LOTHIAN

On 9th April 1960 I had a good view of an Avocet Recurvi-
rostra avosetta at Tyninghame. As I watched from the em-
bankment it circled overhead calling and then landed further
along at the mouth of the River Tyne. I saw the bold black
and white pattern and the slender upturned bill.

This is the third record for Forth and the second for East
Lothian, a party of up to five having been seen at Aberlady
from 6th to 11th April 1958 (Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 8: 85).

ii Boyne:

GCULE-BILvLED TERN IN EAST LOTHIAN

On the morning of 11th September 1960 I was at the ex-
treme north-east corner of Aberlady Bay, walking along the
shore towards Gullane Point, when I walked into a mixed
party of Common, Arctic and Sandwich Terns that flew up
around me. Among them was a bird I identified as an adult

336 SHORT NOTES 1(10)

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica moulting out of sum-
mer plumage. The bird in general size, shape, speed of wing-
beats and carriage in the air resembled a Sandwich Tern, with
the exception that, in flying diagonally overhead,:it was ap-
preciably shorter—a difference that was no longer discernible
when it was flying away from me. The character that struck
me immediately was the bill—short, thick, with a bump on
the lower mandible, and uniformly coloured to the tip: it was
not, however, quite pitch black, or at least not so glossy black
as that of Sandwich Terns. The shape of the bill was totally
unlike that of the other terns, being much thicker and more
angled in proportion to its length. The crown and nape were
black, but not shaggy: the forehead was white. The mantle
looked just appreciably darker than that of the Sandwich
Terns: owing to the angle of flight, I never saw the rump. The
tail was also hard to see closely, as the bird was keeping it
closed, but it did seem less deeply forked, as well as shorter,
than the Sandwich Tern’s. I saw it in excellent light and at
one time it must have been no more than 20 yards away: I
had binoculars.
T. C. SMOUT.

“BLACK-BELLIED” DIPPER IN ANGUS

On 13th September 1960 I was walking along the banks of
the Esk, at The Burn, Edzell, when I saw a Dipper on a rock
in midstream. I was at once struck by the absence of chest-
nut on the underparts and by a distinct demarcation between
the white breast and the black belly, without the least sugges-
tion of intervening brown. I was so surprised by this feature
that I kept the bird under view for at least five minutes, ob-
serving it from several angles in the finest light at ranges
down to thirty yards, until it grew tired of this unwonted
attention and flew out of sight downstream: there was no
possibility of having overlooked a trace of chestnut anywhere
on the underparts. The upperparts appeared identical to those
of the British Dipper Cinclus c. gularis.

I concluded that it must be a Black-bellied Dipper C. c. cin-
clus, without knowing how it came to be on the Esk in Sep-
tember. Since, however, it is unlikely to have been a recently
arrived migrant at such a date, it is possible that it had either
arrived in the glen in some previous winter, or that it was a
freak thrown up by a population of British Dippers.

T. C. Smovut.

(Professor V. C. Wynne-Edwards comments on this record:
“The question is to account for the presence of this bird in
Glen Esk in mid September. It could either be (a) an early
immigrant from Scandinavia or somewhere else where this

1960 SHORT NOTES 337

colour type is plentiful, or (b) an unusual member of the local
population—a mutant if you like—belonging automatically to
the British race if it breeds in Scotland. A geographical race
consists of many individuals, often with considerable variabil-
ity comprised among them, inhabiting an area, and its sub-
specific name does not apply to any individual, no matter what
its colour and measurements, it it breeds outside that area.
Evidently the amount of chestnut on the Dipper’s breast varies
from one individual to another almost everywhere. Thus The
Handbook says that the typical race usually has a tinge of
chestnut brown, very rarely as much as in some examples of
the Irish form, implying variation in both these areas. Under
the British race it refers to feathers marked with a varying
amount of rufous brown.

My guess would be that this bird was a black-hellied ex-
ample of the British Dipper. If so, it would be interesting to
know how numerous and widespread such individuals are in
Scotland. The condition is most likely to be hereditary and
locally self-perpetuating. It is not more extraordinary than
having chestnut-banded birds breeding in Norway, for ex-
ample, where we know they occur: only black-bellied birds
must be pretty scarce here or we would know more about
them.’’)

RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHERS IN FIFE AND
ABERDEENSHIRE

On the afternoon of 18th September 1960 in the dilapidated
garden between the farmhouse and the cottages at Fife Ness
my wife and 1 had the experience of seeing three species of
flycatchers—two Spotted, two or three Pied, and two Red-
breasted Muscicapa parva.

We were watching the Spotted and Pied when a small,
plump, pale bird came out of the thick foliage near the base
of a tree and perched on one of the lower branches. It was a
Red-breasted Flycatcher and, from its orange-red throat and
upper breast, a male. A few minutes later we found another
similar bird flitting about in the thick foliage at the base of
the trees. It was very shy and secretive, darting from one tree
to another and only occasionally perching in the open—then
only momentarily. In this bird the throat and upper breast
were buff.

We saw a third Red-breasted Flycatcher at Fife Ness on
30th September—a buff-breasted bird. This was also seen by
Miss P. G. Baxter on 1st October.

R. S. WEIR.

On 17th October 1960 I saw a Red-breasted Flycatcher at
Fife Ness, a little plump bird being chased by Stonechats

338 SHORT NOTES 1(10)

which were a little larger than it. The throat was off-white. It
was very active, flying from one perch to another, catching
flies and flicking its tail in the flycatcher manner. It was very
tame and I was able to approach within a few feet. Its call was
a brisk chick chick.

PATRICIA G. BAXTER.

(Dr Weir has appended detailed descriptions of his first two
Red-breasted Flycatchers, and Miss Baxter of hers.—EDb.).

On 18th September 1960 in the garden of the Ythan Hotel
at Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, I saw a Red-breasted Flycatcher,
my identification of which was confirmed by Mr R. W. J. Smith
and members of the Edinburgh Natural History Society.

EK. A. GARDEN.

(It should be noted that the absence of an orange breast in
this species does not necessarily imply that the bird is not a
male, since Mr K. Williamson informs us that he has seen a
male on its breeding territory without this colouration. First
winter birds may be recognised by buff spots at the tips of
the innermost secondaries and greater wing-coverts, a con-
spicuous field characteristic.—ED.).

CURRENT NOTES

(The following observers have contributed to this section: A. Ablett,
D. RK. Anderson, D. G. Andrew, W. Bain) QVey Bas). mls inc Giemsa)
J. Ballantyne’ (J. Bal.), P.'G R: Barbier, Miss K@eEIN sh arr iliccmic-s (G
Baxter, G. Bennett, W. Birrell (W. B.), DT. Boyd) Nj GampbellaAw ey Car-
michael, C. N. L. Cowper, W. Crawford, Mrs B. A. H. Cunningham, Major
P. Deas, G. Dick, D. Donald, Dr W. J. Eggeling, D. Farquharson, M. For-
rester, F. W. Gairns, Miss E. A. Garden, D. Grant, J. Grierson, Mrs M.
Hill, D. Hope, J. Hoy, Dr D. Jenkins, D. Lawson, A. Macdonald, M. Mc
Gechie (M. McG.), A. T. Macmillan, J. Maxwell, M. F. M. Meiklejohn, R.
Y Milne CR. 1) M)), Rev. RR. ts| Mitchell) (Revo gReaieay is) pee ieeeVlonvyat
(M. M.), W. Murray, B. Neath, C.F. Palmar, J) Potters Ameerimele.. Mrs
I. Rainier, W. K. Richmond, E. L. Roberts, Dr M. Rusk, G. L. Sandeman,
R. J. W. Shaw, W. Skene (W. Sk) RoW. Ja eSnitthee GaSe Ds
Stalker, W. Stein (W. St.), J. A. Stewart, R. Stokoe, G. Waterston, Dr R.
S. Weir and P. Wormell. All notes below are considered reliable by the
Fditors, and, unless otherwise stated, all apply to 1960).

Breeding and distribution

In 1960 four pairs of Great Crested Grebes bred on Dudding-
ston Loch—a considerable improvement on recent years
(D.R.A.). On the rubbish dump pool at Hamilton there was a
Black-necked Grebe (not in breeding plumage) on 17th July: a

previous record of this species from the same pool was on 16th,
17th and 19th August 1958 (D.S.).

1960 CURRENT NOES 339

A Fulmar flew south-west over Braid Hills Avenue, Edin-
burgh, on 16th June (G.L.S.).

In mid-August Mr D. W. Nickson of Buchlyvie found a dead
adult Gannet on the moors about a mile north of Crianlarich.
It looked quite fresh but was already smelly (K.H.B.).

A pair of Garganey were seen on Gladhouse Reservoir on
24th July (D.G.A.). A pair of Gadwall were on Quarryford Pond,
Gifford, on 14th May (A.M.), and a single female of this species
on Loch Spiggie, Shetland, on 22nd July (W.St.).

A Canada Goose, in moult, was observed at Gladhouse from
18th June to 9th August (D.G.A., R.W.J.S.).

A Golden Eagle, mobbed by a Merlin, is reported from the
Isle of Barra on 4th July 1957 (D.L.).

On 29th June a Black-tailed Godwit was seen at Loch Insh
(Baglal(On).

Summer records of Arctic Skuas outside their nesting places
_ seem to be on the increase and are of interest in view of pos-
sible extension of range. In Tay: one off Tentsmuir Point on
8th June; two off Monifieth on the 29th; and at least six in
the Tay estuary between 29th June and lst July (B.N.). In
Forth: one at Aberlady on 16th June (D.H.) and two there on
8th July (T.B.).:

Two immature Little Gulls were seen at Aberlady on 12th
and 19th June (J.Bd.) and at Lundin Links there were six
adults on the shore on Ist August (R.S.W.).

A vair of Turtle Doves again reared two young at Longniddry
(W.B.).

A pair of Barn Owls, a scarce species in East Lothian, reared
a chick in a tree near Gullane (W.B.) and a brood of three
Little Owls were raised from the usual nest near Duns (W.M.).

The following records of the Kingfisher have recently been
made in mid Argyll: one at the head of Loch Sween seen by a
forestry keeper in March 1955; one seen at Ardrishaig by Miss
Maureen MaclIver in December 1959; and one seen by John
MacCallum on the River Add under ‘Kilmichael Bridge on 24th
August 1960 (I.R.).

A Carrion Crow was shot near its nest in Strathcarron, Wes-
ter Ross, in May 1957 (P.D.).

It is now known that four pairs of Stonechats nested at Tullie-
allan, Fife, in 1960: cf. antea 1: 281 (J.H.).

Two Grasshopper Warblers were heard singing at Petersmuir,
near Pencaitland, East Lothian, from llth May to 14th June
and in early July (A.M.). This summer there were no fewer
than six male Blackcaps heard singing in various parts of West
Fife (J.H.): cf. antea 1: 281.

Singing Chiffchaffs are reported from Orton, Morayshire, on

340 CURRENT NOES 1(10)

26th May and 2nd June (W.C., A.P.), and) fromethestialis of
Forn in North Caithness—about as far north as it could get
on the mainland of Scotland (M.M.). Chiffchaffs have been at
Ardnashellach, W. Ross, since 1958 (P.D.). In Rhum the Chiff-
chaff has been seen and heard regularly in the springs of 1958,
1959 and 1960. Probably most pass further on, but in 1958 one
remained singing until 18th May and in 1960 song was heard
as late as 20th and 29th May, from two different birds. In 1959
breeding was proved when a Chiffchaff was seen feeding four
fledged young behind the White House, Kinloch, on 30th June
(P.W.).

A pair of Pied Flycatchers were regularly seen at Broughton,
Peebles-shire, from 22nd May to the end of June (D.D.), while
a nest with three or four newly hatched young was found in
a hole in a silver birch tree at Rothiemurchus, Inverness-shire,
on 19th June: the young were successfully reared (J.G.).

In July a pair of White Wagtails were seen feeding four juv-
eniles in front of the Castle on Rhum, both on the 18th and the
20th: the mantle and rump of both parents was pale grey
(P.W.). On 22nd July at Scalloway, Shetland, a Pied Wagtail
was identified (W.St.).

A Hawfinch was seen sitting on a roadway at Carronbridge,
Dumfries-shire, on 17th August (J.M.).

Autumn Migration, 1960

A Red-necked Grebe (in summer plumage) was at Aberlady
on 27th August (T.B., R.W.J.S.), and another on the Sand Loch,
Collieston, Aberdeenshire, on 17th September (H.A.G;,
R.W.J..S). Two Slavonian Grebes, which may be the first for
Clackmannan, were on the River Devon below Dollar on 24th
September (R.J.W.S.) and single Black-necked Grebes were seen
at Gladhouse from 14th to 28th August (D.G.A., R.W.J.S.), and
at Cameron Reservoir, Fife, on 4th and 5th September (P.G.B.,
ave):

Unusually large numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers have
been seen in the Forth in late summer and autumn: at Aber-
lady, 250+ on 8th July and over 300 on 20th August (A.M.); at
Musselburgh, 100 on 16th July, 200 on 18th September, and
400 by 2nd October (J.Bal.); at Skinflats, E. Stirling, over 250
in the first few days of October (J.H.).

Records of single Scaup inland come from Craigmaddie Res-
ervoir, W. Stirling, on 18th September (P.G.R.B.) and on the
24th from Gladhouse (R.W.J.S.), where immature Shelduck
have also been seen, two from 6th to 14th August, and six
from 24th to 28th August D.G.A., R.W.J.S.).

Two early Pink-footed Geese were flying south over Loch
Leven on 3rd September (T.B., R.W.J.S.) and two, possibly the

1960 CORRE NT NOTES 341

same, were seen at Aberlady the same day (W.B., A.M.): also
on the same day a Whooper Swan was seen on Loch Leven
Gite RW.J.9.).

Marsh Harriers seem to be becoming almost regular in Scot-
land, and it is to be hoped that they may establish themselves
in some area where game is not preserved: one, a bird with
a creamy head, was seen at Aberlady on 11th September (G.B.,
D.F.). Three Hen Harriers, all of them in brown plumage, have
been reported from unfamiliar areas: on 19th September
from the Moorfoots, Midlothian boundary (C.N.L.C.), from
Fife Ness on 20th and 22nd September and 7th October (P.G.B.,

R.S.W.), and from Forrestfield, near Airdrie, on 16th October
(W.St.).

Numbers of Grey Plovers between Grangemouth and Kincar-
dine gradually built up until they reached about 100 on 3rd

October (G.D., J.H., J.P.). Inland there were 4 at Gladhouse on
Ist October (R.W.J.S.).

Whimbrel that were presumably summering were one at
Barnes Ness, East Lothian, on 2nd July (R.W.J.S.) and three
that passed July with Curlews at Musselburgh (J.Bal.). At
Peppermill] Dam, Fife, there were single birds on 8th, 9th and
llth September, and two on the 12th: the observers had not
seen Whimbrel there before (G.D., J.P.).

Wading birds have been particularly numerous on passage
this autumn, as the records below will show.

Green Sandpiper. Single birds at

Lossie Estuary, Moray, on 23rd July (W.C.).

eeueron Reservoir, Fife, on 14th August, and two on the 15th (P.G.B.,
RES W..)..

Gladhouse Reservoir, on 6th and 20th August (D.G.A., R.W.J.S.).

Rosebery Pool, Midlothian, on 28th August (R.W.J.5.).

Wood Sandpiper. Single birds at

Tyninghame on 24th July and 13th August (T.B., R.W.J.5.).
Gladhouse on 6th August (D.G.A.).

Spotted Redshank at

Findhorn Bay, Moray, two on 10th September, three on the 11th, heard
calling on the 14th (W.C.). : i

Ythan Estuary, Aberdeen, five on 18th September, single birds on the
23rd and 30th, and the 3rd, 8th and 14th October (E.A.G., R.W.].5.).

Cameron Reservoir, three on 4th, two on 5th September CRS IW"):

Cult Ness, Fife, one on 19th and 25th August, two on the 27th CG,
gee)!

Longannet, Fife, one on 21st. September (J.H.).

Skinflats, E. Stirling, two on 29th August, four on 18th September, two
on the 19th, one on the 25th, and 2nd October, two on 3rd October (G.D.,
Jioleila AJaleeeys

Beiicse one on 10th September (R.W.J.S.).

Records of the Knot inland come from Kinlochbervie, Suther-
land, where one was seen on a loch two miles inland on 22nd
August (J.Bal.) and from Gladhouse, where there were ten

342 CUNREND VNOmEsS 1(10)

on 24th July, four on 17th August, nine on the 20th, two on the
21st, one on the 24th and seven on the 28th, two on 10th Sep-

tember and six on lst October—a late date for Gladhouse
(DIG. A., RW. JS:):

As indicated in W. Crawford’s note in this issue, numbers
of Little Stints this autumn have been exceptional. The first
recorded was at Skinflats, near Grangemouth, on 15th August,
but peak numbers came suddenly on 18th September. The
table of dates suggests no big influx after this.

Findhorn Bay, Moray, one on 14th September and about 106 (one
hundred and six) on the 18th, 20th and 21st (W.C., A.P.).

Ythan district, Aberdeenshire; four on Forvie Moor on 17th September,
two on Meikle Loch on the 18th, one on the estuary on the 21st and one
on the Meikle Loch on the 25th (E.A.G., R.W.J.S.).

Fife Ness, single birds on 25th and 27th September (P.G.B., R.S.W.).

Cameron Reservoir, two on 20th September (Rev.R.I.M.).

Cult Ness, two on 27th August and 11th September, six on 20th Sep-
tember (GADe 25):

Skinflats, one on 15th, 21st and 22nd August, five on the 29th, three
on 3rd September, 18 on the 18th. 30+ on the 19th, 25th, 26th and 2nd
October (G.D., J.P.). Maximum count 36 (J.H.).

Seafield, Leith, one on 18th September (A.T.M.).

Gladhouse, seven on 28th August, one on 10th September, nine on the
24th and three on Ist October (R.W.J.S.).

Musselburgh, two on 25th September (R.I.M.).

Aberlady, six on 3rd September, two on the 6th. 40 on the 18th, nine
on the 21st, four on the 22nd, two on the 24th, 14 on the 25th, two on
Ist October. The previous record. number from Aberlady was thirteen
(ACAD Bd (GB WB. DG. ud ele Ane Ss»)

Tyninghame, one on 4th September, three on the 11th, 14+ on the
18th, 18 on the 25th. and six on 2nd October (T.B., R.W.J.S.).

Barnes Ness, twelve on 19th September (T.B.).

The numbers of Curlew Sandpipers recorded are not large, ex-
cept at Skinflats where, it will be noted, the highest number
(2°) occurred on 18th September, as with the Little Stints.

Findhorn Bay, two on 10th September, five on the 11th, four on the
14th and two on the 18th (W.C.).

Ythan Estuary, one on 20th September (E.A.G.).

oe Ness, one on 25th and 27th August and 11th September (G.D.,
Ie)

Skinflats: numbers built up from one on 21st August to 14+ on 5th
September and 29 on the 18th, then declining to 12 on the 25th and one
on 3rd October (G.D., J.P.).

Gladhouse, one on 21st and 24th August, two on 10th September, one
on the 14th and 24th (D.G.A., R.W.J.S.).

Aberlady, single birds on 10th August, 3rd, 21st and 24th September,
two on the 25th and Ist October (A.A JEBde Wes Darel Ges»):

Tyninghame, one on 21st August, the same day as first noticed at
Skinflats and Gladhouse, one on 4th September, two on the 18th and
one on the 25th (TB. W Sk RAWzI-S>)-

Three inland records of sinele Sanderling come from Glad-
house: ivvenile on the 21st, and adults on 24th and 28th
Aucust (DiG7Ay RiWeEss):

1960 CURRENT NOTES 343

Records of the Ruff are also numerous this autumn:

Findhorn Bay, two on 21st August and four on 18th September CW.C:):
Ythan district, one on Meikle Loch on 17th September (R.W.]J.S.).
Fife Ness, four on 20th September (R.S.W.). :

L. Leven, one on 23rd July—the earliest of these records (T.B., G.D.,
ReWaIeS»).

Cult Ness, two on 4th August, one on the 7th and two on the 19th
(GD .B.):

Skinflats, two on 8th August, four on the 15th, three on the 21st, five
on the 22nd and seven on the 29th, one on 5th September, four on the
18th, one on the 19th, three on the 25th, and one on the 26th, four on 2nd
October and three on the 3rd (G.D., J.P.).

Gladhouse, three on 6th August, then on the 9th (7), 14th (13), 17th (10),
20th (5), 21st (4), 24th (9), 26th (7), 28th (10), and 10th September (3),
14th (4), 24th (5), and on Ist October, two (D.G.A., R.W.J.S.).
ee single birds on 18th, 2lst and 25th September (J.Bd., J.Bal.,

Tyninghame, one on 13th August (R.W.J.S.).

On 8th July a Grey Phalarope in full breeding plumage was
discovered at Aberlady, where it was also seen on the 14th
and 17th. On each occasion it was with flocks of terns. As one
approached, the terns would fly off and land further away, and
then the phalarope would fly off and land beside them again
(T.B., R.W.J.S.). What may very likely have been the same
Grey Phalarope, but in winter plumage, was seen at Aberlady
on 14th August: it associated with terns in precisely the same
manner as the earlier bird (A.T.M.). A third Grey Phalarope
was swimming on the Rubbish Dump Pool at Hamilton on
23rd October: it emerged on to dry land twice in about an
hour’s watching (D.S. and other members of S.O.C.).

An adult Long-tailed Skua was seen at Aberlady on 20th Aug-
ust by members of the S.O.C. excursion: the bird was on the
ground and only fifteen yards off (R.W.J.S.): it was again seen
on 21st and 23rd August and 3rd September (W.B., A.M.).

An adult Black Tern in moult was seen on 4th August at
Lundin Links and Earlsferry (P.G.B., R.S.W.); two at Glad-
house on 24th August (R.W.J.S.); and an immature at Longan-
net, Fife, from lst to 4th September (J.H., J.P).

A party of 24 terns, mostly thought to be Common Terns,
went over Gladhouse on 24th August and on the 28th there
Were 15+, mostly certainly Common (R.W.J.S.). There were
up to twenty Roseate Terns at Longannet in the last week of
August and first of September (J.H.), and a Little Tern at Gos-
ford on 8th October is unusually late for the species
(M.F.M.M.)

Gales brought many sea birds well up the Forth in early
October and six Razorbills were seen at Longannet on the 4th
(J.H.). A Black Guillemot (or Tystie) at Gullane Point on 17th
and 18th September is the first recorded for Aberlady Bay
(W.B., W.M.).

344 CURRENT NOTES 1(10)

Three records of the Hoopoe in autumn have been received:
the first from Edinburgh where one was seen on the hill at
the top of the Zoo on 4th, 5th and 7th September (M.H.); G.W.
informs us that there are no Hoopoes kept at the Zoo. The
second was seen at Sanna, Ardnamurchan, on 25th September:
it was grubbing about in the roots of marram grass on the
sandhills (C.E.P.). The third is reported from Pitlochry at the
end of September (A.L.C.). Descriptions have been received
of these birds.

A Wryneck, the second for the reserve, was picked up at
Aberlady on 28th August by Mr A. Campbell (N.C.).

A female Blackcap was seen at the Sand Loch, Ythan area,
on 17th September (E.A.G.) and another female, perhaps a
migrant, was trapped near Braid Valley Public Park, Edin-
burgh, on the 18th (J.A.S.).

A Pied Flycatcher was at the Sand Loch, Ythan area, on 17th
September (E.A.G.).

The only reports of Waxwings so far come from Stonehaven,
Kincardineshire, where small numbers were seen daily from
30th October until at least 11th November (W.Ba.) and Cor-
pach, Inverness-shire, in the fourth week of October, when a
party were seen (per M.R.).

It appears to be a “good year” for the Great Grey Shrike. There
was one at Anstruther on 2nd Oct. )W.J.E., J.H.). One was seen
on 16th October to the south-west of the Lake of Menteith:
it moved in a series of flights towards the south-west and
appeared to be a “bird on the move’ (M.F., D.S.). At Fife
Ness there was one on 25th October (R.S.). There was one at
Whitekirk, East Lothian, on 30th October, seen by many mem-
bers from the S.O.C. conference. It remained until at least
10th November (A.M., E.L.R.). And on 6th November one was
seen at Cairnoch, Carron Valley, feeding on beetles which it
picked off the ground, and a second (perhaps the same as that
recorded on 16th October) near Wood End Farm, Flanders
Moss. This bird, perched on posts beside the disused railway
track, made several attempts to pounce on a Robin and a Reed
Bunting, and the feathers and legs of another Robin which it
had just eaten, were found on the ground close by. When its
intended prey lay low under cover it hovered over the spot,
then plunged vertically, head first, to drive out the fugitive.
Both these shrikes were photographed (W.K.R.). Good views
were had of a Red-backed Shrike at Tyninghame on 18th Sep-
tember (T.B., W.SK.).

A Siskin was seen at Barnes Ness on 19th September and
over twenty in the Ythan estuary area on the 18th (R.W.J.S.).
On ist October two big parties of Redpolls, totalling over 200,

1960 CURRENT NOTES 345

were found a mile north-west of Gladhouse, filling a strip of
young conifers and apparently feeding on seeds of rose-bay
willowherb, heather and meadowsweet (R.W.J.S.).

Five Lapland Buntings were on the Aberlady saltings on 21st
September and one was heard as it flew in from the north at
Gullane Point on the 25th (J.Bal.).

Behaviour and Habits

1960 has been a season of exceptional abundance of
Partridges in Glen Esk, after the favourable summer of 1959.
The highest record of breeding reported was near the Wester
Cairn on Mount Battock, at about 2,000 feet above sea level.
Here a pair, with eight or ten young, was seen in July and
September by two Millden gamekeepers, W. Potts and W. A.
Stewart. This is probably the highest that Partridges have
been recorded nesting in Scotland (cf. Watson, antea: 1:186-7)
and in September 1960 broods of Partridge and Ptarmigan
could be seen on Battock within a few hundred feet of each
other (D.J.).

On 14th May at Kelso a hen Pheasant was disturbed when
sitting on eggs. The observer left the place in order to allow
the bird to return to the nest but, on returning five minutes
later, found that the eggs, fifteen in all, had been shifted about
a foot further into the undergrowth and that the bird was
sitting. The following morning the eggs were back in the
original nest (M.McG.). In April 1960, between Peebles and
Innerleithen, a cock Pheasant was several times seen to tread,
or attempt to tread, domestic fowls in a hen-run (F.W.G.).

Earlier records

On 17th October 1959 a very tired Water Rail was seen on
the saltings at Aberlady—only the third recent record for the
reserve (J.Bal.).

A Wood Sandpiper was seen at Aberlady on 14th and loth
May 1960 (J.Bd., A.M.).

On 20th April 1958 a Spotted Redshank in full summer plum-
age was seen feeding in a flooded field near the village of
Lunan, Angus. This seems to be the first spring record for
Angus and the third for the county (J.G.).

Two Curlew Sandpipers were at Aberlady on 12th June 1960
(J.Bd.).

A Hoopoe remained in a garden near Thornhill, Dumfries,
for the whole of 10th May 1960 and was seen by a large num-
ber of local ornithologists (J.M.).

346 OFFICIAL SECTION 1(10)

The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

REPORT OF COUNCIL — SESSION XXIV
1959 - 1960

The Council have the honour to submit the following Report for the past
year :—

DEATH OF DRE. V. BAXTER aud MR T. LESLIE SME Dunne
the Session the Club suffered the loss of Dr E. V. Baxter, Honorary Vice-
President of the Club, and of Mr T. Leslie Smith, representative Member
on the Council for Dundee. The Council records with gratitude the gener-
ous legacy of £1,000 received by the Club from Miss Baxter’s estate, the
interest to be used for the promotion of Ornithology in Scotland; and also
the gift of a large number of books from the Library of Mr Smith.

MEMBERSHIP: It is satisfactory to be able to report an increase in
the Club Membership this year. 159 Members were lost this Session due
to resignation or unpaid subscriptions, while 192 new Members were en-
rolled. Comparative figures are as follows :—

31/8/56 31/8/57 31/8/58 31/8/59 31/8/60

Ordinary 755 723 738 747 781
Junior 132 132 148 140 141
Honorary 11 11 bere y 7 5

898 866 897 894 927

COUNCIL MEETINGS: Four Meetings of Council were held during
the Session.

GENERAL MEETINGS: A full programme of Lectures was carried out
during the winter in five Branches. The Council wishes to express its
thanks to all the Lecturers who gave so freely of their services, and would
also like to thank Branch Officials for arrangements and hospitality.

EXCURSIONS: Apart from Excursions organised by the Branches to
various places of interest during the summer months, the Club also organ-
ised weekend Excursions to Dumfries in February and to Aviemore in
May.

CONFERENCE: A very successful Annual Conference and Annual Din-
ner were held in October in Stirling, when a record number of Members
and Guests attended.

“SCOTTISH BIRDS”: Four numbers of the Club Journal were pub-
lished during the Session, including one double number. Copies of the
Journal were sent to a number of Libraries, Museums and Ornithological
Societies not only in Britain but also in America, Australia, Belgium, China,
Denmark, Germany, Holland, Norway and Poland. Exchanges arranged
with British and Overseas Journals have added to the number of up-to-
date scientific Journals in the Club Library.

SCOTTISH BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE: The Council appointed
Dr James W. Campbell to replace the late Dr E. V. Baxter as Convenor.
The Committee met during the Session to adjudicate on records published
during the year, and the Review for 1959 is published in “Scottish Birds.”

SCOTTISH CENTRE FOR ORNITHOLOGY AND BIRD PROTEC-
TION: The establishment of the Scottish Centre was made possible by a
grant of £4,000 to the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Trust by an anonymous
donor, The premises were purchased by the Trust and various alterations
were carried out in order to provide accommodation for the S.O.C. and the
R.S.P.B. on the ground floor, with private living quarters for the Water-

1960 OBEICIAL SECTION 347

stons above the offices. The balance of cash following the purchase of the
premises was used to cover the cost of alterations. It has been agreed
between the Trust and the Club that, after meeting all annual charges
and maintenance out of rents received, any surplus will be credited to a
“House Fabric Fund” as a reserve for contingencies in connection with
the property. Until this Fund reaches £1,000 the Club will contribute to it
the sum of £50 a year. The state of this Fund is shown with the Club
Accounts. The Trust have granted a full repairing lease to the S.O.C. ata
nominal rent, and the S.O.C. after taking independent advice, have granted
sub-leases to the R.S.P.B. for their Offices and to the Waterstons for
their private quarters at an annual rent of £100 in each case, the S.O.C.
being responsible for paying the whole rates and other outgoings.

The Council have pleasure in reporting a successful first year at the new
Centre, which was officially opened in October 1959 by the Earl of
Wemyss and March in the presence of a gathering of representatives of
ornithological organisations in Scotland, England and Ireland. A large
number of people, including visitors from Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Rhodesia, Sweden and the West Indies,
have visited the Centre during the Session, and the office has dealt with
numerous enquiries about bird-watching holidays and other facilities. In-
formal meetings for Juniors and others were held in the Library during
the winter, and a week-end Conference of the Junior Bird Recorders’ Club
was held at the Centre in April.

CLUB LIBRARY: During the year a large number of books and
Journals were received in addition to the 200 volumes from the Library
of the late Mr T. Leslie Smith. Both Reference and Lending sections
have thus been extended, and the Council records its thanks to all those
who have presented both old and new books to the Library. A Library
Fund has been established for the purchase of new books and Journals.

PUBLICATION: During the Session the Club sponsored the publication
of “The Birds of Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve,’ by F. D. Hamilton and
K. S. Macgregor, as a reprint from the “Transactions of the East Lothian
Antiquarian and Field Naturalists’ Society.” This publication, which is
on sale to Members and others, will be of considerable value to ornitholo-
gists who visit the Reserve.

REPRESENTATION: Dr Berry officially represented the Club at the
Conference of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature
held in Poland in June. Mr George Waterston continues to represent the
Club on the Council and Scientific Advisory Committee of the British
Trust for Ornithology.

For the Council,
CHARLES G. CONNELL,
President.

TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Twenty-Fourth Annual General Meeting of the Club was held in
the Marine Hotel, North Berwick, on Saturday, 29th October 1960. An
attendance of over a hundred Members was presided over by Sir Charles
G. Connell, President of the Club.

MINUTES: The Minutes of the Twenty-third Annual General Meeting,
held at Stirling on 24th October 1959, were read and approved.

REPORT OF COUNCIL: (See preceding page). This was submitted by
the Chairman. In moving the adoption of the Report, the Chairman said
that the Council hoped to publish shortly a “Check-list of the Birds of
Duddingston Loch Bird Sanctuary” which would be issued free to Mem-
bers as a special supplement to “Scottish Birds.” Arrangements would also

348 OFICIAL SECTION 1(10)

be made in the near future for indexing the Journal, and for making
binding facilities available. He also drew the attention of the Meeting to
the recent award of the Silver Medal of the R.S.P.B. to Lt. Col. J. P.
Grant, Member of Council, for outstanding services to bird protection.
The Report was adopted.

TREASURER’S REPORT: In presenting the Accounts, the Hon.
Treasurer pointed out that the reduction in the overall surplus of the
Revenue Account this year was due to extraordinary expenditure in con-
nection with the completion of the move to 21 Regent Terrace, the publica-
tion of “The Birds of Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve,” and also to a larger
allocation of funds for “Scottish Birds.” Deeds of Covenant for subscrip-
tions to the Club had now been approved by Inland Revenue, and he
stressed the advantage to the Club of this form of subscription. Already
over 60 Deeds of Covenant had been signed, bringing in additional revenue
of over £45. Interest from the late Dr E. V. Baxter’s Endowment, which
had been invested in The Equities Investment Fund for Charities, would be
available in the coming year. A sum of £500 from the accumulated overall
surplus of £818 shown in the Balance Sheet at present in the Edinburgh
Savings Bank at 3% interest would be transferred to Defence Bonds at
5% interest.

Mr D. G. Andrew, Hon. Treasurer of the House Fabric Fund, presented
the first accounts of this Fund, and pointed out that of the £4,000 received
by the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Trust, £3,000 had been applied to the
purchase of the premises, and of the remaining £1,000, the sum of £944
had been used in alterations. The Accounts showed a healthy position;
but the decision of Council to re-wire part of the electrical installation of
the premises would reduce the surplus in the coming year. Both these
Accounts were approved.

APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR: Mr Arthur Walker, C.A., was re-
elected Auditor for the ensuing Session.

ELECTION OF PRESIDENT: The Council’s recommendation that
Professor M. F. M. Meiklejohn be elected President of the Club to re-
place Sir Charles G. Connell, who had completed his term of office, was
approved.

ELECTION OF VICE-PRESIDENT: The Council’s recommendation
that Dr Ian D. Pennie be elected Vice-President of the Club in succession
to Professor Meiklejohn was approved.

ELECTION OF COUNCIL MEMBERS: The Council’s recommendation
that Dr James W. Campbell and Dr W. J. Eggeling be elected to Council
to replace Dr Ian D. Pennie on his election as Vice-President, and Dr
John Berry, who was due to retire by rotation, was approved.

FAMILY MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION: The following alteration
to the Club Constitution was unanimously approved :— Add to 3. MEM-
BERSHIP (e): “Married couples shall be eligible for joint Membership at
an annual subscription of 40s and shall enjoy all the usual privileges of
Membership with the exception that they shall be entitled to receive only
one copy of “Scottish Birds” (Club Journal), and any other literature
circulated by the Club between them.”

MIGRATION RESEARCH BY RADAR: At the invitation of the
Chairman, Dr W. R. P. Bourne of the Edward Grey Institute, Oxford,
asked Members to send him any observations on movements of migrants or
sudden influxes of birds which might assist him in the interpretation of
migration movements seen on the radar screen.

WHOOPER SWAN ENQUIRY: Miss Betty Garden spoke briefly about
he Whooper Swan Enquiry sponsored by the B.T.O. and the Wildfowl

rust.

PEREGRINE ENQUIRY: Dr R. A. Ratcliffe of the Nature Conservancy

1960 OFFICIAL SECTION 349

appealed for the support of Members in the B.T.O. Peregrine Census
Enquiry.

“THE ISLE OF MAY”: The Chairman drew Members’ attention to
the advance copy of a new book on “The Isle of May” by Dr W. J.
Eggeling, which would be published on 9th November. The publication of
this book has been very much an act of faith on the part of the pub-
lishers as the sales of a specialised work of this kind are bound to be
small. He hoped that if Members felt that the publication of excellent
works of reference of this kind was something really worthwhile, they
would support it by purchasing copies.

VOTES OF THANKS: The Chairman asked the meeting to accord a
hearty vote of thanks to the Secretary for her organisation of the Con-
ference, and to those who had been responsible for the various Exhibi-
tions on view—to Dr David Jenkins and Dr Adam Watson for the Ex-
hibit of the Red Grouse in Scotland Enquiry; to Dr George Dunnet and
his assistants for the Fulmar Exhibit; and to Mr T. Scott Kelly, Mr
Quintin Mitchell, Mr Ritchie Seath, and Mr Arthur Ablett for loaning
the fine original paintings by Archibald Thorburn, Philip Rickman, and
Edwin Alexander. This was warmly accorded.

Professor Meiklejohn asked the Meeting to accord a special vote of
thanks to the retiring President, Sir Charles G. Connell, for the immense
amount of work and interest he had taken in Club affairs during his
term of office, particularly in connection with the establishment of the
new ‘Centre which owed so much to his inspiration and help; and also to
Ladv Connell for her hospitality and interest. This was very warmly ac-
corded.

Revenue Account for the year ended 3list August 1960

Year to Year to
31/8/60 31/8/59

INCOME :—
Subscriptions received during year ae lO Ze On ee lOUt
Income from Miss L. J. Rintoul’s and Dr E. V.

Baxter’s Endowments a O50) 77h1 40
Savings Bank interest Eke ee me 16349 13
Sale of Badges and Field Lists by, Bas 10 12 10 6

LWILOZE7 «OO E1070
EXPENDITURE :—
Hire of Lecture Halls and equipment a £96 vi 7 89
Lecturers’ expenses Os 76 9 53
Postages, printing, stationery and sundry expenses 115 ni 2 102
Secretarial services ae 338) UZ 48 353
Scottish Centre for Ornithology and Bird Protection—
Opening Ceremony expenses less donations £12 3: O04 ~~
Furniture and equipment including telephone
installation, curtain material, paraffin heater,
fire extinguishers, light fittings and film screen 73 8 9 116
Annual contribution to House Fabric Fund ... 50 0 0 _
Heating and lighting, telephone and cleaning

attributable to the Club AZ 3vy. 5 os
pee ection and distribution of Scottish Birds Vol. I

Nos. 5-8 Cost é Seek 0)

Less—Sales to non- “members ‘£54: receipts
from advertisements £84, 9/6 138 9 6 197. 3.4 171

350 OFFICIAL SECTION 1(10)

Subscriptions to Council for Nature, B.T.O., |

kS. 2. Baand AGP: sie ive 5. 2 10
Conference net cost bt £9 sh 16 15 4 A()
Contribution to Library Fund at = me 10:0: 0 --
Purchase of Field Lists me A Ahite —
Publication of Birds of Aberlady Bay Report

Cost £86 18 4

Less—Contribution from The Edinburgh

Bird Bulletin £30 and sales £10, 10s 40 10 O 46 8 4 —
£1077 4 O £934
Surplus for year carried to Balance Sheet __... 30 3 O 136

————

LLIO7) gs in £1070

Library Fund Account for the year ended 31st August 1960

ASvat As at
31/8/60 31/8/59

Donations received AB ee zy ee bee £16 10
Sale of duplicate copies a0 ae £2 ae iZ 15
Contribution from Revenue Account os i. 103-0

|

6
0
(0)
£39 SIG
Less—Purchases eo ees Bx os ae. 419 2
Surplus for year carried to Balance Sheet - £34 6 4

Balance Sheet as at 31st August 1960

1960 1959
Surplus at 3lst August 1959 _... : et &. JIBISE Suet 682
Add—Surplus for year per Revenue Account on 30)... 3°20 136
£848 6 4 818
Library Fund—Surplus for year per Account... 34.6 4 —
Endowments (the free annual income of which is
available for the advancement of ornithology)
Miss L. J. Rintoul’s Endowment ae bss 1000 0 O 1000
Dr E. V. Baxter’s Endowment A we 1000 0 O —
£2882 12 8 1818
Cash in Edinburgh Savings Bank ... hs £859 9 10 693
Cash in Royal Bank of Scotland Current “Account 23,42 10 101
Cash in hand a as ath OnOa0 6
Debt due to the Club for advertisements
in Scottish Birds si Be. sap ai ats OmcOte0 18
£882 12 8 818
£1151 33% War Stock at cost ; =, 1000 0 0 1000
976 units The Equities Investment Fund for.
Charities at cost is i 1000 0 O —
£2882 12 8 1818

1960 @ODRICINE SECON 351

EDINBURGH, 25th September 1960—I have examined the foregoing
Revenue Account and Balance Sheet of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club
for the year ended 3lst August 1960, and certify that in my opinion they
are correctly stated and sufficiently vouched.

(Signed) ARTHUR WALKER, C.A.

House Fabric Fund — Summary of Accounts for period
29th June 1959 to 31st August 1960
RECEIPTS

Grant from anonymous donor—£4000 whereof £3000 applied
towards purchase of 21 Regent Terrace, and balance, after
deduction of purchase expenses, received from Messrs

J. & F. Anderson for credit of this Fund es ae £950 0 0
Rent from Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
at £100 p.a. for period 1 Oct. 59 to 11 Nov. 60. ee Ars
Rent from Mr and Mrs Waterston at £100 p.a. for period
15 Aug. 59 to 11 Nov. 60 Me 125) 10)0
Annual contribution from S.O.C. Revenue Account. wes 50 0 0
Miscellaneous interests a ae on Ses ree 51 SaO
£1241 18 2
EXPENDITURE
Repairs and alterations ee a tn £944 12 11
Property burdens—
Rates a Se iy eee Oe LOnill
Feuduty oe My AN)
Gardens Assessment ie yrs.) ey 16 0 O
Schedule “A” Tax on ed On 710
Insurance : an 13 14 6
12) 16 1
Miscellaneous payments fie ZATRO 1069 6 6
On deposit with Edinburgh Mutual &
Dunedin Building Society ae ae £238 9 4
Less balance due to Messrs Fraser,
Stodart & Ballingall, W-S. & des 65 17 8

PEGA WL ts)

5th October 1960.—I have examined the foregoing Accounts of the
House Fabric Fund of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club for the period
from 29th June 1959 to 3lst August 1960 and certify that in my opinion
they are correctly stated and sufficiently vouched.

(Signed) ANDREW T. MACMILLAN, C.A.

DEEDS OF COVENANT

The Club has now been recognised as a charity by the Inland Revenue.
This means that Members who pay Income Tax at the full rate on some
part of their income can greatly benefit Club funds at no extra cost or
inconvenience to themselves by taking out seven-year Deeds of Covenant
in respect of their subscriptions. The reclaim of tax is carried out by the
Club office and the Secretary will ask Members each year to sign and
return a completed Certificate for Deduction of Tax. This reclaim on a
subscription of twenty-five shillings will bring in over fifteen shillings
per annum as additional income to the Club.

Members who have not already paid their subscriptions for the current
year and also those who have already done so are urged if possible to
Sign a Deed of Covenant for their subscription, for which an appropriate
form may be obtained from the Secretary. There has already been an
encouraging response and Members who have signed Covenants are
warmly thanked for their help.

352 OFFICIAL SECTION 1(10)

FAMILY MEMBERSHIP

Members are asked to note, in the Minutes of the Annual General
Meeting of the Club held on 29th October 1960 which are published in
this issue, that an alteration to the Club Constitution under MEMBER-
SHIP (e), to include a Family Membership subscription, is now effective
and is available to Members who wish to take advantage of this type of
subscription.

WEEK-END EXCURSION TO DUMFRIES

Arrangements have again been made this year with the County Hotel,
Dumfries, for a weekend Excursion to the Solway to see the geese.

Accommodation has been arranged for the weekend 17th to 19th Feb-
ruary 1961 at inclusive terms of £4 per person as follows: Bed on Friday
night 17th; breakfast, packed lunch, dinner and bed on Saturday 18th;
breakfast and packed lunch on Sunday 19th.

Members wishing to come on this Excursion should book direct with
the Manager, The County Hotel, Dumfries (Tel. 146) mentioning that
they are Members of the Club; they may also bring guests. Arrange-
ments for transport by private cars to Dumfries should be made with
Branch Secretaries. It is advisable to bring warm clothing and thermos
flasks, and if possible, gum boots.

It is regretted that owing to the difficulty of obtaining suitable dates
for this Excursion it has been impossible to avoid coinciding with the
date of the St Andrews Branch Meeting.

SPECIAL MEETING FOR JUNIOR MEMBERS

A special combined Meeting for Junior Members of the Club and
Members of the Junior Bird Recorders’ Club for the R.S.P.B. will be
held in the Scottish Centre for Ornithology and Bird Protection, 21
Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7, on Wednesday, 28th December, 1960, at
7 p.m.

The programme will include special exhibitions, a Bird Quiz, films and
refreshments. Junior Members must inform the Secretary not later than
26th December if they intend to be present and whether they would
like to exhibit anything.

“THE BIRDS OF ABERLADY BAY NATURE RESERVE”

Members are reminded that this publication, by F. D. Hamilton and
K. S. Macgregor, is on sale in the Club Office, price 5s (5s 4d post free).
This is an invaluable work of reference for anyone who is interested in
the Reserve, and by supporting it Members will enable the Club to pro-
vide similar useful publications in the future.

OPERATION OSPREY, 1961

The R.S.P.B. will once again require the assistance of volunteer war-
dens between Ist April and mid-August to guard the Ospreys at Loch
Garten and to act as Guides to the public visiting the Observation Post in
the Sanctuary area. Wardens will be accommodated at a Base Camp
where food, tents and camp equipment will be provided free. Each per-
son is however expected to bring his own sleeping bag and pillow slip.
Provided a sufficient number of Wardens are available, preferably for
periods of not less than a week at a time, each one will have _every third
day free of duties. A succession of female cook-caterers will also be re-
quired for the period.

Anyone wishing to assist should send full details and references as soon
as possible to Mr George Waterston, 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7.

“A Real Paradise for
Birdwatchers ©

MPPHE enormity of the landscapes and the ever recurring contrasts of

Icelandic scenery have a unique attraction to tourists and bring them
back again year after year. And to the ornithologist, it is a veritable
treasure house. It has often been referred to as “a real paradise for bird-
watchers” because of its wealth in bird-life. About 70 species nest there
and more than 200 have been observed. Most of the birds that flock in
Iceland find there a land of peace where they are protected by the un-
written law of kindness; consequently they are tamer there than in most
other places.

Although Iceland is not an arctic country, some true arctic birds can
be studied there such as the Little Auk, the Purple Sandpiper, the Grey
Phalarope, Brunnich’s Guillemot and the long-tailed duck. The Sea-eagle
is still found there and the famous Iceland Gyr-falcon is not uncommon,
A Snowy Owl flapping over a pitch black lava stream is an impressive
sight. Even the capital, Reykjavik, has some interesting bird inhabitants.
On an islet in the Lake Tjornin, the Arctic Tern breeds in great numbers.
Red-necked Phalaropes often flock on the lake which is also alive with
ducks of many species. An hour’s drive from Reykjavik to the old seat of
the Icelandic Parliament at Thingvellir may result in the thrilling sight
of the Great Northern Diver which breeds nowhere else in Europe. A flight
of half an hour brings the ornithologist to the rich bird cliffs of the West-
man Islands. The rocky island, Eldey, off the Reykjavik peninsula, is oc-
cupied by about 15,000 pairs of North Atlantic Gannet, the largest single
colony of this species in the world. On the oases south of Hofsjokull, is
the world’s largest breeding colony of the Pinkfooted Goose.

Lake Myvatn in northern Iceland has been called the Mecca of bird
watchers. This five mile by eight mile lake, which is also renowned for its
unrivalled scenic beauty, has the largest concentration in Europe of breed-
ing ducks. Fifteen species nest there; two of them, the Barrow’s Goldeneye
and the Harlequin Duck, nest nowhere else in Europe outside Iceland.

The total number of ducks and ducklings on the lake in late summer
has been estimated at 140,000. At Myvatn, a unique form of peaceful co-
existence between man and bird has developed through the ages. On the
idyllic island of Slutnes, in order to look at their eggs, one has to lift some
of the ducks from their nests.

For full details of this enchanting
country and how to get there, con-
tact ICELANDAIR, 33 St Enoch
Square, GLASGOW, C.1 (Tel. CITy
3638). There is a daily service by
modern Viscount aircraft and spec-
ial reduced rates are available for
group travel,

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THE ISLE OF MAY

A SCOTTISH NATURE RESERVE
W. J. EGGELING

Foreword by V. C. WYNNE-EDWARDS

The Isle of May in the Firth of Forth has been renowned
for over a century as outstandingly interesting to

naturalists, especially as a station for the study of bird
migration. Dr Eggeling is the secretary of the committee
in charge of the island’s Bird Observatory. But the

interest of the book extends beyond ornithology, touching
as it does on all the aspects of the Isle, conveying

the charm which draws many visitors.

2760 pages 35 photographs line drawings
Price 30s

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The Journal of
The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

Vol. I No. 11

Spring 1961

Re Ven SHILLINGS

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

PPLE Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was founded in 1936 and membership

is open to all interested in Scottish ornithology. Meetings are held
during the winter months in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and
St Andrews, at which lectures by prominent ornithologists are given and
films exhibited. Excursions are organised in the summer to places of
ornithological interest.

The aims and objects of the Club are to (a) encourage and direct the
study of Scottish Ornithology in all its branches; (b) co-ordinate the
efforts of Scottish Ornithologists and encourage co-operation between field
and indoor worker; (c) encourage ornithological research in Scotland in
co-operation with other organisations; (d) hold meetings at centres to be
arranged at which Lectures are given, films exhibited, and discussions held;
and (e) publish or arrange for the publication of statistics and information
with regard to Scottish ornithology.

There are no entry fees for Membership. The Annual subscription is
25/-; or 7/6 in the case of Members under twenty-one years of age or in
the case of University undergraduates who satisfy the Council of their status
as such at the time at which their subscriptions fall due in any year.
“Scottish Birds” is issued free to members.

The affairs of the Club are controlled by a Council composed of the Hon.
Presidents, the President, the Vice-President, the Hon. Treasurer, one
Representative of each Branch Committee appointed annually by the
Branch, and ten other Members of the Club elected at an Annual General
Meeting. Two of the last named retire annually by rotation and shall not
be eligible for re-election for one year.

A Scottish Bird Records’ Committee, appointed by the Council, produce
an annual Report on “Ornithological Changes in Scotland.”

Full details are given in the Syllabus of Lectures Card of the names of
the present Office-bearers of the Club.

An official tie with small white Crested Tits embroidered on it can be
obtained in dark green or in navy blue by Members only from Messrs R.
W. Forsyth Ltd., Princes Street, Edinburgh, or 5 Renfield Street. Glasgow,
C.2 at a cost of 16s 9d post extra. A small brooch in silver and blue can be
obtained for the use of Members of the Club. Price 2s 6d each from the
Secretary, or from Hon. Branch Secretaries.

Forms of application for Membership, copy of the Club Constitution,
and other literature is obtainable from the Club Secretary, Mrs George
Waterston, Scottish Centre for Ornithology and Bird Protection, 21
Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7. (Tel. Waverley 6042).

CLUB-ROOM AND LIBRARY

The Club-room and Library at 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7, will
be available to members during office hours, and on Wednesday evenings
from 7 to 10 p.m. (except the Wednesdays of Branch Meetings). Mem-
bers may use the Reference Library and borrow books from the Dupli-
cate Section. Facilities for making tea or coffee are available at a nominal
charge and members may bring guests by arrangement. The Aldis 2” x
2” slide projector and screen may be used for the informal showing of
slides at a charge of 2s 6d per night to cover the replacement of bulbs.

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

All notes dealing with birds in the eastern Lowlands, from Berwick-on-
Tweed to Dundee, should be submitted to A. T. Macmillan, 66 Spylaw
Bank Road, Edinburgh, 13; all other contributions to M. F. M. Meikle-
john, 16 Athole Gardens, Glasgow, W.2. It would be helpful if notes were
typewritten, if possible, and double spaced.

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Recent Books

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TWEEDDALE COURT
14 HIGH STREET

EDINB UR Grin

THE ISLE OF MAY
W. J. Eggeling

“Conveys admirably the charm and appeal of this tiny isle.
The book is of outstanding interest to every naturalist and
ornithologist.’’—‘“The Weekly Scotsman.”’

Price 30s.
ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR

J. L. Cloudsley-Thompson

. . will almost certainly come to rank as a classic popular
work on the study of animal behaviour. There is a fine
collections of drawings and photographs.”’

—‘‘John o’ London’s.”’

Price 15s.

BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES, VOLUME 9
David A. Bannerman and George E. Lodge

Volume 9 of this great work deals with the godwits, cur-
lews, sandpipers, woodcock, snipe, phalaropes, dunlins and
stints. 26 magnificent colour plates by George Lodge illus-
trate the text.

THE BIRDS OF BORNEO
Bertram E. Smythies

The main text of this book is a full systematic list of the
554 species recorded in the area to 1958. The book is illus-
trated with forty-six colour plates by Commander A. M.
Hughes, covering 434 species, and forty-two half tone plates.

Price 84s.

Price 63s.

PCO PM aH BIRDS

THE JOURNAL OF THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGIS7S’ CLUB

Vol. I No. 11 Spring 1961

Edited by M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN, with the assistance of D. G. ANDREW and
A. T. MACMILLAN. Business Editor, ARTHUR J. SMITH. Cover design
(Greenshanks) by LEN FULLERTON, Published quarterly.

Editorial

TPHIS might be said to be a Review Number of Scottish

Birds, in that it contains more reviews than this journal
has ever had before, and it is gratifying to see that
three of the books concerned are by members of the Scottish
Ornithologists’ Club. From the editorial point of view the
purpose of such accounts is to help bird-watchers, especially
the less expert, to choose what books they wish to purchase.
It is beyond the means of most of us to get all the bird books
published in Britain, and so a selective approach must be
made. It is not difficult, even for the poorest of us, to collect
books on one aspect of ornithology, whether it be migration,
behaviour, distribution or systematics. Much of contemporary
ornithology is bedevilled by the problems of identification,
which is really only the ABC of the subject and, while diffi-
culties will always exist here, it is best to have an interest
outside it. We are in danger sometimes of doing too much
“Bird-spotting” and too little reading and, even if you cannot
afford all the books you would like to have, please remember
that the Club now has an excellent library at 21 Regent Ter-
race, Edinburgh.

SPECIAL JUNIOR MEETING

A special meeting for Junior members of the Club and members of the
J.B.R.C. has been arranged for Saturday, 15th April, 1961. This will take
the form of a conducted Excursion by private bus, possibly to Linlithgow
Loch, leaving 21 Regent Terrace at 2.30 p.m. If the weather is unsuitable
other arrangements will be made. Refreshments will be provided, but a
small charge will be made to cover the cost of the bus hire. Junior mem-
bers wishing to attend this Excursion must inform the Club Secretary not
later than Ist April.

CLUB LIBRARY

Miss Rona Hunter has very kindly prepared a typewritten list of all
the books in the Club’s Lending Library. This list is available on loan.

354 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 1(11)
ISLE OF MAY BIRD OBSERVATORY AND FIELD
STATION REPORT FOR 1960

Prepared for the Observatory Committee
by W. J. EGGELING, Hon. Secretary.

An island field station depending for its records exclusively
on volunteer observers cannot expect to maintain a continuous
cover throughout every migration season. In 1960 the May
was manned for most of April-May and for the greater part of
August and September, but October went almost entirely
unreported. June and July, also, were poorly covered, so that
little new was recorded of the breeding populations and very
few nestlings were ringed. This is a position which could
easily be rectified by ornithologists seeking a cheap and pleas-
ant summer holiday for their families.

Highlights of 1960 were the first recorded occurrences of
Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax, Pelican Pelecanus sp.,
Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps and Arctic Warbler
Phylloscopus borealis. The first three must all be suspect as
possible escapes from captivity.

Migration

Spring. As in 1959, the spring was mostly warm and dry
with relatively little rain, drizzle, fog or “haar.” There were
no particularly large arrivals although the ringing total was
higher than for several years, due mainly to periods of easterly
weather in the first week of April and in the first and second
weeks of May. There were observational gaps on 27th-28th
April, 16th-20th May and 31st May.

An east wind (force 2-4) on Ist April, which increased to
force 5 after dark, was succeeded on 2nd by a south-east wind
(force 6-7) accompanied by poor visibility, bringing in 5 Lap-
wings, over 80 Blackbirds, 10 Song Thrushes, 30 Skylarks, 15
male Wheatears, over 20 Meadow Pipits, 7 Robins, 15 Chaffin-
ches and the first Chiffchaff. One of the 6 Robins trapped was
undoubtedly Continental and another probably so; the remain-
der appeared to be British. In similar weather on 3rd April
more Lapwings arrived and although many Blackbirds and
all but the wintering Robins had departed these were replaced
by about 25 Redwings, several Song Thrushes, 4 Fieldfares
and a Missel Thrush. More Meadow Pipits (over 100) were
recorded but noticeably fewer Wheatears.

South-east and south-south-east winds (force 2-3) on 4th,
with mixed visibility, resulted in considerable Blackbird
movement, some birds departing but many others coming in.

1961 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 355

Meadow Pipit and Lapwing passage continued and a few
Continental Song Thrushes and Robins arrived. A party of 5
Continental Great Tits joined 3 that had over-wintered, all
8 being trapped together. The 5th saw the end of the easterly
weather, the wind going south to south-west and temporarily
increasing in strength to force 5 with good visibility. Unex-
pectedly, Blackbird numbers remained high, 200 birds arriving
to replace about 100 which had departed the previous night:
50 were ringed compared with 30 on 4th, 13 on 3rd and 16 on
2nd. Starling numbers almost doubled from 80 to 150, and a
Ring Ouzel and 2 Woodcocks were newcomers, Apart from a
sustained trickle of Goldcrests and Wrens there was a steady
decrease in passage between 6th and 10th April, but a female
Black Redstart turned up on 11th and a party of about 40 alba
wagtails looked in fleetingly on 12th. The first Willow Warbler
appeared on 17th, first Redstart on 19th, Sandwich Tern on
25th and Swallow next day. :

From lst to 7th May winds were variable and light; from
8th to 14th they were east, force 2-6. On the 3rd, some Swal-
lows, the first Swift and House Martin, 2 Ring Ouzels, the first
Sedge Warbler, the first Whinchat, 3 Redstarts and a consider-
able increase in Wheatears were recorded. The first Sand
Martin was seen on 4th. From 3rd May until at least the middle
of the month, Whinchats (1-8 daily), Redstarts (1-18 daily)
and Wheatears (mostly 12-20 daily) were on the move, with
Willow Warblers and Whitethroats (up to 40 of each) passing
most days. There was a Goldfinch on 6th (only the ninth occur-
rence), and a Lesser Redpoll and the first “comic” Tern on 7th.
Two Yellow Wagtails were seen on 6th, with single birds on
7th and 12th. A Tree Pipit, a Turtle Dove and 10 Tree Spar-
rows (all trapped) turned up on 9th, and there were single
Corncrakes on 9th and 14th. Single Lesser Whitethroats were
recorded on 7th and 11th, single Grasshopper Warblers on
9th and 10th, and the first Garden Warbler and Blackcap on
13th.

_The only considerable influxes were those which included
40 Willow Warblers on the 7th, and about 40 Whitethroats and
40 Willow Warblers on the 14th. The latter was easily the most
exciting day of spring, and the only one when more than
single Spotted and Pied Flycatchers were reported (12 and 3
respectively). The movement followed south-east wind, force
6, and heavy rain the previous day: the 81 birds ringed in-
cluded 10 Redstarts, 4 Whinchats, 6 Spotted Flycatchers, 20
Willow Warblers, 29 Whitethroats, 3 Garden Warblers and 6
more Grasshopper Warblers. A Night Heron appeared at the
East Landing (first record for the island) and a Siskin was
seen.

Autumn. The island was manned from 4th to 10th and 17th
to 3lst August, throughout September and on Ist-3rd October.

356 ISLE OF MAY “‘REPOR& 1(11)

From light-keeper information, and also from observations at
Fife Ness, it is clear that much migration was missed in Oct-
ober.

Winds throughout August were light and very variable,
scarcely ever south-east. Normal autumn coasting in small
numbers was recorded: Wheatears logged between 15 and 30,
and Swallows mostly at between 10 and 25, daily. In the even-
ing of 24th August the wind was fresh north-east and the
island enveloped in fog; next morning it was strong north-east
with visibility down to 100 yards. In the afternoon of 25th the
wind went south-east but on 26th August and also on 27th and
28th it was back in the north or north-east. A single Pied Fly-
catcher was seen on 24th August but both next day and on
26th 35 were recorded, numbers dropping gradually thereafter.
Garden Warbler numbers rose from 1 on 24th to 10 on 25th,
fell to 6 on 26th and rose again to 25 on 27th and 28th. Willow
Warblers (and Whitethroats) showed the same pattern: 4 (0)
on 24th, 40 (0) on 25th, 50 (2) on 26th, 80 (20) on 27th, 50 (15)
on 28th, with numbers declining thereafter. Much the same
was true of Whinchats, Redstarts and Spotted Flycatchers: 1,
0, 0, respectively on 24th; 3, 2, 1,: on 25th; 10, 6, 1, on 26th; 30,
15, 8, on 27th; 25, 15, 1 on 28th, with generally smaller num-
bers on following days.

Other records for August included the inexplicable Pelican
on 4th; a Sooty Shearwater on 5th; an early Great Skua on
7th; single Wood Warblers on 8th-10th and 31st; 1-5 Knots on
five days between 20th and 26th; the island’s first Arctic War-
bler on 26th; an Aquatic Warbler on 27th; 4 if not 5 Wrynecks
on 27th-28th; a Little Stint, 2 Barred Warblers, a pair of
Stonechats, 2 Ortolans and a quite exceptionally early Field-
fare on 28th; and 2 Icterine Warblers on the 29th. A Wren and
2 Blackbirds on 21st August and another Blackbird on 28th
were also unusual dates. A trickle of Tree Pipits passed
through between 26th August and 2nd September.

The wind in the first two weeks of September was variable
but on 6th, when it moved light south-east, there was markedly
increased Swallow (320) and Meadow Pipit (1,100) movement,
these numbers comparing with only 35 and 400, respectively
the day before. Pipits were also numerous on 8th (500) and
from 9th-11th (200, 200, 150). During the night of 15th-16th the
wind again went south-east, backing east to north-east in the
afternoon of 16th and veering to south-east gale (with a ten-
dency to back east) towards dusk: the day was thickly over-
cast, with heavy showers. On 17th the wind was due east,
force 3-5, with fog or thick fog all day, but by 18th, abated to
force 1-3 with improved visibility, it was moving erratically
between south-west and south-east. In the four days 16th-19th,
231 birds were trapped. Small-scale Meadow Pipit and Swal-

1961 ISBENOH MAY REPORT 357

low passage continued throughout most of the second fort-
night of the month with a jump in Pipit numbers from 50 to
300 on 18th and of Swallows from 10 to 300 on 19th. There
was another productive spell of weather at the end of Septem-
ber. The wind went south-east in the evening of 26th and
stayed in that quarter until mid-day 30th, when it backed to
east, remaining there until noon on 3rd October.

Although September had opened auspiciously with a Scarlet
Grosbeak on the lst it was not until the wind went south-east
on the 16th that there was any sizeable arrival of overseas
migrants. That afternoon 5 Redstarts, 2 Whirchats, 3 Garden
Warblers, 4 Pied Flycatchers and a Red-breasted Flycatcher
were seen, and the first Tree Pipit for 2 weeks. Next day (17th),
4 Kestrels, 25 Wheatears, 50 Redstarts, 10 Whinchats, 7 Blue-
throats, 10 Robins, 6 Blackcaps, 50 Garden Warblers (a high
count), 6 Whitethroats, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 15 Willow
Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 10 Pied Flycatchers, a Spotted Fly-
catcher, 15 Tree Pipits, a Wryneck, 10 Song Thrushes, 2 Red-
wings, 45 Siskins and 4 Chaffinches were recorded. The next
few days were equally productive, although overall numbers
fell: there was another Red-breasted Flycatcher on 18th Sep-
tember and 2 Lapland Buntings were present on 18th-19th. A
second Aquatic Warbler was identified on 19th.

After a lull, a Turtle Dove appeared on 27th September, and
the first major autumn arrival of Thrushes took place on 28th,
when 75 Song Thrushes, 175 Redwings, 2 Ring Ouzels and 6
Blackbirds (but no Fieldfares) were recorded and 6 Pied Fly-
catchers and another Ortolan were seen, There were further
falls of Turdidae during the next five days. A Yellow-browed
Warbler was present from 28th-30th September and a Rustic
Bunting from 29th September to 2nd October.

Other noteworthy autumn occurrences not mentioned above
included a Sooty Shearwater on lst September, 2 Ruffs on
13th, the island’s second Firecrest on 22nd, 10 Whimbrel (a
large number for the May) on 24th, a Redpoll on 25th, a Gold-
eneye'on 28th, and a phenomenal movement of at least 10,000
“comic” Terns observed at about 11 a.m. on 30th September
moving steadily south-east (none the day before, only 400 on
lst October and again none on 2nd). Little Stints were report-
ed on 16th September (2), 20th-21st (1), 24th (1), 25th (2) and
26th-27th September (1).

Except for the first three days of the month, only occasional
notes from the Principal Keeper are available for October.
Four Blackcaps were present on Ist-2nd, 10 on 3rd, 1 on 23rd,
6 on 24th, 1 on 29th-30th (and one on 8th November). Chiff-
chaff numbers built up from 1 on 29th September to 15 on 2nd
October and 40 on 3rd—a large number for the island; a single
bird was seen on 27th. A third Red-breasted Flycatcher appear-

358 ISLE "OF MAY REPORT 1(11)

ed on 2nd October and was ringed next day. Goldcrests were
estimated at 50 on 2nd October, the highest number of the
autumn. A Great Grey Shrike came in the same day and there
were others (at least 3 birds involved) on 21st-22nd, 25th and
30th. There was a Bluethroat on 3rd October, when 70 Sky-
larks (compared with 10 on 2nd) were recorded, as well as
2 Bar-tailed Godwits (first October occurrence). The light-
house staff reported a big fall of Fieldfares, Redwings, Song
Thrushes and Blackbirds on 21st October and subsequent days,
but most of the birds had moved on by 26th. A pair of Bull-
finches visited the island briefly on Z8th October, the first
record of this species since 1910, and a late Great Skua was
seen on 9th November.

Breeding Populations

A pair of Teal Anas crecca nested for the first time on record.
On 15th May a light-keeper flushed the duck from a nestful of
eggs under the end of an uptilted plank on the North Ness.
The eggs vanished later, probably taken by gulls. Down and
feathers from the nest confirmed the identification.

On 28th May, the breeding burrow of a pair of Shelduck
Tadorna tadorna was discovered on the North Plateau and on
12th June the parent birds were encountered escorting 8 duck-
lings to the sea near Burnett’s Leap. This is only the second
recorded instance of this species breeding on the May: the
first occasion was in 1936.

From 1956 to 1959 a pair of Swallows had nested in the Old
Naval buildings. In 1960 two pairs bred, one in the same place,
raising two broods, the other in the Tractor House, raising
certainly one. Again only one pair of Pied Wagtails nested,
and there was a big and quite unexpected drop in the number
of nesting Linnets. Since 1953, when 3 pairs nested, the breed-
ing population had built up to at least 10 pairs in 1959, but in
1960 only two pairs turned up, 3 of the birds involved having
been ringed in previous years. One of the pairs certainly
nested and possibly both, but it is improbable that more than
two broods of young flew.

The daily census records for Teal and Linnet deserve men-
tion. Between April 14th, when a pair of Teal were noted, and
May 15th, when their nest was found, no Teal at all were
recorded. Similarly, on many days in the weeks preceding
10th June no Linnets at all were entered, yet on that date a
brood of young just out of the nest and three adults were seen
in one of the traps. One is left with the impression that ob-
servers cannot have covered the island fully, otherwise surely
at least the off-duty Linnets should have been noted.

_ No detailed counts were made of breeding sea-birds but the
indications are that the Shag colony maintained itself at about

1961 TSEE Oh MAY IREPORT 359

400° pairs and that the Fulmars had as successful a breeding
season as they have ever had, for at least a dozen chicks
hatched. For the first time Fulmars were recorded in Novem-
ber, when six birds were seen on and around the cliffs on 22nd
and 23rd. Fulmars have now been noted on the island in every
month of the year.

The two Kittiwake colonies established at East Tarbet and
on the cliffs at the South End in 1956 continue to expand. The
former has grown from 10 to 25 pairs, the latter from 2 to
about 14. |

Ringing

The ringing total for 1960—1,685 birds of 60 species—was
higher than for several years past but only 18 nestlings were
included in the total. This is greatly to be deplored because
it is from birds ringed as young that much of the most val-
uable recovery and retrap information accrues. Too many
visitors seem interested only in rare migrants and dismiss the
local birds as beneath notice, yet the changing pattern of
breeding populations, and the movements of the individuals
concerned, are at least of equal fascination and offer in many
cases a largely unexplored field. Rock and Meadow Pipits,
Wheatears, Shags and the Auks are all species where nestling
ringing could pay handsome dividends.

Two birds, Red-headed Bunting and Jack Snipe, were ringed
on the island for the first time. The ringing totals for Turtle
Dove (2), Swallow (10), Great Tit (5), Whinchat (32), Redstart
(105), Grasshopper Warbler (8), Blackcap (30), Chiffchaff (30)
and Tree Sparrow (10) were the highest ever. Those for Blue-
throat (5), Wryneck (5), Garden Warbler (89) and Wren (34)
were the second highest so far recorded. Exceptionally low
totals were Linnet (8) and Shag (9).

Recoveries

A Fulmar ringed as a chick early in August 1960 was re-
ported from the sea area north-west of Ireland (about 240
miles west of the May) at the end of October; this is the first
recovery of a bird of this species hatched on the island. A
Greater Black-backed Gull ringed as a youngster at Lake
Orrevann, Rogaland, Norway, in June 1959, was picked up
dead on the South Plateau in April 1960, whilst one ringed on
the May in its first year in April 1956 was recovered in Jut-
land in November 1959.

There was one Cuckoo recovery—a bird ringed on the May
in July 1958 when only a couple of months old which was
picked up dead near Cluanie in Glenmoriston, Inverness-
shire, in June 1960 after striking a telephone wire.

Blackbirds, as so often, provided a number of interesting

360 ISEE OF MAY REPORT 1(11)

records. The most notable were those involving an adult male
ringed at the Copeland Bird Observatory in County Down on
17th March 1960, which was trapped on the May on 5th April
1960 on its way back to its breeding quarters in Scandinavia,
and a full-grown female ringed on the May in April 1960,
caught as a breeding bird in Finland in July 1960—the first
instance of a Blackbird ringed on the May being reported from
that country. Two other Blackbird recoveries deserve men-
tion. The first was a first winter bird ringed in October 1959,
killed by a cat in July 1960 in Westphalia, Germany (presum-
ably its breeding locality). The second was a bird ringed as a
juvenile in Julv 1951, possibly but not certainly bred on the
island; it was picked up exhausted at Galashiels, Selkirkshire,
in October 1960, being then 9 vears old. It was released next
day, when it had recuperated.

In 1960 Blackcaps figured for the first time in the list of
recoveries. Two birds were involved, and the movement of
one of these, a full grown female ringed on the Mav in Sevtem-
ber 1956 and shot in the Lebanon in April 1960 is without
precedent, for never before has a British-ringed Blackcap been
recovered from anywhere near this area. The second bird, an-
other full grown female, ringed in October 1960, was netted at
San Rafael del Rio, Spain, on the 22nd of the same month.

There were few retrappings of note. The two Fulmars “Joe”
and “Jessie” bred successfully. They have been mated since at
least 1952 and “Joe” is known to have occupied the same nest
site for at least 12 years.

Miscellaneous Observations

The two Blackcaps which it was hoved might stay on the
island through the winter of 1959-60 did not in fact do so. They
were seen together at the bird-table on 4th December 1959 and
a single bird appeared there for the last time on the 16th.

The Rabbit colony remained free from a recurrence of
myxomatosis but numbers were lower than in 1959. Officials
from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who
visited the May in June in connection with trials of humane
traps estimated the population at about 800 animals and cer-
tainly not more than 1,000, They noted that the Rabbits,
although fairly well distributed, preferred the east side of the
island, the highest concentrations being around Nettle Hollow
but with fair numbers in the Ruff Green-St Andrew’s Well
area, and just north of the Tower. At that season they appear-
ed to have evacuated the main gull colonies and there were
thus very few indeed on Rona and the North Ness.

At the end of the year the Principal Keeper disposed of his
sheep stock in anticipation of his retirement in the Spring of

1961 ISvE VOR MAY REPORT 361

1960. It will be interesting to observe how the Rabbit popula-
tion reacts to the increased amount of grazing available to
them, and to reduced trapping.

Grey Seal numbers remained much as in 1959 although a
count of at least 60 animals towards the end of May is the
highest yet recorded so early in the year. Two more animals
marked on the Farne Islands the previous autumn were iden-
tified in February and March. No pups were dropped in 1960.

Six plants new to the island were reported and the uncon-
firmed identification of another (the moss Bryum intermed-
wum) was uvheld. The new records were the moss Pohlia deli-
catula, the lichen Peltigera spuria, the subspecies inodora of
Scentless Mayweed (Matricaria maritima), Aaron’s Rod (Ver-
bascum thapsus), Musk (Mimulus moschatus) and a species
of Mallow (Malva sp. near nicaeensis). The last three all turn-
ed up in or around Lachie’s Garden and fall into the category
of casuals or escapes.

During the Summer, the Low Light was completelv re-
roofed. This work was quite beyond the Observatory’s finan-
cial resources and was only made possible by a generous
grant from the Helena Howden Endowment Trust, which the
Committee acknowledges with gratitude. The next major re-

pair, to be tackled in 1961, is the complete re-decoration of
the living room.

Two parties sponsored by the Conservation Corps of the
Council for Nature did excellent jobs in April and June, com-
pletely restoring the Gully Trap, repairing the Bain and Low
Traps, making new wall-scaling ladders, erecting artificial
cover, screening live cover and removing a great deal of un-
sightly war-time rubbish. It is greatly to be hoped that these
very productive visits will become annual events.

Lastly, it should be recorded that during the Summer of
1960 visitors to the island included a party from St Augustine’s
Abbey, Ramsgate, with Fr. Paul Browne, O.S.B., one of its
members. They brought with them a consecrated altar stone
and on the afternoon of their arrival, 11th August, after it had
been set in place, and the appropriate altar cloths and hang-
ings erected, Compline (in English) was recited in the Chapel,
perhaps the first public act of worship there for four centuries.
Next morning, 12th August, Mass was offered—a Votive Mass
of the Sacred Heart to the Glory of God and in memory of the
Apostle St Adrian and his martyred companions. As one of
the participants recorded in the log, “the ruined oratory, whic.
to many a visitor must seem (as Columba said of his own Iona)
‘mean and narrow’ was transformed by. sunshine and the
colour of the vestments into a place of unique but. austere

Bcuness-2 beauty in no way alien to the character of the
ay.

362 ISLE OF MAY REPORT 1(11)
Publications—

EccELING, W. J., The Isle of May. Edinburgh. 1960.
Lack, D. A comparison of “drift-migration” at Fair Isle, the
Isle of May and Spurn Point. Scot. Birds, 1: 295. 1960.

Watson, E. V. Further observations on the bryophyte flora
of the Isle of May. II. Rate of succession in selected
communities involving bryophytes. Trans. Bot. Soc. Ed-
inb., 39: 85. 1960.

LITTLE GULLS IN ANGUS AND FIFE
J. GRIERSON

(EDITOR’S Note. As will be seen, Mr Grierson’s data do not
go beyond the beginning of 1956, when he left Dundee, but
it has been thought advisable to publish now this valuable
account of the increase of the Little Gull in the Tay and
Forth estuaries. Meanwhile Mr Brian Neath (1, Newearth
Road, Walkden, Manchester) is collecting information on
records of the Little Gull from all over Britain. From the
Tay and Forth he is particularly anxious to receive records
from between 1956 and 1958. For other records of this species
in Scotland readers are referred to Scottish Birds I: 37, 118,
129, 133-4, 199, 202-3, 252, 279-80, and 339).

In a note to British Birds (vol. xlvii, pp. 170/172) Henry
Boase described the substantial increase in numbers of Little
Gull Larus minutus on the Angus and Fife coasts, and also
drew attention to the marked separation in location of spring
and autumn numbers. These annual visitations continue to
take place and the object of this report is to give details of
records obtained since Boase’s note was published.

The Angus coast from Broughty Ferry to Easthaven was
visited regularly by the writer, and other observers, from about
mid-1953 to January 1956 and records obtained of the Little
Gull are shown in Table I. Also shown are records from Largo
Bay, Fife, for the same period. These records show that in 1954
the pattern followed that shown by Boase for previous years,
with Angus receiving all the spring numbers, while the bulk
of the autumn visitors were found at Largo Bay. The flocks of
19 on 23rd December 1953, and 29 on 24th October 1954, both
at Monifieth, were considered unusual, though it should be
noted that this gull is becoming more frequent as a winter
visitor to Angus. In the spring of 1955 Little Gulls were once
again absent from Largo Bay, while the total of 135 at Moni-
fieth on 11th April was the highest on record. Fewer visits were
made to this area during this period, which possibly accounts
for the smaller number of records. In the autumn, the pattern

363

1961

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> UOSUIPpeH psio7y ‘urvusouueg plaeqd sijfq ‘ueounqd ad V 41W Woe): P eo eS) SrGKOW Gl
ee Bree eaan TIAL er 2a ‘UO SUIPpe py] Ape] ‘OUTA |W 3D) Lap UIGCYZIIIULI YY “YY [OD :Qysiu OJ J2]) qey doy

0961 “490190 YI6T “YIMIOg YJION — YANNIC TIVONNV ‘0'0'S

(suOS F APG “MM ‘4 4q ydeis0joyud)

1(11)

so : Se ss

Aquatic Warbler. Isle of May, 27th August 1960.
(Photo: J. M. S. Arnott)

Wrynecks. Isle of May, 27th August 1960.
(Photo: J. Mags: Arnott)

1961 LITTLE GULLS 365

to the end of October was as in previous years with most rec-
ords for Fife, though the numbers involved were perhaps
smaller than usual. The party of 22 at Carnoustie on 13th July
was unusual enough, but the surprisingly large numbers at
Monifieth on 5th/6th November are unprecedented during
autumn. These numbers may be at least partly accounted for
by the fact that during the preceding week, strong to gale force
south-easterly winds prevailed over the North Sea.

In addition to the coastal records, Litle Gulls were found at
Morton Lochs, Fife, from mid-May to early June 1955, and
again in the same period of 1956. These freshwater lochs lie
about a mile south of Tayport and the same distance inland
from the sea. In 1955, five were first noted there on 16th May,
increasing to 18 or 19 on the 18th, about 30 on 23rd, and about
10 on 31st May, while the last record was for 17 on 5th June.
All birds seen were immature. There is also one inland record
for Angus, an immature bird at Lintrathen Reservoir on 28th
August 1955.

As well as total counts, attempts were made whenever pos-
sible to assess the proportion of immature to adult birds on
the Angus coast. At the best of times this was a difficult task
for the flocks were usually found by the edge of the water
and had to be approached across open shore. It was found that
isolated flocks of Little Gulls were comparatively tame and
on occasions it was possible to approach to within 25 yards or
so. Generally, however, larger gulls were also present and
being more wary, precluded a close approach. High winds and
poor visibility also prevented other than total counts on oc-
casions. The results of these counts are shown in Table II
where it will be seen that, as a rule, immatures are in the
majority in spring, with adults predominating in autumn.
Comparable figures for Largo Bay are not available, though
the late Miss Baxter informed me that she found the propor-
tions to vary.

One feature of these visits was that the Little Gull showed a
decided preference for a shore of fine sand, which exists at
both Monifieth and Largo Bay. Also common to both areas is
that a freshwater burn flows out over the sands into the sea,
and it was around the mouths of these burns that the flocks
were generally found. At Tayport on the south shore of the
Tay, the shore is very muddy and though larger gulls are
found there in large numbers, it is only rarely that the Little
Gull is seen. In fact, there is only one record during the period,
for a single bird on the shore at Tayport during 1954.

At Monifieth, the Little Gull uses the shore only as a resting
ground where it comes to bathe and preen. It has never been
noted as feeding when on the shore, or by the water’s edge,
though on four occasions numbers have been watched hawking
for insects over the sands and adjacent moorland. (The birds

366 LITTLESGULLS 1(11)

at Morton Lochs seemed to feed mainly in this way). Gener-
ally, feeding took place over the sea, the birds swinging back
and forth low over the water, frequently dropping to pick
from the surface. On occasions they were seen to hover in
tern-like fashion about twelve feet up then drop lightly to
pick from the surface. On one occasion, three adults were
watched for some minutes diving from flight. Generally, the
dives ended in partial submergence only but on three occasions
complete submergence was noted. The search for food was not
confined to close inshore, but the flocks dispersed over a large
sea area from a few yards out to about a mile or more offshore.
It is perhaps worth recording that the Little Gull was never
seen to join other gulls in feeding at the sewer outfalls in the
river.

Despite the large numbers seen at Monifieth in November
1955, the marked separation of spring and autumn numbers
remained a feature of the Little Gull visits to these areas,
though there would seem to be no apparent reason for this. It
may be that food supply is at least partly responsible.

Owing to other commitments, it was impossible for me to
continue my investigations into this problem, but I hope that
these notes will stimulate others into taking up what promises
to be a very rewarding study.

I am indebted to the late Miss E. V. Baxter for records for
Largo Bay, and to John Berry and W. J. Eggeling for notes
from Morton Lochs. Information relating to the Angus coast
is gratefully acknowledged from Henry Boase, Gordon B. Cor-
bet, Alexander Cross, John Gordon and Wallace Wild.

TABLE I.
Total Counts of Little Gulls on Angus and Fife Coasts.

Dater Anes tie Date Angus “> Fite Date Angus Fife

1953 28/2 23 1954
23/8 6 6/3 3 8/5 13

27/8 Dales: Se 16/5 if

OF MD B 14/3 2 17/5 1

7/10 Z| WPS 2/7 3

16/10 A 8 || BD 27/8 3
PA ee Ne IO 30/8 da
1954 374 U8 3/9 21
DAG ie ees() 6/4 25 14/9 6
Si 7 8 i 05 18/9 13
7/2 1 15/4 ~—-60 20/9 4
12/2 9 16/4 76 23/9 14
13/2 6 18/4 c¢.60 1/10 8
20/2 i 1/20 13 4/10 ce. 60
21/2 3 Diy 295 7/10 20
25 /2 3 WR 18 12/10 15

1961 DINMINEIE, Giollelgs) 367
Date Angus Fife Date Angus Fife Date Angus Fife

1954 1955 1955
14/10 50/60 1/10 30/40
16/10 6 se : {|} 3/10 2
20/10 3 26/3 6 6/10 I
23/10 it 11/4 135* 7/10 3
24/10 29 13/4 12 29/10 3
28/10 ib, 14/4 14 d/11- 70

dif 7 15/4 9 6/11 116

4/11 (i 17/4 2 12/39
20/11 3 1/5 i 20/11 45

Sy AW 19 8/5 2 26)/ elapse

4/12 present (Bye 22 PY Ase ealyt

p/12 present Wks 7 18/12 9)

1955 4/9 7 1956
Sainte «8 9/9 Gulls ila 4

22 1 24/9 |) ABZ 1

*11th April 1955: In addition to this number a further 50 were
seen about a mile further east and may have been differ-
ent birds.

TABLE II. Adult/Immature Proportions—Angus Only.
Date Total Adult Immat. Date Total Adult Immat.

1953 1955
ea eauniG. | 6 Ey Le omer ieee
By) 6) 7) 4 OF foes ae bP
2071219 ° 10 GPE 2 Oy Seay o3es ne? 1
1954 26/3 6 6
2471 10 5 5 11/4. 135 c. 35. c.100
Sie 13. 10 Pelle 97 aa 3
1) ae 1 Le i
P20. O02 7 Be 2
3/2 6 2 4 4/9 7
20/2 1 1 29/10 3 3
P/2 3 1 9 lean oo 3
25/2 2 9 1 G/M WG CY 34
98/2 23 17 ge l2/tl 39. 36 3
Mia 32 9 23 20/11 45 36 9
iS att) 3 | | Le lee 9
Mia 95Nt 20 75 1956
ig enGandO Cl66 “| B/1y° "4-4
OOo, aenlab Z
yD 1 1
i A 3 3
GAO) HEN! 33 3
20) M0F 223 3
Sy MG) al 1
DAO 290) 21 8
B/N 1B 3

368 REVIEWS 1(11)
REVIEWS

THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. Vol. 1X. David Armitage Ban-
nerman. Illustrated by G. E. Lodge. Edinburgh: Oliver &
Boyd, 1961. Rp. xi + 398; 26 col. plates. Price amas.

The previous volumes of Dr Bannerman’s great work are by
now so familiar that it seems unnecessary to comment on their
scope, style and presentation, and the eagerly awaited ninth
volume, which deals with about half the waders—from God-
wits to Buff-breasted Sandpiper, in Hartert-Handbook order—
is a worthy successor which can only be described as magni-
ficent.

Dr Bannerman acts more in the capacity of compiler and
editor than author, making full use of his astonishing familiar-
ity with ornithological literature, but interspersing the text
throughout with expressions of opinion in his own character-
istically charming but forthright manner. Summary castigation
is meted out both to egg collectors and to selfish and thought-
less photographers. He upholds, with clearly stated reasons, all
the Hastings-Romney Marsh records, upon which an “official”
yronouncement is still awaited. He believes in the Faeroe
Snipe, and sympathises with Jourdain’s battle for the substan-
tiation of the Spitsbergen Phalarope. He believes that the
Eskimo Curlew is not extinct but does not think that the Red-
necked Phalarope is ever likely to attempt to breed anywhere
in Scotland other than in the well known places: let us hope
that the former be correct, but that in the latter he may yet
be proved wrong.

The customary practice is followed of having large sections
specially written by acknowledged authorities on individual
species or areas, those most called upon in this volume being
Dr G. M. Sutton of Oklahoma University and Dr H. M. S.
Blair, who has placed his wide knowledge and experience of
Scandinavian birds unreservedly at Dr Bannerman’s disposal.
Dr Sutton writes on the American species as a sensitive and ob-
servant field naturalist frequently gracing his articles with
some engaging personal reminiscence of the bird described,
while to those who-are fortunate enough to have opportunities
of being confounded by unidentifiable stints his discussions
should prove a revelation. With regard to Dr Blair’s contribu-
tion, it is not too much to say that we are as deeply indebted
to Dr Bannerman for bringing forward some of Dr Blair’s
work, of which only too little has hitherto been published, as
Dr Bannerman is to Dr Blair for his generous assistance.

It is not impossible to find minor faults on careful scrutiny.
For instance, one could dispute the presumption (shared by
the Editors of British Birds) that the Black-tailed Godwits re-

1961 REVIEWS 369

cently breeding in Caithness and Shetland have been of the
nominate race, when all specimens from Faeroe or Norway
ever examined have proved to be islandica. It is stated also that

satisfactory evidence is still lacking of the breeding of the Red-
necked Phalarope in Spitsbergen although Dr Lovenskiold
proved this in 1949, but the slight imperfections in the Spits-
bergen records are a reflection not of any shortcoming on the
part of Dr Bannerman so much as of the serious want of an up
to date book on the birds of Spitsbergen.

The plates by George Lodge vary a bit in quality, but al-
though one or two are rather disappointing, others are very
fine indeed, both pictorially and as bird portraits. It becomes
increasingly evident as the book progresses that no serious
bird library is going to be complete without it, and while con-
gratulating Dr Bannerman on his achievement we look for-
ward to further volumes not without some slight feeling of
relief that the winning post is now almost within sight.

PDE!

ANIMAL BeHaviour. J. L. Cloudsley-Thompson. Edinburgh,
Oliver & Boyd. 1960. 15s.

“An eminent botanist relates that on a collecting expedition
in tropical forest he employed a tame monkey to gather epi-
phytic orchids from the upper branches of the trees. One day
he saw some magnificent orchids growing on some lianas that
hung down a vertical cliff. He told the monkey to climb down
for them, but it refused and neither bribe nor entreaty would
persuade it to go. The poor botanist was feeling quite desperate
when at last the monkey relented, shrugged its shoulders, and
began to pull up the lianas hand over fist.”’

Professor Cloudsley-Thompson’s new book is one which
anyone interested in animal behaviour—and that ought to
mean every field naturalist—should read. His information has
been obtained either at first hand or has been checked by him-
self, and he never makes the mistake of the orchid-seeking
botanist of failing to keep a clear mind on the immediate ob-
jective.

The book sprang from a series of London University Extra-
Mural lectures: it explains simply and very readably the
modern approach to the study of animal behaviour, and ana-
lyses the complex interactions between physiology and envir-
onment that form the basis of behaviour in higher forms,
illustrating them by comparison between the simple reactions
of lower animals, the rigid instincts of insects, fishes and birds
(in which learning is comparatively unimportant) and the more
plastic type of behaviour found in mammals, which culminates
in human insight. Although the book is easy for the non-spec-
ialist to follow, serious students of animal behaviour will also

370 REVIEWS 1(11)

learn much from it, for it contains accounts of experiments
and observations from an unusually wide field.

As Dr Kenneth Mellanby points out in his foreword, the
author shows very clearly that the amateur who is willing to
accept the standards and discipline of the professional can
contribute observations which may advance the frontiers of
knowledge, and thus help to solve some of the problems raised
in his book. This matter of standards and discipline is im-
portant: it is something which all amateur naturalists, in-
cluding many ornithologists, should constantly bear in mind.

It is difficult to understand how a book so beautifully pres-
ented as this, with a wealth of photographs and line drawings,
can be produced so cheaply. It is undoubtedly a bargain. Your
reviewer appreciated especially the two superb photographs
of owls; the photograph of grunion spawning; the drawing of
a female shrew with her “caravan” of young (which have an
innate tendency to hold the tail of the one in front during the
first three weeks after birth); the diagram of hippopotamus
territories furrowed with trails and landmarked with lavator-
ies—because he had never appreciated that such territories
existed; and all the pictures which illustrate the chapter on
courtship and mating.

This is a book to excite interest and stimulate observation;
it deserves a wide sale.

W. J. £E.

IDENTIFICATION. FOR RINGERS No. 1: The Genera Locustella,
Lusciniola, Acrocephalus and Hippolais. Kenneth William-
son. Oxford, British Trust for Ornithology. 1960. Pp. 56, 4
plates. 3s 6d.

As more observatories are manned, more independent rins-
ing is carried on, and mist-nets become widesvread, an increas-
ing number of rarities is recorded. Better aids to identification
are therefore required, and here is the first of them, an excel-
lent beginning to a planned series of booklets.

The rarer warblers include some of the hardest migrants to
identify. Guide No. 1 deals not only with those members of
the four genera concerned which have occurred in Britain, but
with all their races in the Palaearctic which “have even an
outside chance of drifting to the British Isles.” Each account,
of the 26 species accepted, begins with a minimum description
of plumage, since details and illustrations can be found in
the usual reference books. More space is given to the differen-
tiation of allied races, and to cases where confusion with a
commoner species could occur. The author stresses those points
which help identification in the hand. Field characters are
therefore included only in certain cases, though references to
journals are given. Ageing, colours of soft parts, measure-
ments, weight (if known), wing formula, moult (if information

1961 REVIEWS 371

is sufficient) and distribution are the other headings in each
section. Valuable “CauTIONS” stress points where misidentifi-
cation might arise. The parts on separation of first winter
birds from adults will be specially welcomed by those who
have found available information inadequate. So will the des-
criptions of soft parts, taken from a wide range of living or
freshly killed material. Moult is considered in relative detail,
providing a stimulus to this little studied facet of the ringer’s
work. Its importance is shown in the same author’s paper in
Bird Migration I: No. 4, of August 1960. Tables at the end
show Mr T. Bagenal’s statistical analysis of the measurements
of long series for each race.

It is hoped that further numbers in this series are speeding
along the assembly line. Guide No. 1, with the Migration
Research Officer’s clear, succinct text, the effectively illus-
trative photographs by Eric Hosking and C. C. Doncaster, and
the well designed cover by Robert Gillmor, begins to fill the

gap.
We Use

THE ISLE oF May. By W. J. Eggeling. Edinburgh 1960. Oliver &
Boyd. pp. xiv + 280. Photographs and line drawings. 30s.

Islands, lighthouses, sea birds; all are associated in our
minds. The birds came first and in our seas one can imagine
with what eagerness island after island was occupied, or
re-occupied, as the ice moved towards the pole. Perhaps man
followed early, sometimes in monastic settlements seeking
refuge from the temptations of this earthly life. Lighthouses
came much later and to all manner of islands, and this review-
er has observed the breeding of sooty and noddy terns from
lighthouse islands in the coral seas of two oceans.

Those islands have no history whereas the Isle of May,
which lies across the entrance to the Firth of Forth and so
to Scotland, has everything—breeding birds, occasional seals,
a ruined chapel as evidence of monastic settlement and a
lighthouse with an earlier beacon erected in 1636. On this a
ton of coal, rising to three times that amount when fanned by
winter gales, was burnt nightly for almost two centuries. The
island is a narrow mile long strip of olivine-dolerite and is
the property of the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses
who in 1956 entered into a 99-year Nature Reserve Agree-
ment with the Nature Conservancy so that it is now a Nation-
al Nature Reserve.

All springs initially from the activities of the Midlothian
Ornithological Club which in 1934 established the Isle of May
Bird Observatory which was the first co-operatively managed
migration study-centre in Great Britain, After the war, with
interest including financial help happily secured from the

O72 REVIEWS 1(11)

Scottish Universities, the range of activities enlarged to in-
clude every aspect of life upon the island.

Apart from its resident breeding population, essentially of
sea birds, the Isle of May is admirably placed, should the
wind be from the east, to catch north or south bound mig-
rants flying along the continental coast. From the headquar-
ters of the Observatory, in the now disused Low Light, watch
is kept on the four Heligoland traps where intercepted mig-
rants are identified, ringed and released so that gradually,
from later identifications elsewhere, the pattern of bird migra-
tion becomes revealed.

Dr Eggeling, introduced far too late into the review, gives
us what is clearly a labour of love, a delightfully written and
beautifully illustrated book which tells us all that is known
about the history of this notable Scottish island and about
its animals and plants and the activities of the Observatory.
The human element is not forgotten. In extracts from the
daily log are recorded, in what one may hope represents some
degree of immortality, the triumphs and exasperations of the
watchers culminating in the poet’s cry,

Oh, for a week of south-east rains,

When Scarlet Grosbeaks are a pest!

Ah! vain is hope! The wind remains
Unalterably West.

Because the Isle of May is distinguished by its bird watchers
no less than by its birds.

An altogether admirable book which even a zoologist, let
alone a true ornithologist, delights to possess.

, aa gah

ATLAS OF EUROPEAN Birps. K. H. Voous. vp. 284. 419 maps. 355
photographs. London and Edinburgh, Nelson. 1960. 70s.

This sumptuous and fascinating book is one that the ornith-
ologist will always be taking from the shelf and looking into,
whether to find some new fact, to admire the illustrations or
simply for the plebeian pastime of discovering what percent-
age of European breeding birds he himself has seen. Like
Gaul, it has three parts, text. maps and photographs. The last
are of varying quality, but there are masterpieces in the pic-
tures, for example, of the Black Stork, Capercaillie and Robin.
It is encouraging to see the overall excellence of British bird
photography: most of our masters (Hosking, Yeates, Mark-
ham) are here, although it is a pity that C. C. Doncaster is
not represented. The “Old Masters” are worthily represented
by Arthur Brook. Many eastern European species are not
figured, pictures of which are especially useful to the western
naturalist and, while realising that of some of these no photo-
graphs exist, it would make the book more complete if at least

1961 REVIEWS 373

there were line drawings of them. Some, like that of Harle-
quin Duck and Kentish Plover, are most useful for identifi-
cation, but No. 320, labelled as “Snow Bunting,” is surely a
picture of a Redpoll.

The maps are the essential part of this book. Britain occu-
pies such a small part of the earth that the red spots on her
surface are sometimes difficult to see and, from a solely insu-
lar point of view, larger scale maps might have been possible,
especially when a species’ breeding range is confined to
Europe. Rightly, the species here is the unit: there is a cer-
tain tendency towards “lumping”; the Bean and Pink-footed
Geese remain together, our Gannet (somewhat hesitantly) is
fused with the Australian and African Gannets and, rather
daringly, the Pine Bunting with the Yellow, but, for reasons
well explained, Professor Voous has not gone so far as to
“lump” the Gyr, Saker and Lanner Falcons. To stimulate the
mind on the subject of the origins of present distribution the
maps of the Black-winged Kite, and of the Hen, Pallid and
Montagu’s Harrier can be recommended. Sometimes there are
answers to the question marks that appear here and there; if,
for example, the author were to visit the episcopal palace at
Oristano he would discover whether the Tree Sparrow breeds
in Sardinia or no.

The text is the complement to the maps: here are described
the geographical faunal type of each species, its range in
relation. to isotherms, its necessary habitat, food and nesting
requirements, and the possibility of competition with other
species: “all these,’ says Sir Landsborough Thomson in his
preface, “are limiting factors on distribution.” The material is
well up to date and there are excellent accounts of the recent
soread of the Collared Dove, Syrian Woodpecker, Cattle
Egret and Fieldfare. The nesting of the Dotterel and White-
backed Woodpecker in Italy are mentioned, though perhaps
that of the Wood Sandpiper in Scotland and the White Stork
in Italy are too recent.

In spite of its price this book will well repay purchase, as
the buyer can look forward to many happy hours of interest
and entertainment. The author himself appears as a delightful
character in the modesty of his introduction and the gener-
osity of his dedication to all his helpers: they could not have
wanted a better return for their help.

SEA Birps, Charles Vaucher. Edinburgh, Oliver & Boyd. 1960.
a2),008 Od.

A sea-bird colony, with its never-ending merry-go-round of
action and its never-silent babel of voices, is a magnet which
_attracts every bird-lover.

In Scotland we take our sea-birds for granted. On sand-dune

374 REVIEWS 1(11)

and shore, on headland and stack, on islet and pinnacle, the
birds, like the pounding sea itself, are there as a matter of
course. Observation and photography of our native species
have reached very high standards, and it is not surprising
that, from time to time, guests from other lands come to visit
our sea-bird sanctuaries.

One such is Charles Vaucher, whose “Sea Birds” results
from visits to, among other places places, the Bass Rock,
Tentsmuir, and the Farnes, as well as to islands near Stock-
holm, and those near Tvarminne in Finland. The book has
been translated from the French, and has been admirably
produced by Messrs. Oliver and Boyd, who have maintained
the high standards to which we are accustomed.

British readers will be particularly interested in the Gull-
billed and Caspian Terns, and the Little Gull. The other
snecies dealt with are familiar enough to us all—the Fulmar,.
Shag, Gannet, Cormorant, Eider, Shelduck, Arctic Skua
and the commoner Gulls, Terns and Auks.

The text makes pleasant, though brief reading. The author’s
love of the sea is clear throughout. In the main text the birds
are described as he saw them in the various places he
visited. At the end of the book the salient characteristics of
each species are summarised on text-book lines.

The 252 plates (of which 15 are in colour) dominate the
text. and must therefore primarly concern us here. In many
of them, the author displays the originality and taste of his
race; they are the work of an individual who upon occasion
is also a master craftsman. Such pictures are the Shelduck
flying on page 123, or walking on wet sand, as on the next
two pages. Similar masterpieces are the Eiders in flight on
page 104; the Eider group on page 110; the Sandwich Terns
flying over Tentsmuir on page 176; the Puffins on page 236;
the Rock Pipit on page 245, and the study of Terns flying, on
page 248. All these are exhilarating and refreshing pictures
which epitomise the animation of the birds. With a few ex-
ceptions, British workers have tended to fight shy of such
subjects. One could scarcely see too many of these splendid
away-from-the-nest studies.

The seascapes, too, are quite sublime; Vaucher has a soul
as well as a camera. As with his best descriptive passages in
the text, he has the power to raise a spirit of elation in the
reader, as though one were there on the headland or in the
ternery.

Nevertheless, as one turns the pages of the book, this initial
feeling of elation begins to pass. A feeling of uneasiness creeps
in. The price of the book is five guineas and one is entitled
to take a closer look at it. A continental photographer who

1961 REVIEWS 375

publishes a book of seabird pictures in Britain is, after all,
entering the lion’s den.

There seem to be too many pictures of some species; some-
times the bird looks ill at ease, so that one wishes the picture
were not there, as with the Fulmar on page 34, and that on
page 45.

At other times, over-enlargement and too close a trim, com-
bined with the fact that the bird is looking out of the picture,
give a “gross” result. The Shag on page 56, the Gannet on
page 79, the Sandwich Tern on page 180, the Razorbill on page
198, the Guillemot on page 213 and the Puffin on page 222 are
positively overwhelming. The actors lack elbow-room.

As against this, the “big-head” of the Eider on page 102 is
most successful; it conveys all the intimacy of a close-up view,
without overpowering the observer.

At times, the photographs have technical imperfections
which ought to have excluded them: examples are the Shag
on page 59 and the two Eiders and chicks on page 109, all of
which have excessive contrast, while the Shag on page 74,
the standing Arctic Skua on nage 127 and the Puffins on page
220 have ugly out-of-focus foregrounds. Worst of all is the
picture of Black-backed Gulls mating, on page 133, the fore-
ground of which is reminiscent of the tangled girder-work
of a dive-bombed aircraft hanger. This photograph should
certainly have been taken, but only for showing say, to Dr
Tinbergen. It may well merit publication in a book on be-
haviour, but hardly in its present context.

Incidentally, if the coloured plate on page 117 shows the
Lesser Black-back, surely the bird on the same nest shown on
page 132 is not the Greater Black-back? And what of those on
page 133?

The “gardening” is often bad, and fuzzy foregrounds, due
partly to too low a viewpoint, and to lack of a swing back,
all too frequently take the gilt from:the gingerbread, as in
the Turnstones on page 244 and 245. Otherwise, these two
pictures are better than most as they show a more pleasing
ratio of surrounding to bird.

On the other hand, the nest and egg studies tend to suffer
from too high a viewpoint, giving a dull, plan-like result.

It is in regard to such considerations that most Continental
and American bird-photographers are a long way behind the
standards set by such men as Chislett, Hosking, Barlee, Lowes
and Higham in this country. Nor may such points (though
remaining entirely valid) matter quite so much in a cheap
book. In a five guinea volume, however, we are entitled to
expect uniformly high standards.

Summarising, Mr Vaucher has produced an invigorating

376 REVIEWS 1(11)

book about a dynamic group of birds. His pictures are a
mixed bag, the best being second to none. One is left with a
feeling of real regret that a more critical selection was not
made, as a book containing. only two-thirds of the plates
would not only have been smaller and cheaper: it would have
been much better.

7a. FP.

REV. JOHN LEES, OF AVOCH, ROSS-SHIRE

One of the oustanding ornithologists of the north of Scot-
land passed away in the Royal Northern Infirmary, Inverness,
on 7th February 1961.

Apart from his pastoral work his lifelong interest was in
natural history. He often said that his degree should have
been a B.Sc. and not a M.A. It was fortunate that he was
called to a parish which was as favourably situated as Avoch,
on the north side of the Moray Firth, where rare as well as
common migrants congregate; it has even been suggested as
a possible site for another bird observatory. His years of
patient and detailed observation from day to day, and exten-
sive ringing on a scale open to few amateur ornithologists
gave him an intimate knowledge of the birds of the area, which
he was ever ready to share with others. He was a pillar of
strength to the Inverness Bird Watching Group as well as a
supporter of various national ornithological bodies. His major
contributions to the literature were on the Robin, the early
breeding of the Rock Dove and wintering Blackcaps. He was
the first to record the Nightingale on the Scottish mainland,
and among recent species reported by him is the White-billed
Diver, His name will always be associated with the birds of
Easter Ross.

M. R.

CORRESPONDENCE

SISKINS USING FEET AS FEEDING AIDS

In an earlier number (antea, p. 205), I. F. Stewart records
watching a Twite Carduelis flavirostris using a foot as an aid
to feeding, and remarks that this is the first time he has seen
a bird of this family “apparently steadying a food plant in this
way to facilitate its nibbling at it.” It may therefore be of in-
terest to record similar behaviour on the part of Siskins C.
spinus.

On 6th January 1961 at Glassel, Aberdeenshire, I had an ex-
cellent opportunity of watching a small flock of these birds
at a range of only a few feet as they fed on the small cones
of the Alder Alnus glutinosa. These cones are arranged later-

1961 CORRESPONDENCE SW.
ally along the branches on stalks between 1 and 2 inches long
and they tend to droop below the level of the branches. To get
at them, a Siskin would sometimes adopt the familiar inver-
ted position, but much more frequently it would reach out to
pull in the cone with its beak, at the same time extending its
front toes so as to clamp the cone in against the branch on
which the bird was perched. Several attempts were sometimes
needed to achieve this position, but the bird was then able to
work over the cone thoroughly. I should stress that the feet
were merely used as a clamp, and that I never saw a bird make
any attempt to lift a foot off the branch to assist in pulling in
a cone. In this respect the Siskin’s use of its feet was much
more restricted than is the case, for instance, in the tit family.

D. G. ANDREW.

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE, NORTH
BERWICK, 1960

Why a Sassenach, and particularly one suffering from am-
nesia, should have been ordered to report the Thirteenth
Annual Conference of the Club is far from clear. Suffice it
that George Waterston’s Annual Circus, as it is now widely
known, came to North Berwick on 28th October 1960 for three
days and the secretary of the Club, whether it be George or his
able successor (Mrs Waterston), is fast becoming as notable
an impresario with his performing ornithologists as Bertram
Mills is with his clowns and walruses and acrobats. Whether
his troupe is balancing on some tightrope of avian controversy,
or making witty after-dinner speeches, all air and fire, they
are all well worth watching and listening to.

True, the weather was not at its best and a Dr Johnson,
watching the rain-soaked gaggles of excursionists homing to
the Marine Hotel out of the mist on Saturday, would have
observed that “it is very strange, and also very melancholy,
that the paucity of human pleasures should persuade us even
to call bird-watching one of them.” It is true, too, that the
lounge, so long sacred to solemn golfing shop, and reserved,
in the words of the programme, “for informal refreshments”,
resounded later that night with some of the most unornitho-
logical anecdotes to which we have ever lent our ears, but
everybody seemed to enjoy themselves immensely. Nor did
any ill-mannered Hoodwink turn up on the greens or fore-
shore of North Berwick to embitter rival identifiers. In fact
the only contretemps caused by a live bird was when a Haw-
finch crossed the bow of the leading car of one excursion and
nearly caused a classic pile-up while the leader was braking
hurriedly to watch it.

378 ANNUAL CONFERENCE 1(11)

Everyone was sorry to say goodbye to Sir Charles Connell
who, after presiding over the Club for three busy and pros-
perous years, is vacating the office he has notably adorned.
He will not be forgotten, but his successor is that redoubtable
figure, Professor Maury Meiklejohn, from whom no bird, how-
ever improbable, dares to hide its identity. For once our new
President looked naked without Excalibur, his great binocular,
which he had sheathed and left in the cloakroom, but all wish
well to him and his new Vice-President, Dr Ian Pennie of
Golspie.

The various meetings ran without a hitch. Mr James Wishart,
the Provost, welcomed us to North Berwick and made us free
of the Burgh Museum. The huge crowd which came to the
papers on Saturday taxed the acoustics and space of the
Royal Hotel dining-room badly, but all three of the speakers,
Sir Charles himself on Birds in Literature, and E. M. Nicholson
and I. C. T. Nisbet on Ornithology in Europe and America
gave us much to think about.

A vast concourse of members and guests sat down to the
Annual Dinner and it was followed by some quite brilliant
speeches, notably those of Arthur Duncan and Christopher
Mylne, unexpected by those who had met them an hour or
two before, looking broody and preoccupied like a Cuckoo
about to lay. There were sideshows too, some fine films of birds,
Dr Jenkins’ grouse exhibit from Glen Esk, and a magnificent
set of original paintings by Archibald Thorburn. The organ-
isers can rest assured that the Conference was from every
point of view a success, and that the Club in these matters
can give a useful lead to other clubs in less favoured portions
of the British Isles.

Jenktr SS:
SHORT NOTES

GYR FALCON IN WEST STIRLING/DUNBARTONSHIRE

On 5th November 1960, while I was watching Grey-lags near
Wards Farm near the mouth of the River Endrick my atten-
tion was drawn to a general uprising of duck and Lapwings
on the marsh as a big, nearly buzzard-sized predator made a
pass at them. My first impression was of an outsized Peregrine,
but the method of attack was unlike that bird’s, not so steeply
angled and more laboured. The outline was altogether heavier,
with the wings broader and not so clean-cut. The bird was
dark grey above, whitish below. As the Lapwings rose to the
height of several hundred feet, it circled slowly and made
repeated attempts to knock one of them down, never stooping
but always coming in on a level trajectory. Though the precise
race must be left in doubt, a touch of white on the nape as
the bird swung round into the sun strongly suggested an Ice-

1961 SHORT NOTES 379
land Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus islandus. These manoeuv-
rings continued until the falcon and Lapwings were well over
1,000 feet above Loch Lomond, when the former gave up the
chase and flew off up the loch.

W. KENNETH RICHMOND.

COLLARED DOVES IN RHUM AND LEWIS

On 5th May 1960 I saw a Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
on the Castle greens at Kinloch on the Isle of Rhum. It was
feeding on mash which was put out daily in buckets for two
ponies on the greens. Because of its tameness I thought on this
occasion that it might have been a Barbary Dove S. risoria but
the following morning was able to watch the bird again at
close quarters feeding with the ponies and could confirm it as
the Collared Dove. It had a clear black half ring on the back
of the neck. The primaries appeared black, contrasting strongly
with the otherwise dusty brown colour. [he underparts were
paler and there was a pinkish tinge on the breast. When the
bird took flight the tail revealed much white. It returned at
feeding-time on the morning of 7th May, but I did not see it
afterwards.

P. WORMELL.

On 2nd June 1960 a Collared Dove flew across the road at
Stornoway, near the County Hospital, and settled in a tree
above me, where I had good views of it at about 25 yards
through my field-glasses. Its most unusual pinkish grey plum-
age was conspicuous, as was the black stripe on the back of
its neck. As it flew away I seemed to notice that its outer
tail-feathers were white in colour. It seemed very tired.

W. A. J. CUNNINGHAM.

(Mr William Crawford informs us that at the Morayshire
colony of the Collared Dove on Ist September 1960 he saw
seventeen birds, eleven of which were perched on one tele-
vision aerial!—ED.).

GREEN WOODPECKER BREEDING
IN DUMFRIES-SHIRE

On 6th May 1960 Mr R. Adamson and myself found the newly
excavated nesting hole of a pair of Green Woodpeckers Picus
viridis in a deciduous wood in Dumfries-shire. We were attrac-
ted to the tree by the amount of wood chips lying on the
ground at the base of the trunk, and the nest-hole was about
eight feet from the ground. The nest contained no eggs, but
caught on the bark at the edge of the hole I found a small
green feather.

On 19th May we revisited the site and were both thrilled
and relieved when we saw, with the help of a small torch and

380 SHORT NOTES 1(11)

mirror, a Green Woodpecker brooding. On flushing the bird
we saw at least four eggs. On the evening of 6th June the
bird was very reluctant to leave so, assuming that the eggs
had hatched or were very near hatching, we let her brood un-
disturbed.

On none of our visits to the nest did we ever see a mate but
twice in April we had seen a pair of Green Woodpeckers about
a quarter of a mile from the nest site.

E. DICERBO.

BARRED WARBLER IN LEWIS

A juvenile Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria was picked up
dead by Mr A. MacEachern on 20th September 1960. It was
sent by Mr W. A. J. Cunningham to the Kelvingrove Museum,
Glasgow, where its identity was confirmed by Mr C. E. Palmar
and Miss W. U. Flower.

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER IN STIRLINGSHIRE

While stalking a Great Grey Shrike along the disused rail-
way line near Buchlyvie on 6th November 1960 I noticed what
at first I took to be a small pale Chiffchaff. Its call-note, how-
ever, was unfamiliar, and Dr and Mrs Scobie (who were with
me) described it as a clear ringing tseet tseet. The bird was
retiring and elusive, slipping from branch to branch in the
willows in company with Long-tailed Tits. Its short-tailed
appearance made me curious and, when eventually it emerged,
it showed a yellowish eye-stripe and a double wing-bar (the
one on the upper wing-coverts being slightly obscured) with
lighter edgings to the secondaries, and underparts appearing
silvery white. Superficially it resembled a Goldcrest, but the
call-note was most distinctive. The bird was undoubtedly a
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus. The latest
Scottish date for this species mentioned in The Handbook is
also 6th November.

W. KENNETH RICHMOND.

ROSE-COLOURED STARLING IN SHETLAND

Mr George Waterston informs us that a Rose-coloured
Starling Pastor roseus was picked up exhausted on Foula by
Mrs J. A. Gear on 13th Aug. 1960. It died a short time later and
was sent to the Royal Scottish Museum for preservation, where
it was sexed as female. Mr A. T. Macmillan has examined the
skin and says that it is “nicely pink and therefore apparently
adult.”

CORRIGENDUM

Antea 1: 345. The observer of Lapland Buntings at Aber-
lady was J. Baird, not J. Ballantyne, as stated.

(Photograph by J. E. Ruxton)

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CQNWILHHS SMOIHD UNV THUANIHM

1961 CURRENT NOTES 383
CURRENT NOTES

(The observers whose initials are given below are: A. Ablett, G. R.
Acklam, D. R. Anderson, D. G. Andrew, J. Baird (J. Bd.), J. Ballantyne
(J. Bal.), Miss P. G. Baxter, D. Bell, H. B. Bell, Dr J. Berry (J. By.), W.
Birrell (W. Bi.), R. O. Blyth, H. Boase, T. Boyd, W. Brotherston (W.
Br.), W. S. Caie, N. Campbell, Miss M. H. E. Cuninghame, C. Dunlop,
Dr W. J. Eggeling, Sir R. Erskine-Hill, G. Fraser, Seton Gordon, D.
Knowlson, D. Lawson, Lt-Col. W. M. Logan Home, J. Hoy, Miss R. S.
Hunter, G. Kerr, A. J. B. Loudon, A. Macdonald, Miiss G. Macgregor,
A. T. Macmillan, Mrs D. MacRobert, W. Marshall, R. K. Martin, M. F. M.
Meiklejohn, D. Mills, Miss M. Mowat, Mrs D. A. Murray, B. S. Nau,
J. Oliver, Dr I. D. Pennie, Mrs I. Rainier, W. K. Richmond, E. L. Roberts,
I. B. Roy, Dr M. Rusk, J. Shanks, W. Skene, P. Slater, R. W. J. Smith,
T. C. Smout, R P. Snodgrass, T. Speed, L. A. Urquhart, Dr R. S,. Weir
and G. E. R. Young. All dates, unless otherwise stated, apply to 1960
or early 1961).

Breeding and Distribution

A late brood of six Teal, fully feathered but still not in
flight, was seen at Gladhouse on 28th August (R.W.J.S.).

Four Grey Lag Geese were seen at Marlee Loch, near Blair-
gowrie, Perthshire, on 16th July (H.B.) and one at Gladhouse
on 20th August (R.W.J.S.). These birds are included in this
section in view of the possibility of their having summered.
(ED.).

A Green Woodpecker flew across the road near Lochgilphead,
Argyll, on 13th November (I.R.) and another was heard call-
ing on 3rd February near Killearn, W. Stirling, the first the
observer has recorded from the district (A.J.B.L.). One was
also observed in a small deciduous wood on the N.E. side of
Dalmahoy Hill, Balerno, S.W. of Edinburgh, on 10th, 17th
and 24th May 1959 (D.B.), while another was seen clinging to
the concrete blocks at Aberlady Bay on 27th December (G.M.,
deSs):

A Marsh or Willow Tit was briefly seen on 12th August in
the marshy surroundings of a small pool with scattered wil-
low-trees at Valleyfield, Fife (J.H.).

A Chiffchaff was heard singing on the Isle of Eigg on 15th
Junen(D:K.).

At Ormiston, East Lothian, fifteen Crossbills, including sev-
eral juveniles and three males were observed on 15th May:
only one remained on 24th May (J.Bd.).

Several Tree Sparrows were found in a thick hawthorn hedge
at Dundonald, Ayrshire, on 27th October (L.A.U.).

Autumn Migration, 1960

On 21st August there was a Red-necked Grebe off the rocks
at Barassie, Ayrshire (L.A.U.).

384 CURRENT NOTES 1(11)

On 13th September at Montrose Basin what were first
thought to be posts turned out to be 34 Herons, and six more
were found elsewhere in the Basin (H.B.).

Twenty-seven Shoveler on 23rd September at Duddingston
Loch is a record number for the locality (D.R.A.).

An Osprey is recorded from Trotternish, Skye, on 20th Sep-
tember (Miss J. Brownlow per S.G.).

Several observers have commented on large numbers of
Kestrels in November and early December, in the Central
Highlands (R.P., Scotsman, 10th December), East Lothian
(A.M.), Glenshee (A.T.M.) and Drumochter (W.J.E.).

Three Grey Plover were at Gladhouse on 22nd October
(R.W.d:):

A Black-tailed Godwit was at Longannet. Fife, on 22nd Aug-
ust (J.H.) and one at Red Point, Wester Ross, on 26th August
(R.O.B.). This svecies is unusual in the N.W. Highlands, but
compare antea 1: 339 (Eb.).

Green Sandpipers are revorted from Craigendunton Reser-
voir Ayrshire. (two) on 20th August (T:..A.U.) and one from a
pool near Killearn on the 28th (A.J.B.L.).

A dead Redshank, recently shot, was picked up at Tyning-
hame on 16th October: it had wings of 170 and 171 mm. and
bill from feathers to tip 46 mm., thus coming well within the
measurement range of the Icelandic race (R.W.J.S.).

A Spotted Redshank was on Dunwan Dam, Renfrewshire, on
14th August (L.A.U.).

Further records of the large number of Little Stints last
autumn are three at Invergowrie Bay on 26th September,
which appear to be the first Perthshire record (H.B.); one at
Aberlady on 8th October (D.B.); and single birds at Tyning-
hame on 30th October (R.W.J.S.), 6th November (I.B.R., W.S.)
and 11th December (T.B., I.B.R., W.S. and R.W.J.S.): the first
of these three had only one leg.

At Barassie, Ayrshire, there were three Curlew Sandpipers
on 4th September (L.A.U.) and one at Invergowrie Bay on the
26th (H.B.), while single Ruffs are reported from Craigendun-
ton Reservoir, Ayrshire, on 20th August, and from Barassie
on the 21st (L.A.U.), two being seen on the Endrick bank near
Drymen on the 27th (A.J.B.L.).

On 29th August a Grey Phalarope was resting on the sand
near the mouth of the Don, Aberdeen, in company with terns
(Bis ENE):

Two Little Gulls flew south at Easthaven, Angus, on 13th
August and an immature bird was seen in Lunan Bay, Angus,
on 9th September (H.B.).

Two late Swallows were at Culross, Fife, on 3lst October

1961 CURRENT NOTES 385

(J.H.) and a late House Martin at Lundin Links on 23rd Novem-
ber (R.S.W.).

Single Ring Ouzels on passage are reported from near the
top of Arthur’s Seat on 2nd October (T.C.S.), from Aberlady
on the 16th (J.O.) and from Pittenweem (where it was eating
cotoneaster berries) on the 24th (per T.S.).

Late Redstarts occurred at Tyninghame on 29th and 30th
October (R.W.J.S.) and at Gullane on the 29th (G.RA.,
M.F.M.M.). There were “dozens” of Robins, considered not to
be local birds, at Whitekirk, East Lothian, on 3rd November
(A.M.).

A Lesser Whitethroat (of which a description has been sent)
occurred at Fife Ness on 16th and 17th October (P.G.B.,
R.S.W.).

There was a considerable fall of passerines on the East
Lothian coast between Tyninghame and Barnes Ness on 29th
and 30th October, including four species of thrush, Robins,
Wrens and Goldcrests (R.W.J.S.).

Winter Visitors 1960-61

A Black-throated Diver-was seen at close range on Loch Tay
on 5th October (H.B.). Three hundred Great Crested Grebes on
the sea at Seafield, Leith, on 3lst December, is a very high
count even for there (R.W.J.S.).

A pair of Gadwall were at Lochgoin, Renfrewshire, on 4th
November (L.A.U.) and on Dunsappie Loch, Edinburgh, four

were noted on 26th November and six on lst December (A.A.,
J .Bal:).

Numbers of Goldeneye at Seafield, Leith, are at record level,
about twice the previous maximum, with just over 1,000
counted on 30th December (A.T.M.) and 1,800 the next day
(R.W.J.S.). There is an inland record of an adult female Long-
tailed Duck at Gladhouse on 20th and 27th November (D.G.A.,
R.W.J.S.).

Numbers of Eider at Seafield, Leith, appear to increase
every year and between three and four hundred on 21st Dec-
ember is a record for the locality (N.C., P.S.).

Single red-headed Smews are reported from Loch Leven,
Kinross, on 17th October (R.W.J.S.), Cobbinshaw, Midlothian,
on 6th November (T.B., R.W.J.S.) and Camphill Reservoir,
Ayrshire, on 27th November (D.L.), and a pair were seen on
Loch Flemington, E. Inverness, on 14th and 15th January
(€.D,).

A Shelduck turned up inland at Duddingston on 9th Decem-
ber (D.R.A.).

Two White-fronted Geese of the Eastern race albifrons were
at the mouth of the R. Endrick, Dunbartonshire, in November

386 CURRENT NOTES 1(11)

in company with Grey Lags; they had small pink bills, hardly
any barrings and ‘were petite’ (W.K.R.). A white Snow Goose
thought to be a Greater, was at Fala between 15th and 23rd
October (W.Br., M.M.) and what must have been the same
bird was at Hule Moss on 13th November (W.Br., W.M.L.H.):
in each case the Snow Goose was with Pink-feet. The white
Snow Goose did not return to Libberton this year (R.E.-H.), but
an adult Blue Goose was seen there from at least the second
half of October (R.E.-H., R.S.H.). Plumage details of neither
of these birds have so far been received (ED.).

Two Barnacle Geese were seen on Hunterston Shore, Ayr-
shire, on 16th October and 13th November (G.K.) and three at
Aberlady on 30th October (J.Bal.).

Six Bewick’s Swans frequented the High Dam, Eaglesham,
between 12th and 26th November (L.A.U.) and five were on
Gartmorn Loch, Clackmannan, on 7th February (J.By.).

Single Water Rails are reported from Tynnighame on 29th
and 30th October (per R.W.J.S.) and Aberlady on 4th Decem-
ber (W.Bi.). Over 300 Coot were counted on Forfar Loch on
24th August (H.B.).

Late records of the Whimbrel from Longannet, Fife, are of
two on 16th and 17th October, and single birds on 13th Nov-
ember and 20th December (J.H.).

A wintering Greenshank was found on 28th December in the
estuary of the R. Conon, Ross-shire—very far north (D.M.):
three were seen in Cardross Bay, Dunbartonshire, on 30th
December and one there on lst January (R.P.S.); one, or two,
winter at Tyninghame, but four seen there on 1st January is
a winter record (W.S., R.W.J.S.). ;

The only Little Auk so far reported was picked up newly
dead near Tayport on 4th January (per R.W.J.S.).

A single adult Shore Lark occurred at Tyninghame on 27th
November (T.B., W.S., R.W.J.S.).

A Coal Tit with the characters of the typical race ater fre-
quented a bird-table at Kilmacolm at the end of December:
compared with resident Coal Tits it was much more spruce
and well-groomed, with a very large white patch on the back
of its head: it was also altogether brighter in colour, and
larger (D.MacR.).

A male Blackcap was seen at Longannet on 4th November
(J.H.) and single females frequented two gardens in Edin-
burgh between 17th and 21st December (R.K.M.) and between
8th and 12th January (D.A.M.). A male was seen at Kirkcaldy
on 5th January (H.B.B.). A Chiffchaff was seen at Bearsden on
17th November (G.E.R.Y.).

Several Waxwings have again been reported this winter:
five at Golspie, Sutherland, on 2nd November (1.D.P.); one at

1961 CURRENT NOTES 387

Ullapool between 16th and 28th November, which ate not only
berries at Cotoneaster horizontalis but also bread and cheese
(W.S.C.); one at St Andrews on 18th November (M.H.E.C.):
two at Gullane on the 17th (A.A.); at Longniddry there was
a flock of forty just before 16th November, over forty on 21st
and 22nd, seven or eight on 25th-27th, and over 100 in a diff-
erent neighbouring area on the 28th (W.Bi.); in the Inverness
neighbourhood three were seen on 27th December (Miss
Munro per M.R.) and one on 18th January (M.R.).

Unusual numbers of Great Grey Shrikes have been reported
this year: six have already been published (antea 1: 344) and
we have heard of several of which details have so far not
been received. Verified records of single birds come from
Crinan Moss, Argyll, on 4th November (I.R.), Skye in mid-
November (S.G., Scotsman 3lst December), Strathbrora,
Sutherland, on 16th and 27th November (1.D.P.), Pitgaveny,
near Elgin, on the 24th (W.M.), Caerlaverock, Dumfries, on
the 26th (E.L.R.) and Muirhead Reservoir, Ayrshire, on 4th
January (G.F.).

Back Notes

A record of three Sanderling from Kingoodie on 12th May
1957 seems to be the first for Perthshire (H.B.).

The following records are all from G.R.A.: a drake Garganey
among a flock of Mallard at Barr Loch, Renfrewshire, on
26th May 1959; a Turnstone in summer plumage at the west
end of the Lake of. Menteith, on 21st May 1960; two Whimbrel
at the Endrick mouth, Dunbarton and Stirling, on 23rd May
1959 and two at the Low Parks, Hamilton, on 8th August 1959;
a Black-tailed Godwit at Bothwell Bridge on 17th May 1958 and
two near Erskine Ferry, Renfrewshire, on 3rd October 1959.
On the same date, in the same area, a Ruff. Two Common Terns
on 28th June 1959 appeared to be nesting, with one bird incub-
ating, on Barr Loch, Renfrewshire.

General Notes

(These observations cover a number of aspects—behaviour, plumage
variation and so on. They are given in the observers’ own words.—Ed.)

“On 21st October I was looking at a Greater Black-backed
Gull perched on a rock in the sea at Dunbar. Suddenly a
Cormorant flew up and knocked the gull off what was perhaps
its favourite stance. Immediately on gaining its place the
Cormorant spread out its wings, in the heraldic position. This
seems to be further evidence that this action is caused by a
wish to keep other birds away.” (M.F.M.M.).

“On 20th October 1960 we saw a leucistic variety of the

388 CURRENT NOTES 1(11)

Pochard Nyroca ferina on a small roadside loch near Acha-
vanish, Caithness. It was swimming with many other Pochard
and was the same size and shape. Its head was a warm buff-
brown, almost as dark as the head of a duck Merganser. The
breast was light buff, the forepart of the wing light greyish
brown, and the rest of the plumage creamy white, some parts
being lighter than others.” (A. Anderson, A. Watson).

“During the past winter, 1959-60, I saw six Whooper Swans,
four in adult plumage and two immatures, on agricultural
land at Fordoun, Kincardineshire, nearly every week. Local
farm-workers assured me that the swans were regularly seen
soon after dawn and in the gloaming. Presumably they roosted
in the fields. The Water of Bervie, a small stream, runs about
half a mile away, but it is probable that the birds spent the
entire winter from mid-October to the last week in March on
the fields and runways: in January and February they were
seen during periods of snow. Their food apparently was
mainly potatoes, grass and winter wheat, and there was usual-
ly some water in rain puddles on the runways.” (D. Jenkins).

“On 2nd June 1960 in the Isle of Lewis I noticed from my
car two Golden Eagles close to the road. One flew off, but the
other stood on the top of a peat-cutting right beside a fully
grown sheep in the cutting. The bird followed the sheep back
and fore along the cutting, keeping within about a yard of it.
I thought that perhaps there was an injured lamb hidden from
me in the rushes but, when the sheep stopped to scratch itself
on the bank, with the massive bird alongside it, I began to
have my doubts, as this seemed to be carrying sangfroid too
far, even for a sheep! Then, to my amazement, when the sheep
wasn’t looking, the eagle hopped on to its back, or tried to.
This was too much for the sheep, which jumped round and
squared up to the bird, and for a moment beak (and what a
beak!) and nose were only a few inches apart. Eventually the
eagle grew bored or something and flew off. Judging from its
plumage I should say it was a young bird, perhaps playing.”
(W. A. J. Cunningham).

“On 12th December 1960 an acquaintance who breeds minks
at Steinish, near Stornoway, came to me with an adult Black-
headed Gull, though it was without any kind of head at all.
The poor thing had tried to steal the minks’ dinner and had
its head bitten off. The point of the story, poignant as it is,
is that one leg was missing, but on the other was a ring mark-
ed Stavanger Museum 629045. I have since learned that it was
ringed by Holger Holgersen about fifteen miles south of
Stavanger (Norway) on 26th June 1958.” (W.AJ.C., see also
Scotsman 28th January 1961).

“On the overcast and drizzling afternoon of 3rd January 1960

1961 CURRENT NOTES 389

I was standing on the south side of Gloucester Cathedral,
England, watching small parties of Black-headed Gulls, with a
few Common Gulls, flying down from inland to roost on the
Severn. I counted over 200 of these and all without exception
passed a few yards to the west of the cathedral tower. It
seemed clear that they used it as a guiding mark in bad
weather. Indeed, one party of ten gulls, seen approaching
about 200 yards west of the tower, altered course to fly in
close to the tower before continuing their flight.” (M.F.M.M.).

“On 7th February 1960 at Lochgoin, Renfrewshire, my at-
tention was attracted by a small and noisy flock of about forty
Black-headed Gulls swooping low over the surface, and I
found they were pursuing and mobbing a Short-eared Owl
which was crossing the loch. In spite of the gulls’ harrying
tactics, the owl was making steady progress and was only 100
yards from the shore when the gulls suddenly drove it down
on to the water. The owl floated there buoyantly enough, as
the loch was flat calm, and glared up at its tormentors. For
perhaps threequarters of a minute it remained on the loch
surface; then, without any apparent difficulty, it rose, shaking
the water from its plumage, and continued its flight, landing
on the bank within fifteen yards of me. Having shaken itself
it flew away across the moor.” (L.A.U.).

“On 25th October 1960 the King of Nepal was being banquet-
ted in Edinburgh Castle, which was floodlit for the occasion.
The night was very misty and clouds swirling into the beams
gave to the castle a look of an ingenious backcloth to Mac-
beth. I walked for half an hour in the centre of the town and
heard countless Redwings, several Blackbirds and Song Thrushes,
a Fieldfare, a Black-headed Gull and a Snipe. Perhaps the castle

could be used as a bait on every misty autumn evening.”
GEC:S;).

“On 28th May 1960 a Spotted Flycatcher took up a hunting
position on a rain-gutter directly outside a window of the
Manse of Ranfurly, about a foot from the window, where it
remained for six days. The perch provided a very favourable
position for the closest observation and, by pasting brown
paper with observation holes on the window, I made the bird
unaware of my presence. Quite frequently the bird seemed
to retch, and then disgorged a small pellet about the size of
lead shot, once or twice with sufficient force to hit the glass
of the window with a distinct pop. Another interesting feature
was that it frequently caught insects on the glass of the win-

dow, when the succession of taps resounded curiously through
the house.” (E. T. Vernon).

390 OFFICIAL SECTION 1(11)
SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS# CLUE

SUMMER EXCURSIONS

ABERDEEN

Application for all Excursions to be made to Miss E. A. Garden, Eider
Cottage, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire (Tel. Newburgh 615) one week in ad-
vance. Transport will be by private cars, and members having spare seats
should inform Miss Garden.

Sunday, 7th May
LOCH OF STRATHBEG—Leader: Miss E. A. Garden. Meet at St Mary’s
Chapel at south end of Loch at 10.30 a.m. Bring picnic lunch and tea.
Sunday, 28th May
BLACKHALL FOREST (by kind permission gf the Forestry Commission)
—Leader: Mr C. Murray. Meet at Blackhall main gate at 10.30 a.m.
Bring picnic lunch and tea.
Sunday, 27th August
YTHAN ESTUARY AND LOCHS—Leader: Miss E. A. Garden. Meet at
Ythan Hotel 10.30 a.m. Bring picnic lunch and tea.

DUNDEE

Where private cars are to be used, applications for all Excursions should
be made to Mr Jack Scobie, 3 Constitution Road, Dundee (Office Tel.
22741) one week in advance.

Sunday, 21st May
NORTH ESK ESTUARY AND AUCHMITHIE—Meet City Square 10
a.m. Transport by private cars. Bring picnic lunch and tea.
Sunday, 18th June
CAIRNGORMS (FOR DOTTEREL HUNT)—This may be a week-end
Excursion. Numbers will be restricted to cars available. Arrangements
will be made known later.
) Sunday, 25th June
TENTSMUIR AND SHELLY POINT—Meet Tay Ferries 9.45 a.m.
Transport by private cars. Bring picnic lunch and tea.
Sunday, 9th July
BASS ROCK (by kind permission of Sir Hew Hamilton-Dalrymple, Bart.)
—This may be a week-end Excursion. Numbers will be restricted to
cars available. Arrangements will be made known later.
Sunday, 17th September
EDEN ESTUARY (Guardbridge to St Andrews)—Meet Tay Ferries 9.45
a.m. Transport by bus. Bring picnic lunch.

EDINBURGH

Times of buses and trains should be checked with Summer Timetables.
Costs may also be subject to alteration. Private hire buses will only be pro-
vided at the charges shown on condition that a minimum of 30 attend. Any-
one unable to attend, and having booked a seat, may be required to pay
the fare unless one week’s notice is given.

Saturday, 13th May

ABERLADY BAY NATURE RESERVE (Spring Migrants)—Leader: Mr
W. K. Birrell. Meet Timber Bridge 2.30 p.m. Bring picnic tea. (S.M.T.
bus leaves Edinburgh Bus Station at approx. 1.40 p.m.).

1961 @OPEICIAL SECHION 391

Saturday, 20th May

PENICUIK HOUSE GROUNDS (by kind permission of Sir John D.
Clerk, Bart.)—Leader, Mr R. W. J. Smith. Meet outside Penicuik
Post Office 2.30 p.m. Bring picnic tea. (S.M.T. bus leaves Edinburgh
Bus Station at 1.30 p.m.).

Sunday, 28th May

THE HIRSEL, COLDSTREAM (by kind permission of the Earl of Home)
—Limited number. Applications by 20th May to Mr A. T. Macmillan,
66 Spylaw Bank Road, Edinburgh 13. Leader at the Hirsel: Major The
Hon. Henry Douglas Home. Private bus leaves Waverley Bridge 11
a.m. returning approx. 7 p.m. Bring picnic lunch and tea. Cost: bus
approx. 8s per person.

Saturday, 24th June

ISLE OF MAY—Number limited to 12. Applications by 17th June to Mr
Alastair Macdonald, Hadley Court, Haddington (Tel. 3204). Train to
Anstruther leaves Waverley Station 9.10 am. Boat leaves Harbour
11.40 a.m. prompt. Return train leaves Anstruther 6 p.m. Bring picnic
lunch and tea. Cost: Day Return rail ticket 8s 1ld; boat approx. .9s.

Sunday, 2nd July

FARNE ISLANDS—Limited number. Applications by 24th June to Mr
A. G. Ablett, 7 Craigmount Gardens, Edinburgh 12 (Tel. COR 4258).
Private bus leaves Waverley Bridge 9 a.m. arriving Seahouses 12.30
p.m. Boats leave Harbour on arrival. Bring picnic lunch. Cost: bus 11s;
boat lls. High Tea will be arranged for those who apply for it. (It is
regretted that as places in the boats are limited to the number of seats
in the bus, applications from those wishing to travel by private car
cannot be accepted).

Sunday, 9th July

BEN LAWERS, PERTHSHIRE (Mountain birds and flowers)—Excur-
sion by private cars. Numbers limited to seats available. Applications
by 2nd July to Mr Michael Robson, Little Bellwood, Glencorse, Peni-
cules @ueleePenicuik 380), Meet at Lawers Car Park at 11 am. Bring
picnic lunch and tea. Petrol expenses should be shared.

Saturday, 29th July

BASS ROCK (by kind permission of Sir Hew Hamilton-Dalrymple, Bart.)
—Applications by 22nd July to Mr John King, 103 Marchmont Road,
Edinburgh 9 (Tel. MOR 2671). Boats leave North Berwick Harbour
2.30 p.m. and return approx. 7 p.m. Bring picnic tea. Cost: boat 7s 6d.
(If the weather is uncertain, it is advisable to check with the Leader
on the morning of the Excursion in case landing is impossible).

Saturday, 9th September

ABERLADY BAY NATURE RESERVE (Autumn Migrants)—Leader,

Mr W. K. Birrell. Arrangements as for 13th May.

GLASGOW

Sunday, 30th April
HAMILTON BIRD SANCTUARY (by kind permission of the Town
Council of the Burgh of Hamilton)—Leader, Mr D. Stalker. Meet at
gates to Municipal Golf Course at 2 p.m.
Sunday, 28th May
THE HIRSEL, COLDSTREAM (by kind permission of the Earl of Home)
—lLimited number. Joint Excursion with Edinburgh Branch. Train
leaves Queen Street Station at 9.40 a.m. and arrives Waverley
10.54 a.m. Private bus leaves Waverley Bridge 11 a.m. Applications by
20th May to Mr A. T. Macmillan, 66 Spylaw Bank Road, Edinburgh 13.
For arrangements and costs see under Edinburgh Excursions,

392 OFEICIAL SECHON 1(11)

Saturday, 10th June
LUSS ISLANDS, LOCH LOMOND (by kind permission of Sir Ivor Col-
quhoun, Bart.)—Applications by 27th May to Mr George Kerr, 166 Old
Castle Road, Cathcart, Giasgow S4. Service bus via Balloch to Luss;
alight at Bandry Bay, half-mile south of Luss. Ferry boat leaves 1
p.m. and 2 p.m., returning 5.30 p.m. Fare approx. 3s. Bring picnic tea.

Sunday, 18th June
LITTLE CUMBRAE (by kind permission of Highland Engineering Ltd.) —
Applications by 6th June to Mr George Patrick, 11 Knollpark Road,
Clarkston, Glasgow. Boat leaves Fairlie 11.30 a.m. Fare 3s 6d. Bring
picnic lunch and tea. N.B.: This Excursion will take place subject to
permission being granted.

Saturday, 24th June
HORSE ISLAND (by kind permission of the Royal Society for the Pro-
tection of Birds)—Applications by 10th June to Mr George Patrick, 11
Knollpark Drive, Clarkston, Glasgow. Boat leaves Ardrossan Harbour
2.30 p.m. Fare approx. 3s 6d. Bring picnic tea.
Sunday, 17th September
HAMILTON BIRD SANCTUARY (by kind permission of the Town
Council of the Burgh of Hamilton)—Leader, Mr M. Forrester. Meet
at gates leading to Municipal Golf Course at 2 p.m.

ST ANDREWS

Applications for all Excursions should be made to Miss M. M. Spires, 2
Howard Place, St Andrews (Tel. 852) not later than ten days before each
Excursion. Transport will then be arranged.

Saturday, 27th May
KILCONQUHAR LOCH (by kind permission of Nairn Estates)—Enter
by North Lodge at 2.30 p.m. Bring picnic tea.
Sunday, 18th June
LOCH LEVEN (by kind permission of Kinross Estates)—Boats leave
from the Sluices, Scotlandwell, for St Serf’s Island at 11 am. Bring
picnic lunch and tea.
Saturday, 8th July
TENTSMUIR (by kind permission of Mrs Purvis)—Leave St Andrews
Bus Station 2 p.m. Bring picnic tea.

WEEK-END EXCURSION TO AVIEMORE

Arrangements have again been made with Mrs Grant, The Dell Hotel,
Rothiemurchus, Aviemore (Tel. Aviemore 216) for a week-end Excursion
to Speyside.

Accommodation for up to twenty members has been reserved for the
week-end 12th to 14th May at inclusive terms of 45s per person, as follows:
bed on Friday night, 12th; breakfast, packed lunch, dinner and bed on
Saturday, 13th; breakfast and packed lunch on Sunday, 14th.

Members wishing to come on this Excursion should book direct with
Mrs Grant. mentioning that they are members of the Club, and are asked
to send her confirmation of their booking once it is made, and also to in-
form her if they require dinner on Friday evening (extra). Members may
bring guests. Arrangements for transport by private cars should be made
through Branch Secretaries.

NELSON'S

Atlas of
European Birds

Professor K. H. VOOUS
preface by Sir A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON

Here is an original and valuable work, which fills a real
want for all students of ornithology, both professional and
amateur. A clear and concise description of the life habits
of the 419 species of birds known to breed in Europe
grouped systematically in families, genera, and species
(under the headings Faunal Type, Distribution, Habitat,
Food, Nest, Movement) is accompanied in each case by
an outline map in colour making it possible to identify
the distribution of the bird at a glance. The majority
of the birds themselves are portrayed in a series of arresting
plates, the work of many of the most distinguished Europ-
ean ornithological photographers. ‘“‘This magnificent book,
lavishly illustrated with photographs and maps”.
—Daily Telegraph.

355: half-tone plates and 419 maps
TAw: xX, TOS: 284 pp 70S

THOMAS NELSON AND SONS LTD

Parkside Works 36 Park Street
Edinburgh 9 London Wri

FAIR ISLE BIRD OBSERVATORY

The HOSTEL is open between April
and October with Comfortable Accom-
modation for 14 Visitors.

TERMS : from Six Guineas per week.
(Reduced Rates for Parties from
Schools and Universities).

FIELD WORK, in which Visitors take
part, includes Trapping, Ringing, and
Laboratory Examination of Migrant
Birds ; also Studies of Breeding Biolo-
gy of Great and Arctic Skuas.

PROSPECTUS obtainable from the Hon. Secretary, Mr George
Waterston, 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7.

Applications for Bookings

should be made to Mr Peter Davis, Warden, Fair Isle Bird Obser-
vatory, Fair Isle, Shetland. (Telephone Fair Isle 8).

— ——

SAMPLE CENSUS OF MUTE SWANS
1:9 671

MEMBERS are asked to co-operate once again in a sample

census of Mute Swans in the Forth area during 1961.
This Census, which is sponsored by the B.T.O. and the
Wildfowl Trust, is being organised by Mr C. P. Rawcliffe,
35 Comely Bank Road, Edinburgh 4, to whom all records
should be sent.

Information is required on the number of nests seen,
the hatching success, and counts of any non-breeding
birds in the area, which covers the Lothians, Stirling-
shire, Clackmannan, Fife and Kinross.

The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club Tie

Illustrated is the Official Club Tie,
of which R. W. Forsyth’s are the
sole suppliers. The tie is made

from Terylene with a blue or

green background, and
the bird motif in

silver. 16/9.

Forsyth’s
also provide
warm clothing
for bird watchers:
gloves, scarves, under-
wear, shoes, caps, weath-
erproof trousers, jerkins,
raincoats and overcoats.

R. W. FORSYTH

R. W. Forsyth Ltd. Princes Street Edinburgh And ai Glasgow

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Bird Photography as a Hobby

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to a most absorbing hobby. It covers the whole field from
elementary studies of familiar garden birds to the exciting
challenge of rare and difficult species in remote places.
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Bi rds

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SelLRDS

The Journal of
The Seottish Ornithologists’ Club

Vol. I No. 12 Summer 1961

1s Jt WY 12 SHILLINGS

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

ue Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was founded in 1936 and membership

is open to all interested in Scottish ornithology. Meetings are held
during the winter months in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and
St Andrews, at which lectures by prominent ornithologists are given and
films exhibited. Excursions are organised in the summer to places of
ornithological interest.

The aims and objects of the Club are to (a) encourage and direct the
study of Scottish Ornithology in all its branches; (b) co-ordinate the
etforts of Scottish Ornithologists and encourage co-operation between field
and indoor worker; (c) encourage ornithological research in Scotland in
co-operation with other organisations; (d) hold meetings at centres to be
arranged at which Lectures are given, films exhibited, and discussions held;
and (e) publish or arrange for the publication of statistics and information
with regard to Scottish ornithology.

There are no entry fees tor Membership. The Annual subscription is
25/-; or 7/6 in the case of Members under twenty-one years of age or in
the case of University undergraduates who satisfy the Council of their status
as such at the time at which their subscriptions fall due in any year.
Joint membership is available to married couples at an annual subscrip-
tion of 40/-. “Scottish Birds” is issued free to members, but Joint mem-
bers will receive only one copy between them.

The affairs of the Club are ccntrolled by a Council composed of the Hon
Presidents, the President, the Vice-President, the Hon. Treasurer, one
Representative of each Branch Committee appointed annually by the
Branch, and ten other Members of the Club elected at an Annual General
Meeting. Two of the last named retire annually by rotation and shall not
be eligible for re-election for one year.

A Scottish Bird Records’ Committee, appointed by the Council, produce
an annual Report on “Ornithological Changes in Scotland.”

An official tie with small white Crested Tits embroidered on it can be
obtained in dark green or in navy blue by Members only from Messrs R.
W. Forsyth Ltd., Princes Street, Edinburgh, or 5 Renfield Street, Glasgow,
C.2 at a cost of 16s 9d post extra. A small brooch in silver and blue can be
obtained for the use of Members of the Club. Price 2s 6d each from the
Secretary, or from Hon. Branch Secretaries.

Forms of application for Membership, copy of the Club Constitution,
and other literature is obtainable from the Club Secretary, Mrs George
Waterston, Scottish Centre for Ornithology and Bird Protection, 21
Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7. (Tel. Waverley 6042).

CLUB-ROOM AND LIBRARY

The Club-room and Library at 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7, will
be available to members during office hours, and on Wednesday evenings
from 7 to 10 p.m. (except the Wednesdays of Branch Meetings). Mem-
bers may use the Reference Library and borrow books from the Dupli-
cate Section. Facilities for making tea or coffee are available at a nominal
charge and members may bring guests by arrangement. The Aldis 2” x
2” slide projector and screen may be used for the informal showing of
slides at a charge of 2s 6d per night to cover the replacement of bulbs.

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

All notes dealing with birds in the eastern Lowlands, from Berwick-on-
Tweed to Dundee, should be submitted to A. T. Macmillan, 66 Spylaw
Bank Road, Edinburgh, 13; all other contributions to M. F. M. Meikle-
john, 16 Athole Gardens, Glasgow, W.2. It would be helpful if notes were
typewritten, if possible, and double spaced.

SCOTTISH BIRDS

THE JOURNAL OF THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB ‘“$®~

Vol. I. No. 12 Summer 1961

Edited by M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN, with the assistance of D. G. ANDREW and
A. T. MACMILLAN. Business Editor, ARTHUR J. SMITH. Cover design
(Whimbrel) by LEN FULLERTON. Published quarterly.

Editorial

(‘HIS number of Scottish Birds breaks new ground by pub-

lishing an article by General Sir Philip Christison Bart.
on birds in Gaelic proverbs. This branch of ornithology
(folklore and so on) has been much neglected since Victorian
times, and we feel that it is very desirable that it should be
revived.

Good news for all Scottish ornithologists is the announce-
ment by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds of no
fewer than five new bird sanctuaries in Scotland, by agree-
ment with the owners: these are Horse Island in the Firth of
Clyde, and Inchmickery, Eyebroughty, Fidra and the Lamb
in the Firth of Forth. Mr George Waterston, the R.S.P.B.’s
Scottish Secretary tells us: “Horse Island lies only half a
mile out from Ardrossan Harbour and contains a large Black-
headed gullery, possibly four species of terns, other gulls,
Oystercatchers, Ringed Plover and Waterhens. Eiders and
Shelduck also breed. Anyone wishing to land on Horse Island
must obtain a permit from the R.S.P.B. Scottish Office, 21
Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7.

“At Fidra there are large colonies of four species of tern;
these birds were formerly menaced by rats, but as a result
of action taken by the Society in the spring of 1959, the rats
have been exterminated and the terns had a successful breed-
ing season in 1960. Care will be taken by the Society to en-
sure that gulls do not encroach into the breeding area of the
terns and, during the nesting season, the terns’ breeding
colony will be cordoned off (as on the Farne Islands) to pre-
vent visitors from inadvertently trampling on eggs. The small
rocky islet of the Lamb has a recently established colony of
Cormorants, the only one in the Forth area, and Eyebroughty
is a tidal island off the East Lothian coast near Dirleton and
is a well known haunt of Eiders. Terns formerly bred but
have not done so since the war owing to the large number of
rats; the Society intends to take steps to eliminate these.

418 EDITORIAL 1(12)

There are no restrictions on public access to these islands, but
visitors are asked not to disturb the breeding birds.

“Finally, Inchmickery lies almost midway between
Cramond and Aberdour and has large tern colonies. Since
terns have been squeezed out of the Isle of May and the Carr
Craig by invasions of Herring Gulls, the Society intends to
control the gull population on these islands.”

We feel that bird protection in Scotland, under Mr Water-
ston’s guidance, is in a very healthy state; but we must not
forget also the long-established sanctuaries. One of these is
Duddingston Loch, in Edinburgh, and members of the S.O.C.
will receive as a special supplement to this number of Scottish
Birds a paper on the birds of this sanctuary—gratis and for
nothing.

BIRD NAMES IN GAELIC FOLKLORE
AND PROVERBS
by
GENERAL SIR PHILIP CHRISTISON BT.

The Celtic people of Scotland put much store on the inter-
pretations given by their wise men to the actions and songs of
birds. Many superstitions and proverbs concerning birds have
come down to us, and some are observed and used to-day.

The Celtic Patron Saint of birds is St Bride, and her par-
ticular bird is Gille Bride, servant of Bride, the Oystercatcher.
An old saying runs Bha Gaidhlig aig na h-eoin uair, agus
Thuigeadh iad gloir nan dan (The birds once spoke Gaelic and
understood the speech of song). Mention, however, of birds in
ancient Celtic literature is sparse: in the Ossianic epics only
the eagle and falcon are noticed, though night birds are
startled by the noise of Fingal’s shield, and a flight of sea
birds observed. It is not until the sixteenth century that we
have records of the Gaelic poets singing of birds.

A study of Gaelic proverbs is useful in showing that the
old Highlanders knew the birds around them, and used this
knowledge. It also shows that certain birds now rare or un-
known in Scotland were sufficiently common at one time to
be used in proverbs, such as the Kite, Rough-legged Buzzard,
Crane, Black-throated Diver, Wryneck and Water Rail.

All birds were originally sacred to the Gaels; migrants were
fairy birds, the Cuckoo, Corncrake and Wheatear inspiring

419

1961

. Smith)

M

7

In loyye JAN

(Photograp

INS Sol

SIsUNG 2Vap

420 GAELIC FOLKLORE 1(12)

particular superstition. The Cuckoo turned into a hawk for
more than half the year, the Corncrake sang on its back with
feet in the air to keep the heavens from falling, and the
Wheatear was known as the Grandson of the Toad. The death-
feigning posture of the Corncrake at harvest, and the burrow-
nesting habit of the Wheatear were no doubt responsible.

A bird flying into a house over a person’s head is a bad sign,
but it is lucky if one sees a bird, other than a sparrow, as the
first living thing seen on looking out in the morning. A spar-
row seen first means the death of a child. If the bird is flying
towards one it means a letter. Specially lucky birds to see
first are a cock grouse, Mallard or pigeon, but on going a
journey, the Raven, crow and Wheatear are unlucky if the
first birds seen. The first arrival of the geese is watched with
care; if they fly seawards it means a good spell of weather, if
to the mountains, bad.

To hear the Cuckoo on an empty stomach means a year’s
bad luck, and a Ring Ouzel seen near a house signifies the
death of an inmate. A Robin singing cheerily on summer
evenings means good weather, even if it is raining at the time,
but, if it is singing dismally from inside a hedge, it will be
wet, even if fair at the time. A Twite perching on a house or
nearby wall, and singing, indicates a sudden cold spell, with
snow perhaps, in spring or early summer.

The Magpie is always lucky for a Campbell. Otherwise one
seen on the right was lucky, on the left unlucky; if seen ahead
the luck will be only fair. Hopping near a house means good
news; seen before breakfast it is a bad omen. If a Magpie
hops on the road before a traveller, he will have a good jour-
ney. To cure the bewitched the leg of a Magpie had to be
eaten; for malaria or dysentery a pigeon had to have its back
skin removed, and the patient had to place his feet on the
still living bird’s warm back. For colic the skin of an Osprey,
with feathers on, was kept; this was warmed and applied to
the patient’s stomach when required.

It is unlucky to stuff a mattress or pillow with pigeon’s
feathers.

The following proverbs give some idea of how frequently
the Highlanders used, and in many cases still use, bird names
with proverbial significance.

Raven. Mas ole am fitheach, chan fhearr a chomunn. Bad as
the Raven is his company is no better.

Tha fios fithich agad. You have a Raven’s wisdom.

Bas fithich ort! A Raven’s death on you! (It was thought
the young kill the old Raven in the end).

1961 GAELIC FOLKLORE 42]

Feumaidh na fithich fréin a bhith beo. Even Ravens must
live.

Ge duch am fitheach, is geal leis *isean. Though the Raven
is black his young are white to him.

Nead air Brighde, ugh air Inid, eun air Chaisg: mur bi sin
aig an fhiteach, bithidh am mas. Nest at Candlemas, eggs at
Shrovetide, young by Easter; unless the Raven does this there
will- be death.

Ciod a b’ aill leat fhaighinn an nead an fhithich ach am
fitheach fein? What can you expect in a Raven’s nest but the
Raven himself.

Am fitheach a dh’ éireas moch ’s ann leis a bhios suil a
bheathaich a tka ’s a pholl. It’s the early Raven that gets the
eye of the beast that’s in the bog.

Cha toir am fitheach an t-suil dha isean fhéin. The Raven
won't give the eye to his own chick. (Too great a delicacy).

Fitheach dubh air an taigh, fios gu nighean an dathadair. A
black Raven on the house is a warning to the dyer’s daughter.
(Notice of death: the dyer’s daughter had to dye dresses
black for mourning).

Gaol an fhithich air a chnaimh. A Raven’s love for the
crow (great love)

Fitheach dubh as tFhogar agus feannag as tEarrach. Raven
in autumn, crow in spring (signs of good weather).

Crow. An taobh a théid an fheannag bheir i a feumainn
leatha. Whichever way the crow come, she brings her filth
with her. (Nicolson’s Gaelic Proverbs has: An taobh a théid
an fheannag bheir 7 feaman leatha. When the crow flees her
tail follows).

Is toigh leis an fheannaig a (h-tsean) gorm garrach fhein.
The crow likes its greedy blue nestlings.

Bheireadh e a suilean nam feannag e. He’d take it in front
of a crow’s eyes.

Foighnich sin dha na feannagan. Ask that of the crow (the
impossible).

GOLDEN EAGLE. Tri aois féidh sois firein, tri aois firein aois
craoibh-dharaich. Three times the age of a deer is the age of
an eagle; three times the age of an eagle is the age of an oak
tree.

Fatcon. Cha déanar seabhag de’n chlamhan. You can’t make
a falcon out of a buzzard. (Cf. silk purse from a sow’s ear).

Mar as dirde théid an calman ’s ann as docha an t-seabhag
breith air. The higher the pigeon flies, the easier for the falcon
to reach it. (One can’t escape one’s responsibilities).

Is bed na h-edin, ged nach seabhagan uile iad. The birds
survive though they are not all falcons.

422 GAELIC FOLKLORE 1(12)

KeEsSTREL. Abhsadh a chromain-luch. Shortening sail kes-
rel-fashion: (i.e. letting it drop too suddenly).

Kite. Cha tainig eun glan riamh a nead a chlamhain-
gobhlach. A clean bird never came out of a Kite’s nest.

Tha ’n clamhan-gobhlach ‘nam measg. The Kite’s among
them (panic).

Buzzarp. Chan ann gun fhios car son a ni an clamhan fead.
It is not for nothing the Buzzard whistles.

ROUGH-LEGGED BuzzaRD. Namh e am bDleidire-tonach e?
Isn’t he a Rough-legged Buzzard? (i.e. uncouth, clumsy, eG
heeled).

Tawny OwL.. Tha a chomhachag ri bron, thig tuiltean oirnn.
The owl is mourning, we shall have a flood.

THRUSH. Cha dean aon smeorach samhradh. One thrush
doesn’t make a summer.

An smeorach ri failte ’s an lon-dubh ri cumha. The thrush
for welcome, the Blackbird for lament.

Cho binn ri smeorach air géig. As sweet as a thrush on a
branch.

Chan ’eil port a sheinneas an smeorach ’san Fhaoilleach
nach caoin 1 mun ruith an t-Earrach. There is no time the
thrush sings in the last weeks of winter that she will not
lament before the passing of spring.

MaacpiE. A h-aon aig, breith, a dha aig bron, tri aig banais,
ceithir aig bas. One for a birth, two for sorrow, three for a
wedding, four for a death. (This is contrary to the English
and Scots proverb).

SKYLARK. Chan ’eil deathach an taigh na h-uiseige, There’s
no smoke in the lark’s house.

WHEATEAR. Cloicheran-spdgach, ogha na muile-maig. The
wide-footed Wheatear, he’s just the grandson of the toad. (It
was believed that the toad looks after the Wheatear’s eggs
when he bird flies out to feed).

Tri latha sgathaidh an chloichearain. Three days of Wheat-
ear’s punishment (April days for borrowing).

STONECHAT. Chunnaic mi cloichearan air creag lom, ’s dh’
aithnich mi nach rachadh a bhliadhna liom. I saw a Stone-
chat on a bare rock and knew I’d have bad luck that year.

WREN. Is bigid e siod, is bigid e siod, mar a thuirt an an
dreathan-donn ’nuair a thug e lan a ghuib as a mhuir. Is
mothaid e siod, is mothaid e siod, “nuair a rinn e a dhileag ’s
a’ mhuir mhoir. It’s the less for that, said the Wren as he
filled his beak from the sea. It’s the bigger for that, as he
passed his droppings into the ocean.

Cha tainig ugh mor riamh bho nead an dreathan-donn. A
big egg never came from a Wren’s nest.

1961 GAELIC FOLKLORE 423

Is farsainn a sgaoileas an dreathan-donn a chasan ’na thaigh
fhein. The Wren spreads his feet wide in his own house.

Ged ’s beag an dreathan-donn, is mér a theaghlach. Though
tiny the Wren, his family is large.

WryneEck. Le teanga fhada bhiorach thug gille-na-cuthaige
smugatd-na-cuthaige a beul na cuthaige gu brog-na-cuthaige.
With his long pointed tongue the Wryneck takes the cuckoo-
spit from the Cuckoo’s mouth and places it on the Cuckoo’s
shoe.

Cuckoo. “Gug, gug” arsa a chuthag latha buidhe Bealltainn.
Latha Fhéill-Eoin théid a chuthag gu _ taigh-geamhraidh.
“Cuckoo” says the Cuckoo at Beltane (1st May); on St John’s
Day (24th June) he starts for his winter home

Luath no mall ‘gan tig am Mdigh, thig a’ chuthag. Late or
early comes May, the Cuckoo will come.

Chuala mi a chuthag gun bhiadh ’nam bhroinn. I heard
the Cuckoo without food in my belly. (Unlucky).

A chur a ruith na cuthaige. Hunt the gowk.

‘Nuair a ghairmeas a chuthag air an sgitheach lom, reic do
bho is ceannaich arbhar. When Cuckoo sings on bare thorn,
sell your cow and buy corn.

SWALLOW. Cha dean aon ghobhlan-gaoithe samradh. One
Swallow will not make a summer.

Swirt. Cho luath ri aigne, aigne nam ban baoth. As fast
as a Swift the thoughts of foolish women.

PIGEON. Gob a chalmain-chathaidh, bidh tu slan mu’m pos
thu. By the beak of moulting pigeon you’ll be well before
you marry (encouragement to a sick child).

Buackcock. Is duilich an coileach-dubh a ghleidheadh bho
‘n fhraoch. It’s hard to keep the Blackcock from the heather.

Rinn e coileach-dubh dheth. He made a Blackcock of him
(i.e. shot him). This expression is found in the evidence of the
trial of James of the Glens: Duncan Campbell, change-keeper
at Annat, deponed that Allan Breck had said that “if the de-
ponent had any respect for his friends he would tell them,
that if they offered to turn out the possessors of Ardshiels
estate, he would make blackcocks of them before they entered
into possession, by which the deponent understood shooting
them, it being a common phrase in the country.” (The Trial
of James Stewart, ed. David N. Mackay; 2nd Ed. 1931, p. 139).

RED GROUSE. An coileach-fraoich as moiche a ghoireadh ’s
a bhruaich. It’s the grouse that calls first from the hill.

PTARMIGAN. Gus an tig an tarmachan gu taigh-nan-cearc.
Until the Ptarmigan comes to the hen-house.

Cha chuir fuachd no acras an tarmachan gu srath. Neither

424 GABEIC EOL ORs 1(12)

cold nor hunger will make the Ptarmigan descend to the
valley.

GOLDEN PLOVER. Cho luath ris na feadagan-firich. As swift
as the Golden Plover. .

Woopcock. Cha dean aon choileach-craobhach geamhradh.
One Woodcock doesn’t make a winter.

CURLEW, HERON and Goose. Is sealgair math a mharbhas
geadh is corr is guilbneach. He’s a fine hunter who can kill a
goose, a heron and a curlew.

Goose. Innsidh na geoddh as t-Foghar. The geese will tell it
in autumn.

Chan fhaide gob an géadh no gob ganrail. The goose’s beak
is no longer than, the gander’s (cf. sauce for the goose).

Suidhe a gheoidh an dorus taigh an t-sionnaich. A goose
sitting at the mouth of the fox’s den (cf. a sitting duck).

CRANE, Cha chluinn e glaodhaich nan corr. He cannot even
hear the Crane’s creaking cry.

Ghoideadh e an t-ugh bho ’n chorr ’s a@ chorr fhéin ’na
dheireadh. He'd steal a Crane’s egg from the Crane, and the
Crane herself at his heels.

“Fhuair mi nead na corra-dubh ann an cutl no mona.” So
runs an old verse of Port-a-beul (mouth music): “I found a
Crane’s nest in a hollow in the moor.”

OYSTERCATCHER. Cho edlach ’s a tha am bridean ’san traigh.
To. know something as well as the Oystercatcher knows the
shore.

HERRING GULL and KITTIWAKE. Guth na faoileige am beul
na sgaireige. A Herring Gull’s voice in the mouth of a Kitti-
wake (i.e. poor imitation by an inferior.).

Faoileagan manadh an t-sneachda, sgdireagan an uisge.
Herring Gulls foretell snow, Kittiwakes rain (when they ap-
pear in cultivated areas).

BLACK-THROATED DIVER is said to say “Deoch! deoch! tha an
loch a’ traoghadh.” Drink, drink, the loch’s drying up!

CORMORANT. Trod nam ban muw’n sgarbh, ’s an sgarbh a
muigh air an loch. The scolding of women about a Cormorant
and the Cormorant away out on the loch (idle gossip, or fe-
male lack of reasoning).

SHac. Bioddh gach fear a’ toirt sgairbh a creagan dha fheéin.
Let every man take Shags off the rocks for himself (i.e. mind
your own business). ;

Water Ratu. Buachailleachd nan snagan-dubh ’san luachair.
Shepherding by Water Rails in the rushes (i.e. poor leader-
ship, or failure to keep beasts together).

(The author and editor are indebted to Professor Angus
Matheson for assistance and the addition of several notes).

1961 SHORT NOTES 425

SHORT NOTES

SNOW GEESE IN MIDLOTHIAN, BERWICKSHIRE
AND NORTH UIST

At Fala Moss on 15th October 1960 I was thrilled to see a
large white goose fly in with one of the major flights from
Cowberry, and to make out black wing-ends before it settled.
On the ground it stood like a lighthouse, whilst the Pinkfeet
around blended with the moor and were barely visible in the
fading light. It was clearly as big in size as the very largest
Pink-feet (much bigger than most) and bulkier, with slightly
broader wings and heavier neck. In my opinion it was a
greater Snow Goose Anser caerulescens atlanticus. I thought
I saw a very slight tinting of the head area—not quite the
same incandescent white.

On the following day I confirmed all the points mentioned
above, except that I could see no sign of staining on the head
and neck. I also saw that the eye was dark, and the bill dull
flesh-coloured. I saw the bird again on 4th and 5th February
1961, succeeding in photographing it on the 4th. It stayed until
at least 4th March. What was almost certainly the same bird
was seen at Hule Moss, Berwickshire, on 9th November by
Lt.-Col. W. M. Logan Home.

W. BROTHERSTON.

(Mr Brotherston informs us also of the following as yet
unconfirmed reports of Snow Geese: from the mouth of the
R. Urr, Kirkcudbrightshire, in December 1960, from the R.
Bagmeande Re Lay in January, and from Loch Spynie, near
Elgin on 27th March. It will be observed that these dates are
not inconsistent with the occurrences all referring to the
same Snow Goose.—ED.).

When the Grey Lags appeared in great numbers this winter
on the machair at the back of Bernera, North Uist, the young
lads were surprised to see what they thought was a “Gannet”
in their company, They tried their best to get this mysterious
bird, but so far haven’t succeeded in getting it, dead or alive.
So far as I know it is still (8rd March) with our friends the
Grey Lags. The white goose has black tips to its wings and

so cannot be an albino.
WILLIAM MACKENZIE.

(This note has been kindly passed to us by Miss M, Cun-
ningham.—ED.).

426 SHORT NOTES 1(12)
ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARDS IN INVERNESS-SHIRE

On 12th January 1961, near the Caledonian Canal at Kytra,
Fort Augustus, I saw a Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lago-
pus quartering systematically over a stubble field, very
low, at two or three feet. My attention was first drawn by
this, to me, un-buzzard-like system of working, then, as it
worked full away from me, by the large white area in the
tail. This was clearly obvious although the bird was about
600 yards away, on a dull drizzly day. I focussed my stalking
telescope on it as it flew away: it appeared dark brown with
the very distinct, almost white-looking tail ending in a dark
terminal band. It alighted once or twice on the stubble, taking
wing low over the field as before, never rising high or soaring
like a Common Buzzard hunting. I saw the bird again in the
same field on 20th January.

L. MACNALLY.

On the morning of 7th March 1961, Wing-Commander and
Mrs R. J. Fursman and I saw four buzzards soaring over Ord
Ban, Rothiemurchus. On examination, when they circled
over Loch an Eilean, I identified one of them as a Rough-leg-
ged Buzzard Buteo lagopus. The white tail with a thick
black terminal band was obvious from above and below as
the bird soared. The underwing was white, contrasting with
the dark body and black carpal patches; the upperparts were
brown with a paler head. In flight the bird was larger than
nearby Buzzards Buteo buteo and the wings appeared longer.
Finally they drifted away over the moor beyond the loch.

Several days later Col. J. P. Grant saw it in the same area.
R. H. DENNIS.

MARSH HARRIER IN CAITHNESS

On 5th March 1961, on a marsh about seven miles from
Thurso, I saw a male Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus. The
bird flew over a small lochan on the edge of the marsh and,
in perfect light at a range of about thirty yards, I had no
difficulty in identification.

It was noticeably larger and heavier in build and flight
than the Hen Harrier, a fairly common bird hereabouts, and
the contrasting grey secondaries and dark primaries were
particularly striking. The head was a little paler than the
back and somewhat streaked, and the rump a slightly paler
grey than the tail. The underparts were richly coloured chest-
nut brown in the bright afternoon sun.

The bird flew over the lochan twice and settled on the

1961 SHORT NOTES 427

raised bank where it stayed for about ten minutes. It then
flew off south-west, being continually mobbed in flight by
eee I am fairly familiar with Marsh Harriers in Nor-
olk.

PaMELA McMorran.

OSPREY AT ABERLADY, EAST LOTHIAN

On 23rd April 1961, with Alistair Inglis and David Merrie,
I saw an Osprey Pandion haliaetus at Aberlady. It was first
seen at a height of about 200 feet off Gullane Point. It was
surrounded by several Herring Gulls from which it was
easily picked out by its size and heavy flight. The dark brown
plumage above and the pale underparts were characteristic
and at that range the facial markings could be made out.
Soaring in tight circles it rapidly gained height and moved
away northwards across the Forth; it was eventually lost
after five minutes view.

This is, I believe, the first Aberlady record.
JOHN BAIRD.

WHIMBREL BREEDING IN SUTHERLAND

In Sutherland, at the end of July 1960, I was attracted by a
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus, which, from its calls and be-
haviour, I thought must have a nest or young. I watched it
for about half an hour as it moved about the hillside, with a
soft call wheeoo wheeoo, and eventually I distinctly saw a
young one, being able to distinguish its head-pattern, straight
bill, and greenish grey legs, from a distance of between 50 and
100 yards.

The birds were not seen when we passed the place on three
later occasions.
Mary HENDERSON.

HOOPOE IN SELKIRKSHIRE

On 17th April 1961 the local water-bailiff identified a
Hoopoe Upupa epops at Howden Haugh, Selkirk. He saw it
also the next day, watching it feed on the grass between the
Whins within five yards of his car. My fourth visit was suc-
cessful and I had an excellent view. Selkirk is one of the
three Scottish counties for which there is no previous record.

ARTHUR J. SMITH,

428 WEEK-END AT DUMFRIES 1(12)

WEEK-END AT DUMFRIES

17th to 19th February 1961

The Dumfries week-end’s success was repeated. Once more,
from the sleet, gales, murk and other ills of February weather,
it provided two days when birds and bird-watchers enjoyed
brilliant sun. Speculum of distant duck and nail of far-off
goose gleamed through the objectives of all the elaborate
optical equipment focussed on them.

Once more Willie Austin, Langley Roberts and Donald Wat-
son, helped by other residents, effectively briefed and led a
group which totalled ninety, though not all were present all
the time. And again we welcomed contingents from Edin-
burgh and Glasgow, many others from north and south of
the Border, from places as distant as Rothes and Limpsfield,
Newcastle, Oxford and Belfast, both old members and new.

As before, the convoy assembled on Saturday morning by
the river, and this year the queue entertainers were leaping
salmon, while Lesser Black-back was ticked off on a number
of 1961 lists. Two years ago the Caerlaverock Barnacle Geese
were massed in a field, stalked by hordes of bird-watchers,
last year they used evasive tactics, crossing the Solway, but
this time we saw about a thousand in distant flight, and later
another four hundred or so at close range. On the way to
Glencaple, where we lunched (in bright sun) Grey Lags were
feeding in fields sloping up from the road. Pinkfeet beside
them provided such text book comparison that the Petersonic
lines were almost visible.

The first main stop of the afternoon was at Loch Arthur,
which showed a variety of duck, but no Smew this year. Its
great attraction was a mixed flock of small stuff drifting
along the alders, and most bird-watchers drifted along the
road, getting excellent views of Willow and Long-tailed Tits,
Treecreepers, Siskins and Redpolls. Later on, some car-loads
watched a few waders and duck at Southerness, at nearly
high tide, while others had tea. At Carsethorn there were
Scaup and Pintail, Knot and Dunlin to watch at close range
before the light weakened. As darkness fell, homing cars dis-
turbed Barn Owls hunting along the roadside.

On Friday and Saturday evenings there were shows of
slides: some excellent local views by Jim Young, a set illus-
trating an interesting talk by Peter Slater on migration in
North Ronaldshay, tantalisingly lovely and few African ones

1961 WEEK-END AT DUMFRIES 429

by Ted Skinner, and a fine full series of nesting moorland
birds by Willie Brotherston.

As usual Sunday was the Carlingwark and Loch Ken day,
and the full convoy of thirty-four cars which started off
evoked the usual looks of curiosity, unbelief, amusement or
frustration. Donald Watson had spoken of the gradual dimin-
ution of the Bean Geese in recent years, and it was remark-
ably lucky for us that he had found the small flock near Car-
lingwark Loch that morning. We watched about twenty feed
over the ridge and out of sight. Some people saw the Smew
and a rather dim little female Long-tailed Duck on the loch.

West of the Loch Ken road all the telescopes came out to
examine three Greenland Whitefronts and one Pinkfoot in a
flock of Grey Lag. Many more Whitefronts and Grey Lag
were seen later, and a fine selection of duck, including a pair
of Gadwall, with Wigeon, Pintail and Shoveler, Woodhall
Loch provided little, but small birds were thick in the trees
and bushes bordering the loch by Cairn Edward forest. Wil-
low Tits, Redpolls and Long-tailed Tits ignored the constant
arriving or starting of cars, were unperturbed by banging of
doors, but flitted accommodatingly about at close range and
eye level.

The Ken Bridge Hotel provided relays of teas, before cars
dispersed in various directions. The two-day tally was about
ninety-four species. A remarkable thing is that about seventy-
five of these were, or could have been, seen without getting
out of a car in a long convoy, and for few of them was a walk
of more than a few yards necessary.

is Mola dike

WITHOUT COMMENT

From The Haddingtonshire Courier, 24th February 1911:

There have been many compiaints concerning the damage
that is being done by solan geese on East Lothian farms, and
this season their depredations have been more than usually
severe. They come from the Bass Rock and other natural
Beets and settle in large flocks on the fields of winter
Wheat...

430 CURRENT NOTES 1(12)

CURRENT! “NOME

(Key to initials of observers: A. G. Ablett, A. F. Airey, D. R. Anderson,
D. G. Andrew, J. Ballantyne, I. V. Balfour- Paul) Pi yGet Satpier,
Masses G Baxter, Je Begg, W. K. Birrell, E. Boase, H. Boyd,
evanGi (Carse a@ N. L. Cowper, R. H. Dennis, E. Dicerbo, G. Dick
(G. Di.), Dr G. Dunnet (G. Du.), W. Edwards, Miss W. op Flower,
M. Forrester, Miss E. A. Garden, Mrs E. Hamilton, W. Handyside,
Dr G. HYG) Hope, J. Hoy, Miss ik Se tamer Miss D. A. Lunt,
A. Macdonald (A. M.), K. is Macgregor, H. N. Maclachlan, A. T
Macmillan, A. MacRae (A. MacR.), W. Marshall, Mrs V. Meadows,
M. F. M. Meiklejohn, Mrs M. Meyer, J. Milne, ice Murdoch, Mrs D.
A. Murray, C. K. Mylne, Mrs M. J. Nisbet, J. Potter (J. P.), J. Peter-
son (J. Pet), G. A. Richards, LB one a Shepherd, A. J. Smith,
D) Stalkeraikeewe ossicles Smout, W. Stein, R. Stokoe, R. et
Thin AG Tod, Viscount Traprain, L. A. Urquhart, G. Waterston, Mrs
M. I. Waterston, A. D. Watson, T. Weir and R. D. Wilson. N.B—
Unless otherwise stated dates refer to 1961)

Breeding and Distribution

Fulmars bred at the Heads of Ayr in 1960, probably for the
first time; in March 1961 there were about six pairs present
(G.A.R.).

The Cormorant has hitherto been a rare visitor to Dudding-
ston Loch, but on 10th January one was there, and one or two
were frequent visitors throughout the month and by 3rd
February the observer was referring to their “almost daily
visits.” One was on the nearby St Margaret’s Loch on 28th
January (D.R.A.). H.B., commenting on this record, says that
Cormorants seem to be coming inland more often: he recently
counted eleven on burnt trees on one of the islands in Loch
Leven, and reports a group roosting by the Tay at Kinclaven,
nine and a half miles to the north of Perth. In this connection
the presence of one at the Loch o’ the Lowes, New Cumnock,
on 21st September 1960, is of interest (J.A.B.).

An immature Shelduck was on a pond at New Cumnock
from 14th to 16th August 1960 (J.A.B.).

In 1960, for the second successive year, a pair of Hen Harriers
reared young in a county in which they had not been reported
breeding since the last century. Another pair bred success-
fully apparently for the first time this century, in a different
county. The male of the first pair, which reared three young,
was in brown plumage, lacking any noticeable grey until
beginning to moult in July. It was almost certainly a first
year bird. E. Balfour states that he has known males to breed
in their first year, in Orkney, but it does not seem to have
been often recorded. The young did not fly from this nest till
10th to 16th August and there is reason to suspect that the
clutch of five eggs, laid in mid June, were a repeat after the

1961 CURRENT NOTES 431

first clutch had been robbed. Another feature was the build-
ing of a rough platform of large heather twigs, only about 12
feet from the nest, not long before the young were fledged.
At a late stage food remains were found here and in the nest
itself. (For the sake of security the name of the above obser-
ver has been suppressed: we are sure he will have no objec-
tion.—Ep.). Two records of Hen Harriers from unusual areas
are of a “ringtail” in west Fife on 6th March (G.Di., J.P.) and
a male at Delnies, Moss, Niarn, on 16th March (M.J.N.).

An unusual date for the Jack Snipe was 27th June 1960, when
one was flushed at Peppermill Dam, west Fife (G.Di., J.P.).
The observers have sent a descrivtion of the bird. One by
Loch Leven on 7th February may be the first record for Kin-
ross (M.F.M.M.).

On 17th September 1960 two Ruffs were seen on the estuary
of the Dee, at Manxman’s Lake, near Kirkcudbright: the ob-
server knows of only three previous records for the county
(A.D.W.).

The first Little Gull to be seen at Duddingston Loch turned
up on 8th April: it was in summer vlumage (D.R.A.).

Mr Brown, a postman in Kirkcudbright, has sent full details
of a pair of Turtle Doves which he repeatedly observed on a
farm road near that town in June and July 1960: there was
no proof of breeding (A.D.W.).

A Barn Owl seen at Keith Bridge, East Lothian, on 5th
February, is the observers’ first for the locality (G.W., M.I.W.). :
The Long-eared Owl appears to be much less common in Kirk-
cudbrightshire than formerly: it is therefore of interest that
an adult together with a brood of recently fledged young were
found in a small wood of spruce and pine at about 800 feet
on the slopes of the Kells range on 8th July 1960 (A.D.W.).

Two pairs of Stonechats were seen at Longannet, Fife, on
7whesanuacy, a female on 4th January (P.G.R.B., J.H.) and
an immature bird on 5th March (J.B.). A male was at Dirle-
ton, East Lothian, on 2nd January (R.G.T.), a male at Aber-
lady on 19th January, and a male at Gullane Point on 16th
February (A.G.A.) and a male and female on Braid Hills,
Edinburgh, on 29th March (R.G.T.).

A Blackcap was recorded singing on 26th May 1960 near the
head of Loch Lubnaig, Perthshire (L.A.U.).

Seven Goldfinches near Killearn, W. Stirling, on 16th April,
are a large number for that area (W.U-F.).

The Edinburgh Bird Bulletin (4:20) gives only one record
of the Tree Sparrow for Kinross, claiming it as the first for

432 CURRENT NOTES 1(12)

that county: it is therefore of interest that one was seen in
a rick-yard on the south shore of Loch Leven on 7th February,
while two roosts, of about ten birds each, were found in coni-
fers to the north of the loch (M.F.M.M.).

Winter 1960-61

The first Black-throated Diver to appear on Duddingston Loch
since 1937 was present from 10th to 2lst January and was
seen by many people: it remained swimming on the loch
even when only a small area, teeming with duck, was left
unfrozen (D.R.A.). Inland records of the Red-throated Diver
come from Drumpellier Loch, near Coatbridge, Lanark, on
llth March (W.S.) and from Gladhouse, 2nd April (R.W.J. .).

A Red-necked Grebe was identified at Gullane on 5th March
(T.C.S.). The first Slavonian Grebe for Duddingston since
1937 occurred on 28th January (D.R.A.): the high number of
28 Slavonian Grebes (beating Aberlady’s best total by twenty)
was seen in the bay at Gullane on 30th March (T.C.S.) while,
on the same day, thirteen were on Loch Ewe, Wester Ross
(R.D.W.). It is perhaps not generally realised how common
this species is in winter off the west coast.

On 4th November 1960, after strong southerly winds and
heavy rain, a Storm Petrel was found dead in a burn at Len-
nox Plunton near Gatehouse of Fleet. A farm worker told Mr
and Mrs J. Skinner, who showed the bird to the recorder
(A.D.W.).

At Dunsappie Loch, Edinburgh, there were three Gadwall
on llth February, two pairs on 8th March and six on 23rd
March (J.B., A.M.). At Edgelaw, Midlothian, there was a
drake on 25th March and 2nd April (D.G.A., R-.W.J-S.) and
at Tyninghame there was a pair on 26th March, the observers’
first record for the area (TB 1-BaRS RaW):

Fifteen Scaup were at Duddingston on 2nd February, but
they left for the sea (D.R.A.). There were high numbers,
about six thousand, at Seafield, Leith, on 19th February
(A.T.M.). Eight hundred Tufted Duck and 1,450 Pochard at
Duddingston on 3rd*February are exceptional counts (D.R.A.).

An inland Long-tailed Duck was seen at Merryton, near Ham-
ilton, on lst January: it was associating with a party of eight
Dabchicks (L.A.U.). This is not a common species in the
Clyde and Solway and it is therefore worth recording that
one was at the Prestwick sewage outlet between 12th and 18th
March (G.A.R.) and another off the Kirkcudbright coast near
Abbey Head on 22nd April (R.S.).

In the Forth large numbers of Common Scoters were noted

1961 CURRENT NOTES 433

on spring passage, 1,500 at Seafield, Leith, on 18th and 27th
March (J.B.) and about 1,000 off Gullane Point on 9th April,
the biggest count there for some years (W.K.B., C.N.L.C.,
K.S.M.). It is interesting that counts at Seafield can vary much
though made only a few hours apart: on 27th March most of
the birds were far out, but flew in when disturbed by a pass-
ing ship. Two Velvet Scoters, an uncommon species in the
Clyde, were at Prestwick on 16th March (G.A.R.) and ten in
Loch Ewe, Wester Ross, on the 30th (R.D.W.).

Red-headed Smews have been recorded from Sand Loch,
Collieston, Aberdeenshire, between 12th December 1960 and
20th March (G.Du., E.A.G.); from Forfar Loch, Angus, on 12th
and 17th February (H.B., A.S.) and what may have been the
same bird was on Rescobie Loch on 5th and 12th March (A.:S.);
from Duddingston from 3lst January till 12th February
(D.R.A., G.W., M.I.W.); from Yetholm and Hoselaw Lochs,
Roxburgh, on 22nd January (A.J.S.). A drake Smew flew in
to Loch Fitty, Fife, on 16th February and was also noted there
on 12th March (G.Di.).

Four White-fronted Geese frequented Creoch Loch, New
Cumnock, from 7th to 11th March 1960, the observer being
unable to approach close enough for subspecific identification
(J.A.B.). A pair of Barnacle Geese flew up from the Loch o’ the
Lowes, New Cumnock, on 5th October 1960: this is only the
second time that the observer has seen this species in the
neighbourhood (J.A.B.). A single Barnacle Goose was seen
on Horse Island, off Troon, on 20th April (G.W., M.I.W.). On
24th March a single Barnacle was seen in a field with thirteen
Oystercatchers at Cromdale, Morayshire: it did not seem to
be injured and the observer thought it might have joined
these similarly black and white birds for the sake of com-
panionship (W.M.).

An immature Whooper Swan frequented the Tweed between
Walkerburn and Innerleithen, Peebles-shire, from mid Jan-
uary till 28th March (J.B.): this apparently ordinary record
is included since Peebles is a sparsely watched county and
Baxter and Rintoul, Geographical Distribution of Birds in
Scotland, give no record. It is not however the first record as
one was seen at Portmore in 1958 (Edinburgh Bird Bulletin
8 : 64).

A single Grey Plover, unusual in the area in winter, was
seen on 10th December 1960 on the coast at Forvie Moor,
Aberdeenshire (E.A.G.).

Single wintering Black-tailed Godwits are reported from
Aberlady on 19th January and Seafield, Leith, on 10th Feb-

A34 CURRENT NOTES 1(12)

ruary (A.G.A.), while a pair of wintering Greenshank were
seen at the Loch o’ the Lowes, New Cumnock, on 20th and
21st February (J.A.B.) and five together on Prestwick Beach
on 17th March (G.A.R.).

Two Grey Phalaropes, of which a full and accurate descrip-
tion has been given, were with a group of Dunlin, Sanderling
and Ringed Plover at Aberlady on 19th November 1960 (E.H.).

A late Arctic Skua was harrying gulls at Longannet, Fife, on
21st November 1960 (G.Di., J.P.).

An immature Glaucous Gull was in Ayr Harbour on 5th
March; it had probably been there some time, as it was very
tame, coming to be fed with the other gulls (M.F.M.M.). An-
other immature was at Barnes Ness, East Lothian, on 19th
March (T.B.).

At Seafield, Leith, an immature Iceland Gull was seen on
15th January (A.T.M.) and again on 38rd February (A.G.A.).

Little Auks have not been frequent, but three are recorded
from Joppa, Edinburgh, on 25th January (J.M.) and one,
picked up dead, from Lundin Links, Fife, on 23rd February
(P:G:B):

A spectacular weather movement of Skylarks was watched
at Longannet, Fife, on 4th February, when there was an inch
of snow on the ground: in the two and a half hours before
midday thirty flocks were noted, totalling nearly 4,500 birds.
The largest flock totalled nearly 500 birds; they were swarm-
ing westwards along the north shore of the Forth with smaller
flocks coming across the water from the Grangemouth side
(fle)

A very late Redstart was seen at Biggar on 3rd November
1960 (R.S.H.) and several late and wintering Blackcaps have
been seen: at Dalry, Kirkcudbrightshire, single male and
female Blackcaps visited a garden between 6th and 31st Octo-
ber, there was again a male present on 22nd November and
a female on the 23rd (A.D.W.). At Brightons, near Falkirk, a
female came daily to eat on a window-sill between 20th Jan-
uary and lst February: as often with this species, it behaved
aggressively towards other birds, in this case tits (V.M.). The
bird already reported (antea 1:386) from Colinton on 8th
January was still present at the end of March; a male Black-
cap came to the same garden on 25th January and, though a
much rarer visitor, was still about in the middle of March
(D.A.M.). Another observer, who did not know about these
two birds, was astonished to catch the female on 18th Feb-
ruary, when bat-fowling nearby, and even more so to catch

1961 CURRENT NOTES 435

the male the following evening (I.V.B.P.). Finally a male
Blackcap came to a window to be fed at Whittingehame, East
Lothian on 24th February and for about a week before that
Vict).

A small leaf-warbler, almost certainly a Chiffchaff frequen-
ted a garden at Liberton, Edinburgh, between 23rd December
ige0mend lst January (G.C., C-K.M.).

Great Grey Shrikes, as already reported (antea 1:387), were
unusually numerous this winter; twelve records have already
appeared in Scottish Birds. Moray: one was seen on 24th
November 1960 at Nethybridge, where it remained the whole
winter until 6th March at least. It fed beside a burn and
among farm buildings. On 2nd December it was seen to catch
a short-tailed vole (W.M., R.H.D.). On 16th January one
struck a window at Forres and was seen to capture a Hedge
Sparrow (Scotsman 28.1.61). On 5th April one was seen on
roadside wires at Boat of Garten, and another by Loch Inch,
near ‘Kingussie (C.K.M.). Dee: on lst November 1960 one was
caught at Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, in a farm out-building,
ringed and released (E.A.G.). Tay: one picked up dead near
Amulree, Perthshire, on 15th December 1960, and another was
seen in the same area on four occasions between 7th and 12th
January (W.E.). One was at Killin on 14th January (A.T.),
and another two miles north of Blair Atholl on 12th March
(G.H.G.H.). Forth: one was seen at Peppermill, Fife, on 16th
January; it unsuccessfully pursued two Pied Wagtails (G.Di.,
J.P.). One was seen near Penicuik, Midlothian, on 22nd Jan-
uary and what was perhaps the same bird was seen twice
during December 1960 in policies of Penicuik House, (W.H.).
Clyde: one was seen in the Carrick Hills on 4th March
(A.MacR.) and one at.Biggar on 30th March (R.S.H.). Tweed:
one was seen at Thirlestane, Ettrick, on 29th March (H.N.M.).
Solway: one was seen in the Dundeugh forest, near Cars-
phairn, Kirkcudbright, on 24th October 1960 by Dr and Major
Ross of Dalry. Between then and mid January single birds
were seen by A.D.W. and others in scattered localities near
Dalry and New Galloway, there being at least two, and pro-
bably more individuals. One bird seen on 21st November 1960
was pinkish cream on the underparts, showed little gradua-
tion in the tail, had a single white wing-patch and no white
superciliary. In contrast to an obvious Great Grey seen later
this bird might almost have passed for a Lesser Grey, but the
rather prominent white fringes to the scapulars, proportion
of wings to tail, and the bill shape seemed to us to mark it
as a Great Grey. This and the later bird both showed faint
barrings on the underparts and appeared to be in first winter
plumage. The second bird was also “single barred” on the
wing. The only prey noted was a Long-tailed Tit (L.A.U.,

436 CURRENT NOTES 1(12)

A.D.W.). (Mr Watson painted a picture of the unusual shrike
and it is certainly very like a Lesser Grey in general appear-
ance. We feel that, since the breeding ranges of the two
species overlap very considerably, the possibility of hybrid-
isation should not be excluded.—EbD.). One was seen at East
Park, Dumfries-shire, on dth February and its persistent
pursuit of a Hedge Sparrow is described in British Birds (54:
163-4). Finally one on 12th April, near Beattock, was seen to
capture a small mammal (E.D.).

A flock of over 6,000 Starlings are reported roosting in reeds
at Kilconquhar Loch, Fife, on 8th August 1960 (A.F.A.). Near
Humbie and just in East Lothian there was a big roost and
on 3lst January 1960 quite a number were caught: their
numbers were in the order of 100,000 birds. On 15th January
1961 plans were made for further trapping, but the birds did
not arrive, going elsewhere. The interest of this is that the
change had taken place very recently because substantial
numbers had been going there only ten days earlier (A.T.M.).

The largest number of wintering Twites at Aberlady was
twenty-three on 14th February (A.M_).

A party of seven Crossbills were watched closely on some
Scots pines, by Dr and Major Ross, and A.D.W. on 8th Feb-
ruary 1960 in the Bennan forest, New Galloway. These birds
had distinctly heavier bills than others the observer has
seen closely in the district. The call-notes, too, seemed softer,
lacking the very sharp metallic notes heard commonly from
immigrant birds. It is likely that these were Scottish, or
possibly true Parrot Crossbills. In the present winter Cross-
bills seem to be absent from local haunts where they were
often to be seen in the previous two seasons, and in 1956-57
(A.D.W.).

A Lapland Bunting was seen at Aberlady on 9th April
(OMe. CIN IEC... Sue).

Spring Passage 1961

Little information has so far been received on this, but the
following records are worth publishing separately.

A Black-necked Grebe was on the R. Endrick on 16th April
(M.F., D.S., T.W.), on the Stirling-Dunbarton boundary.

Two Black-tailed Godwit and a Knot were at the mouth of
the R. Endrick on 20th April (W.U.F.). Single Spotted Redshanks
each in dark summer plumage, were seen at Tingwall Loch,
Shetland, on 5th March and 7th May (J.Pet.). An early

1961 CURRENT NOTES 437

arrival of eleven Ruffs was observed at Cotehill Loch, Collies-
ton, Aberdeenshire, on 19th February; eight of these birds
remained until at least 11th April (E.A.G.). A new locality for
the Chiffchaff is Gordonstoun, near Elgin; one was singing
there on 5th May (K.M.).

Behaviour, Habits, etc.

A pair of Mallard nested at Duddingston fifteen feet up in a
tree, in a box intended for owls (D.R.A.).

On 25th April a Tawny Owl’s nest in a rabbit burrow on the
floor of a spruce wood was visited near Dalry, Kirkcudbright.
It contained three young owls and two addled eggs, 37 field
voles, six bank voles, two long-tailed field mice and the feet
and tail of a male Yellowhammer. About a third of the prey
had been partly eaten (A.D.W.).

A Coal Tit was seen on 9th February at North Berwick
which had a long decurved beak; it seemed as though both
mandibles were overgrown and the bill was twice as long
as normal. The bird seemed in good health (M.M.).

An unusual Starling was seen at Lenzie on 21st January; it
was uniformly light grey, except the head which was a little
darker. It had no iridescence. With binoculars the light spots
could be made out, but at a distance they merged into the
grey background of the plumage. Beak and legs were the
usual colour (D.A.L.).

CORRIGENDA

Antea 1:343. The Ruff at Meikle Loch was seen on 18th
September, not the 17th.

Antea 1:385. The Smew at Loch Leven on 17th October
was seen by Dr R. S. Weir, not R. W. J. Smith.

Antea 1:386. The Greenshank on lst January reported as
from Cardross was seen at the mouth of the R. Endrick.

1(12)

438

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(meppoy “AY Aq ydersojoyd) NYAL OILOUV

1961 OFFICIAL SECTION 439

OFFICIAL SECTION
SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The fourteenth Annual Conference and twenty-fourth Annual General
Meeting of the Club will be held in the Dunblane Hotel Hydro, Dunblane,
Perthshire, from 27th to 29th October 1961. The Conference Programme
will be printed in the next issue of “Scottish Birds,’ and this intimation
is given in order that members may make their Hotel reservations in
good time. All bookings, including those at the Hotel Hydro, should be
made direct with the Hotels. The Secretary is not arranging reservations
in the Conference Hotel this year.

Hotel Accommodation in Dunblane

DUNBLANE HOTEL HYDRO (Tel. 3161). Special Conference charge:
Dinner and bed on Friday 27th; breakfast, lunch, Annual Dinner and
bed on Saturday 28th; breakfast and lunch on Sunday 29th—#£4, 5s Od.
(A. 10% gratuity charge will be added to all bills).

STIRLING ARMS HOTEL (Tel. 2156). Bed and breakfast from 22s 6d.

*THE NEUK PRIVATE HOTEL, Doune Road (Tel. 2150). Bed and
breakfast from 17s 6d.

*SCHIEHALLION HOTEL, Doune Road (Tel. 3141). Bed and breakfast
from 17s 6d.

eee Dargie Terrace (Tel. 3196). Bed and breakfast from
l6s 6d.

FARDLEIGHTON HOTEL (Tel. 2773). Bed and breakfast from 15s.

*These Hotels are some distance from the Conference Hotel.
(Situated near the Hotel Hydro gates.

Hotel Accommodation in Bridge of Allan

ALLAN WATER HOTEL (Tel. B. of Allan 2293). Bed and breakfast
from 27s 6d
ROYAL HOTEL (Tel. B. of Allan 2284). Bed and breakfast from 27s.

Members with cars who have difficulty in obtaining single rooms in
Dunblane should find that the above two Hotels in Bridge of Allan have
ample single accommodation. The distance from Dunblane is approx. 3
miles.

The above terms for Hotels other than the Conference Hotel are quoted
as a guide only, and prices should be confirmed.

Owing to increased costs, the Conference registration fee will be 8s 6d.

The cost of the Annual Dinner to members not staying in the Hotel
Hydro will be 15s.

Members travelling from the south by night train arriving early on
Saturday morning are asked to inform the Secretary, giving details of
their trains, as it may be possible to arrange for trains to be specially
stopped at Dunblane if a sufficient number require this facility.

ENOUIRIES

Members are reminded that the British Trust for Ornithology are
organising Enquiries into the status of the Peregrine falcon and the

440 ORFICIAL TSE CAMO N 1(12)

Stonechat during 1961, and are urged to send any records to the Organ-
isers.

Records of occurrences of Peregrines, their numbers, distribution, and
feeding habits, should be sent to Dr D. A. Ratcliffe, c/o B.T.O., 2 King
Edward Street, Oxford. Records of the Stonechat (including negative
reports and casual occurrences) should be sent to Mr J. D. Magee, 68
Bushey Mill Lane, (Watford, Herts. Copies of a Questionnaire for Stone-
chat records are available on request in the Club office.

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY BRANCH

The Council have agreed to establish a new Branch of the Club in
Dumfries and a Meeting will be held in the County Hotel, Dumfries on
Monday, 26th June, at 8 p.m. to inaugurate the new Branch and to elect
Office-bearers. A general discussion will be held. It is hoped that all
members in the Dumfries and Galloway area will be able to attend.

“BRITISH BIRDS”

If any member has a spare copy of “British Birds” for March 1957 (Vol.
50 No. 3), Mr C. K. Mylne, 4 Milton Mill, Milton Bridge, Midlothian, will
be very glad to purchase this in order to complete his set for binding.

MISSING LIBRARY BOOKS

The following books have been borrowed from the Club Library in the
past, and have not been returned. If any member can help to trace the
whereabouts of these books, will they kindly inform the Secretary.

ANNALS oe SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY: 1908 (Bound
volume).

BRUCE, George: ‘The Land Birds in and around St Andrews.”

DICKSON, John: “Emeralds Chased in Gold, or The Islands of the
Forth.”

S.0.C. PUBLICATION

“The Birds of Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve’, by F. D. Hamilton and
K. S. Macgregor. This article, which has been reprinted in booklet form
by the Club from the “Transactions of the East Lothian Antiquarian and
Field Naturalists’ Society”, Vol. VIII, is now available to Members for
5s (postage 4d extra) and may be obtained from the Club Secretary or
from Branch Secretaries.

DEEDS OF COVENANT

The Club has now obtained permission from H,M. Inspector of Taxes
to reclaim Income Tax on subscriptions paid under Deed of Covenant.
This will be of great benefit to the Club as it will almost double subscrip-
tions paid in this way. The Council therefore invites Members who pay
Income Tax at the full rate to undertake a seven-year Deed of Covenant
for their subscriptions (this does not apply to subscriptions to the
Journal only). Full details, with a suitable form, are available from the
Secretary. Completed forms should be returned to the Secretary, who will
forward a Certificate for the Deduction of Tax for signature each year.

The Scoitish Ornithologists’ Club Tie

Illustrated is the Official Club Tie,
of which R. W. Forsyth’s are the
sole suppliers. The tie is made
from Terylene with a blue or
green background, and
the bird motif in

Silver. 16/9.

Forsyth’s
also provide

warm clothing
for bird watchers:
gloves, scarves, under-
wear, shoes, caps, weath-

erproof trousers, jerkins, 4
raincoats and overcoats.

R. W. F ORSYTH

R. W. Forsyth Ltd. Princes Street Edinburgh And at Glasgow

THE BIRDS OF SCOTLAND

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the standard work on Scottish ornithology for

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“SCOTTISH
BIRDS

The Journal of
The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

Vol. I No. 13 Autumn 1961

Je Wo Selle NGS

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

HE Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was founded in 1936 and membership

is open to all interested in Scottish ornithology. Meetings are held

during the winter months in Aberdeen, Dumfries, Dundee, Edinburgh,

Glasgow and St Andrews, at which lectures by prominent ornithologists

are given and films exhibited. Excursions are organised in the summer to
places of ornithological interest.

The aims and objects of the Club are to (a) encourage and direct the
study of Scottish Ornithology in all its branches; (b) co-ordinate the
efforts of Scottish Ornithologists and encourage co-operation between field
and indoor worker; (c) encourage ornithological research in Scotland in
co-operation with other organisations; (d) hold meetings at centres to be
arranged at which Lectures are given, films exhibited, and discussions held;
and (e) publish or arrange for the publication of statistics and information
with regard to Scottish ornithology.

There are no entry fees for Membership. The Annual subscription is
25/-; or 7/6 in the case of Members under twenty-one years of age or in
the case of University undergraduates who satisfy the Council of their status
as such at the time at which their subscriptions fall due in any year.
Joint membership is available to married couples at an annual subscrip-
tion of 40/-. “Scottish Birds” is issued free to members, but Joint mem-
bers will receive only one copy between them.

The affairs of the Club are controlled by a Council composed of the Hon.
Presidents, the President, the Vice-President, the Hon. Treasurer, one
Representative of each Branch Committee appointed annually by the
Branch, and ten other Members of the Club elected at an Annual General
Meeting. Two of the last named retire annually by rotation and shall not
be eligible for re-election for one year.

A Scottish Bird Records’ Committee, appointed by the Council, produce
an annuai Keport on “Ornithological Changes in Scotland.”

An official tie with small white Crested Tits embroidered on it can be
obtained in dark green or in navy blue by Members only from Messrs R.
W. Forsyth Ltd., Princes Street, Edinburgh, or 5 Renfield Street, Glasgow,
C.2 at a cost of 16s 9d post extra. A small brooch in silver and blue can be
obtained for the use of Members of the Club. irice Zs 6d eaci: irom the
Secretary, or from Hon. Branch Secretaries.

Forms of application for Membership, copy of the Club Constitution,
and other literature is obtainable from the Club Secretary, Mrs George
Waterston, Scottish Centre for Ornithology and Bird Protection, 21
Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7. (Tel. Waverley 6042).

CLUB-ROOM AND LIBRARY

The Club-room and Library at 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7, will
be available to Members during office hours, and on Wednesday evenings
from 7 to 10 pm. Members may use the Reference Library and borrow
books from the Duplicate Section. Facilities for making tea or coffee are
available at a nominal charge and Members may bring guests bv arrange-
ment. The Aldis 2” x 2” slide projector and screen may be used for the
informal showing of slides at a charge of 2s 6d per night to cover the
replacement of bulbs.

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

All notes dealing with birds in the eastern Lowlands, from Berwick-on-
Tweed to Dundee, should be submitted to A. T. Macmillan, 66 Spylaw
Bank Road, Edinburgh, 13; all other contributions to M. F. M. Meikle-
john, 16 Athole Gardens, Glasgow, W.2. It would be helpful if notes were
typewritten, if possible, and double spaced.

THE LONDON
NATURAL HISTORY
SOCIETY

The Society studies the area within twenty miles of St
Paul's Cathedral. There are sections for Archaeology,
Botany, Ecology, Entomology, Geology, Mammals,
Ornithology, Ramblers and Young Naturalists.

There is a comprehensive programme of indoor and field
meetings and the Society in addition:to arranging its own
investigations takes part in national enquiries. A lending
library and reference collections are available for mem-
bers.

The annual subscription is £1, 10s and there are reduced
subscriptions for juniors, students, family members and
those residing outside the area. Entrance fee 5s.

The Society's journals, published yearly and containing
many original papers are free to members but may be

purchased.

THE LONDON NATURALIST, 135 6d post free.
THE LONDON BIRD REPORT, 5s 9d post free.

Enquiries about membership and publications will be
welcomed by the General Secretary, Mrs L. M. P. Small,
13 Woodfield Crescent, Ealing, W.5.

Bird Watchers

Once again, the Ospreys at Loch Garten have succeeded
in rearing three young, under careful protection organised

by the R.S.P.B.

During the past year, the Society has established Bird
Sanctuaries at Horse Island (off Ardrossan); and at Inch-
mickery, Fidra, Lamb, and Eyebroughty in the Firth of
Forth.

Bounties are paid to shepherds, gamekeepers, etc., for
active preservation of rarities such as the Golden Eagle,
Hen Harrier, and Red-necked Phalarope.

All these activities cost money. Please support us. Write
now for Prospectus.

THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR
THE PROTECTION OF i805

Scottish Oftice: 21 REGENT TERRACE, EDINBURGES7

The County Hotel

Dumfries

Co

AN IDEAL CENTRE FOR ORNITHOLOGISTS

Cre
Packed Lunches readily available

Tel. Dumfries 146

SCOTTISH BIRDS

THE JOURNAL OF THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB “S€@4

Vol. I No. 13 Agtomn 1961

Edited by M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN, with the assistance of D. G. ANDREW and
A.-T. MACMILLAN, Business Editor, ARTHUR J. SMITH. Cover design
(Leach’s Petrel) by LEN FULLERTON. Published quarterly.

Editorial

MEMBERS of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club may have

wondered at receiving details of the Annual Conference
and the Winter Syllabus Card some time ago, but no copy of
Scottish Birds. We apologise for the delay. It has been due, in
part at least, to the illness of the Editor, to whom we send our
best wishes for a speedy recovery. We feel sure that contri-
butors will understand if their letters have not been promptly
dealt with, or if their notes have been held over for the next
number, as this number has been compiled largely by his
assistants. By the time you receive your copy it will be time to
start on the next one—such is the editorial schedule—and we
would be glad to have your notes now.

From the 1960 Review of Ornithological Changes in Scot-
land, published in this number, it will be seen that the Scottish
Bird Records Committee has rejected certain records which
appeared in Scottish Birds. Likewise, the Rarity Records
Committee of British Birds has rejected certain of our records
which came within its scope. Some of the records were felt to
be “not proven” rather than actually wrong, but today so
many observations are available that it is clearly possible and
desirable to accept only those about which there can be no
doubts. We have therefore felt it desirable to withdraw all
these unaccepted records, as it is obvious that any careful
worker must reject records upon which valid doubts have
been cast. We would emphasise that the responsibility for
publishing these records in the first place was ours—and not
that of the contributors.

_Every ornithologist, if he is honest, will admit that at one
time or another he has been taken in: nowadays there are so
many active bird-watchers, and the very excellence of the
modern text-books carries its own danger in making the game
seem too easy. One may regret the possible loss of a good
record, but it is nothing to the muddle that may be caused by

eee cprance of an erroneous one—think of the Piltdown
skull.

We intend to see that our standards are as high as any, and

442 EDITORIAL 1(13)

we hope that our contributors will not feel hurt if their
records are sometimes not published. We can assure them that
we will be applying the same objective standards to our own
(or at least to each other’s) records!

Finally, we should like to stress the importance of making
every effort to call in a second opinion on the identification of
any rare bird. This makes the task of adjudication very much
easier.

CORRECTIONS OF PREVIOUS RECORDS

In an earlier issue (antea 1:235) we published a record of a
Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris at Avoch, Ross-
shire, on 25th February 1960. The identification was based
upon measurements, lack of head markings, pale colouring,
slender bill and a feather from the underparts, the markings
of which of which could be matched by the breast-feathers of
specimens of tenuirostris in the Royal Scottish Museum.

This record has been considered and rejected by the British
Birds Rarity Records Committee, and on reconsideration we
must agree with this decision. The specimen feathers must,
on size and shape, be from the flanks and not the breast, and
the pattern can be matched by flank-feathers of the Curlew
N. arquata, but not by those of tenuirostris. Moreover, although
tenuirostris is paler on the upper-parts than the other
curlews, the ground colour is not nearly as white or the pat-
tern as sharply contrasted as is suggested by the description
of the Avoch bird.

The suggestion has been made that the Avoch bird was a
“runt” Curlew. We are not wholly convinced that this is the
solution. The odds seem heavily against the production of a
bird with both size and plumage abnormalities, although
there have been recent cases of multiple abnormalities in
animals exposed to radiation. In any event, in view of the
valid doubts which have been cast on what otherwise would
be a first British record (the records given for the Slender-
billed Curlew in the Handbook are no longer regarded as
acceptable, and the species has now become extremely rare
everywhere) we feel ourselves compelled, though with regret,
to withdraw it.

For the sake of completeness we also list here certain other
records which have been published in these pages but which
have not passed higher scrutiny and must also be withdrawn.
These are:

White Storks, Fife, 2nd October 1959 (antea 1:145).

Ivory Gull, Fife, 4th October 1959 (antea 1:151).

Lesser Yellowlegs, Aberdeenshire, 15th September 1959
(antea 1:188).

Dusky Thrush, Argyllshire, late 1959 (antea 1: 2388).

1961 ORNITHOLOGICAL CHANGES 443
REVIEW OF ORNITHOLOGICAL CHANGES
IN SCOTLAND IN 1960

JAMES W. CAMPBELL

Introduction

_ This, the eighth report of the Scottish Bird Records Com-
mittee, deals with the records published during 1960. As in
the past, the following Journals have been searched: Scottish
Birds (S.B.); British Birds (B.B.); Bird Migration (B.M.); Fair
Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin (F.I.B.0.B.); Ibis; Bulletin of
the British Ornithologists’ Club; Scottish Field; Country Life;
The Field; and Bird Notes. The abbreviations used here are
shown in brackets.

There have been no changes in the membership of the Com-
mittee since the publication of our last report, in which its
constitution was detailed. Previous reports were published in
The Scottish Naturalist 1955:98:; 1956:1; 1957:37; 1957:170:
and Scottish Birds 1958:30; 1959:117; 1960: 253.

As on previous occasions, some records have been held over
for further consideration.

BIRDS NEW TO AREAS AND COUNTIES

SLAVONIAN GREBE FPodiceps auritus. Two on River Devon,
near. Dollar, 24th September 1960 (S.B. 1: 340); first for Clack-
mannan.

NiGHT HERon Nycticorax nycticorax. One at Isle of May,
14th. May 1960 (B.M. 1:162); first for island. The possibility
that this bird was an-escape from captivity cannot be ex-
cluded.

LITTLE BITTERN Ixobrychus minutus. One near Balgavies
Loch, Forfar, 12th July 1958 (S.B. 1:183); first for Angus.

AMERICAN WIGEON Anas americana. One, Beauly Firth, 9th
October 1958 (S.B. 1:183); first for Moray and East Inverness.

STELLER’S EIpDER Polysticta stelleri. One on Loch Fleet,
Sutherland, 22nd September 1959 (S.B. 1: 234); first for Moray
and South-East Sutherland.

EUROPEAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifrons albifrons.
One at Bonnybridge, lst November 1959 (S.B. 1:211); first
record of the eastern race for East Stirling.

LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser erythropus. One shot at
Cambus, 20th January 1960 (S.B. 1:272); first for Forth and
Clackmannan. One seen at Wigtown, 27th March 1960 (S.B.
1:271); first for Wigtown.

DARK-BREASTED BRENT GOOSE Branta bernicla bernicla. One
at Isle of May, 30th July 1959 (S.B. 1:174); there are two pre-

AAA ORNITHOLOGICAL CHANGES 1(13)

vious occurrences of Brent Geese for the island, but this is the
first example to be determined racially.

GOSHAWK Accipiter gentilis. One at Loch Ballygrant, Islay,
28th April 1959 (S.B. 1:186); first for the Inner Hebrides. One
near Skinflats, 21st August 1960 (S.B. 1:329) is the first to be
recorded for East Stirling since 1795.

Hossy Falco subbuteo. One near Loch Garten, 15th May
1960 (S.B. 1: 275): first for East Inverness:

RED GROUSE Lagopus lagopus. One in Gleann Mor, St Kilda,
oth December 1959 (S.B. 1: 329); first for island. Presumably as
showing no white one of the British races.

CRANE Megalornis grus. One near Lothbeg Point, Helmsdale,
6th August 1958 (S.B. 1:187); first for South-East Sutherland.

LITTLE CRAKE Porzana parva. One found dead in Unst, dur-
ing April 1959, and now preserved at Royal Scottish Museum
(SB. 12235) ticsh Tom io metlanc:

GREY PLOVER Charadrius squatarola. Two at Ardmore, 28th
September 1959 (S.B. 1:200); first for Dunbarton.

DoWITCHER Limnodromus sp. One at Gullane Point, 29th
September 1960 (S.B. 1: 330); first for Forth and East Lothian.

BLACK-TAILED Gopwit Limosa limosa. Nine at Loch Leven,
5th September 1959 (S.B. 1:200); first for Kinross.

Woop SANDPIPER Tringa glareola. One north of Grange-
mouth, 5th September 1959 (S.B. 1:200); first for East Stir-
ling.

SPOTTED REDSHANK Tringa erythropus. Two at Loch Leven,
2lst September 1959 (S.B. 1: 231); first for Kinross.

LITTLE STINT Calidris minuta. One at Loch Leven, 21st Sep-
tember 1959 (S.B. 1: 201); first for Kinross.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER Calidris melanotos. One near Grange-
mouth, 19th September 1960 (S.B. 1:333); first for East Stir-
ling.

CURLEW SANDPIPER Calidris testacea. Three at Loch Leven,
21st September 1959 (S.B. 1:202); first for Kinross.

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER Trungites subruficollis. One at
Gullane, 18th September 1960 (S.B. 1: 334); first for Forth and
East Lothian. One near Dornoch Point, 25th September 1960
(S.B. 1:334); first for Moray and South-East Sutherland.

GREY PHALAROPE Phalaropus fulicarius. Two at Fife Ness,
28th October 1959 (S.B. 1:208): first for South Fife. One on
Rubbish Dump Pool, Hamilton, 23rd October 1960 (S.B. 1: 343);
first for Lanark:

GREAT Skua Catharacta skua. One at Handa, 6th July 1959
(F.I.B.0.B. 4:121); first for West Sutherland.

LITTLE GuLL Larus minutus. One at Endrick Mouth, 29th
May 1960 (S.B. 1:279); first for West Stirling.

GULL-BILLED TERN Gelochelidon nilotica. One at Aberlady

1961 ORNITHOLOGICAL CHANGES 445

Bay, llth September 1960 (S.B. 1:335); this, the second Scot-
tish record, is the first for Forth and East Lothian.

Arctic TERN Sterna macrura. One at Endrick Mouth, 29th
May 1960 (S.B. 1: 280); first for West Stirling.

LITTLE TERN Sterna albifrons. One at Endrick Mouth, 5th
June 1960 (S.B. 1:280); first for West Stirling.

COLLARED Dove Streptopelia decaocto. One at Dunfermline,
Zard August 1959 (S.B. 1:189); first for Forth and South Fife.
One near Faskally, Pitlochry, 16th February 1960 (S.B. 1: 237);
first for Tay and North Perth. One at Fair Isle, 18th April 1960
(B.M. 1:187); first for Shetland and Fair Isle.

Hoopor Upupa epops. One near Riccarton Junction, 17th
May 1960 (S.B. 1:276); first for Roxburgh.

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER Phylloscopus inornatus. One at
Butt of Lewis, 10th November 1959 (S.B. 1:239); first for
Outer Hebrides other than St Kilda. i

RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa parva. One at New-
burgh, 12th October 1959 (S.B. 1:192); first for Dee and Aber-
deen. Two at Fife Ness, 18th September 1960 (S.B. 1: 337); first
for South Fife.

Waxwine Bombycilla garrulus. A party at Milnathort, 12th
November 1959 (S.B. 1: 248); first for Kinross.

RED-TAILED SHRIKE Lanius cristatus. One, thought to be of
the race Phoenicuroides, trapped at Fair Isle, 12th May 1960
(B.M. 1:162); first for Shetland and Fair Isle.

FIRST BREEDING RECORDS FOR AREAS
AND COUNTIES

Woop SANDPIPER Tringa glareola. A pair with nest and eggs
found “West Inverness-shire,” 10th June 1960 (S.B. 1:331);
first breeding for North-West Highlands and West Inverness.

Common Guuu Larus canus. Nest with eggs at Houndslow,
near Greenlaw, 29th May 1960 (S.B. 1: 280); first breeding for
Tweed and Berwick.

CuIFFcHAFF Phylloscopus collybita. Adult feeding four fled-
ged young at Kinloch, Rhum, 30th June 1959 (S.B. 1: 340); first
breeding for Inner Hebrides.

The following have not been included, but are listed here
for general information:

Small race of CanaDA GoosE Branta canadensis. One seen
at Laggan Point, Islay, 5th April 1958 (S.B. 1:274); this has
been accepted by the Rarities Committee of British Birds as
belonging to “one of the small races of Canada Goose from
the North American Arctic,’ but as its identity has not
been established beyond all doubts it cannot be included in
the Review as a race new to Scotland.

446 ORNITHOLOGICAL CHANGES 1(13)

LONG-TAILED Tit Aegithalos caudatus. One seen at Bonny-
bridge, Stirling, 9th November 1959 resembled the Northern
race Aegithalos c. caudatus (S.B. 1:212). If accepted, this
would be the first definite Scottish record; there is, however,
the observation by Dr F. Darling (see Birds of Scotland 139-
140) that white-headed birds occur in West Sutherland and
Loch Broom area, and intermediate forms as far south as
Sunart, North Argyll, in the breeding season.

DiprpER Cinclus cinclus. One “black-bellied” near Edzell,
Angus, 13th September 1960. See remarks by Professor Wynne-
Edwards (S.B. 1: 336).

The following have been added to the British List on the
recommendation of the B.O.U. British Records Committee.
(See Ibis 102: 629-630).

BuLacK AND WHITE WARBLER Mniotilta varia. One found dead
Scalloway, Shetland, mid-October 1936 (Scot. Nat. 1937:46 and
69 : 38).

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW Zonotrichia albicollis. One shot
Flannans, Outer Hebrides, 18th May 1909 (See Annals Scot.
Nat. Hist. 1909: 246 and Scot. Nat. 69:39).

SONG SpaRROW Melospiza melodia. One trapped Fair Isle,
Shetland, 27th April 1959 (B.B. 52:419-421 and S.B. 1: 254).

After careful consideration of all the evidence the Com-
mittee have been unable to accept the following records:

WHITE STORK Ciconia ciconia, Two near Cameron Reservoir,
Fife, 2nd October 1959 (S.B. 1: 145).

SLENDER-BILLED CURLEW Numenius tenuirostris. One found
exhausted at Avoch, Easter Ross, 25th February 1960; examin-
ed and released (S.B. 1: 235).

LESSER YELLOWLEGS Tringa flavipes. One at Cotehill Loch,
Collieston, 15th September 1959 (S.B. 1: 188).

SCANDINAVIAN HERRING GULL Larus argentatus omissus. One
at Figgate Pond, Edinburgh, 22nd October 1959 (S.B. 1:198).

Dusky TurRusH Turdus eunomus. One seen at Port Appin,
Arpyll send of 1959s. (Sibel 238)

We understand that these records have also been rejected
by the Rarities Committee of British Birds—although the
findings have not yet been published—not necessarily because
the identifications’: were wrong, but because “the evidence
Was insufficient or the conditions of observation too unsatis-
factory for unqualified acceptance as fully authenticated
records.” We also wish to emphasise their view that published
rejection of these records is not a slur on the ability of the
observer, (See B.B, 54:199).

1961

447

HERON coming down

to nest, Wester Ross, June 1939.

(Photograph by J. E. Ruxton)

448 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS 1(13)

VISIT OF AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS
TO THE SCOTTISH CENTRE

The first organised party of American ornithologists to come
to this country arrived in Scotland on Friday, 7th July. This
very brief visit, from 3 p.m. on Friday to 9 a.m. on Saturday,
was part of a “Birds of Europe” tour, and the party consisted
of twenty-eight bird-watchers from all parts of the States, led
by Mr Orville W. Crowder.

As this was the first occasion of its kind and might mark
the beginning of many contacts between ornithologists of our
two countries, Dr John Berry of the Nature Conservancy, and
the Council of the Club, felt that the party should be our
guests at a special reception in the Scottish Centre.

Such a tight schedule was bound to meet unforeseen
hitches, and we were not surprised when holiday traffic jams
prevented our guests from arriving in Edinburgh from the
Lake District until after 4 p.m. This meant some last-minute
reorganisation of our plans to take them for a sail round the
Bass Rock; instead, after being welcomed at their hotel by
Dr Berry, Andrew Macmillan and George Waterston, they
were taken on a conducted tour of the city in their private
bus and a visit to the Queen’s Park where among the duck
at Duddingston Loch several were able to add “Lifers” to
their lists of birds.

After a hasty dinner at their hotel, the party arrived at
Regent Terrace where a reception party of Members of Coun-
cil and of the Edinburgh Branch Committee were waiting. As
we felt that a Scottish welcome would be appropriate, Pat
Sandeman, complete with kilt, piped our guests into the house,
to their great delight. “You sure think of everything,” said
Mr Crowder as he led his party in. They were then shown
part of the R.S.P.B. film, “Highland Birds,’ which was some
compensation for seeing so few Scottish species; this was
given a very enthusiastic reception and quite a few decided
there and then to come back for a stay in Speyside another
year. After this, the whole party adjourned upstairs for re-
freshments and general conversation; this rose in crescendo
and enthusiasm until they left us at 11 p.m., full of gratitude
to the Club for what they said was “the highlight of our tour.”

The value of such contacts cannot be readily assessed but
they are obviously of great importance. Some of the party
weré members of local Audubon Societies and we were able
to exchange ideas and information on the organisation of our
respective Clubs and Societies. Many of them, we are sure,
will come back to Scotland for a longer visit, while any mem-
bers of the Club who visit the States may be sure of a warm
welcome and every possible assistance to see American birds.

M. I. W.

1961 DUMFRIES BRANCH 449
INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE DUMERIES
BRANCH

In view of the keen interest in ornithology in the South-
west of Scotland, members of the $.O.C. felt that a Branch of
the Club, centred in Dumfries, would provide opportunities
for members to meet for their personal pleasure and to forward
the objects of the Club. Accordingly a meeting was convened
on 26th June 1961 in the County Hotel, Dumfries, when
approximately forty members attended.

The Chair was taken by Mr William Ausiin, supported by
Mr A. Donald Watson and by Mrs George Waterston, Secretary
of the Club. Mr Austin introduced Mrs Waterston who then
explained the advantages of a separate Branch, and promised
lectures by well-Known speakers, some of whom had been
provisionally booked already.

It was decided unanimously to inaugurate the Branch, and
Officers were appointed as follows: Chairman, Sir Arthur B.
Duncan; Vice-Chairman, Mr William Austin; Hon. Secretary,
Mr H. M. Russell; Committee, Mr Langley Roberts, Mr R. T.
Smith and Mr Donald Watson, and the above Officers ex officio.
Mr William Austin was elected Branch Representative to the
Council. (All Treasurership functions are exercised in Edin-
burgh).

In the discussion which followed, special attention was
drawn to the point that, although the activities of the Branch
would be centred in Dumfries, which greatly helped arrange-
ments for speakers, the Branch hoped to be a focal point for
the whole of the South-west of Scotland. Colleagues from Wig-
townshire would be most welcome at all Branch meet-
ings, and the possibility of a get-together in Newton Stewart
or Castle Douglas at least once a year would be examined.

The meeting was then addressed by Mr George Waterston
who outlined the special interests of the S.O.C., the R.S.P.B.
and the B.T.O. and urged support for the latter two bodies in
any way possible. He reminded members of the special work
being done on the status of the Heron, the Stonechat and the
Peregrine. He also appealed for voluntary wardens in July
for the nesting Ospreys.

Haley In 18

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

The Ornithological Club of Uppsala, Sweden, is conducting
a special investigation into the migration of the Dunlin Cal-
idris alpina. All Dunlin trapped during the 1961 autumn
migration season will be ringed with a numbered ring on one
leg and a coloured ring on the other. Observers are asked to
look closely at all Dunlin seen during this autumn and winter

450 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION 1(13)

and, if any ringed birds are seen, to send a note of their ob-
servations to Sven Uhlin, Gnejsvagen 3B, Uppsala, Sweden.
The information required is: date, time and place of observa-
tion; colour of ring and leg on which placed; numbers of
ringed and unringed Dunlin present at the time; and length
of stay.

OBITUARY : THE LATE JOHN BAIN

His many friends among ornithologists—and the Scottish
lighthouse personnel who co-operate so wholeheartedly with
them—will learn with deep regret of the passing of Mr John
Bain, who had been ill tor a lengthy period at the home of
one of his daughters at Rothesay after returning from a visit
to Nyasaland.

Fostered during his service with the Northern Lighthouses
at many Scottish stations, his interest in birds became an
abiding one. He had been associated with the Royal Scottish
Museum in the obtaining of skins and specimens of birds
killed at the lighthouses; had a close connection over many
years with the Isle of May Observatory, where he carried out
mucn highly-skilled maintenance work and single-handed
built the Heligoland Trap which now bears his name; and,
while serving on the Bass Rock, made one of the earliest
“scientific” counts of the Rock’s nesting Gannets. His fund of
bird-lore was equalled only by his knowledge of the coasts
and islands and his tales of “characters” and incidents in the
lighthouse service, in which he had continued beyond retire-
ment age as relief officer atter the Second World War.

This doyen of bird-watchers was in his seventy-eighth year.
RoAY C,

SHORT NOTES

MANX SHEARWATER INLAND IN PERTHSHIRE

On 23rd July 1961, when sailing on Loch Tay, I was aston-
ished to see a Manx Shearwater Frocellaria puffinus. The bird
was on the water when first noticed and it allowed the dinghy
to approach within 30 yards before taking wing. In flight the
contrasting black upperparts and white underparts and the
typical stiff-winged, tilting flight confirmed the identification.
The bird circled near the boat several times before disappear-
ing in the direction of Killin.

V. M. THom.

1961 SHORT NOTES 451
EARLY SOOTY SHEARWATER

A Sooty Shearwater Procellaria grisea was seen in the
northern waters of the North Minch on 7th May 1961. It was
watched by several internationally-known ornithologists on
a cruise organised by the National Trust for Scotland and it
remained for about half an hour in the vicinity of the ship.

W...J. KGGELING.

(This is a very remarkable date and is two weeks earlier
than any other record we can find for British waters.—ED.).

WHITE STORK IN DUMFRIESSHIRE

On the afternoon of 17th April 1961 a White Stork C. ciconia
was seen by Mr Stewart Nairn on his farm at Hazliebrae,
Lochmaben. He telephoned Robert Smith, who was able to
come over the following morning and confirm the identifica-
tion. On the evening of the same day I found the bird still
present and was able to get the photograph reproduced else-
where in this number, as the bird was perched on a telegraph
pole with the sun just beginning to set. On the morning of
the 19th E. L. Roberts was on the scene about 11 a.m., just in
time to see the bird get up and fly off to the south. It was not
seen again.

WILLIAM AUSTIN.

(This is presumably the same bird as was first seen at
Southport, Lancashire, on 4th April and thereafter at half a
dozen different places progressively further north until the
last English sighting at Maryport on the 16th—the day before
its appearance at Lochmaben. This would be the first record
for Dumfriesshire and the Solway area, but the bird’s
tameness and its predilection for settling in areas of consider-
able human activity suggest that it may have been an escape
from captivity, although the species may at times be quite
approachable in the wild. The acceptance of this as a genuine
record must therefore depend on enquiries at present being
made by the British Birds Rarity Records Committee, to whose
Secretary we are indebted for the information about the bird’s
wanderings in England.—Eb.).

RED-FOOTED FALCON IN INVERNESS-SHIRE

On 15th May 1961 I was motoring along the road that crosses
Tulloch Moor, near Boat of Garten, when a small raptor flew
out of a tree and landed on a large rock 30 yards from the car.
It was late in the evening and the light was poor, but even so
the bird struck me as something unusual because of its size
and flight. From the rear it showed a grey back and tail barred
with black, a light crown and a whitish collar. I moved round
to get a front view of the bird but it flew off to the top of a

452 SHORT NOES 1(13)

pine about 500 yards away. I did, however, see the bird well
enough in flight to identify it as a Red-footed Falcon Falco
vespertinus. I followed it and managed to get close again.
This time I thought I could see the red legs, but it flew off
again and I decided to leave it and hope that it would roost
in the area.

The following morning at 0530 hours G.M.T., Dick Clark,
Adrian Sudbury and I were at the moor. It had been a very
cold night with several degrees of frost and a raw mist. An
hour later we flushed the bird from its.roost in a Scots pine.
It flew to the top of a dead tree, and before it departed we
were able to make out the orange feet and rufous underparts.
It flew across the valley to a dead tree, where it was watched
by George Dick, Guy Brownlow, George Patrick, Penny
Whitehead and Jenny Buxton. At 0945 hours it flew away
north-east into the wind and was last seen over Boat of Garten
golf-course.

From the following description collected in the field I iden-
tified it as a female Red-footed Falcon:

Forehead pale creamy-buff; crown light chestnut-buff shading to a
distinct collar of creamy-buff; ear-coverts sandy-brown; nape streak from
crown, chestnut-buff; mantle, back, scapulars, coverts and rump slate-
grey, taintly (but obviously at close range) barred black-brown; tail slate-
grey, barred black with pale buff tip to each feather; flight-feathers dark
brown, almost black outer webs, inner webs dark brown, shafts paler.

Cheeks creamy-buff; blackish moustachial streak, rather ill-defined;
chin cream-off-white shading to rufous buff on belly, faint streaks of dark
chestnut on sides of breast; under tail-coverts whitish-buff; feathered
thighs shading from rufous to creamy-buff; axillaries rusty; under flight-
feathers pale rufous-buff, heavily barred black-brown.

Bill yellowish-horn, shading to blackish tip and with a small red area
at the gape. Eye dark broken with orange orbital ring. Legs and feet
orange.

The flight was distinctive—leisurely, with several deep wing-
beats followed by a glide—a cross between Hobby and Kestrel.
The tail looked rather long and the wings decidedly long in
flight. At rest the wings were just longer than the tail.

After being disturbed from its roost, the bird flew to a dead
tree where it remained, preening and surveying the moor. At
0740 hours it flew to the ground and caught a green caterpillar,
returning to its perch to eat it. During the next hour it made
six similar feeding sallies. Twice the prey was again a green
caterpillar; on the other occasions it was an unidentified
insect. In between these sallies the bird dozed and preened.
The method of hunting was to perch on the top of a dead tree
and watch the ground directly underneath. There was much
head-shaking, vertically and laterally, when the bird sighted
an insect. It would then drop to the ground, catch the insect
and always return to the perch to eat it. The large caterpillars
were held in one talon and usually took four bites to finish off.
The bird never moved more than ten yards from the tree when

1961 SHORT NOTES 453

hunting and was very good at running through long heather.
When a Cuckoo landed in the tree, the falcon took off im-
mediately and flew around before returning, when the Cuckoo
departed. On two occasions the falcon was mobbed by Black-
headed Gulls and took evasive action. Meadow Pipits also
mobbed it on several occasions, though not forcefully, and I
got the impression that it was a very timid bird.

R. H. DENNIS

(This is the first record for Inverness-shire and the Moray
area.—ED.).

LITTLE OWL IN MIDLOTHIAN

On 17th March 1961 a freshly-dead Little Owl Athene noctua
was picked up in Leith. It was sent to the Royal Scottish
Museum for identification where it was found to be a male.
It showed no signs of having been kent in captivity. This is
the first record of the svecies in Midlothian.

GEORGE WATERSTON.

TENGMALM’S OWLS IN ORKNEY

On 26th December 1959 I was told of a strange owl in a
small plantation of deciduous trees, not exceeding 20 feet in
height, in a disused quarry at Cruan, Firth. Mr J. Wood and I
saw the bird the same dav. Noticeably smaller than our fam-
iliar Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus, it looked stocky and had
~a large head. Perched about 12 feet up, it kept its eyes shut
and only opened them for a moment when we made a con-
siderable commotion. We got the impression that the bird
was pretty exhausted.

The upperparts were of a reddish chocolate-brown colour
with white spots—small on the primaries and secondaries but
much larger on the back. There was a conspicuous row of
large spots on the wing-coverts and very fine spots on the
forepart of the crown. The facial discs were complete and
whitish with a dark chocolate border. The underparts were
whitish or creamy, marked with streaks of pale reddish-choco-
late and there was a narrow band of chocolate round the
throat. The iris was yellow and the beak pale yellowish. The
legs were hidden by the body plumage when the bird was
perched, but when we induced it to fly, we could see that they
were thickly covered with whitish or creamy feathers right
over the toes, flecked with a little pale brown. The claws were
blackish. The flight from tree to tree resembled that of the
Long-eared Owl A. otus. It would drop downwards from its
perch, fly quickly to another tree and sweep un to alight on
the chosen branch. We concluded that the bird was a Teng-
malm’s Owl Aegolius funereus,

454 SHORT NOmrs 1(13)

This bird stayed in the plantation during 26th December
and the following day. It perched in an upright position with
its eyes closed most of the time. When dusk began to fall it
became more awake and alert and began to move about. It
disappeared after 27th December and we thought it had gone
for good, but it turned up again on lst January 1960, after
which it was never seen again. A pellet measuring about 45 x
14 mm was found beneath its usual perch, but owing to the
presence of Kestrels in the area, it was impossible to be cer-
tain that this came from the owl.

On Ist May 1961 I again had the opportunity of observing a
Tengmalm’s Owl—this time in a garden in Stromness. The
weather was dull and misty at the time with a fresh south-
east wind. The owl was sitting at about eye-level in a small
tree, backed by a high wall, where it was being furiously
mobbed by a Blackbird. It appeared little more than half the
size of a Short-eared Owl and looked very big-headed, giving
the impression of tapering away very sharply to the tail. In
plumage it closely resembled the vrevious bird except that it
was rather more heavily marked on the underparts.

E. BALFOUR.

(These are the first acceptable records of the species in
Orkney.—ED.).

GREEN WOODPECKER BREEDING IN LANARKSHIRE

In October 1960 the Forestry Officer in East Kilbride told us
that he had seen a bright green bird about the size of a small
Woodpigeon in a wood near the town. It was not until Feb-
ruary and March 1961 that one of us (A.W.) saw the bird and
easily identified it as a Green Woodpecker Picus viridis. We
saw it on three occasions during these months and we again
saw the bird in the same wood on 28th May and later found
the nest 28-30 feet up a tree. The nest was not accessible, but
on many subsequent visits we saw both adult birds at the
nest feeding young.

Davip LAWSON.
ALEC McCOoNNELL. -
A. WILSON.

(This is the first breeding record for Lanarkshire and the
most northerly breeding record so far for the western half
of Scotland. For other recent records of the species in Lan-
arkshire see antea 1:73 and 132, and 1939 Scot. Nat. p. 49,
which is apparently the first record for the county —Ep.).

REDWING BREEDING IN ROSS-SHIRE

When walking by a Ross-shire river on 6th June 1961,
M.H.M, saw a Redwing Turdus musicus fly into a birch copse

1961 SHORT NOES 455

on the opposite side of the river. Later, she discovered that
there were two Redwings present, and on several occasions
she saw the birds enter the copse carrying food in their bills.
Circumstances prevented her from making a search that day,
but on 7th June she and D.M. visited the locality together. On
arrival at the soot where M.H.M. had seen the birds the pre-
vious day, we were greeted by a medley of harsh alarm-notes
and soon two adult Redwings appeared on the topmost
branches of a birch tree. From their agitated behaviour we
concluded that they had fledged young nearby, but a search
of the area proved unrewarding and we withdrew from the
vicinity to keep watch a short distance away. Several minutes
later a Redwing with food in its bill alighted on a tree-stump
and, after a few seconds, flew into a thick cluster of twigs
which grew on the trunk of a large birch tree. Going to the
spot, we discovered a nest containing three young Redwings
which were fully feathered and almost ready to fly. The nest,
which looked a rather flimsy structure, was built in the junc-
tion between the tree trunk and the mass of twigs at 2 height
of 44 feet from the ground. Recent records of the Redwine
breedine in Ross-shire may be found in British Birds 52: 315
and 53: 358.
D. MAcDONALD.
MarcGaret H. MITCHELL.

STONECHAT BREEDING IN SHETLAND

On 10th Mav 1961 Mr Christooher Booth, motoring past the
T.och of Voe. Parish of Delting. Shetland, spotted a nair of
Stonechats Saxicola torquata behaving as if nesting. On ob-
servation the birds were seen to be feeding young. The nest,
when located. contained five fully-grown young, all of which
were ringed by Mr Booth. On the following day I saw both
adult birds and two nestlings which were being fed in the
vicinity of the now-empty nest. which was situated under a
thick tuft of heather. This is the first recorded breeding of
the species in Shetland.

J. PETERSON.

LESSER GREY SHRIKE IN AYRSHIRE

On the evening of 15th June 1961, while driving between
Crosshill and Dalrymple, I had a brief glimpse of an unfam-
iliar bird on the roadside telegranvh wires near Blairbowie
Farm. I could not find it the following evening, but on the
17th my wife and I had perfect views of it at very close range
as it moved in leisurely short flights along the low roadside
hedge in front of the car. Viewed at ranges of 25 yards or less
we had no difficulty in identifying it as a Lesser Grey Shrike
Lanius minor. The breast was strikingly pink (more so than
in the Handbook illustration) and the black eye-stripe was so
broad that, when viewed from below, the bird appeared to

456 SLeOIGE INCOMES 1(13)

have a completely black cap. The bird was again seen on the
18th by Arthur Duncan and Donald Watson and, after an in-
terval during which it could not be located, it was found in
the same area by Donald Cross and David Reid on 24th June,
after which it was seen no more. On every occasion it was
seen perched on overhead wires or low hedgerows and it
seemed to have no desire to seek the shelter of overgrown
hedges or the adjacent woodlands.
G. HuGHES ONSLOW.

(Mr Donald Watson, who also made sketches of the bird,
has sent us the following detailed description:

A fine bird with striking black mask over front of crown almost, if
not quite, as far back as the eyes, with the black continuing as a broad
streak through and behind the eyes; sides of face and throat white or
nearly so, becoming pale salmon-pink on the breast and rest of under-
parts; wings wholly black except for rectangular white patch at the base
of the primaries, showing clearly in flight as a short broad bar not ex-
tending on to the secondaries. The tail was rather long and black with
white edges to the outer feathers scarcely graduated; relative to the
wings the tail seemed longer than in some descriptions. The whole bird
was rather slight in build, lacking the formidable look and bold upright
stance of the typical Great Grey Shrike, but the strong wind kept the
bird sitting low—almost horizontally—head to wind. It fed by short
flights and pounces to the eround, chiefly close to the low hawthorn
hedge on which it perched. Occasional longer sallies took it to a fence
across a grass field. From the head pattern of pure jet-black on the
fore-crown it appeared to be a male in very smart plumage.

This would seem to be the first record for Ayrshire and
Clyde.—Eb.).

RED-BACKED SHRIKE IN ABERDEENSHIRE

In the late afternoon of 19th May 1961 I was driving with a
friend down the narrow road that leads from the south end
of Loch of Strathbeg when we saw an unmistakable male
Red-backed Shrike perched at the side of the road. We were
able to watch it at very close quarters and could clearly see
the red-brown back and grey head, the heavy black mark
through the eye and the typical shrike bill. In flight the black
tail with white at the sides was plainly visible.

PAMELA FURNESS.

ROSE-COLOURED STARLING IN DUNBARTONSHIRE

On 12th May 1961 a flock of Starlings Sturnus vulgaris flew
up from the lawn at my house in Bearsden. Amongst them
was one bird of the same size and general appearance as the
others but having a black head or “cowl,” black wings and
tail and a pink breast. I susvected at once that this must be a
Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus and I was able to con-
firm this by reference to the Field Guide.

R. W. PICKFORD.

1961 SHORT NOTES 457

(This would be the first record for Dunbartonshire, but
the date and the locality combine to make it most unlikely
that this was a genuine wild bird and we feel that it should
be treated as a probable escape from captivity.—Eb.)

ScOMish CROSSBILE IN WESTER ROSS

In The Birds of Scotland (Vol. 1:70-71), Baxter & Rintoul
are vague about the present status of the Scottish Crossbill
Loxia sp. scotica in Ross-shire.

On 21st May 1961 Dr T. C. Smout saw a small flock of Cross-
bills in a pine-wood at Shieldaig, Wester Ross. Next day I had
close views of an adult male in the same wood, and I was able
to compare it with some Scottish Crossbills which I saw later
on the same day in Sweyside. Its bill anveared very similar
in size and shave to those of the Speyside birds, and struck
me as noticeably heavier than those of some continental birds
L. ce. curvirostra which I had watched only a fortnight earlier
in Suffolk. Its call—a low-pitched “choop-choop-choop”’ or
“klomp-klomv-klomp”—was quite different from any notes I
have heard from continental Crossbills, although both it and
the Speyside birds occasionally gave a higher-pitched “yip”
call in addition.

Coa NISBET

(In fairness to the authors of The Birds of Scotland. it
should be pointed out that they state quite specifically that
Ross was one of the Counties in which the Scottish Cross-
bill was then (1950) breeding. We would, however, welcome
more notes of this kind on the distribution of Crossbills
outside their headquarters in Speyside, and the notes on
racial field identification are particularly valuable coming
from an observer of Dr Nisbet’s experience.—ED.).

CURRENT NOTES

(Key to initials of observers: A. G. Ablett, G. H. Acklam, D. R. Ander-
son, D. G. Andrew, Miss V. E. C. Balfour-Browne, I. V. Balfour-
Badin allantyne. Mass Kk. EH. Barr Miss P. G. Baxter, J. A. Begg,
Pieaenbtenell a. Boyd. Dr By Campbell, J. W. Campbell, @) No EL:
Gonpen, VW. A. Craw, Miss, M. Hl. E. Cuninghame, W. A. J. Cunning-
iam El Dennis, G Dick Dr G. M: Dunnet, Dr W. J. Egegeling,
Sineke rskine-lill M. Everett, M. Forrester, E. M. Gall, Miss B: A:
Gandenwele loli... boy . N. Elunter), Miss Ro S: Hunter, Rey. G:
Jamieson, Dr D. Jenkins, J. H. Lawton, Lt.-Col. W. M. Logan-Home,
Pee. Wouden. 2 We WW. Lowe, A. Macdonald, K.-S. Macgregor,
A. T. Macmillan, Prof. M. F. M. Meiklejohn, R. I. Milne, Mrs E. A.
Minton: Oliver G Patrick. J. Potter, W. Pryde, I. B- Roy, Dr M.
Iosion@- Sanderson, Wi. M. Skene, R. W. J. Smith, T. €. Smout, I. S.
Suttie. J. H. Swan, Miss V. M. Thom, L. A. Urquhart, G. Waterston,
Mrs M. I. Waterston, Dr A. Watson, A. D. Watson, Dr R. S. Weir,
J. W. Wightman, K. Williamson. Unless otherwise stated dates refer
to late 1960 or to 1961).

Breeding and Distribution
The free flying Night Herons from Edinburgh Zoo continue

458 CURRENT NOTES 1(13)

to appear in odd places to the confusion of the public. On
24th August an adult was preening itself in the Royal Botanic
Garden where it was sitting by the pond on top of Salix baby-
lonica ramulis-aureis. As the observer strolled in the sun he
heard many suggestions as to what this strange bird might
be—including one very positive theory that it was a Kittiwake
(A.T.M.). On 6th June a strange brown bird was wading
about a pond in Dunfermline spearing fish before admiring
onlookers. It then sat in a tree. This bird was featured in the
press and on television, and generally noted as a Bittern. We
have seen an excellent photograph of it, proving, as we guessed,
that it was an immature Night Heron (G.D.). Less precise re-
ports which we have heard recentlv of this species indicate
that, in Edinburgh, it has been seen by the canal at Sighthill,
noted flying over Corstorohine regularly at dusk from the Zoo,
anid comes regularly at dusk to the mud at the mouth of the
R. Almond when the tide is right (ED.).

In 1960, for the first time, a pair of Gadwall soent most of the
spring and early summer at Gladhouse, .and breeding was sus-
pected. In 1961 a drake and two ducks appeared in the spring,
and breedins was later proved when one of the ducks was
seen on 2nd July with two small ducklings. The only breeding
previously recorded in Midlothian was at Threipmuir in 1933
and 1934 (D.G.A.).

A vair of Pintail was at Tyninshame, Fast Lothian, on 9th
and 16th Avril. They are unusual there (T.B.).

Inland records of Scaup come from the Loch o’ the Lowes.
New Cumnock, Ayr, where there was a drake with a flock of
Tufted Ducks from 3rd to 7th April (J.A.B.); from Duddingston,
Edinburgh. where a drake was noted on 19th April (B.C.).
and a pair on 13th July (0.R.A.); and from Bicvargboanne
nond where another drake was seen on 26th Aoril (R.S-H.).
Some 1.400 Common Scoter milline about at Gullane Point on
19th April were even more than the excevtional count of 1,000
already noted ten days earlier (antea 1:433) (B.C.). Fourteen
Red-breasted Mergansers at Longannet, Fife, on 11th July may
have been summering birds. such as occur further down the
Forth, rather than early arrivals from fresh water (J.H.).

A vair of Mute Swans sitting on six eggs at Kilfinan, Argyll,
on the shore of L. Fyne, with a nest in rough vrass just above
high water mark, are the first to breed there (D.R.A.). A single
Whooper Swan was seen on two different lochs in N.E. Caith-
ness on 22nd and 23rd May (per D.G.A.) and one spent the
summer, until at least 16th July, on L. Insh, near Kincraig,
Inverness (R.H.D.).

A Buzzard was seen on 5th March at Polnoon, an unusual
place for one, near Eaglesham, Lanark. It flew off south-east
at a great height (L.A.U.).

Two Rough-legged Buzzards were seen for at least two weeks

1961 CURRENT NOTES 459

during November near Tarfside, Glen Esk, Angus. A buzzard
seen in September may have been of this species, and a bird
seen twice in October probably was (D.J., A.W.).

On several days between 5th and 22nd April an Osprey was
seen fishing at Upper Rhynd Loch near Braco, Perth. It would
sit on the roadside telegraph poles (G.T.J.). On 8th June an-
other Osprey was seen soaring in wide circles high over the
summit of Rueval in Benbecula until it drifted out of sight
in the direction of the Monach Islands (G.W., M.I.W.). A third
one was watched catching a fish on 13th August from Pitfour
Loch, near Mintlaw, Aberdeen (E.A.G.). The Ospreys at L.
Garten, Inverness, were successful for the third successive
year, and reared three chicks, bringing their total to seven
(M.I.W.).

Very few notes are sent in about Quail, but one suspects
that a thorough investigation of the cornfields in East Lothian
and Berwickshire might reveal a rather different picture. Near
Gifford, East Lothian, they evidently breed, having been heard
in 1960 and again during June 1961. In this locality they are
said to have occurred for a number of years, so that they are
free from the doubts about some East Lothian records which
follow the rearing of Quail from eggs at Archerfield, Dirleton,
in 1959 (A.M.).

Ringed Plover bred at Gladhouse for the third year running
(D.G.A.).

A Herring Gull was seen at Seafield, Leith, on 10th April,
with bright yellow legs. Its size and pale silver mantle were
the same as ordinary Herring Gulls with it and its race re-
mains indeterminate (A.G.A.). There were two pairs on St
Sertf’s Island in L. Leven on 28th May, when a nest with three
eggs was found—the first breeding: record for Kinross (T.B.,
R.W.J.S.). A clutch of two eggs at Tyninghame at 4th June
icine nns, to be found there (1.B.R., W.MLS., R.W.J.S.). The
Birds of Scotland notes that Black-headed Gulls have not been
recorded breeding in West Sutherland. Up to 1939, in fact,
the annual additions to the Geographical Distribution and
Status of Birds in Scotland, which then ceased, did not even
record the species in West Sutherland. The only published
record which we have been able to trace of the species having
been seen in the area is one at Handa on 11th July 1959 (Fair
Isle Bird Bulletin 4:121). It is therefore probably worth noting
mainland records of two Black-headed Gulls at Oldshore More,
and single birds at Kinloch Bervie and Rhiconich, on 27th
June (J.B.). On 11th June there was a spectacular invasion
of Kittiwakes in the upper Forth at Longannet, Fife, when 87
—nearly all in adult plumage—were flying about calling
noisily and displaying in the air (J.H.).

Black Guillemots still nest at Portpatrick, Wigtown, in the
harbour wall, and three were back there on 12th April
(W.A.C.). A pair were on the sea off Benane Head, Girvan,

460 CURRENT NOTES 1(13)

Ayr, on 14th May, but at Portencross, Ayr, two seen on 15th
January could not be found on later visits (G.H.A.).

On 29th May a Turtle Dove was briefly glimpsed as it flew
from tyvical shrub habitat at Dalhousie, Midlothian. R.W.J.S.
tells us that the keeper had heard birds in past years which
he thought must be Turtle Doves (A.T.M.). One at Garleton,
near Haddington, on 5th August, may have derived from the
colony established recently in the Longniddry area (W.K.B.).

In East Lothian, the Barn Owls which nested last year (antea
1:339) again reared young at Gullane, and two pairs of
Long-eared Owls nested at Aberlady, though only one reared
anv chicks (W.K.B.).

On 27th Avril a Green Woodnecker was richt out on the salt-
ings at Aberlady (A.G.A.). At Blanefield, West Stirling, where —
one was heard in 1959 (antea 1: 132). the striking call was again
noted, between 2nd and 28th Avril As it came from private
sround it was not vossible to look for a nest (K.H.B.). In the
south-west suburbs of Fdinburch one was seen in the srounds
of Merchiston Castle School on 1st and 12th .Julv. A mile north-
east of Carnwath, Lanark, there was one on 9th July (1.V.B-P.).

A Magpie in the grounds of George Heriot’s School on 20th
March was in a verv central and bvilt-un vart of Edinburgh
(T.C.S.). A Jav was seen in Glen Dve. Kincardine. on 15th
Tine, In Ansus Jays may be seen infreavently in Glen Esk,
and the observer has one record for Glen Clova. They are al-
wavs in or near conifers (D.J.).

The Treecreever is not known to breed in the Outer Heb-
rides. so that it is of interest to record one seen on 16th June
in a Force 8 gale and lashing rain in the woods at Stornowav
Castle. Unfortunately there was no time to look for a nest
(G.W., M.I.W.).

A number of reports of Stonechats have been received in
connection with the enquiry into their numbers, and there are
indications that in some areas, such as Forth, numbers are
very slowly increasing. A pair bred in Shetland for the first
time, as recorded on another vage. One nvair bred successfully
in Speyside (R.H.D.), and another was seen feeding fledged
young above L. Chon, Perth (G.H.A.). Along the coast of Fife,
where the revival seems to have started earlier than else-
where, numbers have been ringed (W.J.E.), and in East Lothian
young were fledged between Aberlady and Gullane (W.K.B.,
A.M.). A vair with fledged young at Pease Bay, Berwickshire,
were the first to nest there since 1938, we learn from C.S.
(A.M.). In Midlothian a female was seen at Rosebery on 5th
March (D.G.A.), and at Threipmuir a male was seen on 9th
March (A.G.A.), and a pair on 15th and 16th Anril (2B. Pae
In Edinburgh there was a pair on the Braid Hills on 5th May,
where they had earlier been seen on 29th March (antea 1: 431)
(V.E.C.B-B.).

1961 CURRENT NOTES 4o1

A pair of Grasshopper Warblers spent the summer from 28th
April 1959 in deep heather a mile south of Forres and evident-
ly bred, although this was not proved (1.8.S.). In West Lothian
there were two singing on 3lst May in a plantation at Starlaw
Farm, near Bathgate (W.K.B.). In Midlothian one was heard
a mile north-west of Gladhouse on 10th May in the same place
as in 1960 (antea 1:281) (A.T.M.), and on 16th July one was
singing at Gladhouse itself (R.W.J.S.). In East Lothian one
was singing at Aberlady on 30th April (E.M.G., R.W.J.S.),
and another sang near Gifford during May and June (A.M.).

On May 14th a Sedge Warbler was singing in the very heart
of Edinburgh on the Castle Rock (T.C.S.). Blackcaps almost
certainly bred at Longannet, Fife, and were present at two
localities at Valleyfield. At one of these a brood—the obser-
ver’s first record there—hatched on 14th July, which indicates
a very late laying date (J.H.). Throughout the breeding season
one sang at L. an Eilean, Inverness, without attracting a mate
(R.H.D.), and at Glassel, Aberdeen, a pair was noted on 29th
May (D.G.A.). A Garden Warbler was seen at Feshie Bridge,
Inverness, on 23rd May (R.H.D.). A pair bred successfully at
Valleyfield, Fife, in which county it is a scarce bird (J.H.). A
Whitethroat was heard singing in suitable breeding habitat
below the church at L. Innis, Kinloch Bervie, on 26th June.
Breeding has not been proved so far north, the only published
record tor West Sutherland coming from much further south
(dicey

In Ross there is not much evidence of the Chiffchaff in the
Gairloch district, but one was heard at the Maree Hotel in a
snowstorm on lst April, and again on 15th June (E.N.H.), while
further south one was in full song on 16th April on the north
side of L. Duich between Dornie and Eilean Donan Castle
(J.B.). On Speyside singing birds were located at Nethybridge
and Aviemore in late April (R.H.D.). In West Fife a single
bird only was present at High Valleyfield throughout the
season (J.H.). In Midlothian there was one singing at Penicuik
on 12th May (R.W.J.S.).

Yet another central Edinburgh bird was a Spotted Flycatcher,
aiiso-onmtme Castle Rock, on: lth, 16th and 17th May (1.C:S.).
A pair of Pied Flycatchers bred in Rothiemurchus, Inverness
(R.H.D.), and a cock was noted early in June on the south side
of L. Earn near St Fillans (R.S.W.).

Two pairs of Grey Wagtails fledged young in the Outer Heb-
rides where they first bred as recently as 1957 (antea 1:120).
They had their nests not very far avart on the Bayhead Burn
in the woods at Stornoway Castle (W.A.J.C., M.F.M.M., G.W.,
M.I.W.). A pair of Yellow Wagtails—both flavisstma—hatched
six young in a nest in East Stirling. This is the first breeding
record for Stirling. Unfortunately the nest was deserted after
the ground about it had been criss-crossed by the tracks of a

462 CUININIENGD INCIWIES 1(13)

tractor which may well have kept the adult birds away for a
fatal length of time (G.D., J.P.).

On 3rd June a Hawfinch was briefly seen carrying food on
the south side of LL. Earn at St Pillans bupatecouldmnot. be
found again (R.S.W.). Six Crossbills were seen at Edgelaw, Mid-
lothian, on 30th April, in larches. Though the last definite
record was on dth April 1959 (antea 1:133) the observer has
thought he heard them on several occasions since then. The
flock included at least three red males so it was not a 1961
family party (D.G.A.).

Winter 1960-61

A Great Northern Diver was noted inland at Gladhouse, Mid-
lothian, on 13th November (D.G.A.). The relative abundance
of this species on spring passage on the west coast is illus-
trated by typical counts of eleven on a crossing of the Sound
of Rhum on!’ loth May (B:C., WIE KOW)) andisevenrimntine
Sound of Mull on the 26th (J.H.L.). An “inland @uecord ota
Red-throated Diver comes from L. \Ken, Kirkcudbright, where
one on lst January had probably been there for some time
(A.D.W.). An interesting series of counts at Gullane, East
Lothian, was made on calm days, from the Car Park and west-
wards to the Point, where Red-throated Divers may be seen
in numbers. Totals were: 18th February (9), 5th March (11),
16th (23), 30th (25), and 7th April (35). An addition to the ob-
server’s family regrettably put a stop to observations at this
point (T.C.S.).

There was a Red-necked Grebe just west of Gullane Point
on 2nd April (J.O.), and two Black-necked Grebes just east of
the Point on 5th March (T.C.S.). A pair of the latter on Kil-
conquhar Loch, Fife, on 8th April, were displaying mildly,
rising slightly in the water with breasts and bills touching.
They were not seen again (R.S.W.).

A. Long-tailed Duck was seen on Carlingwark Loch, Kirkcud-
bright, for three weeks from 5th February (A.D.W.). “Red-
head” Smews were noted at Barr Loch, Renfrew, on 3rd and
8th April (G.H.A., L.A.U.), and at the Endrick mouth, Dun-
barton, on the 16th (M.E. per G.H.A.).

In Strathtay more Grey Lag Geese were noted passing south
than in any autumn since the observer went there fifteen
years ago. Many skeins, totalling some 400 birds, were noted
going south or south-east from 28th to 3lst October, and a
similar pattern was reported from Pitlochry. During the win-
ter there were more Grey Lag in the Strathtay and Tummel
area than usual (J.W.C.). They were also much more abun-
dant than usual in the Carnwath area, Lanark, where the
highest count was just over 100 on 4th March (R.E-H.). By
contrast there were never more than 100 counted at Gladhouse
where in recent years between 500 and 800 have appeared
every autumn (D.G.A.). In Kirkcudbrightshire the numbers of

1961 CURRENT NOLES 463

Bean Geese were the lowest in recent years. A single one was
seen with Grey Lags on 20th November, and 20 to 25 appeared
on 19th February, increasing to 56 on the 21st, and a maximum
of 68 early in March (A.D.W.). Eight were seen in a field in
front of Quothquhan Lodge, near Carnwath, Lanark, on 16th
April, but were evidently on passage as they were not seen
again (R.E-H.). In the same area Pink-footed Geese arrived on
26th September and left about a week or ten days earlier than
usual on 20th April. The largest count was of at least 2,500
on 2nd April (R.E-H.).

The Blue Goose at Libberton (see antea 1:272, 386) was first
seen this winter on 16th October, and after that more or less
regularly until 9th April. There can be little doubt that it was
the same bird that frequented the area during the previous
winter. The only difference in plumage that could be detected
was that in flight the area of white on the back and rump
seemed more extensive this winter (R.E-H.).

The only report of Brent Geese in the Forth this winter is
of five Dark-breasted birds at Tyninghame on 29th January
(T.B., W.M.S.). Single Barnacle Geese were seen at Cromdaile,
Moray, from 28rd to 27th April (R.H.D.), with Grey Lag at
Kirriemuir, Angus, on srd April (D.G.A.), and with Pinkfeet
near Carnwath on 16th October, 18th December, 29th Jan-
uary, 3lst March, and 2nd April (R.E.-H., L.A.U.), and there
were three over Edgelaw Reservoir, Midlothian, on 22nd
Morir CR.W.J.S.).

At Gladhouse, Midlothian, a female Hen Harrier was seen
on 18th December and 15th January (D.G.A.).

On 17th April the wintering flock of Black-tailed Godwits on
the Eden Estuary, Fife, numbered nearly 50 birds in their
gorgeous breeding plumage (A.T.M.). Winter records of single
Spotted Redshanks come from the Low Parks, Hamilton, Lan-
ark, on 28th January, and from the Clyde below Erskine
Ferry, Renfrew, on 25th March (G.H.A.).

The immature Glaucous Gull previously noted in Ayr Harbour
on oth March (antea 1:434) was seen again on 26th March and
14th May, and what was evidently the same bird was at the
mouth of the R. Doon on 26th March and 8th July (G.H.A.).
A second-winter bird flew along the shore at Carsethorn,
Kirkcudbright, on 26th February (L.A.U., A.D.W.).

A very late Little Auk was seen on the pier at St Andrew:
Pite, on 22nd April (J.W.W.).

A very large flock of probably more than 1,000 Fieldfares
was resting at Amulree, Perth, on 22nd October (J.W-C.).

In Inverness a single Waxwing was seen by various people
between 18th March and 8th April (M.R.).

The spate of records of Great Grey Shrikes continues (see
antea 1:387, 435). Moray: the bird at Nethybridge remained

404 CURRENT NOTES 1(13)

until the beginning of April, One stayed two weeks in the
Osprey reserve at L. Garten from 24th March, and another
was seen during March in Rothiemurchus (R.H.D.). Argyll:
one was feeding on a Robin on 26th March 84 miles along the
road from Fort William to Spean Bridge (P.V.W.L. per
W.J.E.). Tay: one was seen at Ardrennich, Strathtay, on 13th
and 16th November (J.W.C., M.E.C.), and one near Tarfside,
Angus, on three occasions during November, and many times
throughout March (G.M.D., DJ., A.W.). Tweed: one was
watched on top of a large shrub beside the R. Tweed at Neid-
path Castle, Peebles, on 6th April (A.G.A.). Solway: a fur-
ther note from near New Galloway, Kirkcudbright, is of one
at L. Stroan on 25th March (L.A.U.). At Thornhill, Dumfries,
one was seen from 28th March to 14th April (J.H.S.). In Wig-
town single birds were seen near Barhapple Loch, 4 miles
north-east of Glenluce, on 2nd April (A.D.W.), and a few miles
away, on the hill road from Glenluce to Glassock, on the 12th
(G.T.J.).

Spring Migration 1961

A drake Garganey was at Hamilton, Lanark, on 27th May
(M.F.).

A Grey Plover was seen inland at L. Leven, Kinross, on 29th
April, in summer plumage (R.W.J.S.). A Black-tailed Godwit
has already been noted at the mouth of the R. Endrick on 20th
April (antea 1:436). Two days later there were three on the
Stirling bank, as well as a Bar-tailed Godwit seen also in Dun-
barton (G.H.A., A.J.B.L.). An early Common Sandpiper had
reached Strathtay on 12th April (J.W.C.). At Aberlady, East
Lothian, there was a Little Stint with the Dunlin on 14th May
(J.B.). There were two Ruff there on 16th March (A.G.A.), and
a single one in breeding plumage at Longannet, Fife, on 27th
May (J.H.).

The Pomarine Skua is rare on spring passage and most of the
records are from the Western Isles. On 7th May one was seen
in the northern waters of the North Minch, and on the 9th
there was another off the east side of Rhum near L. Scresort
(W.J.E.).

Twelve Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Seafield, Leith, on 24th
February, are distinctly early for the east coast (A.G.A.).
Single Little Gulls are reported in the West, just south of Soay,
off the south-east corner of Skye, on 9th May (per W.J.E.),
and at Barr Loch, Renfrew, on 7th May—a 1st summer bird,
the first summer bird for the county (L.A.U.). In Fife there
were five at the mouth of the Eden Estuary on 17th April
(T.B.), eleven lst summer birds at the Morton Lochs on 15th
May, and two on the shore at Tayport on 22nd May (R.1.M.).

At least two Sandwich Terns were heard calling as they flew
over Loanhead, Midlothian, at 2230 hours on 10th May. It was

1961 CURIE NG INO ES 465

a dark night and they came in from the north and went over
towards the south-east. The observer is very familiar with
the call of this species which is seldom seen away from the
Seah. W.J.S.).

For the third successive year Swifts were noted in April. The
first records were on the 29th when single birds were seen in
Edinburgh over the Water of Leith (W.A.C.) and over Mor-
ningside (D.G.A.). On the following day three were seen on
Little Cumbrae, Bute (G.W., M.I.W.), and eight were over
Portmore Loch, Peebles (D.G.A.). On Ist May they had reached
St Andrews (M.H.E.C.), two were back at their breeding holes
in Haddington (A.M.), and one was seen near Winchburgh,
West Lothian (E.A.M.). Single House Martins at Ruchlaw
Mains, East Lothian, on 18th April, and at Tyninghame on
the 19th, are a day or two earlier than any noted in the area
during the previous seven years (I.B.R., W.M.S.). Sand Martins
had reached Speyside by 3rd April (R.H.D.). There was an
early cock Whinchat at Aberlady on 16th April, and also an
early Sedge Warbler (W.K.B., K.S.M.). An early cock Blackcap
was singing in Baro Wood, East Lothian, also on 16th April
(K.S.M.). On the same day one was heard, for the first time
in four years, singing in a wood near Kenmore, Perth (V.M.T.).
At Valleyfield, Fife, the first birds arrived on 21st April (J.H.).
Two Whitethroats at Gullane on 12th April were very early
arrivals (W.K.B.), and a fairly early Chitichaff was singing in
Colinton Dell, Edinburgh, on 19th and 21st March (1.V.B-P.,
WP).

A very pale Redpoll at Tolsta, Lewis, on 26th May, with
much white on the wings, and feeding among stones by the
roadside, was evidently a Mealy Redpoll (M.F.M.M.).

Autumn Migration 1961

By no means all notes are yet in on this subject, but delay
in publication of this number allows us to include what has
been received.

Four Shelduck were seen high over the Low Parks, Hamilton,
Lanark, on 13th July. They circled and then flew steadily
away south-east. The observer suggests that this perhaps
marks the start of the autumn moult migration (G.H.A.).

The first Whimbrel of the autumn was heard over St Andrews
on 15th July (M.H.E.C.), and there were two at Gladhouse on
the 16th, and one in the Firth of Forth at Fidra on the 17th
(R.W.J.S.). A Green Sandpiper was seen at the Low Parks, Ham-
ilton, on 13th July (G.H.A.), and four Wood Sandpipers at
Aberlady on 13th August (W.K.B., C.N.L-C., K.S.M.). Sixteen
Common Sandpipers at the Low Parks, Hamilton, on 13th July,
rose high into the air at 2200 hours and flew off, calling con-
tinuously, towards the south-east, as though setting off on

466 1(13):

WHITE Stork, Lochmaben, 18th April 1961 (see Short Notes).

(Photograph by William Austin)

1961 CURKREND NOmES 467

migration (G.H.A.). A Greenshank was seen at Longannet, Fife,
on the early date of 2nd July (J.H.), and one was recorded at
Rosebery Reservoir, Midlothian, on 27th August (D.G.A.). At
least one Little Stint at Cambus, Clackmannan, on 28th August
seems to be the first published record for the county (D.G.A.).
Another was at Aberlady on 13th August, when a Ruff was
also present (W.K.B., C.N.L.C., K.S.M.).

On 9th July an Arctic Skua was harrying the terns at Aber-
lady Bay, but the warden reported that five or six—the first
of the autumn—had been there the previous day. By the 30th
there were at least twelve, and possibly sixteen—high num-
peumuommevarea (WAI B.) C.NI-C., K.S.M.).

A Little Gull was watched taking food from the surface of
the water and sand at the mouth of the R. Doon, Ayr, on 8th
July. It was in lst summer plumage. As the Glaucous Gull
mentioned earlier was at the same place, the observers be-
came intrigued with the possibility of seeing eight species of
gull from the same spot. This they succeeded in doing, but
only after having to search for ten minutes for the bird which
belied its name—the Common Gull (G.H.A., G.P.).

A Black Tern, just beginning to lose its summer plumage,
was seen near Earlsferry, Fife, on 12th August (P.G.B.).

Behaviour and Habits

When danger threatens, the chicks of nidifugous birds crouch
motionless on the ground, encouraged by the screams of the
parent birds swooping over them if they should move. This
behaviour has survival value as the chicks are not so easily
spotted by predators, and one can readily observe it with such
birds as Lapwings or Black-headed Gulls. On 25th June there
were some 1,500 to 2,000 pairs of the latter at a colony in
Perthshire but, possibly because of human interference, very
few young birds. Most of the chicks were well developed, and
the largest were just beginning to fly. At least two of them,
however, could fly quite strongly, but the adults seemed to
resent this. They immediately flew down at them, screaming,
and knocked them out of the sky, so that they tumbled to
the ground and crouched like unfledged chicks. The adults
were evidently unable to accept the fact that, now that they
could fly, these immature brown chicks would be safer off the
ground. It was possible to pick them up, ring them, and watch

them fly away when they were tossed into the air again
(CAM

On 13th July a Willow Warbler at Duns, Berwick, was
watched eating the berries of Daphne mezereum. The Hand-

book mentions elder berries and currants in autumn, but not
Daphne berries (W.H.L-H.).

468

OFFICIAL SECTION 1(13)

The Scottish
Ornithologists’ Club

FOURTEENTH ANNUAL
CONFERENCE

DUNBLANE HOTEL HYDRO

27th

Perthshire
to 29th OCTOBER 196]

PROGRAMME

Friday, 27th October :

5 to 7.30 p.m. and
8.30 to 9.30 p.m.

6.15 p.m.
6.30. p.m. to midnight

9.30. p.m.

Conference Office in the Hotel Hydro opens for
Members and Guests to register (8s 6d each).
Collect Name Cards and Annual Dinner tickets
(16s 6d each).

Meeting of Council.

Lounges reserved for informal discussions and
refreshments. Ballroom reserved for showing
slides and films. (Members must inform Mr C. E.
Palmar, 5 University Avenue, Glasgow W.2 in
advance if they wish to exhibit 2” x 2” slides or
16 mm. films).

Excursion Leaders will describe the places to be
visited on Saturday and Sunday afternoons; in
the Ballroom.

Saturday, 28th October :

8.45 to 9.15 a.m.
9.20 a.m.

9.30 a.m.

10.45 a.m.
Labs) eisaall

12.30 p.m.

to Ze prin:

Conference Office opens for registrations.

Official Opening of the Conference in the Ball-
room of the Hotel Hydro.

ADDRESS OF WELCOME by Archibald
M’Lellan, Esq., Provost of Dunblane.

LECTURE AND FILM on “Bird movements ob-
served on Micro-wave Radar,” by Dr W. R. P.
Bourne (Edward Grey Institute, Oxford).
INTERVAL for coffee and biscuits.

DISCUSSION on Dr Bourne’s paper, introduced
and led by Dr W. J. Eggeling.

CONFERENCE GROUP PHOTOGRAPH out-
side the Hotel Hydro.

INTERVAL for informal lunches (Hotels must
be informed),

1961
Zato) 5.45% pam.

6.15 p.m.

7.30 for 8 p.m.

ORRICIAL SECON 469

EXCURSIONS by private cars leaving the Hotel
Hydro Car Park. Details of the Excursions will
be posted on the Conference Notice Board.

2th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE
CLUB in the Ballroom of the Hotel Hydro.

BUSINESS
(1) Apologies for absence.

(2) Approval of Minutes of 24th Annual General
Meeting held in North Berwick on 29th
October, 1960.

(3) Report of Council for Session 24.
(4) Approval of Accounts for Session 24.
(5) Appointment of Auditor.

(6) Consideration of the following proposed
amendment to the Constitution :—

That the words “the Editor and Business
Editor of “Scottish Birds,” the Hon. Treas-
urer of the House Fabric Fund,” be added to
read immediately after the words “the Hon.
Treasurer,’ occurring in the second line of

Paragraph 4(b) (Council).

(7) Election of Hon. President. (The Council
recommend the election of Sir Charles G.
Connell as an Hon. President in recognition
of his outstanding services to the Club and
in establishing the Scottish Centre for Ornith-
ology and Bird Protection».

(8) Election of two new Members of Council.
(The Council recommend the election of Mr
Alastair Macdonald and Mr A. T. Macmillan
to replace Mr D. G. Andrew and Mr A. J.
Smith who retire by rotation).

(9) Any other competent business.

ANNUAL DINNER in the Diningroom of the
Hotel Hydro (Dress Informal}.

Sunday, 29th October :

9.30 a.m.

10.45 a.m.
et Sam.

45) a.m.

itor 2) p.m.
2 p.m.

EXHIBITION OF FILM, “European Terns,” by
Mr F. Gordon Hollands, in the Ballroom of the
Hotel Hydro.

INTERVAL for coffee and biscuits.
LECTURE on “Recent Ringing Discoveries” by

Mr Robert Spencer, Ringing Officer of the
B.T.O. Bird Ringing Committee.

EXHIBITION OF FILM, “The Life History of
the Alder Woodwasp and its Insect Enemies.”
(The Council for Nature prize-winning film).

INTERVAL for informal lunches.

EXCURSIONS by private cars leaving the Hotel
Hydro Car Park.

470 OFFICIAL SECTION 1(13)
INFORMATION

(1) Conference Post Card. In order to simplify arrangements, it is
essential that Members intending to be present should complete the en-
closed printed post card and send it to the Club Secretary not later than
23rd October. Members may invite Guests.

(2) Excursions. Members are asked to provide private cars where
possible for the Excursions; petrol expenses should be shared. Maps of
the area should be brought (Ordnance Survey 1” maps: old Edition Nos.
62, 63, 66, 67; new Edition Nos. 53, 54, 55, 60, 61). Members who wish to
go out on their own are particularly asked not to go in advance of led
excursions to avoid disturbing the birds.

(3) Registration. Everyone attending the Conference must register
(8s 6d each) at the Conference Office on arrival (opening times—see
Programme’. Members wishing to attend the Annual General Meeting
only do not require to pay the registration fee, which covers incidental
expenses—hire of films, projection equipment, mid-merning coffee, etc.

(4) Annual Dinner. Tickets for the Annual Dinner (price 16/6 inclusive
of tips) should be purchased when registering on arrival. Members and
Guests staying in Dunblane Hotel Hydro will be charged for the Annual
Dinner in their inclusive Hotel bill, but must obtain a ticket from the
Conference Office. All tickets will be collected at the: Dinner. NO PAY-
MENTS SHOULD BE MADE IN ADVANCE TO THE OFFICE IN
EDINBURGH.

(5) Hotel Bookings. All Hotel bookings must be made direct with the
Hotel in which you wish to stay. Owing to the shortage of single rooms,
Members are urged to make arrangements to share a room with a friend.
Private arrangements must be made with your Hotel for lunches each
day.

(6) Swimming Pool. The indoor swimming pool in the Dunblane Hotel
Hydro will be available to residents during the weekend at no extra
charge.

(7) Travel. Members travelling from the south by night train arriving
early on Saturday morning are asked to inform the Secretary, giving
details of their trains, as it may be possible to arrange for trains to be
specially stopped at Dunblane if a sufficient number require this facility
and adequate warning is given.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION IN DUNBLANE

DUNBLANE HOTEL HYDRO (Tel. 3161). Special Conference charge:
Dinner and bed on Friday 27th; breakfast, lunch, Annual Dinner and
bed on Saturday 28th; breakfast and lunch on Sunday 29th—#4, 5s 0d.
(A 10% gratuity charge will be added to all bills).

STIRLING ARMS HOTEL (Tel. 2156). Bed and breakfast from 22s 6d.

*THE NEUK PRIVATE HOTEL, Doune Road (Tel. 2150). Bed and
breakfast from 17s 6d.

*SCHIEHALLION HOTEL, Doune Road (Tel. 3141). Bed and break-
fast from 17s 6d.

BLAIRALAN, Dargie Terrace (Tel. 3196). Bed and breakfast from
l6s 6d.

gARDLEIGHTON HOTEL (Tel. 2773). Bed and breakfast from 15s.

*These Hotels are some distance from the Conference Hotel.
{Situated near the Hotel Hydro gates.

1961 OFFICIAL SECTION 471
HOTEL ACCOMMODATION IN BRIDGE OF ALLAN

MBSAN WATER HOTEL (lel. B. of Allan 2293). Bed and breakfast
from 27s 6d.

ROYAL HOTEL (Tel. B. of Allan 2284). Bed and breakfast from 27s.

Members with cars who have difficulty in obtaining single rooms in
Dunblane should find that the above two Hotels in Bridge of Allan have
ample single accommodation. The distance from Dunblane is approx. 3
miles.

The above terms for all Hotels other than the Conference Hotel are
quoted as a guide only, and prices should be confirmed.

SUBSCRIPTIONS, DEEDS OF COVENANT AND
BANKERS’ ORDERS

Subscriptions for the new Session are now due, and should be sent
with the enclosed form to the Club Secretary. It is regretted that owing
to costs of sending out copies of the Journal, the Winter number cannot
be sent until subscriptions have been received.

Members are reminded that the Club is now able to reclaim Income
Tax on subscriptions paid under Deed of Covenant, which greatly bene-
fits Club Funds by almost doubling subscriptions paid in this way. The
Council therefore invites Members who pay Income Tax at the full rate
to undertake a seven-year Deed of Covenant for their subscriptions by
using the form enclosed. Completed forms should be returned to the
Secretary, who will forward a Certificate of Deduction of Tax for sig-
nature each year.

A Banker’s Order form is also enclosed for the use of Members who
find this a more convenient way of paying their subscriptions; this
should be returned to the Secretary and not to the Bank.

BRANCH LECTURES

Members are asked to note that during the coming winter each Branch
will hold their meetings on a different day of the week from previous
years, with the exception of the Dundee Branch whose Members will
continue to meet on Thursdays but have changed their meeting place.

Aberdeen Members-should nete that, owing to the Annual Conference
weekend, the October méeting will be held on the following Monday.

Edinburgh Members should note that the March and April meetings
will be held at a later hour to enable country Members to attend.

CLUB LIBRARY

A list of all books in the Lending Library of the Club is now available
on loan,

472 OFFICIAL SECTION 1(13)
S.0.C. PUBLICATIONS

“The Birds of Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve,’ by F. D. Hamilton and
K. S. Macgregor. Copies still available at 5s each (postage 4d extra).

“The Birds of Duddingston Loch, Edinburgh,’ “Scottish Birds” Special
Supplement. Copies available at 5s each (postage 2d extra).

Both these publications may be obtained from the Club Office.

BIRD BOOKS ON SALE IN THE SCOTTISH CENTRE

Copies of the following books are now on sale at retail prices at the
Scottish Centre and can be obtained post free on application to the
Secretary.

The Birds of the British Isles. D. A. Bannerman (1953-1960) Vols. 1 to 9,
price 63s per volume, sold separately.

Birds of West and Equatorial Africa. D. A. Bannerman (1953), in 2
volumes, price 6 gns.

Birds of Cyprus. D. A. and W. M. Bannerman (1958), price 63s.

The Birds of Scotland. E. V. Baxter and L. J. Rintoul (1953), in 2
volumes, price 63s.

Birds of the Sudan. F. O. Cave and J. D. Macdonald (1955), price 45s.
The Isle of May. W. J. Eggeling (1960), price 30s.

Birds of Ireland. P. G. Kennedy, R. F. Ruttledge, C. F. Scroope and
G. R. Humphreys (1954), price 42s.

Pirates and Predators. R. Meinertzhagen (1959), price 70s.

Birds of Arabia. R. Meinertzhagen (1954), price Ms.

The Birds of Lancashire. Clifford Oakes (1953), price 21s.

Birds of Burma. B. E. Smythies (2nd Ed. 1953), price 84s.

Birds of Borneo. B. E. Smythies (1960), price 84s.

A Bird Watcher in Kenya. Vernon van Someren (1958), price 30s.

Birds and Mammals of Shetland. L. S. V. and U. M. Venables (1959),
price 30s.

The arrangement to sell these books through the Scottish Centre has
been made by the kindness of the publisher and all trade profits will be
credited to the Club Library Fund, which will enable us to purchase more
books for the Club Library. The Council therefore invites Members who

wish to purchase any of the above books to obtain them through the
Club.

a

| In the year’s outstanding autobiography

| THE EYE OF THE WIND
PETER SCOTT

relates his life’s experiences as
PAINTER, ORNITHOLOGIST AND TRAVELLER

Beautifully illustrated with photographs, line

drawings and reproductions of his own well

known paintings, this book is one of the many
available from

DOUGLAS & FOULIS

9 Castle Street, Edinburgh Tel. CALedonian 4414

SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

Family Membership Subscription

MEMBERS are reminded that the new Family, or Joint

Membership subscription is available to married
couples at 40s per annum. It carries all the benefits of full
Membership with the exception.that they receive only
one copy of the Journal, and other Club publications,
between them.

The Joint subscription does not however include
children, as it is felt that they would prefer, and should
be encouraged to receive their own copies of the Club
literature.

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The Journal of

| The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club
Wahl No. 14 | Winter 1961

12 LW IS S) dal Je IL; Jb) IL IN (GS

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

E Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was founded in 1936 and membership

is open to all interested in Scottish ornithology. Meetings are held
during the winter months in Aberdeen, Dumfries, Dundee, Edinburgh,
Glasgow and St Andrews, at which lectures by prominent ornithologists
are given and films exhibited. Excursions are organised in the summer to
places of ornithological interest.

The aims and objects of the Club are to (a) encourage and direct the
study of Scottish Ornithology in all its branches; (b) co-ordinate the
efforts of Scottish Ornithologists and encourage co-operation between field
and indoor worker; (c) encourage ornithological research in Scotland in
co-operation with other organisations; (d) hold meetings at centres to be
arranged at which Lectures are given, films exhibited, and discussions held;
and (e) publish or arrange for the publication of statistics and information
with regard to Scottish ornithology.

There are no entry fees for Membership. The Annual subscription is
25/-; or 7/6 in the case of Members under twenty-one years of age or in
the case of University undergraduates who satisfy the Council of their status
as such at the time at which their subscriptions fall due in any year.
Joint membership is available to married couples at an annual subscrip-
tion of 40/-. “Scottish Birds” is issued free to members, but Joint mem-
bers will receive only one copy between them.

The affairs of the Club are controlled by a Council composed of the
Hon. Presidents, the President, the Vice-President, the Hon. Treasurer,
the Editor and Business Editor of “Scottish Birds,’ the Hon. Treasurer
of the House Fabric Fund, one Representative of each Branch Committee
appointed annually by the Branch, and ten other Members of the Club
elected at an Annual General Meeting. Two of the last named retire
annually by rotation and shall not be eligible for re-election for one
year.

A Scottish Bird Records’ Committee, appointed by the Council, produce
an annual Keport on “Ornithological Changes in Scotland.”

An official tie with small white Crested Tits embroidered on it can be
obtained in dark green or in navy blue by Members only from Messrs R.
W. Forsyth Ltd., Princes Street, Edinburgh, or 5 Renfield Street, Glasgow,
C.2 at a cost of 16s 9d post extra. A small brooch in silver and blue can be
obtained for the use of Members of the Club. Price 2s 6d each from the
Secretary, or from Hon. Branch Secretaries.

Forms of application for Membership, copy of the Club Constitution,
and other literature is obtainable from the Club Secretary, Mrs George
Waterston, Scottish Centre for Ornithology and Bird Protection, 21
Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7. (Tel. Waverley 6042).

CLUB-ROOM AND LIBRARY

The Club-room and Library at 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7, will
be available to Members during office hours, and on Wednesday evenings
from 7 to 10 pm. Members may use the Reference Library and borrow
books from the Duplicate Section. Facilities for making tea or coffee are
available at a nominal charge and Members may bring guests by arrange-
ment. The Aldis 2” x 2” slide projector and screen may be used for the
informal showing of slides at a charge of 2s 6d per night to cover the
replacement of bulbs.

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

All notes dealing with birds in the eastern Lowlands, from Berwick-on-
Tweed to Dundee, should be submitted to A. T. Macmillan, 66 Spylaw
3ank Road, Edinburgh, 13; all other contributions to M. F. M. Meikle-
john, 16 Athole Gardens, Glasgow, W.2. It would be helpful if notes were
typewritten, if possible, and double spaced.

SOTTISH BIRDS ¢£

THE JOURNAL OF THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

Vol. I No. 14 Winter 1961

Edited by M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN, with the assistance of D. G. ANDREW and
A. T. MacMILLAN, Business Editor, ArtTHuR J. SMITH. Cover design
(Red-breasted Mergansers) by LEN FULLERTON. Published quarterly

Editorial

FYEW of us enjoy parting with our money so much that we

are prepared to pay more than the normal price for things.
On the other hand, a society such as the Scottish Ornitholo-
gists’ Club needs a substantial income if it is to pay its way
and finance the free distribution of its own journal.

Reading this, you may imagine that it is the preamble to an
announcement of increased subscriptions or of an appeal for
funds, such as one receives almost every day. Instead, we
commend to you two simple ways in which you can contribute
painlessly to the funds of the Club at no cost to yourself,
thereby warding off the probably inevitable day when sub-
scriptions have to be looked at again!

The first is by paying your annual subscription under Deed
of Covenant if you are a taxpayer bearing Income Tax at
the Standard Rate. All you have to do is to sign a simple
form agreeing to continue your subscription for seven years,
and to sign a tax deduction slip which the Club Secretary will
send you each year when you pay your subscription. The
Club can then recover Tax on your subscription, so that the
25/- which you have paid brings in a total of 40/10d. There
is no tax wangle about this; it is possible because of the
scientific and educational nature of the Club and is specifically
provided for by the Income Tax Acts. A Deed of Covenant is
of great value to the S.O.C. and we most earnestly appeal to
all who pay Income Tax at the Standard Rate to help in this
way.

The second way in which you can benefit the Club is by
buying certain bird books through the S.O.C. Oliver & Boyd
Ltd. publish some of the finest and most attractive bird books,
and they have given us an agency for them. This means that
you can buy these books through the Club at the normal
prices and the S.O.C. receives a substantial discount which it
can use to buy other books needed for the Library. Oliver &
Boyd have installed a fine display of their books which may
be inspected at 21 Regent Terrace, and Mrs M. I. Waterston
will be very glad to send an illustrated leaflet with details of

474 EDITORIAL 1(14)

the books available. We might mention specially Bannerman
& Lodge’s monumental Birds of the British Isles (3 gns. per
volume), Baxter & Rintoul’s standard work on The Birds of
Scotland (2 volumes for 3 gns.), Venables & Venables account
of Birds and Mammals of Shetland (30/-), and Eggeling’s
fascinating book on The Isle of May (30/-).

THE BIRDS OF DUDDINGSTON LOCH :
CORRECTIONS

We now consider that certain records in our Check-List of
the Birds of Duddingston Loch (antea 1: 400) are not suffic-
iently authenticated and recommend that the following
species be piaced within square-brackets:

ROUGH-LEGGED BuzzarpD. Although it is probable that the
bird seen on 2nd October 1954 was of this species we feel
that there is insufficient evidence to make identification
positive.

ReD GROUSE. This record refers to an area outwith the
boundaries of the Bird Sanctuary; and in any event is of
somewhat dubious origin.

QuaIL. Speedy (Baird 1398) does not specifically mention
Duddingston Loch in his reference; we feel it is more likely
to have occurred “in the neighbourhood.”

SPOTTED CRAKE. Speedy (1892) is vague about specific loc-
ality.

LITTLE CRAKE. This record had already been rejected by
the Scottish Bird Records Committee (Scot. Nat. 67: 101),
and we apologise for having overlooked this fact.

CHIFFCHAFF. Speedy (Baird 1898) is vague about specific
locality.

It should perhaps be noted that J. Kirke Nash (1935) The
Birds of Midlothian lists neither William Baird (1898) nor
Tom Speedy (1892) in the Bibliography of his book.

D. R. ANDERSON.
GEORGE WATERSTON.

CORRIGENDA
Antea 1: 459. The total of Osprey chicks reared should be
eight, not seven.

Antea 1: 462. The record of Black-necked Grebes at Gul-
lane really is of Black-throated Divers.

1961 SEA-BIRD COLONIES IN THE FORTH 475

THE SPREAD OF SOME SEA-BIRD COLONIES
IN THE FORTH

Re Wade ovate

During the three summers of 1959-61 many of the small
islands in the Firth of Forth have been visited (mainly
through the excursions of the Edinburgh Natural History
Society) to examine the possibilities of counting some of the
sea-bird colonies. The two major islands of the May and the
Bass were generally not included and, as these hold the main
colonies of Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis, Kittiwake Rissa
tridactyla and Razorbill Alca torda, the counts show only
the spread, rather than any percentage increase, of those
species.

It seems obvious that many of the breeding sea-birds in
Forth are undergoing a period of expansion, and an extension
of these counts (even at five year intervals) to cover the May
and the Bass would be of immense interest. The data acquired
might even prove as valuable as a series of “check-lists” total-
ling up the number of unfortunate stragglers which have been
drifted to each island.

Some of the details of counts are given below under species.
An interesting paper by W. A. Cameron on Inchkeith (in
press) gives much greater detail of the breeding birds there.
I should like to take this opportunity to express my thanks
to the many individuals who have helped with the counts.

FuLMAR Fulmarus glacialis. The main breeding colony in
the Forth is on Inchkeith where apparently they have only
bred since after the last war. On 3rd June 1959 there were a
minimum of 105 sites, on 15th June 1960 there were about
145, and on 14th June 1961 about 142 were counted. On this
last visit a bird was flushed off two eggs both of which were
warm, from a site to which one of them could not have
rolled accidentally. Another bird was sitting on the nest of
a Herring Gull Larus argentatus which contained two gull’s
eggs and one Fulmar’s. Less than a foot from this nest were
two more Fulmar’s eggs under a ledge and these could only
have rolled there—or been ejected—from this nest. The two
eggs were 61 mm and 74 mm long and the one in the nest 78
mm. The Handbook of British Birds gives an average of 100
eggs as 74 mm with a minimum length of 65.5 mm. It is pos-
sible that there is intense competition for nest-sites with a
rising population.

On Fidra there were seven sites on 20th June 1959—four
below the Lighthouse and three non-breeding on the South
Stack. They have bred for many years below the Light but

476 SEA-BIRD COLONIES IN THE FORTH 1(14)

were first found breeding on the South Stack by G. Waterston
in 1961. Craigleith had 23 sites on 27th June 1959 and had
increased to 36 (practically all on eggs) by 10th June 1961.
The Fulmar does not breed on the Lamb and there are only
a few pairs on the Bass (seven sites on 5th July 1959 and
possibly fewer in 1961). Inchgarvie is being prospected and,
aoe) there is no proof of breeding yet, there were 11 sites
al Oile

CorMoRANT Phalacrocorax carbo. There has been a spec-
tacular increase in the Cormorant colony since Freddie Marr
first reported them breeding on the Lamb in 1957. In that
year five nests were seen (Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 7: 78) and
“about eight” were reported the following year (F. Marr).
Counts since then are 44 nests in 1959, 65 in 1960 and 108 in
1961. This increase averages over 50% per annum and, since
Cormorants do not breed until at least their third or fourth
yea bears no relation to the number of young reared in the
colony.

It is obvious that most of these birds were bred outwith
the Forth area. The nearest large colonies appear to be those
at Mochrum and the Farne Islands—each holding over 200
pairs—but while recoveries of Mochrum birds in Forth are
few (D. Stuart, British Birds 41: 198) there is evidence from
ringing that big numbers of Cormorants from the Farnes
occur in the Firth of Forth (J. C. Coulson, British Birds 54:
225-235). Dr Coulson informs me (pers. comm.) that there is a
small new colony of Cormorants in Co. Durham, and it seems
that the Farnes population is either expanding or is suffering
enough persecution to make the birds quit the area to some
extent.

TaBLeE 1: NUMBERS OF EGGS/YOUNG OF CORMORANTS
ON THE LAMB

Date Nests with Number of Egegs/young
eggs/young eges/young per nest
21/6/1959 44 99 22)
11/6/1960 56 142 2.54
10/6/1961 96 263 2.74

Table 1 shows the average number of eggs/young per pair
of Cormorants for the three years when counts were made.
The 1959 visit was some ten days later in the year than the
other two and there were no nests without eggs. In 1960 and
1961 there were 9 and 12 empty nests respectively and these
have been omitted from the calculations. These birds would
eventually lay as was shown by a visit five weeks later on
17th July 1961 when several clutches of eggs and newly

1901 SEA-BIRD COLONIES IN THE FORTH 477

hatched young were seen. There is a small bias in the calcu-
lations as those late birds would probably have smaller
clutches but this would be balanced by the increase in size
of the smaller, incomplete, clutches and would .not affect the
general conclusion that the birds had an average of roughly
0.50 eggs more in 1961 than in 1959. This increase in the
clutch size is undoubtedly related to the age of the birds. If,
as one would expect, the colonisation is by young birds, then
the percentage of mature birds would rise rapidly in the first
few years till the colony had become established.

It has always seemed rather curious that, although Cormor-
ants were numerous in the Forth, there was, until recently,
no breeding colony (the old records of breeding have not
been fully authenticated). Obviously there is no scarcity of
food, and the main barrier has probably been a psychological
one—that there was no established colony. Once this obstacle
had been overcome by the pressures of an increased popula-
tion there has been this remarkable upsurge in the numbers
breeding in the new colony. The present rate of increase sug-
gests that it will continue for a time yet, and so far there has
been very little disturbance of the colony.

There is some evidence that few of the British Cormorant
colonies exceed 200-250 pairs and it seems possible that there
may be some factor (other than food) which limits the size
of the colony. It will be very interesting to continue the
annual counts and to find out how the eventual stabilisation
of numbers is achieved.

SHAG Phalacrocorax aristotelis. Less data is available for
this species. It breeds mainly on the May, the Bass and Craig-
leith and has recently started breeding inland on the latter
island. On 10th June 1961 there were three nests under large
boulders with adjacent thick Elder Sambucus nigra. Counts
onthe Lamb gave about 35 nests on 21st June 1959, 53 on 11th
June 1960 and 87 on 10th June 1961. An increase on this scale
has possibly been taking place on the larger islands for a
number of years. On Fidra one of the Lighthouse Keepers re-
ported to F. Marr that a pair had bred in 1960 and two pairs
in 1961. Although a single bird was flushed off a suitable ledge
on oth May 1961 no nest could be found either then or on a
later visit on 17th July. Numbers of Shags (mainly immature)
regularly roost on the cliff opposite the pier on Inchkeith (W.
A. Cameron) but there has been no record of breeding in
Upper Forth.

KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla. A count of the Craigleith colony
on 27th June 1959 gave a total of some 415 sites—about 385
on the main cliffs and 29 at the north end. On 11th June 1960
there were about 370 and 35 respectively but this was over
two weeks earlier in the year than the previous count. On 10th
June 1961 a pair of birds had a nest with one egg at a tech-

478 SEA-BIRD COLONIES IN THE FORTH 1(14)

nically “new colony” between these two groups and three
other birds were present—almost certainly an indication of
an increase in numbers. A new colony on the Lamb on 21st
June 1959 had 16 nests, increasing to 38 on llth June 1960
and 53 on 10th June 1961. One of these 1961 nests was on a
less suitable ledge round from the “good” cliff and a further
large expansion seems unlikely. The sheer cliff on Fidra had
its first Kittiwake records on 5th May 1961 when an adult
and an immature were seen on separate ledges. On 17th July
an untenanted platform was seen with an adult still present
on another part of the cliff.

In Upper Forth Kittiwakes have been seen round Inchkeith
for several years and a nest was built (but no eggs laid) in
1960 (W. A. Cameron). On 14th June 1961 a clutch of two eggs
and an empty nest was found, with a total of nine birds
present (including two immatures) on the North Horn cliff,
and a much bigger flock offshore. This is the first breeding
record for the island. The Kittiwake is increasing in many of
its colonies in the Forth and, to keep these details of the
spread in proper perspective, it should be realised that some-
thing approaching 4000 pairs breed in the Firth.

SANDWICH TERN Sterna sandvicensis. This species breeds
only on Inchmickery and Fidra, and counts of nests on these
islands in 1959 were 630 on 24th June and 70 on 20th June
respectively. 300 pairs bred on Inchmickery in 1960 (246 nests
on 8th June, and 298 on 22nd June) and 350 nests there on 31st
May 1961 were a minimum—we guessed that probably 400
pairs would eventually nest. On 17th July 1961 an estimate of
300+ pairs was made on Fidra, and it seems that the present
population in the Forth may fluctuate around this 700 pairs—
it seems wise to emphasize the instability of Sandwich Tern
numbers as this may be very far from the “normal” position.

SMALL TERNS Sterna spp. The small terns we found-difficult
to count specifically. On Fidra on 20th June 1959 some 300-350
pairs were probably mainly Common Terns S. hirundo, while
a separate colony of 50 pairs of Arctic Terns S. macrura may
not have been the total of this species on the island. Inch-
mickery is even more difficult, and probably 750-1000 (or
more?) pairs of the smaller terns breed every year.

RAZORBILL Alca torda. We have made little attempt to count
this bird although so few breed on the small islands. On
Craigleith about 20 birds were seen on llth June 1960 and
“exceptional numbers” (possibly up to 100 or more) on 10th
June 1961. Our first record for the Lamb was in 1961 when
one was ashore on 10th June and 17th July with three more
flying round—but no proof of breeding was obtained.

PurFIN Fratercula arctica. The main colony in Forth is on
Craigleith where 70 were seen in one offshore flock on 27th

1961 SEA-BIRD COLONIES IN THE FORTH 479

June 1959 and a total of about 110 offshore on 10th June 1961.
On 3rd June 1961 25-30 were seen on the Bass where there
cannot be more than a maximum of 20-25 pairs breeding. We
saw them several times in Upper Forth. Three were close
inshore at Inchmickery on 22nd June 1960, and about six on
14th June 1961 at Inchkeith where a single bird was on the
grass and rocks at the North Horn. When flushed this bird
kept trying to come in to land. The habitat seems quite suit-
able for breeding Puffins and a watch should be kept here,
and at islands such as Fidra (where we saw birds offshore in
1961) for an extension of breeding range.

REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION

1. As part of a population study, 111 Eiders have been
marked with coloured plastic tags on the wings. These mark-
ers can easily be seen on floating birds. In addition, 400 Eiders
have been ringed with white or red plastic rings. Anyone
seeing, or finding such marked birds, particularly in the Tay
area, is requested to contact Mr H. Milne, Culterty Field
Station, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, giving details of location
and date.

2. In this number of Scottish Birds it will be seen that large
flocks of Siskins have been reported in October from different
areas. The invasion seems to have been widespread and we
would welcome additional information.—ED.

OPERATION OSPREY 1962

The R.S.P.B. will once again require the assistance of volunteer war-
dens between Ist April and mid-August to guard the Ospreys at Loch
Garten and to act as Guides to the public visiting the Observation Post
in the Sanctuary area. Wardens will be accommodated at a Base Camp
where food, tents and camp equipment will be provided free. Each per-
son is however expected to bring his own sleeping bag and pillow slip.
Provided a sufficient number of Wardens are available, preferably for
periods of not less than a week at a time, each one will have every third
day free of duties. A succession of female cook-caterers will also be
. required for the period.

. Anyone wishing to assist should send full details and references as
aon as possible to Mr George Waterston, 21 Regent Terrace, Edin-

urgh 7.

FAMILY OR JOINT MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION

Members are reminded that the new Family, or Joint Membership
subscription is available to married couples at 40s per annum. It carries
all the benefits of full Membership with the exception that they receive
only one copy of the Journal, and other Club publications, between them.

The Joint subscription does not however include children, as it is
felt that they would prefer, and should be encouraged to receive their
own copies of the Club literature.

480 COLLARED DOVE IN SCOTLAND 114)
THE COLLARED DOVE IN SCOTLAND
ANDREW T. MACMILLAN

During 1961 the Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto has
turned up in a number of new localities in Scotland, This
therefore seems a good opportunity to summarise the progress
it has made in colonising Scotland in the past five years. If
past experience in other countries is any guide one may ex-
pect it to become widespread within the next decade.

James Fisher writing about The Collared Turtle Dove in
Europe (Brit. Birds 46: 153) has described the spread of: the
species in detail—1,200 miles north-west across Europe from
the Balkans in twenty years—a colonisation more spectacular
than that of any other known land-bird, and more rapid even
than that of the Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis. The breeding
range of the Collared Dove reaches eastward across India and
China, and as far as Japan, and several subspecies have been
described from parts of this range. Anyone seeking fuller
information cannot do better than start by reading Fisher’s
paper.

The first Collared Dove in England was found in Lincoln-
shire in July 1952. Although its behaviour was consistent
with it being a wild bird it was not possible to be certain
that it was not one of a number sold by a local dealer in the
previous few years (Brit. Birds 46: 51). The first fully accept-
able records were from Norfolk where at least two pairs were
present in 1955, and one of them bred (Brit. Birds 50: 239).
Since then the species has been noted in more and more
places, especially along the east coast.

In Scotland the story begins in 1957 when Alistair Adam
found a pair breeding at a farm at Covesea, Morayshire. The
call first attracted his attention, reminding him of the notes
of the similar species he had known in Africa (Scot. Nat. 69:
188). In 1958 four young were reared here, bringing the pop-
ulation to seven (antea 1: 37). Two years later, after the 1960
breeding season, there were seventeen (antea 1: 379), and in
1961 up to thirty-five were counted around the small wood
and farm where they live (R.H.D(ennis) in The Scotsman .
14th October 1961). The birds may be seen in large numbers
on the television aerial and seem very attached to the farm.

There is strong evidence that in 1957 Collared Doves were
present also at Girvan in Ayrshire, and again in 1958, but
breeding was not proved until 1959 (antea 1: 125). At least
eight or ten birds were present at this site in 1961 (Prof. M. F.
M. Meiklejohn pers. comm.).

After the 1959 breeding season single birds were recorded
in Fife at Methil and Dunfermline. The former arrived in

1961 COLLARED DOVE IN SCOTLAND 481

rather mysterious circumstances, being found under a bush
in a private garden, minus its tail (antea 1: 189). Like most
first records of Collared Doves it is not entirely above sus-
picion. One should not however assume that a Collared Dove
is an escape merely because it seems to be rather tame. It is
typical of the svecies that it often turns up at new localities
in hen runs, and it is a bird which associates closely with man.
After reading through the present paper and the notes that
follow it one might be forgiven for thinking that the bird’s
favourite perch is the crosspiece of a television aerial!

On 16th February 1960 a Collared Dove entered the loft of
a pigeon fancier near Pitlochry, Perthshire. This bird then
moulted its entire tail, and had to be kept for nearly six
weeks before it could be released. In spite of its peculiar be-
haviour its identity is not in doubt (antea 1: 237). In 1960
Collared Doves were also noted in three remote areas in the
north and west of Scotland: at Fair Isle single birds were
recorded on 18th April and 18th June, and a third dove on
2nd June was more probably S. decaocto than S. risoria, the
Barbary Dove (Bird Migration 1: 166); on Rhum one was
seen on 5th and 7th May on the Castle greens at Kinloch, and
in Lewis there was one at Stornoway on 2nd June (antea 1:
3/79). Three days later a Collared Dove was heard in Old Aber-
deen by Prof. V. C. Wynne-Edwards, and in the autumn they
were noted in Midlothian (see below).

During 1961 the number of reports increased spectacularly.
The established breeding colonies in Morayshire and Ayrshire
continued to flourish, but Collared Doves were also noted in
many other parts of the country, especially during May and
June. The first indication of any obvious local spread from the
original colony at Covesea, Morayshire, is provided by a
record of breeding, and the subsequent build-up of numbers,
at a site some twelve miles away near Forres. In Berwick-
shire there were two unsuccessful attempts at breeding near
Coldingham, while in Midlothian young were reared at one
site at least. The records printed below include first occurren-
ces for Solway (Dumfriesshire), Tweed (Berwickshire),
Midlothian (1960), North Fife, Aberdeenshire (1960), Inver-
ness-shire, and Shetland other than Fair Isle. It will also be
seen that there are further new localities to be mentioned in
Ayrshire, Berwickshire, Midlothian, Fife, and Morayshire,
ene that the birds have again been noted in Lewis and Fair
sle. -

In addition to these acceptable records we have received
reports of birds at Haddington and Hailes Castle, East Lothian,
and elsewhere, which on investigation have turned out to be
escaped domestic Barbary Doves S. risoria. This species is
known only in captivity and is readily distinguished by its
paler, more creamy plumage, the absence of black on the pri-

482 COLLARED DOVE IN SCOTLAND 1(14)

maries, and by its different call-notes. Like a number of other
species, however, it has a collar, so that it may be confused
with our Collared Dove S. decaocto by the unwary and those
with the wrong bird book. Not all the identification books are
equally clear on the separation of Collared and Barbary
Doves, but The Popular Handbook of Rarer British Birds
(1960) by P. A. D. Hollom is helpful. |

It is most striking how often Collared Doves in Scotland
have been recorded in the gardens and hen runs of ornitholo-
gists or those with an interest in birds. The cynic might say
that this is one of the species whose known distribution is
closely related to the distribution of bird-watchers. When one
considers the small proportion of gardens which fall into the
two categories mentioned, the suggestion is that there are a
lot of Collared Doves waiting to be discovered. They are
birds which can remain quite unobtrusive, keeping within a
relatively restricted area. The way to locate them is to listen
for the characteristic “coo-COO-coo” call with the emphasis
on the second note.

To bring the picture up to date the 1961 records so far as
they are not covered above are given below over the names of
the observers.

Dumfriesshire

On 3lst May 1961 on the outskirts of Dumfries I saw a Col-
lared Dove. My attention was first attracted by the distinctive
three-noted song, and thereafter the bird was seen perched
on a nearby television aerial, I am familiar with the species
in Norfolk and eastern Austria. This is the first record for the
Solway Faunal Area and for Dumfriesshire.

WILLIAM AUSTIN.

Ayrshire

On 20th June 1961 at Laigh Woodston Farm, west of May-
bole, we had brief views of a single Collared Dove. First seen
on overhead wires at the farm, it came down to drink at a
trough and then flew off south-west. L.A.U. had excellent
views and, although A.D.W. was rather further away, we in-
dependently identified it as a Collared Dove.

L. A. URQUHART.
A. D. Watson

Berwickshire

In May 1961 James Robertson told me that a pair of birds
which he suspected were Collared Doves had been about a
nursery garden in Coldingham since early in the month. They
could be watched chasing. and settling in the trees, and Mr
Robertson had also been struck by their unusual call note—

1961 COLEARED DOVE IN SCOTLAND 483

quite different from that of the Woodpigeon. I visited the nur-
sery in the evening and had good views of the birds, noting
the greyish appearance, dark primaries, white tips and black
bases to the underside of the tail feathers, but I did not hear
the call in good conditions. Mr Robertson watched the birds
carrying material to a nest which they built in a tree over-
hanging the nursery. It resembled a flimsy Woodpigeon’s nest.
Two eggs were laid early in June but disappeared a day or
two later—possibly taken by Jackdaws. After this the birds
_ were seen less often and may have moved away, as Collared
Doves were noted elsewhere more often about this time (see
below). This is the first occurrence and first breeding record
for Tweed and Berwickshire.
WILLIAM MuRRAY.

On 25th May 1961 I learned that Collared Doves were fre-
quenting Silverwells, a mile west of Coldingham. I first saw
them on the 27th when three flew past within fifty yards call-
ing. Three days later there were four feeding in a recently
sown field of barley near the hen runs. On 4th June four were
chasing each other about and landing in two Scots pines. One
eventually settled on a flimsy nest about forty feet up in the
thick part of the foliage and remained there until I left an
hour later. No eggs could be seen. A lot of calling went on all
the time—“coo-COO-coo.” The birds were small—about the
size of Turtle Doves—and had longish tails. They were fawn
coloured with dark primaries and a black ring on the back
of the neck. After the weather broke on 7th June the nest
disappeared and the birds were not seen again at Silverwells
except. for one on the 12th. Local people told me that they

frequented North Falaknowe, half a mile west, from 10th to
' 15th June, and were last seen there on the 23rd, but I did not
see them myself. Personally I think that the four birds at Sil-
verwells were different from the pair in Coldingham, but as
- they frequently disappeared from both places for days on end
and were seen at farms such as Lumsden (24 miles NW of
Coldingham) and Crosshill (between Silverwells and Lums-
den) one cannot be sure.

W. M. Locan Home.

During October 1961 I learned that there were Collared
Doves at Cockburnspath. I was unable to see them myself
but learned that up to twelve had been seen. They arrived at
Pathhead Farm in the middle of May, and were most recently
noted about 25th October. Small brown doves with black
rings on their necks, they fed in the farmyard among the
ty and were very tame, allowing approach to within ten
yards.

W. M. Locan Home.

(While the description of these birds is incomplete there

484 COLLARED DOVE IN SCOTLAND 1(14)

can be no real doubt that they were Collared Doves in view
of their numbers, their association with poultry, their tame-
ness, and the fact that they arrived at the same time and in
the same area as other Collared Doves described in the two
previous notes. Though this is a Berwickshire record it actual-

ly refers to the small part of the county which lies within
the Faunal Area of Forth and which, like many similar areas,
is not allowed for in the divisions of the Faunal Areas given
in The Geographical Distribution. It is perhaps relevant also
to point out that the two previous records would not qualify
for inclusion in Tweed on the basis of the map in The Birds
of Scotland. It seems more sensible, however, to follow the
boundary as carefully defined and mapped in A Vertebrate
Fauna of Forth. This starts at St Abbs Head which seems a
better division than the river at Eyemouth.—A.T.M.).

Midlothian

In October 1961 we were told of Collared Doves which the
farmer, Mr R. C. Stewart, had seen at Edmonstone, just inside
the south-east boundary of Edinburgh. He had regularly seen.
a pair during the autumn of 1960 and believed that the birds
had been there for some time. In the spring of 1961 a pair
was several times seen flying towards Craigmillar Woods,
but the breeding place was not found as this was not followed
up. In the early summer, however, a young bird still with
some down in its plumage was shot in error by a man who
was after Woodpigeons. After that, a party of six was seen
often, some of the birds being evidently young ones without
obvious collars, and up to eight were counted in late summer.
On 12th November D.E.B. and A. T. Macmillan saw a pair at
Edmonstone and were able to check all the points of plumage
including the black primaries. On the 19th we visited the area
with various members of the S.O.C. and counted as many as.
nine birds together in one tree or feeding on the ground.
This is the first. occurrence and first breeding record for Mid-
lothian.

Davip E. BRADLEY.
C. K. MYLne.

On llth June 1961 two doves were seen together in a pine
tree in the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. At the time
it was not possible to see all the identification features, but
the call notes and the black base to the underside of the tail
indicated that they were Collared Doves. Having previously
watched the species in Norfolk and Morayshire I am familiar
with the distinctive “coo-COO-coo” song. Subsequently, at the
same place on 28th July, I saw a single Collared Dove perched
in a conifer near the rock garden. Again the song was distinc-
tive but I was unable to see the dark primaries. Finally, on

5

1961

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486 COLLARED DOVE IN SCOTLAND 1(14)

30th August, by the nearby Rocheid Path I once more heard
the bird singing. This time I waited, and a Collared Dove
which was perched low over the Water of Leith in a big ash
tree came down to drink only a few yards away, so that its
black primaries were plainly visible. A blind man was passing
and I called his attention to the song. He had heard it at that
place during the summer, and also on the Inverleith Terrace
side of the Royal Botanic Garden—neatly corroborating the
earlier records.
C. P. RAWCLIFFE.

On 21st Oct. 1961, as a result of a telephone call from Mrs
Archibald Campbell, I called at her house at 40 Dick Place,
Edinburgh, and had good views of a pair of Collared Doves
in the garden. As I entered, one was flushed from the grass
where it had come down for bread crumbs. The two birds sat
together about twenty feet up in a tall tree. I was unable to
see the black on the primaries, but they had all the other
characteristics of the species, which I had previously seen in
Morayshire. From the front they were small vinous-coloured
doves, and when they flew I also saw the black half-collar
and the underside of the tail with its black base and broad
white tip. Mrs Campbell confirmed that one bird had notice-
able black primaries, though the other’s were not so distinct.
They had not been calling for some time. These Collared
Doves were first noticed in August, and appeared to be attrac-
ted to a hen run at 36 Dick Place. At times one or even two
extra birds were present. It was thought that these were
young birds, as one begged and was fed by an adult bird, but
breeding was not proved.

Fife

In mid-May 1961 M.H.E.C. heard a bird calling in St An-
drews and recognised it as a Collared Dove, a species she had
previously heard on a gramophone record. It was in a thick
clump of firs, and it was not possible to get a good view of it
until the 30th when two local members of the 8.O.C. both
heard and saw it. Next morning at 4.15 a.m. B.S.T. J.M. had
perfect views of it as it perched on a television aerial in the
full blaze of the early morning sunshine. Having previously
seen a film of the Ayrshire birds and listened to recordings
of the characteristic song she immediately recognised the
triple “coo-COO-coo” call. Every detail of the plumage could
be seen including the pinkish head and breast, the greyer
back, black collar, black primaries, white at the end of the
underside of the tail, dark bill, red legs, and red eye. The bird
was not seen after the first week in June. It is the first to be
recorded in North Fife.

GEORGE WATERSTON.

M. H. E. CUNINGHAME.
JESSIE McFARLANE.

1961 COLLARED DOVE IN SCOTLAND 487

For more than a week in May 1961 there was a Collared
Dove at Dunbog, 4 miles east of Newburgh. It consorted with
the Barbary Doves in a very half-hearted way even though,
_ from its calling, it was a male and there was an excess of
unmated female Barbary Doves.

Tom SPENCE.

(While we have not seen a description of this bird the
observer is very familiar with -the various species of
ae in captivity, in the wild, and in the museum.—

D.).

A pair of Collared Doves arrived in the policies of my house
at Leslie in the late spring or early summer of 1961. At the
time of writing in mid October they are still here. They are
not very wild and seem to enjoy eating the hens’ food when
it is available in the poultry yard. We were unable to find
a nest in the thick evergreens round the house and no young
birds have been seen. I have studied the call quite a lot and
would write it “coo-COO-cook” rather than “coo-COO-coo.”’
The emphasis is on the middle note, but the call ends very
abruptly as if cut short. The primaries are darker than the
rest of the plumage. The tail is relatively much longer than a
Woodpigeon’s, and the underside is dark with a broad white
tip. The pinkish flush on the breast, greyish back, and black
collar have also been noted. |

EK. VERDEN ANDERSON.

Aberdeenshire

On 5th June 1960 in Old Aberdeen I awoke very early to
hear a strange dove calling, which I immediately suspected
of being a Collared Dove. The song is very distinctive—‘‘coo,
co000, coo’”—and its identity was easily confirmed by refer-
ence to the Field Guide. I could not see or find the bird then
or afterwards however, and about a month later decided I
might have been mistaken and had better say nothing about
athe
« ‘On 19th June 1961 the bird reappeared,‘ in company with a
female, and I had completely satisfactory views of them both
at close quarters. After that they disappeared until 12th
August, when the male reappeared and was seen and heard
Singing repeatedly until the 18th, when it disappeared until
the 30th, remaining then until 7th September. It reappeared
on the 12th, but has been absent from then until the time of
writing, 16th September. It has been heard singing also in
another part of Old Aberdeen, but I have not discovered its
customary alternative habitat. This is the first record for Dee

and Aberdeenshire.
V. C. WYNNE-EDWARDS.

488 COLLARED DOVE IN SCOTLAND 1(14)

Inverness-shire

On 2nd July 1961 at the Dell Hotel, Rothiemurchus, Avie-
more, I watched for two hours at ranges down to ten yards
as an adult Collared Dove fed with chickens or perched on
the television aerial and elsewhere, I have previous exper-
ience of Collared Doves in Norfolk and Kent. From -above I
noted brownish-grey wings and back, dark primaries, dark
collar at the back of the neck, and white corners showing on
the tail; head, breast and belly slightly pink; underside of
tail with black base and white distal section—very conspic-
uous when the bird was landing with tail down and facing
the observer; pale underwing; red eye; small dark bill; flesh
pink legs and feet. The bird had gone next day. It is the first
to be recorded in Inverness-shire.

S. GREENWOOD.

Morayshire

A pair of Collared Doves came to my garden at Cluny, near
Forres, last autumn, making their abode in a cedar tree. They
remained through the winter, and nested in 1961, bringing off
two lots of young. By the middle of October they had in-
creased to eighteen in number, pointing to the fact that others
had arrived. On 24th October no fewer than twenty-seven
came to feéd on the Jawns. I have checked details of Collared
Dove plumage against these birds and all tally—small size,
pinkish on breast and greyer on the back, dark primaries,
broad white tip and dark base under the tail, and black half-
collar. The call is as described, even to the absence of the
rolling “r” which is mentioned as a feature of the call of the
Barbary Dove. The birds are a source of pleasure and interest,
and are fed daily on kibbled maize. They are becoming very
tame, allowing one to approach close to them without alarm.

DoucLas B. COowyleE.
Lewis

On 28th May 1961 at Steinish, near Stornoway, a Collared
Dove was seen in company with a Woodpigeon Columba
palumbus, and may possibly have been mated to it since they
alighted in the field, fed together, and flew off together. -This
is probably the same bird as that seen by W. A. J. Cunning-
ham in June 1960 (antea 1: 379).

Shetland

On the evening of 3lst May 1961, returning from Foula, we
touched in at Hamnavoe, West Burra, and just as we did so
a Collared Dove landed on top of the flagpole at the quay.
It flew off again almost immediately and disappeared round

M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN.

1961 COLLARED DOVE IN SCOTLAND 489

a nearby point, but I was able to see the, black neck mark
clearly and to check the pinkish-brown upperparts with
wings grey on the shoulders and dark at the tips. It was not
- possible to see the undertail. The bird was also seen by Wing
Comdr. Eric Goose who is not familiar with the Collared
Dove but at once confirmed that it was not a Turtle Dove
S. turtur. This is the first record for Shetland other than Fair
Isle.
L. A. URQUHART.

(Collared Doves were noted at Fair Isle on 12th and 24th
May 1961 (Bird Migration 2: 53)—A.T.M.).

SHORT Wo TES

RECORDS FROM SHETLAND, SUMMER 1961

Smew Mergus albellus. On 25th May, at Loch of Grista,
Tingwall, Mainland, a drake. A very late date, well outwith
the “mid-March” spring limit given by Venables and Venables
(1955): Birds and Mammals of Shetland.

REDSHANK Tringa totanus, On 28th May, at the head of Lax
Firth, Tingwall, a Redshank was seen leading four small
young, still in down, across a field and in and out of several
ditches. The Venables record regular breeding in Mainland
until at least 1887. They state that casual nesting still occurs,
but give only one instance known to them, in 1934.

CoLLARED DOVE (see detailed article in this issue).

FIELDFARE Turdus pilaris. On 3lst May at Ham Voe, Foula,
one.

Sonc THRUSH T. ericetorum. On 3lst May at Ham Voe,
Foula, one.

REDWING Turdus pilaris. On 2nd and 3rd June a male was
singing in Mainland. I thought it possible it had*a mate sit-
ting.
~ WHITETHROAT Sylvia communis. On 38rd June at Kergord,

*“one. Apart from records of two birds which may have sum-
mered, the Venables only give one other June occurrence.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa grisea. On 1st June at Pool
of Virkie shore, a pair, The Venables give only two other
June occurrences, neither on Mainland.

PIED FLYCATCHER M. hypoleuca. On 3rd June at Kergord, a
female. The Venables’ latest spring date is 29th May.

RED-BACKED SHRIKE Lanius collurio. On 31st May 1961, at
Ham Voe, Foula, a female.

TREE SpaRROW Passer montanus. On 3rd June at Kergord,

490 | SHORT NOTES 1(14)

several pairsy probably at least six, at the plantation known as
Lindsay Lee. One was carrying nesting material. The Ven-
ables call it extinct’ as a breeding species with no recent
records of migrants, also stating that “small breeding colonies
were briefly established in various places after 1898.” They
were unable to find any detailed records of Mainland breed-
ing.
L. A. URQUHART.

LONG-TAILED Duck Clangula hyemalis. From 6th to 13th
June, one on Loch Spiggie.

IcELAND GuLL Larus glaucoides. On 9th June at Scalloway,
one immature.

TURTLE DOVE Streptopelia turtur. On 6th June at Sumburgh
Head, one
R. J. SMITH.
JOHN SWAN.
JAMES YOUNG.

GREEN-WINGED TEAL IN MIDLOTHIAN

At about 4.40 p.m. on 21st October 1961 we parked our car
opposite a small party of Teal Anas crecca feeding in the
shallows at the north end of Gladhouse Reservoir, Midloth-
ian. Almost the first bird examined proved to be an adult
drake Green-winged Teal A. c. carolinensis in full plumage.
The most obvious field-mark was a distinct vertical off-white
line on either side of the breast, dividing that area from the
flanks. It was prominent on both sides but perhaps a little
wider and better defined on the right. There was no horizontal
white line on the scapulars such as is present in the European
Teal A. c. crecca. The head pattern also differed from that of
the European race in that the green eye-patch was not out-
lined with buff except for a very ill-defined line immediately
below the eye and there was no buff line between the front
of the eye-patch and the bill. The eye-patch itself appeared
broader and blunter than in the European Teal—more like a
highwayman’s mask-—and we see that this difference is sug-
gested in the Handbook plates of the two races although it is
not mentioned.at all in the text. Another apparent difference
not mentioned in the Handbook is that this bird seemed to
have much more conspicuous black and creamy-yellow under
tail-coverts than any of its companions. This may simply have
been due to the fact that none of the drakes immediately
available for comparison were in full adult plumage, but we
observe that the same difference was noted in the case of a
Green-winged Teal recently seen in Aberdeenshire (antea
I 10).

The bird was watched with field-glasses and telescope at a

1961 SHORT NOTES 491

range of about 50 yards for several minutes until it and the
other Teal were scared by a passing vehicle and flew out of
sight down the reservoir. This is the fourth recorded occur-
rence of this American race in Scotland and the first for the
Forth area and Midlothian.
D. G. ANDREW.
i Cr Sueur

UNUSUAL DUCKS, ON ST KILDA

On the evening of 27th July 1961 I saw a drake Velvet
Scoter Melanitta fusca in Village Bay, St Kilda. It stayed
until lst August. This is the first record of this species for St
Kilda.

On 16th July 1961 a drake Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
turned up in Village Bay, remaining until the 22nd. It was
once seen on the small tarn on the west side of Gleann Mor.
It is the second record for St Kilda.

W. E. WATERS.

EIDERS BREEDING IN MORAYSHIRE

The spread of the Eider Somateria mollissima along the
shores of the Moray Firth has been described by Harvie-
Brown (A Vertebrate Fauna of the Moray Basin Vol. II), A.
Watson (Scot. Nat. 60: 53, and 63: 178), Baxter and Rintoul
(Birds of Scotland, 1953) and R. Richter (Scot. Nat. 66: 39-40).
The facts have been summarised by Dr I. D. Pennie (antea
1: 66-67).

A recent occurrence of Eiders breeding in the Moray Firth
was at the Bar, Culbin Sands, where several broods were
reared this summer. In 1913 Millais recorded seeing an Eider
duck with young in this region, but no Eiders have been
known to breed there during the past fifteen years, and pos-
sibly for a much longer period than this.

On 7th August 1961, Mr W. G. Milne, head forester at Cul-
bin, and the author saw three groups of Eiders on the tidal
backwater at the Bar. The first group consisted of twelve
females, the second of one female with seven chicks, and the
third of one female with five chicks. The last group were
feeding on the mud flats, and these birds were easily caught
and identified.

Nine of the twelve chicks were subsequently caught and
ringed on the 9th and 13th August. The feathering, and con-
dition.of the down, suggested that the young were about
eight weeks old at the time. The possibility that these broods
had come in from some other breeding area is considered un-
likely, since the conditions for breeding are better at Culbin

492 SHORT NOTES ~ 1(14)

than in any other area within ten miles. No drakes have yet
been seen near this part of the coast, but it was assumed that
they would then be in eclipse plumage and likely to be at sea.

H. MILNE.

RED-FOOTED FALCON IN BERWICKSHIRE

On 8th October 1961 a strange bird flew past our observation
hut at Hule Moss, but at the time we did not have good
enough views to identify it. A week later, on the 15th, we
found the body.of a female Red-footed Falcon Falco vesper-
tinus underneath the hut..S.J-C. and M.J.H. who saw the bird
on the morning of the 8th are certain that it was the same one.
We believe that it flew against the hut and was just able to
crawl under it. S.J.C. took two photographs which are repro-
duced on another page. The bird weighed 97 grams and the
wing length was 229 mm. It is now in the Royal Scottish
Museum in Edinburgh.

Sb) de (CHHNRSH,
M. J. HENDERSON.
D. G. Lona.

(This is the first record of a Red-footed Falcon in Berwick-
shire. We learn from the Royal Scottish Museum that the
bird was very emaciated. It seems possible that it may have
died of starvation as there was no sign of bleeding or broken
bones when it was skinned. It was an adult female with well
developed ovaries—rather surprising so late in the year. The
greyness of the back, and the light streaking of the under-
parts, confirmed that it was an adult. Fortunately it was just
possible to preserve the skin, and it has been attractively
mounted. Already it has been seen by various members of
the S.0.C., and it is to be*put on display in the Bird Hall as
it is in better condition than the existing specimen.—ED.).

KESTREL KILLING TREECREEPER

On 3rd May 1961 I was walking along the side of the railway
wall in the bird sanctuary at Duddingston Loch, Edinburgh,
when a Kestrel Falco tinnunculus flew out from the trees and
pounced on something on the face of the wall about 18 inches
from the top. It was pecking vigorously on a small tuft of
grass on the stonework, and as I aporoached hurriedly it flew
off. When I examined the wall I found a dead Treecreeper
Certhia familiaris, still warm, with its head off. The wall is
old with a fair amount of crumbling stonework and is a
favourite feeding place for Treecreevers. The Handbook does
not mention this species as prey of the Kestrel, nor does it
mention the Kestrel taking prey from the face of a wall.

D, R, ANDERSON,

1961 SHORT NOTES 493

WHITE WOODCOCK IN EAST SUTHERLAND

In a brood of Woodcock Scolopax rusticola which hatched
out at Suisgill, Kildonan, two of the four chicks were pure
white. I was unable to visit the area until 27th May 1961, by
which time the young were fully fledged and the brood dis-
persed. Fortunately, however, Mr Nicolson, the head game-
keeper, found one of the white birds after an extensive search.
It was sitting among some dead branches beneath a birch
tree and from a distance of about twenty yards it looked very
conspicuous. Its entire plumage was pure white, the iris
and bill being of normal colouration. I failed to get a glimpse
of the bird’s legs as it flew away but Mr Nicolson informed
me that they too were the normal colour. The Handbook (4:
188) mentions “a pure white variety unmarked,” and Banner-
man (The Birds of the British Isles 9:97) refers to pied, buff,
fulvous, melanistic and pure white varieties.

D. Macpbona.pb.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER IN EAST LOTHIAN

On 10th September 1961 an unusual wader was noted among
the Dunlin Calidris alpina at Tyninghame estuary feeding at
high tide among the short grass and thin mud. It was first
picked out by its dull yellow legs—which appeared longer
in proportion than those of the Dunlin but shorter than those
of a Redshank Tringa totanus. It was conspicuously larger
than the Dunlin, especially in flight, and at times resembled
a small Reeve Philomachus pugnax, especially when it stretch-
ed its thin neck on landing. The head and mantle were dark
brown,. the latter being “scaly”? like that of a Ruff. I.B.R.
thought: that the closed primaries were darker than the sec-
ondaries and mantle above. The cheeks, eyestripe and throat
were pale, the long eye-stripes seeming to touch at the fore-
head. The throat and breast were lightly but firmly streaked
brown ending in an abrupt line on the breast which contrasted
strongly with the whitish belly. Dark bill not so long in pro-
portion as Dunlin.

In flight the rather long wings (with no noticeable wing-
bar) and mantle showed very dark with a dark line extending
from the mantle through the tail, the sides of which were
pale thqugh not so white as the sides of the rump. The bird
was under observation from about 30 yards for only some
two minutes during which time it flew off and came in again
before disappearing seawards with a mass of Dunlin, No

494 SHORT NOTES 1(14)

definite call-notes were heard. We identified the bird as a
Pectoral Sandpiper C. melanotos.

i Bovp!

ly Bs Roxe

W. M. SKENE.

R. W. J. SMITH.

SANDWICH TERNS BREEDING IN SHETLAND

In 1955 a pair of Sandwich Terns Sterna sandvicensis began
to nest on the Inner holm of Skaw on Whalsay and the num-
ber increased to six pairs in 1960. This summer, the birds were
around but did not nest.

ToM BRUCE.

(This is the first satisfactory breeding record ois Shetland.—
ED.).

WRYN ECKS IN INVERNESS-SHIRE

On 3rd June 1961 at 6.30 a.m. I saw and heard at close quar-
ters a Wryneck Jynzx torquilla singing on a barbed wire fence

close to the R.S.P.B. camp at Inchdryne. It sang repeatedly ~

for about an hour and was observed by several watchers as
it moved about near the camp. Mr Walter Flesher, who was
with me when I first heard the bird, told me that he had
heard the same song on at least two previous days but had
not realised what bird it was.

J. K. STANFORD.

A Wryneck was heard singing at Carrbridge on 10th June
1961.

R. H. DENNIS.

(It is curious that all the recent summer records of Wry-
necks in Scotland should have come from this area—1952
scot. Nat. p..o7 (Strathfarrar) and ». 117 (Urquhart Bay.
ea Ness), and 1953 Scot. Nat. p. 57 (Glenmore Lodge).—

D.)

RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHERS IN ABERDEENSHIRE

On 22nd September 1961 Charles Ogston asked me to con-
firm his identification of a Red-breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa
parva on Forvie Moor, Aberdeenshire. We found the bird still
in the same bush and I was able to confirm it as a female, Mr
Ogston said he had also seen a male in the same area on the
same day,

ELIZABETH A, GARDEN,

1961 SHORT NODES 495

On 4th October 1961 I saw a Red-breasted Flycatcher in our
garden at Peterhead. There was a lot of fog hanging about at
the time.

Douc Las P. WILLIS.

(Mr Willis has submitted a detailed and unmistakeable des-
cription of the bird.—ED.).

PROLONGED NESTLING PERIOD OF
CORN BUNTINGS

At about 1900 hours G.M.T. on 26th June 1961 I found the
nest of a Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra with three young
in a corn crop near Dornoch. By the naked and helpless con-
dition of the nestlings it was almost certain that they had
hatched out earlier that day. Subsequent visits to the nest
showed that the growth and development of the young appear-
ed to be quite normal. Nevertheless, they were still in the
nest at a late hour on 9th July, but by 0800 hours G.M.T. the
following morning only one nestling remained. In this in-
stance the young did not leave the nest until the fourteenth
day after hatching. Both the Handbook (1: 112) and Ryves
(British Birds 28: 2-26) record the nestling period as nine to
eleven days with sometimes twelve days.

D. MAcDONALD.

CURRENT NOTES

(Key to initials of observers: A. Anderson, D. R. Anderson, D. G. An-
drew, Mrs G. Andrew, W. Austin, J. Ballantyne, Miss P. G. Baxter,
G. Bennett, H. Boase, T. Boyd, D. E. Bradley. W. Brotherston, Miss
Kee Calver, S: J: Clarke, M. Cody, Miss M. H. E. Cuninghame,
W. A. J. Cunningham, R. H. Dennis, G. Dick, V. H. Divers, Dr W.
J. Eggeling, Sir R. Erskine-Hill, M. Forrester, G. Fraser, E. M.
Gall, Miss E. A. Garden, J. Grierson, J. M. Harrop, M. J. Hender-
son, Lt-Col. W. M. Logan Home, J. Hoy, Miss R. S. Hunter, Dr D.
Jenkins, W. M. Lennox, A. G. Long, D. G. Long, A. Macdonald, D.
Macdonald, K. S. Macgregor, A. T. Macmillan, Miss M. M. Mathi-
sen, Prof. M. F. M. Meiklejohn, R. Ir Milne, Mrs E. A. Munro, J.
Murray, C. K. Mylne, B. Neath, J. Oliver, R. M. Palmer, J. Potter,
W. K. Richmond, I. B. Roy, W. A. Sinclair, W. M. Skene, R. W. J.
Smith, Dr T. C. Smout, T. Spence, D. Stalker, W. Stein, I. F. Stew-
art, J. H. Swan, C. Tait, Miss V. M. Thom, B. R. Thomson, A. Tod,
D. I. M. Wallace, Mrs K. Wallace, R.°F. Waterston, A. D. Watson,
T. Weir, Dr R: S. Weir, D. P. Willis, D. R. Wise, Prof. V. C. Wynne-
Edwards. Dates refer to 1961 unless otherwise stated).

Breeding and Distribution

A Manx Shearwater was blown inland to Dalry, Kirkcud-
bright, on 16th September by the gale, which reached over
90 m.p.h. in the Solway. It was released next day on the coast

496 CURRENT NOTES 1(14)

(W.A., A.D.W.). One was seen on the 18th at Elie, Fife
(D.G.A.).

An immature Night Perea visited Duddingston on 9th and
10th October—no doubt from the Edinburgh Zoo (D.R.A.).
Another immature bird turned up in Kirkcaldy on 30th Octo-
ber for a few days, and roosted at the bus stoop in Townsend
Place where one could almost touch it with a walking stick
(R.F.W.). Further details of the nightly excursions of this
species have now been received from an observer living in
Old Kirk Road, just 100 yards west of a side entrance to the
Zoo (see antea 1: 457). He has lived there for three years
-and noted the birds each year, but more often this year,
when he was more regularly at home in the garden in the
-evening. Each evening, probably every. evening, as it gets
dark, the birds fly west along Old Kirk Road and then swing
north-west round: Corstorphine Hill towards Cramond. Only
adults have been seen and it is nearly always two birds, evi-
dently a pair, that come. They can be heard giving a noise
like the croak of a frog. In May they would fly avart and
then towards each other again in a form of display, flapping
about like enormous bats. During 1961 they were first seen
passing the house in early or mid-May,.and continued to do
so until at least 25th August (G.B.).

A pair of Garganey frequented the Dunbarton bank of the
R. Endrick mouth during May, being seen by various people
(M.F.M.M.).

A drake Scaup in perfect plumage was in Plockton harbour,
Ross, on 23rd May (M.F.M.M.), and another, in Lewis, seemed
very attached to a small loch near East Loch Roag on the
28th (J.M.H.). A drake at the Morton Lochs, Fife, on 15th
July (W.J.E., A.M.), two birds at. Longannet, Fife, on 31st
July (J.H.), and two drakes at Montrose Basin from 14th
August, when at least one was flightless (H.B.), may have
summered in Scotland. Inland records come from Cameron
Reservoir, Fife. where there was a drake on 14th September
(D.G.A.), and Portmore, Peebles, where. there was a duck
on the 30th (A.T.). Scaup have been more numerous at Dud-
dingston than for a number of years. There were fourteen on
25th October, twelve on the 29th, and eight on the 3lst
(D.R.A.). A duck Goldeneye summered at Montrose Basin. and
an immature Long-tailed Duck was noted: at Forfar Loch on
13th June (H.B.), At Loch Leven, Kinross, the species is al-
most regular, and one was seen on 28th October (D.G.A.,
T.C.S., D.I.M.W.). Off the docks at Leith Shelduck are seldom
seen, but there was one at Seafield, on the mud, on 20th Sep-
tember (J.B.).

There were four Canada Geese at Marlee Loch near Blair-
gowrie, Perth, on 11th September. Two were noted there
previously on 23rd April 1960 (antea 1: 280) (H.B.).

=

1961 CURRENT NOTES 497

A Whooper Swan was on L: Hosta, North Uist, on 4th June,
with six Mute Swans (J.M.H.).

Two Buzzards remained throughout.:the summer in the Long-
formacus area of Berwick (per W.M.L.H.).

Rumours of Quail in North Fife have reached us in the past
but we have been unable to get anywhere with them. This
year on lst September at Dunbog, Newburgh, seven Quail—
evidently a family party as two were larger than the rest
—were flushed by the combine harvester. They probably
bred there. Two years ago a pair was seen near the spot for
over a week (T.S.). At Kildary, East Ross, Quail were heard
continuously in a barley field, esvecially in the early morning
and late evening, from 27th-June to 2lst August, when the
field was cut (per D.M.). On Barra in the Eoligarry area as
many as seven Corncrakes could be heard calling at one time
in the middle of the day on 6th June (J.M.H.).

An immature Iceland Gull was at the sewage outlet near
Fort William on 29th May. This may be the first published
record for South Inverness, although the authors of The Birds
of Scotland say that on the west coast the species has occurred
in every sea-board county up to Ross. It is not clear, however,
whether they have considered South Inverness separately
from West Inverness (M.F.M.M.). The comments in the last
number -about the rarity of the Black-headed Gull in West
Sutherland (antea 1: 459) have resulted in us receiving de-
tails of a small colony which-has apparently existed for some
years. It is on a small island on Loch a’Mhi on the Stoer
peninsula near Lochinver. About 25 pairs of Black-headed
Gulls and 12 vairs of Common Gulls were breeding there on
25th June when 53 nestlings of the former were ringed and
28 of the latter. This seems to be the first breeding record
hoGume) area, (D.4h.B., M.C.).

A Turtle Dove was recorded in Craiglockhart Dell, Edin-
burgh, on 20th June. In the same area a Kingfisher was seen
on the Water of Leith above Slateford on 15th August. The
soecies is seldom seen in Edinburgh now (.J.H.S.). A Great
Spotted Woodpecker at Loch Leven on 28th October appears
to be the first recorded in Kinross (D.G.A., T.C.S., D.I.M.W.).

Two Magpies at Gleneagles Golf Course on 4th October are
of interest since The Birds of Scotland describes them as rare
in Perth (H.B.).

A Crested Tit was in a plantation of‘ conifers near imocnecn
on 22nd June. The species was first recorded in Sutherland in
the same area as recently as October 1956 (Scottish Natural-
Usp 69 5%) (D.M.).

A cock Redwing sang in Unst during June but there was no
second bird (H.A.M.). A pair of Stonechats nested successfully
at North Queensferry, Fife (G.D.).

498 CURRENT NOGES 1(14)

Further to the record of a Garden Warbler breeding at Val-
leyfield (antea 1: 461), J.H. comments that the scarcity of the
species in Fife applies to most of the county but not to West
Fife. The best place for them is in Valleyfield, where at least
ten singing males can be found each year. They are also
reasonably common at the east end of Gartmorn Dam and
towards Dollar and Tillicoultry, though these areas are over
the county boundary in Clackmannan. We can trace no pre-
vious record for that county. '

On 14th May a Garden Warbler was found singing in Din-
net Oak Wood, Aberdeen, 200 yards from the south bank of
the R. Dee, and on 4th June it was singing persistently in the
same area. The species has not been recorded in recent years
as a spring visitor to the area: On 28th May two. were heard
and seen about half a mile apart near the Dee at Blackhall,
near Banchory, and a third heard singing on the opposite
bank of the river at Invercannie (V.C.W-E.). We cannot trace
any previous record of Garden Warblers in North Kincardine.

On 6th and 30th May a Chiffchaff was heard singing in var-
ious places in Old Aberdeen. The species has not been noted
in the area in recent springs. On 28th May one was heard at
Blackhall. near Banchory, in trees with an undergrowth of
rhododendrons—the same sort of site as the Garden Warbler
at Dinnet. It was still there when D.J..stopped to listen to it
a few days later (V.C.W-E.). Like the Garden Warblers in the
same area this seems to be the first published record of the
species in North Kincardine.

In South-east Sutherland the Spotted Flycatcher was an
exceptionally scarce breeding bird this year (D.M.).

The Birds of Scotland is very vague about the present dis-
tribution of the Tree Sparrow in Angus. About ten were coun-
ted in conifers near Carnoustie on 11th August (R.M.P.), and
two at Red Castle, Lunan Bay, on the 22nd (H.B.).

Spring Migration 1961

From a few days before 10th May there were five Pale-
bellied Brent Geese at Broad Bay, Stornoway. They were un-
usually approachable, taking wing only when the observers
were within 50 yards, and returning to feed 100 yards away.
They stayed for a few days and were joined by a sixth bird
(W.A.J.C., V.H.D.).

An exceptionally early Dotterel was seen on the breeding
grounds in the central Highlands on 12th March. The obser-
ver, who knows the species well, was able to approach within
ten yards (W.A.S.).

At Kingoodie, Perth, there were 11 Black-tailed Godwits on
20th April, and 18 on 2nd May (H.B.). A Wood Sandpiper at

1961 CURRENT NOTES 499

the mouth of the R. Endrick on 21st May is the first recorded
in West Stirling (M.F.M.M.).

On 7th April 300 Common Gulls were noted moving north-
east in the space of 30 minutes at Invergowrie, Perth. At Kin-
goodie, in the same area, there were two immature Little Gulls
on 4th May (H.B.).

A late Fieldfare flew past the Osprey Observation Post at L.
Garten, Inverness, on 7th June ‘and was seen by various
people (per R.H.D.).

At Stornoway aerodrome a female Yellow Wagtail was seen
on Z8th May. the observer was inclined to think it was
thunbergi not only because ot the geographical position but
also on account of its loud penetrating call (M.F.M.M.).

Autumn Migration 1961, and Winter Visitors

The suggestion has been made that the sections on migra-
tion might start with a chronological summary of what has
been happening, as an introduction to the details given for
individual species. While this is an ideal to aim tor, it is
usually impossible because we receive relatively little in-
formation about the common birds, and because we are writ-
ing too soon after the event. We can, however, hope that the
facts which we do assemble may be of value to students of
migration who can consider them in relation to the weather
maps or the movements which they detect on their radar
screens. Any summary which we might publish would be a
poor thing by comparison with what is possible for more
specialist publications such as Bird Migration, with access to
the detailed daily records of a network of Bird Observatories.
Just because so much of the information does come from
the Observatories, however, there is considerable value in
observations from more ordinary parts of the country; not
enough of such observations have been published recently,
so that there is little with which to compare Observatory
records.

Notes received from various parts of the country indicate
widespread movements on 12th October. This was a Thurs-
day, so that it is free from the bias associated with week-end
observations, and we comment on it to show the possibilities
for collating a series of.ordinary: observations when enough
information about the movement of common birds is sent in.
The pattern of migration involved both Pink-footed Geese
with, presumably, a north-west origin from Iceland, and a
movement of typical Scandinavian species. Details of
the considerable movement of Pinkfeet, especially in the
Lothians, on 12th, 13th and 14th October are given under that
species. The Blue Goose, significantly, returned to Libberton
on the 13th.

On the 12th at Longannet, Fife, there was a continuous

500 CURRENT NOTES 1(14)

westward movement of various species until 1 p.m. BST. The
sky was never clear of birds on the move, and birds noted
included 9 Golden Plovers, Skylarks, 2 Swallows, 38 Mistle
Thrushes, Song Thrushes, Redwings, a Goldcrest, Meadow
Pipits, Chaffinches and Starlings (J.H.). In East Lothian there
were Kestrels, Redwings, Blackbirds, and Chaffinches mov-
ing in the area between North Berwick and Dunbar (A.M.).
At Kingoodie, Perth, small parties of birds were passing
westwards in the morning—Greenfinches, possibly -Linnets,
Chaffinches, and some Reed Buntings (H.B.), The first Red-
wings were heard over Edinburgh and Glasgow that day, and
at Castle Douglas on the 13th. Siskins arrived in force about
this time, and were recorded at Longannet on the 12th, in
various places near L. Ken, Kirkcudbright, on the 14th and
15th, and in the Moorfoots and at Tyninghame on the 15th.
Others were located later but may well have come in at this
time. Details of these records are given under the species.
Finally, a flock of Redpolls was noted at Longannet on the
12th. Compared with the number of records we can normally
assemble for any one day this is quite an impressive catalogue.

A Sooty Shearwater was seen off Fair Isle on Ist August
(L.F.S.).

In Angus, 150 Wigeon at Lintrathen on 8th September, and
1,000 at Montrose Basin on the 21st, are early for such num-
bers (H.B.). Exceptional numbers of Shovelers were counted
on L. Leven at the end of October; at least 300, and probably
500, on the 21st (H.B.), and a flock ‘of 250 on the 28th (D.G.A.,
TC Sy LDL) s

As in past autumns (antea 1: 340) large numbers of Red-|
breasted Mergansers were seen at Musselburgh, and at least
200 were counted on 19th September (J.B.). The small party
recorded at Longannet on 11th July (antea 1: 458) built up
to 320 birds by 29th September, and the observer suggests
that this is a moulting area (J.H.). At Barnbougle, West
Lothian, there were 300 on 14th October, and 350 on the
Bao. (ANLCS),)).

There were two Grey Lag Geese at Machrie, Arran, on 11th
August (possibly crippled birds) (W.M.L.), two at Hule Moss,
Berwick, on 10th September (S8.J.C., M.J.H., D.G.L.), but the
first flock reported was of fifteen birds at Longannet on the
20th (J.H.). Until the night of 11th October, there was only
a limited advance-guard vopulation of under 1,000 Pink-footed
Geese in the Fala/Gladhouse area. From early on the 12th, a
Thursday, throughout that day and Friday the 13th, and into
the morning of the 14th, there was a great flight of these
birds through the Moorfoot area to the south, and at the
same time a great arrival in the area. A fairly accurate count
of these birds gave a total of 10,000, some 2,000 more than
ever before, in the Fala/Gladhouse area. The other local

1961 | CURRENT NOTES 301

roosts held a further 3,000 (W.B.). A skein of 80 passed south-
south-east over the Morningside district of Kdinburgh at 9
a.m. BSI. on the 13th, and a further six skeins went over
during the morning (D.G.A., G.A.). On 12th October there
were 1,700 on the mud banks off Birkhill, Dundee, and more
birds were coming in all day.from the north to the Tay Es-
tuary, over 1,000 being seen arriving (H.B.). It is clear that
this arrival of Pinkfeet was on a very large scale.

The Blue Goose returned to Libberton on 138th October. It
looks very much whiter in the air this year and can be picked
out with the naked eye at a range of at least a mile (see
antea 1: 463) (R.E-H.). Though it is probably unconnected
with previous records from Libberton it is perhaps worth
mentioning an adult Snow Goose which was seen in York-
shire from 12th July for some“weeks (British Birds 54: 335).
It is possible that the Libberton birds could summer in Brit-
ain, but the evidence suggests that it is more likely that
they travel north with the Pinkfeet.

Three Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Aberlady on 21st Octo-
ber (K.S.M.), and one Dark-breasted on Loch Ryan on the 28th
(J.M.). An early Barnacle Goose was seen on Islay on 17th Sep-
tember (E.M.G., R.W.J.S., C.T.), and there were two at Glad-
house on 21st October (D.G.A., T.C.S.).

The first Whooper Swans of the winter were five on 20th
September. They flew into Pease Bay, Berwick, and turned
west along the coast (W.M.L.H.). One at Duddingston on 28th
October is only the third report there since the second world
war (D.R.A.). Counts at L. Leven gave totals of at least 220
a a October (H.B:), and approximately 300 on the 27th

JD BP

There are a number of autumn reports of Buzzards in the
eastern part of Berwick. At Hule Moss single birds were seen
on 9th September and 15th October, and two on lst and 22nd
October (S.J.C., M.J.H., D.G.L.). On 24th September at the
Langton Burn, near Duns, a Buzzard came sailing down the
glen and settled in the tree where the observer was standing,
before sailing away to the south-east (A.G.L.). One was re-
ported in the woods at Ayton Castle during September, and
on 23rd October one flew south-east over Edrom, mobbed by
a dozen Carrion Crows and Jackdaws (W.M.L.H.).

On 28th October a Rough-legged Buzzard was seen between
Callander and L. Ruskie. The buzzard shape, white base to
the tail, and pale underwings were all seen though the view
was a rather distant one (J.G.). What was presumably the
same bird was seen at the Lake of Menteith next day (M.F.).
One 28th October a male Hen Harrier was seen near Glenluce,
the first the observer has seen in Wigtown (J.M.).

On 12th August an Osprey was watched at the Loch of Pit-

502 CURRENT NOTES 1(14)

four, Aberdeen, by Mr R. Malvenan. It circled the loch, call-
ing, and then dropped into the water to catch a trout, with
which it flew oft. The following afternoon various people
watched it catch another trout at the second attempt in heavy
rain. It flew to a dead pine and ate part of the fish before
flying off with the rest of it. The operculum of a 13 lb. brown
trout was found below the tree. The loch is well stocked with
brown trout (AAS EACG VeMiem):

A juvenile Peregrine was seen at Fife Ness on 13th August.
The species is not usually seen there and it was presumably a
migrant (R.S.W.). Single Merlins were noted at Barns Ness,
East Lothian, on 8th October (K.S.M.), and at Gladhouse on
the 14th (D.G.A.). On 12th October there was an influx of
Kestrels to East Lothian. In the morning five were noted be-
tween North Berwick and Dunbar, and in the afternoon single
birds were present in two places in the Lammermuirs where
they are not usually seen (A.M.).

When the Editor (in the south) opened a small parcel he
discovered a very smelly Water Rail. It had been found at
Steinish, near Stornoway, on 20th September—very dead,
having been stood on, probably by a cow (W.A.J.C.).

Numbers of Coot are most unpredictable and we therefore
offer no comment on counts of over 9500 at Forfar Loch on
16th October, over 750 in three groups at L. Leven, Kinross,
on the 21st (H. B.), and 1,200 there on the 28th (D. Gor ZC S23
D.I.M.W.).

Substantial counts of Grey Plovers come from Longannet
where there were about 40 on 29th September and fully 110
on 7th October and later (J.H.), and from the other side of
the Forth at Skinflats, Stirling, where there were only eight
seen on 7th October, but 95 on the 14th, 143 on the 23rd, and
about 200 on the 29th (G.D., J.P.). The counts in these two
places almost certainly refer to the same birds, which move
with the tides. Inland, two were at Gladhouse on the 29th
(D.G.A., D.I.M.W., K.W.). At: Hule Moss, Berwick, there were
about 600 Curlews on 22nd August (S.J.C., M.J.H., D.G.L.).

Black-tailed Godwits are reported from the following places:

Ythan Estuary, Aberdeen—l from 30th August until at least 22nd Sep-
tember (E.A.G.).

Invergowrie Bay—2 on 29th August and frequently thereafter (H.B.).

Eden Estuary, Fife—3 on 4th September, and 20 on the 8th (k.1.M.).
and at least 20 on the 21st (B.N.).

Cult Ness, Fife—2 on 28th July and 3 on Ist September (G.D., J.P.).

Longannet, Fife—l from 10th September until 8th October, mc H.
W.K.R.), with 2 on 23rd September and 11 on 22nd October (G.D.,

Skinflats, Stirling—2 on 6th August, 13 on the 20th, 1 on the ih, a on
3rd September, and 9 on 23rd October (G.D., J.P.).

Seafield, Leith—1 on 17th September (A.T.M.).

Aberlady, East Lothian—2 on 8th October (K.S.M., A.T.M., M.).

Tyninghame, East Lothian—1 on 27th August (T.B., Ww VES! N.J.S.).

1961 CURRENT NOTES 503

During the past twelve years not more than 25 Bar-tailed
Godwits have been seen together on the south side of L. Fleet,
Sutherland, but this autumn from mid-September until the

end of October numbers gradually built up to between 75
and 100 (J.O.).

The following Green Sandpipers are reported:

Near Dornoch, Sutherland—1 on 18th July (D.M.).

Longannet—1 on 29th September (J.H.).

Kincardine Bridge—1 on 21st and 27th August (G.D., J.P.).

Tyninghame—1 or more from 13th August to 8th October, with peaks
Gus onumytheaucust and l7th September (f.B., I.B.R., W.M.S., R.W.J.S.).

Hule Moss—1 on llth and 22nd August (S. se MJ.H., DGS):

Hamilton—1 on 29th August (D.R.W.).

Quothquhan, Thankerton, Lanark—1 on 18th September (R.E-H.).

The only report of Wood Sandpipers comes from Aberlady,

where the species is not rare in autumn, and is of four birds
on 13th August (K.S.M.).

A fair number of Spotted Redshanks occurred:

Dornoch—1 on mudflats on 13th October (D.M.)

Ugie Estuary, Peterhead—1 on 29th September (D. JPW).
oS Estuary—l1 on 30th August, and 11th and 14th September

AAG E))e

Skinflats—l1 on 10th and 24th September, 7th and 14th October, and
2 on 23rd October (G.D., J.P.).

Gladhouse, Midlothian—1 on Ist October (R.W.]J.S.).

Tyninghame—l1 from 13th August to 10th September (T.B., IB.R.,
WVAWIESMOREVVEICS:, 1.C.S.).

Airdrie—1 on 10th September at Roughrigg Reservoir (W.S.).

Inland records of Greenshank this autumn come from:

Lintrathen, Angus—2 on 19th August and 1 on &th September (H.B.).

L. Leven, Kinross—1 on 14th September and 28th October (D.G.A.).

Peppermill Dam, Tulliallan, Fifte—2 on Ist August, and 1 on 11th
September (G:):, j.P:).

Cambus, Clackmannan—l1 on 28th October (D.G.A.).

Central Edinburgh—l flew over at 945 am. BST on 30th August
Gues.).

Gladhouse—1 on 24th September (D.G.A.).

Hamilton—1 on 29th September (D.R.W.).

Hule Moss—noted on August 7th (1), 19th (2), September 2nd (2),
Ci peioen (ll), loth (@), l7th (2), 19th CG), and on October 8th (1),
Coan G@e vin) El .G.L.).

Scotland seems to have missed the early arrival of large
numbers of Little Stints and Curlew Sandpipers mentioned
in British Birds (54: 333), but the following Little Stints are
reported:

Carnoustie, Angus—l injured bird on 12th August (R.M.P.), and 1 at
the Buddon Burn on 22nd September (B.N.).

Elie, Fife—l on 13th September (D.G.A.).

Cult Ness—1 on 6th October (GID. Jole)e

Longannet—1 on 28th October (G Dy Jes).

Skinflats—noted on July 29th (1), August 6th (1), 20th (1), September
main) peounn (2) lOthe(2) l/th (2), and 24th (4) (GD. J.P).

Gladhouse—1 on 14th October (D.G.A.).

Aberlady—2 on 24th September (R.W.J.S.).

504 1(14)

RED-FOOTED FALCON, adult female, Berwickshire, October 1961.
Note the dark barring on slate-grey upper-parts, and only a few small
streaks on breast and flanks.

(See page 492). —Photographs by S. J. Clarke.

1961 CURREND NOES 505

Tyninghame—4 on 3rd September and 1 on the 10th (T.B., LB.R.,
WWI Sog IRENA IES) 5

Dunbar—3 on 8th October (M.F.M.M.).

Reports of Curlew Sandpipers come from:

Ythan Estuary—1 on 3rd September (E.A.G.).

Longannet—Z on 8th October (G.D., J.P.).

Skinflats—4 on 24th September and 7th October (G.D., J.P.).

Aberlady—3 on 3rd August (D.E.B

Tyninghame—1 on 24th per necy Ke Buk Vi Muse RANVEI.S.)s

Dunbar—1 on 8th October (M.F.M.M.).

A Ruff and two Reeves were on the mud at Dornoch on 19th
August (D.M.). One was on the Ugie Estuary, Peterhead,
from 21st September until 4th October. Though they are
regular at Newburgh, Aberdeen, this was the first that the
observer had seen near Peterhead (D.P.W.). Seven Ruffs and
two Reeves were in a field near Crail, Fife, on 5th September
(P.G.B.). At Cult Ness there was one on 16th and 19th August,
and at Skinflats there were four on 6th August, 1 on the 13th,
3 on the 26th, 2 on 9th September, and 1 on the 17th (G.D.,
J.P.). Two at Aberlady on 3rd and-24th September are hardly
noteworthy (J.B., R.W.J.S.), but they are scarcer at Tyning-
hame, where one was seen on 13th August and 3rd September
(T.B., I.B:-R., W.M.S., R.W.J.S.). Single birds were at Glad-
house on 2nd September, lst, 14th, and 21st October (D.G.A.,
R.W.J.S.).

High numbers of Arctic Skuas have already been reported
from Aberlady (antea 1:, 467). On 27th August between 40
and 50 were working the upper Forth estuary from Kincar-
dine to Grangemouth. At high tide eight of them rested with
the waders at Skinflats and continually molested the Dunlin
(G.D., J-P.). On the Ythan Estuary they were more numerous
than ever before, and eleven were seen from the observer’s
house one day in August (E.A.G.). An observer reported large
aa present in the Tay from 16th to 21st September

There are few records’ of Little Gulls in Angus during
September in spite of their abundance at other times. A
visit to the area to find out whether this reflected the habits
of the birds or of the bird-watchers produced a number of
records in just over a week of watching. At the Buddon Burn
near Carnoustie there were five adults on the 16th and 19th
September, and an immature on the 22nd. At Carnoustie
there were seven adults and one immature on the 17th, and
about 30 on the 22nd. Bad weather made it impossible to
count these accurately, but at least 20 were adult. Quite a
few of the adults were moulting into the full adult (ie. 2nd
winter) plumage (B.N.). An immature was seen on the Ythan
Estuary on 14th September (E.A.G.), and one at Girdleness,
Aberdeen, on 10th September (W.A.C.). At Elie, Fife, there
was one adult and one immature on 14th September, one im-

506 CURRENT NOTES 1(14)

mature on the 17th, and six adults and an immature on the
18th (D.G.A.). At Longannet a juvenile was watched for a
few minutes on lst October (K.M.C., J.H., M.M.M.). It will be
seen that many observers refer to “immatures” without indi-
cating whether these are juvenile birds of the year or lst
summer birds, which arrive earlier as a rule. A glance at the
Handbook will show the striking difference, and the distinc-
tion is well worth making because the early arrival of
juveniles might well indicate that the species was breeding
in Scotland.

At Aberlady, not a single Black Tern has been seen this
autumn. One was seen in the distance at L. Leven, Kinross,
on 16th September (H.B.), and three days later there were
three rather mottled birds round a boat on the loch (J.G.).
On the 16th also there was one over the sea at Fairlie, Ayr-
shire (G.F.).

Various records of movements of Swallows, House Martins
and Sand Martins have been received but are difficult to fit into
any pattern. A large gathering of 300 or 400 Sand Martins
feeding over L. Fitty, Dunfermline, in calm weather on 21st
August was too big to be local birds (G.D.). On 7th September
hundreds of Swallows and Sand Martins were flying about
over Haddington for an hour from 7.15 a.m. BST. On the
10th some hundreds passed south over Haddington in the
afternoon after stormy weather (A.M.), and well over 100
Swallows were seen at Gullane Point where such numbers
are exceptional (K.S.M., A.T.M.). On the same day there was
a great influx of Swallows and martins which blackened the
roofs at St Andrews. On the 17th there were many on Rhum
at 7 am. (M.H.E.C.), and on the 19th many were seen just
south of Haddington in the morning but had gone later
(A.M.). For a few days.to the 24th unusual numbers of Swal-
lows and House Martins were seen in Stornoway—probably
as a result of the strong winds (W.A.J.C.). 50 Swallows at
Culross on 8th October were the first for a week (J.H.), and
a late flock of 20 was seen near.Invergowrie on 25th October.
Six more were at Broughty Ferry on the 3lst and final
stragglers at Kingoodie on lst November (H.B.), and Porten-
cross, Ayrshire, on the 4th (G.F.).

Some evidence for an autumn movement of Long-tailed Tits,
mainly in October, is given in the Edinburgh Bird Bulletin
(8: 14), and the same sort of rather slight evidence is pro-
vided this year by a dozen non-local birds at Trinity, Edin-
burgh, on 28th September (B.R.T.), eleven which appeared
at Longannet on 6th October (they left again a few days
later after seven were caught and ringed) (J.H.), and seven at
Aberlady on 7th and 8th October (K.S.M.). Possibly: this is
simply a post breeding dispersal. There were great numbers
in Wigtownshire at the end of October (J.W.).

1961 CURRENT) NOTES 507

On 12th October, the day of the extensive movements
described earlier, a passage of Mistle Thrushes was recorded at
Longannet. The observer had never seen such a thing before,
and counted 38 birds that day in nine parties. Subsequently
more were seen on the 13th (2), 15th (3), 16th (11), and 18th
(21) (J.H.). Two Song Thrushes watched at close range at Glad-
house on 29th October were identified as the Continental race
T.e. philomelos. No local birds remained at Gladhouse, and
the fact that the birds were with a loose flock of Redwings
and Fieldfares helped to confirm the identification as much as
the grey back and pure white underparts (D.I.M.W.). Red-
wings were heard over Kincardine on 20th September, and
seen at Bordie, Fife, on the 22nd (G.D., J.P.). At Longannet
they were first heard on 9th October, and 55, 143, and 80 were
seen on the next three days, and over 250 on the 18th when
400 were seen passing west over High Valleyfield in ten
minutes (J.H.). A big passage of Fieldfares and Redwings
was noted in the Spey valley on 28th October (T.W.). The
first Redwings were heard over Edinburgh on 12th October
(T.C.S.), and the same night they were heard flying in over
Glasgow. The following night they were heard over Castle
Douglas (M.F.M.M.). An invasion of Blackbirds was noted in
East Lothian on 3rd October, with birds at all the farms near
the shore, later moving inland in the afternoon (A.M.).

Records of Stonechats suggest a small influx during October.
On 22nd September there was a pair on the shore at Broughty
Ferry (B.N.), and next day a cock was moving west at Biggar,
where the observer has seen none before (R.S.H.). On 14th
October a pair was in a field near Thankerton, Lanark
(R.E-H.), an adult male was at Gladhouse (D.G.A.), and an-
other male at the head of White Cleuch, near Wull Muir,
Midlothian. Next day an adult male, an immature male, and
a female were seen at Garvald Farm, not far away, and a
pair was still there a week later. On the 28th at Third Reser-
voir, south-east of Stirling, there was an immature male, and
the next day an adult male (W.B.).

8th October, a Sunday, was a good day for migrants in East
Lothian. At least two Wheatears were seen at Aberlady, and
five at Barns Ness. Migrant Robins were at Aberlady (1), Barns
Ness (5) (K.S.M.), and Dunbar, where there were several on
the beach, the yellowish colour of the breast denoting the
typical race (M.F.M.M.). A Blackcap was at Loch Garry, Inver-
ness, on 7th October (J.M.). Goldcrests were also moving at
this time, being reported at Aberlady on the 7th, and no fewer
than eight were at Barns Ness on the 8th (K.S.M_).

A Yellow Wagtail M.f.flavissima was seen on the banks of the
R. Clyde at Quothquhan, Thankerton, on 27th August (R.E-H.).

By An Teallach, Dundonnell, Ross, a Great Grey Shrike was

508 CURRENT NOTES 1(14)

seen killing a Wren on 29th October. It was promptly chiv-
vied by a host of Chaffinches, but flew off carrying the Wren
easily in its bill like a bit of fluff (T.W.).

On 29th October a flock of no fewer than 60 Bullfinches was
feeding on the heather at Gladhouse (D.G.A., D.I.M.W., K.W.).

Exceptional numbers of Siskins are reported. At Gladhouse
there were two on 22nd July and one on the 29th. These were
probably not immigrants from abroad. At Edgelaw, Mid-
lothian, there were ten on 2nd September (D.G.A., R.W.J.S.),
and at Longannet there were six on the 20th (J.H.). On lst
October a party of eight, with two Redpolls, was seen near
Heriot, Midlothian (W.B.). A big movement probably took
place starting on 12th October. That day, a Thursday, parties
of 30 and 20 passed west or south-west over Longannet (J.H.),
and by the 14th and 15th parties of 100, 50, 50 and 20 could
be found in the L. Ken district of Kirkcudbright. The tame-
ness of these birds, and the absence of Redpolls with them,
suggested a Continental origin (M.F.M.M.). About 12 flew
south past Garvald Farm in the Moorfoots on the 15th (W.B.),
15 flew north-west up the coast at Tyninghame on the same
day (R.W.J.S.), and about this time three were seen at Aber-
lady (D.S.). On the 28th there was a flock of over 100 Siskins
in the Spey valley (T.W.). Unusual numbers were also noted
in Orkney and Aberdeenshire but we have not received de-
tails yet. Four at L. Leven on the 28th are the first to be
recorded in Kinross (D.G.A., T.C.S., D.I.M.W.).

A flock of about 100 Redpolls was seen at Binning Wood,
Tyninghame, on 10th September (T.C.S.). 21 flew over
Longannet on 12th October (J.H.). Redpolls were heard at
L. Leven on the 28th (D.G.A., T.C.S., D.I.M.W.). We can trace
no other published record for Kinross, but D.G.A. saw six in
the same place on 6th February 1954.

An early Snow Bunting was at Tyninghame on 24th Septem-
ber (I.B.R., W.M.S., R.W.J.S.), and a cock at Longannet on 6th
October was early for that locality (J.H.).

General notes on Behaviour, Habits, etc.

Three immature Gannets feeding over the river channel at
Grangemouth during September were not diving in the usual
way but scooping up food of some kind from the surface (G.D.,
df le).)):

An Oystercatcher at Longannet in September was all white
except for black on the primaries and at the end of the
tail. It was in a small flock and is similar to one seen in the
Crombie and Torryburn area in January 1957 (Edinburgh
Bird Bulletin 7: 45) and September 1958 (G.D., J.P.). Another
white Oystercatcher at South Queensferry on 25th Septem-

1961 CURRENT NOTES 509

a had a few small patches of black on head and upperparts
(W.S.).

A Greenshank at Cramond on Ist October was unnerving in
various ways, but especially because it had yellow legs. It
was seen well enough to convince the observer that it was
no rare American vagrant, and perhaps serves as a warning
to the unwary (T.C.S.).

A Swallow feeding with 20 others on 9th September over
flood water at Skinflats had a white head (G.D., J.P.).

A Robin which built in a roll of wire netting hanging in a
garden toolshed at Dornoch took 16 days to complete the nest.
It started on Ist April and the first egg was not laid until the
17th. Throughout this period the bird was seen carrying mat-
erial to the nest (D.M.).

An addled egg remained in the nest of a pair of Pied Wag-
tails at Dornoch after the three young fledged on 9th June.
On 4th July the bird was incubating a clutch of five eggs in
the same nest, and again three young fledged. The addled egg
of the first clutch was woven into the foundation of the nest
when it was relined for the second clutch. (D.M.).

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

REPORT OF COUNCIL, Session 24, 1960/61

The Council have the honour to submit the following Report
for the past year :—

Membership. At the end of the Session the Club attained
for the first time a total membership of over 1,000, represent-
ing a considerable increase over last year’s figures. During
the Session, 182 new Members were enrolled, while 74 did
not renew their subscriptions. 30 married couples took ad-
vantage of the new Joint Membership subscription. Compar-
ative figures are shown in the following tables:

Bey Snes Bye dl) 38/59) 30/38/60 381/80

Ordinary 723 738 747 781 852
Junior 132) ees 140 141 EE
Honorary 1 fell ul ) 6

866 897 894 927 1035

Council Meetings. Five Meetings of Council were held dur-
ing the Session.

General Meetings. A full programme of lectures was carried
out during the winter in five Branches. The Council wishes to

510 OFFICIAL SECTION 1(14)

thank all the lecturers who gave so freely of their services,
ane also the Branch Officials for arrangements and hospit-
ality.

Dumfries Branch. A new Branch of the Club, under the
Chairmanship of Sir Arthur Duncan, was formed in Dumfries
at a special Meeting held in the County Hotel on 26th June
at the request of local Members. A number of new Members
have been enrolled already as a result, and the Council ex-
presses its good wishes for the future success of the Branch.

Excursions. In addition to the summer excursions arranged
by the Branches, the Club also organised weekend excursions
to Dumfries in February and to Aviemore in May. These
were well attended and a record number of over 80 Members
and friends were present at Dumfries.

Conference. The Annual Conference and Annual Dinner
were held in North Berwick in October when over 200 Mem-
bers and Guests attended.

“Scottish Birds.” Four numbers of the Club Journal, and a
Special Supplement on “The Birds of Duddingston Loch, Edin-
burgh” were published during the Session.

Scottish Bird Records Committee. The Committee met
twice during the Session under the Chairmanship of Dr J. W.
Campbell; the Review for 1960 is published in “Scottish
Birds” (1: 448-446).

Scottish Centre for Ornithology and Bird Protection. In its
second year the Scottish Centre has been widely used both by
Members and by visitors from all parts of Britain and Over-
seas, and much information has been given on bird-watching
facilities in Scotland, A special meeting arranged for Junior
Members and members of the J.B.R.C. in the Christmas holi-
days was well attended, and an excursion to Linlithgow Loch
was also arranged for them in April. On 7th July Members of
Council and of the Edinburgh Branch Committee entertained
a group of thirty American ornithologists visiting Scotland
under the leadership of Mr Orville Crowder on the first organ-
ised American bird-watching tour of Europe.

Club Library. A number of books and Journals have been
presented to the Library during the year and the Council
records its thanks to all the donors. Purchases of both new and
scarce reference books were also made. During the summer
an arrangement was concluded whereby certain bird books
could be purchased through the Scottish Centre, the publisher
generously presenting a handsome display case for the pur-
pose and allowing the Club Library Fund the benefit of the
trade discount. Sales of these books to the end of the Session
have been satisfactory, one purchaser from overseas spending
over £50 in order to stock his library with reference books.

Deeds of Covenant. During the Session the Club obtained

1961 OFFICIAL SECTION Sil

permission from H.M. Inspector of Taxes to reclaim income
tax on subscriptions paid under Deed of Covenant. The
Council wishes to thank the 74 Members who signed Coven-
ants and thereby enabled the General Funds of the Club to
benefit by over £60.

For the Council,

M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN, .
President.

TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Twenty-fifth Annual General Meeting of the Club was
held in the Dunblane Hydro Hotel, Perthshire, on Saturday,
28th October, 1961, at 6.15 p.m. Professor M. F. M. Meikle-
john, President of the Club, presided over an attendance of
about a hundred Members.

Col. Guy Brownlow. The Chairman paid tribute to the late
Col. Guy Brownlow, who had done so much for bird protec-
tion and for ornithology in general.

Col. R. Meinertzhagen. The Chairman also asked Members
to join with him in sending the good wishes of the Club to
Col. Richard Meinertzhagen, who was seriously ill.

Apologies. Apologies for absence were received from Dr
David Boddington, Dr James W. Campbell, Sir Arthur Dun-
can and Lt. Col. W. M. Logan Home, all of whom were pre-
vented from being present.

Minutes. The Minutes of the Twenty-fourth Annual Gen-
eral Meeting, held in North Berwick on 27th October 1960,
were read and approved.

Report of Council. In presenting the Report of Council for
the past Session (see preceding page) the Chairman announ-
ced that the Council had approved a proposal by the Scottish
Bird Records Committee that a “Check List of the Birds of
Scotland” should be published by the Club. The present
Annual Review of Ornithological Changes in Scotland was
only a partial fulfilment of the task of the Committee and it
was hoped that the proposed=Check List would be a basis
for showing trends of increase and decrease in the distribu-
tion of birds in Scotland. The help of local advisors would
be enlisted by means of a draft which would be circulated
to them. The Club was indebted to Mr D. G. Andrew (who
spoke briefly on the form of the Check List) and to Mr A. T.
Macmillan, who would prepare the draft between them.

The Chairman also urged Members to purchase their bird
books through the new Club Book Agency and thus benefit
the Club Library Fund.

512 OFFICIAL SECTION 14)

Accounts. The Accounts, which had been previously circu-
lated, were considered and approved. Mr J. Eunson asked
if he might stress the advantages to the Club of Members
signing Deeds of Covenant for their subscriptions, and urged
Members present to do so.

Election of Auditor. Mr Arthur Walker, C.A., was re-elected
Auditor for the ensuing Session.

Amendment to Constitution. The following amendment to
the Constitution was approved: “That the words ‘The Editor
and Business Editor of Scottish Birds, the Hon. Treasurer of
the House Fabric Fund’ be added to read immediately after
the words ‘the Hon. Treasurer’ occurring in the second line
of paragraph 4(b) (Council).”’

Election of Hon. President. In moving the election of Sir
Charles G. Connell as an Hon. President of the Club, the
Chairman spoke of the debt owed to Sir Charles both as a
Founder-Member and past-President of the Club, and for
his work in establishing the new Scottish Centre. His election
Was unanimously approved.

Election of New Members of Council. The Council’s recom-
mendation that Mr Alastair Macdonald and Mr A. T. Mac-
millan be elected to Council to replace Mr D. G. Andrew and
Mr Arthur J. Smith, who retired by rotation, was approved.

Mr R. S. R. Fitter. At the invitation of the Chairman, Mr
R. S. R. Fitter, Director of the Intelligence Unit of the Coun-
cil for Nature, spoke of the proposed National Nature Week
to be held in the third week in May, 1963, which was intended
to stimulate interest in natural history by means of exhib-
itions, nature trails and other organised activities. The
Chairman said that the Council of the Club @hadialready,
agreed to assist in any proposals for a Scottish contribution
to the Nature Week.

Vote of Thanks. The Meeting closed: with a hearty vote of
thanks to the Chairman on the motion of Dr Ian D. Pennie,
Vice-President of the Club.

THE SCOTRMSE ORNITHOLOGISTS Ces

Revenue Account for the year ended 31st August 1961

Yearto Year to
31/8/61 31/8/60

INCOME :—
Subscriptions received for year ‘ ape sell 4b G. sEONS
Income Tax recovered on covenanted “subscriptions OZmrZait 0
Income from Endowments pe = Td Sail 66
Savings Bank and Defence Bond. interest ae ive 36 18 5 16
Sales of Club badges and field lists less purchases ... Wh Sy S74 6
Sales of Birds of Aberlady Bay Report 5 SIC © 0

(see below for net expenditure borne in year to 31/8/60 —_—__ ——
£1347 72) tle 20S

——————————s

1961 OFFICIAL ‘SECTION 513

EXPENDITURE :—
Hire of lecture halls and equipment _... ws ee gal (YZ £97
Lecturers’ expenses i. ae aes ae ae Oy is) Al Ty)
Secretarial services ane ad he 394 4 4 338
Postages, printing and stationery 4 =i 138 0 8 93
Subscriptions to Council for Nature, B. aeO).

ReSseabeeand LC.P.B. 3 a 588 De 0 5
Net cost of Conference HN ae sae ae ve 30, 0 17
Contribution to Library Fund... bap ae Ae LOMO NG 10
Sundry administration expenses KG 13) 7/ 23
Scottish Centre for Ornithology and Bird Protection—

Opening ceremony expenses less donations : GO O 3)
Furniture and equipment including duplicator, filing

cabinet, library shelving and electric fire and

power points 6 ae hy SY 73
Annual contribution to House Fabric Fund ee 50) 0. 0 50
Heating and lighting, insurance, cleaning and

telephone attributable to Club 95 19 4 44

Production and distribution of Scottish Birds, “Well, ib
Nos. 9-12 and supe icment—
Costs pg VS 119 0
Less—Sales to non-members and surcharge
on reprints £58, 16s 4d, receipts from
advertisements. £144, 12s Od, and grant
from Ministry of Works towards
Supplement £55 as is ot 25S Ounce
—— 195 4 8 197

Publication of Birds of Aberlady Bay Report

(Costs less grant £30 and sales £10, 10s 0d) tae © © 46
#1192 9 5 1073

Surplus for year carried to Balance Sheet _... ae 154 13 6 30

LISA eZ ly LOS

Library Fund Account for the year ended 31st August 1961

Neat tom Vieatto
31/8/61 31/8/60

Balance brought forward from previous year ae £34 6 4 0
Add—Donations received ine ies ath see ‘NE 16
Sale of duplicate copies oe ie aly @ 18)
Contribution from Revenue Account ae es 1070570 10
Commission on Book Agency Bt ae ee ZO ae 0

| £7019 6 39

Less—Purchases oe ai se ns A SO 7 at 5

Balance carried forward sa ae ets ee gM el leer 34

514 OFFICIAL SECTION 1(14)

Balance Sheet as at 3lst August, 1961

Yearto Year to
31/8/61 31/8/60

Accumulated surplus at 3lst August, 1960 Ba .. £84 6 4 818
Add—Surplus for year per Revenue Account A, 154ziSeo 30
Library Fund—Balance per Account ... es Sil el 17, 34
Endowments—the free annual income of which i: is
available for the advancement of ornithology
Miss L. J. Rintoul ae de iy = OOOROMO} 1000
Drab Ve Baxter aN aoe ae rN so) 1O0C MOS OF. 1000
sR Ih Sy PRY
Cash
In Edinburgh Savings Bank co EATIRISI 859
In Royal Bank of Scotland Current Account ue be) Zin 23
5% Defence Bonds ie HS 500 0 O 0
Debts due to the Club in respect of ‘advertisements
in Scottish Birds and commission on Book Agency DAT 5 2 0
£1059 6 5 882
Less—Subscriptions for 1961/62 paid in advance 25a 5) 0) 0
FLOS4 5 882
Endowment Investments
£1151 34% War Stock at cost 5 at 1000 0 O- 1000
976 units The Equities Investment Fund for
Charities at cost f ‘ ki sao LODO ROTO, 1000
£3034 1 5 2882

EDINBURGH, 10th October, 1961—I have audited the foregoing
revenue account for the year to 3lst August 1961 and the Balance Sheet as
at that date. I have accepted as correct the subscriptions shown as received
in the Books and certify that in my opinion the foregoing accounts are
correctly stated and sufficiently vouched.

(Signed) ARTHUR WALKER,
Chartered Accountants.

House Fabric Fund — Summary of Accounts for year ended 31st Aug. 1961

Year to Period to
31/8/61 31/8/60

RECEIPTS—
Balance of grant from anonymous donor ... £0” OF 02950" 0170
Balance as at 3lst August 1960 sls ee WA il 8 O.0.50

Rent from Royal Society for the Protection

of Birds at £100 per annum for year

to 11th November 1961 ... Er 100 0 0 iit 4
Rent from Mr and Mrs Waterston at £100

per annum for year to 1lth November 1961 100 0 0 1250
Annual contribution from S.O.C. Revenue Account 50 0 0 50 0
Miscellaneous interests age ie 5 4 211 513

£426 14 7 £1241 18

————————

NIAOO (o.e)

1961 OFFICIAL SECTION 515

EXPENDITURE—
Repairs and maintenance (includin

electrical rewiring, £222, es ) £252 7 O £944 12 11
Property burdens ae 100! 5453 10S. 0G 7,
Insurance oh se 5a Zaz 9 13 14 6
Miscellaneous payments ee ns 0 30> 0 Ze 6

$354 15 0 — =
—— f1069 6 6

On deposit with Edinburgh Mutual

& Dunedin Building Society #14 211
At credit of Account with

Messrs Fraser, Stodart &

Ballingall, W. ister. , ve 57 16 8

——_— #7119 7 £17211 8

5th October 1961—I have examined the foregoing Accounts of the
House Fabric Fund of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club for the year to
3lst August 1961, and certify that in my opinion they are correctly
stated and sufficiently vouched.

(Signed) ANDREW T. MACMILLAN, C.A.

Council and Office-Bearers of the Club for Session 25

Hon. Presidents: Dr D. A. Bannerman, O.B.E.; Sir Charles Connell;
Rev. J. M. McWilliam.

President : Professor M. F. M. Meiklejohn.

Vice-President : Dr I. D. Pennie.

Hon. Treasurer : Robert Hillcoat, C.A.

Hon. Treasurer of House Fabric Fund: D. G. Andrew.

Secretary and Treasurer : Mrs George Waterston.

Editor of “Scottish Birds”: Professor M. F. M. Meiklejohn.

Assistant Editors of “Scottish Birds”: D. G. Andrew, A. T. Macmillan.

Business Editor of “Scottish Birds”: A. J. Smith.

Council: A. G. S. Bryson, Dr J. W. Campbell, Dr W. J. Eggelin
Lt. Col. J. P. Grant, Alastair Macdonald, K. S. Macgregor, A.

Macmillan, George Waterston, A. D. Watson, Professor V.
Wynne-Edwards.

Branch Representatives to Council: William Austin (Dumfries); Miss

M. H. E. Cuninghame (St Andrews); Miss E. A. Garden (Aber-
deen); Mrs E. Leitch (Dundee); C. E. Palmar (Glasgow); Miss
Olive Thompson (Edinburgh).

one

BRANCH OFFICE-BEARERS

Aberdeen: Chairman, Professor V. C. Wynne-Edwards; Vice-Chair-
man, Alex. Anderson; Secretary, Miss E. A. Garden; Committee, Dr
George Dunnet, C. Murray.

Dumfries : Chairman, Sir Arthur Duncan; Vice-Chairman, William Aus-
timiesectetary, HE. M. Russell; Committee, E. L. Roberts, R. T.
Smith, A. D. Watson.

516 OFFICIAL SECTION 1(14)

Dundee: Chairman, F. D. Graham; Vice-Chairman, J. Hunter Suther-
land; Secretary, Jack Scobie; Committee, J. E. Forrest, A. H. Shep-
herd.

Edinburgh : Chairman, D. G. Andrew; Vice-Chairman, A. T. Macmillan;
Secretary, Miss Olive Thompson; Committee, D. R. Anderson, Alas-
tair Macdonald, M. J. H. Robson, R. W. J. Smith.

Glasgow: Chairman, C. E. Palmar; Vice-Chairman, G. H. Acklam;
Secretary, G. L. A. Patrick; Committee, J. M. S. Arnott, Miss W. U.
Flower.

St Andrews : Chairman, Miss J. McFarlane; Vice-Chairman, Miss Doris
Wilson; Secretary, Miss Margaret Spires; Committee, Miss M. H.
E. Cuninghame, Miss M. Haig, Julian Holdroyd.

SCOTTISH BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

Chairman : Dr J. W. Campbell.

Committee : D. G. Andrew, A. G. S. Bryson, Sir Arthur Duncan, Dr W.
J. Eggeling, A. T. Macmillan, Professor M. F. M. Meiklejohn, Dr
I. D. Pennie, Kenneth Williamson, George Waterston, Professor
V. C. Wynne-Edwards.

DUNDEE BRANCH SECRETARY

Mr Jack Scobie, Secretary of the Dundee Branch, has removed to 11
Nevill Street, Dundee. Dundee members are asked to note his new ad-
dress.

WEEK-END EXCURSION TO DUMFRIES

Arrangements have again been made this year with the County Hotel,
Dumfries, for a week-end Excursion to the Solway to see the geese.

Accommodation has been arranged for the week-end 16th to 18th Feb-
ruary 1962, at inclusive terms of £4 per person as follows: Bed on Friday
night 16th; breakfast, packed lunch, dinner and bed on Saturday 17th;
breakfast and packed luncn on Sunday 18th.

Members wishing to come on this Excursion should book direct with
the Manager, the County Hotel, Dumfries (Tel. 146) mentioning that
they are Members of the Club; they may also bring guests. Arrange-
ments for transport by private cars to Dumfries should be made with
Branch Secretaries. It is advisable to bring warm clothing and thermos
flasks, and if possible, gum boots.

The Birds of British Somaliland
and the Gulf of Aden

Volumes III and IV

SIR GEOFFREY ARCHER and EVA M. GODMAN

These volumes complete the series, the first two
volumes of which appeared in 1937 and are now out
of print. The work gives details of the life histories,
breeding habits and eggs of the birds of the whole
Red Sea area and the Horn of Africa. 2 volumes.

£9, 9s the set.

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- SCOTTISH
BIRDS

INDEX

TITLE PAGES AND
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Volume 1

1958 - 1961

SCOTTISH BIRDS - BINDING

Arrangements have been made for binding Volume
1 of “Scottish Birds.” The charge is 14/6d for binding
in red buckram, or 17/6d for binding in red quarter
leather, both prices including return postage. The
parts to be bound (Nos. | to 14, Duddingston Supple-
ment, and Index) should be sent direct to the binders
together with your remittance to cover the cost oi
binding. Back numbers (except No. 1 and No. 5) may
be purchased from the Scottish Centre for Ornithology
and Bird Protection, 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7,
at 5/- each, but not from the binders. Please be sure
to complete the binding form on the back cover (with
details of your name and address, remittance, and
style of binding required) before sending the parts
to:

G. BLUNT & SONS ie:
North Acton Road
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LONDON N.W.10

INDEX

The index is in three parts. The first is a general index to the various
sections of the journal; the second is-a list of all papers and short articles;
and the third is an index of all significant mentions of each species. Eng-
lish names are used throughout, but a key to scientific names is given at
the end. Except in the index of papers and short articles, only the first
page of each reference is given.

John M. S. Arnott very kindly undertook the extremely tedious work
of compiling the index to species. This index is selective, not comprehen-
sive. Titles of papers and short notes which deal with particular species
are included in abbreviated form. Otherwise only page numbers are given.
All references have been indexed from current notes, reviews of changes
in status, local status lists, and lists of unusual occurrences in the Isle of
May reports. The following have usually been omitted:

(a) passing and comparative references (“the size of a Blackbird”,
“dead as the Dodo’);

(b) references within the body of papers, reviews, obituaries, and other
contributions, unless these are status reports or considered of
special interest apart from the context in which they are mentioned.

In particular it should be emphasised that much valuable information on
migration and numbers of common birds, mentioned in papers such as the
Isle of May reports, finds no place in the index to species.

REGULAR FEATURES

Correspondence 27, 73, 155, 195, 376

Corrigenda 76, 101, 157, 227, 269, 294, 380, 437, 442, 474

Current Notes 76, 98, 128, 197, 227, 277, 338, 383, 430, 457, 495.
Editorial 4, 25, 53, 81, 109, 137, 165, 225, 253, 293, 353, 417, 441, 473
Foreword 1; Duddingston 393

Obituary

James Bartholomew 22
Professor James Ritchie 54
Dr Evelyn V. Baxter 168
Samuel Bruce 240
Reverend John Lees 376
John Bain 450

Cicial Section (S.0.C.) and Official Notices 22, 23, 49, 78, 107, 131, 134,
135, 158, 221, 251, 287, 346, 353, 390, 439, 468, 479, 509

Reports

1958 S.O.C. Conference 26

1959 B.O.U. Centenary Conference 81
1959 B.T.O. Conference 102

1960 $.0.C. Solway Weekend 215
1960 S.0.C. Conference 377

1961 S.O.C. Solway Weekend 428
Visit of American Ornithologists 448
Inauguration of Dumfries Branch 449

Requests for Information 45, 155, 157, 449, 479

517

518 SCOTTISH BIRDS Vol. 1

Reviews

W. K. Richmond: Wild Venture 28

Fair Isle Bird Observatory Trust Annual Report for 1957 51

The Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 54

The Glasgow Bird Bulletin 101

B. Campbell: Bird Watching for Beginners 157

D. A. Bannerman & G. E. Lodge: The Birds of the British Isles, Vol.
VIII 268, Vol. IX 368

F. D. Hamilton & K. S. Macgregor: The Birds of Aberlady Bay
Nature Reserve 269

K. Williamson & J. Morton Boyd: St Kilda Summer 293

J. L. Cloudsley-Thompson: Animal Behaviour 369

K. Williamson: Identification for Ringers, No. 1: The Genera Locus-
tella, Lusciniola, Acrocephalus and Hippolais 370

W. J. Eggeling: The Isle of May 371

K. H. Voous: Atlas of European Birds 372

C. Vaucher: Sea Birds 373

Short Notes 8, 33, 66, 91, 120, 144, 183, 234, 270, 328, 378, 425, 450, 489

PAPERS AND SHORT ARTICLES

Report on birds of the Clyde area, 1956 (M. F. M. Meiklejohn & C. E.
Palmar) 5-8; 1957 and 1958 (M.F.M.M.) 64-66

Review of ornithological changes in Scotland in 1957 (E. V. Baxter) 30-33;
1958 (E.V.B.) 117-120; 1959 (J. W. Campbell) 253-259; 1960 (J.W.C.)
443-446

Spring observations on the Manx Shearwater and small petrels on St
Kilda and Rhum (J. Morton Boyd & P. Wormell) 46-48

Migrants at St Kilda in 1957 and 1958 (W. J. Eggeling) 56-64

Isle of May Bird Observatory and Field Station report (W. J. Eggeling),
1958 82-91; 1959 172-182; 1960 354-362

The invasion of Waxwings, December 1958 (A. T. Macmillan) 102-106
Birds of the Flannan Isles (M. Robson & P. Wills) 110-117

Migrants on North Sea crossings, 1951-1953 (C. K. Mylne) 138-144

Notes from Islay 194-195

Unusual mortality of young Puffins on St Kilda, 1959 (D. Boddington)
218-220

Assisted passage (C. P. Rawcliffe) 225-227

The invasion of Waxwings in Scotland in October and November 1959
(A. T. Macmillan) 241-251

Birds at North Rona, October 1959 (J. Morton Boyd) 259-266
A landing on Sule Stack (K. Williamson & J. Boswall) 266-268
Some observations on the Capercaillie (J. Harris) 283-286

Hooded Crow and Red-necked Grebe as predators of salmon (D. H.
Mills) 286

Vol. 1

INDEX 519

A comparison of ‘drift migration’ at Fair Isle, the Isle of May and Spurn

Point (D. Lack) 295-327

Little Gulls in Angus and Fife (J. Grierson) 362-367

Duddingston Loch Bird Sanctuary (J. Ritchie) 395-400
Check-list of the birds of Duddingston Loch (D. R. Anderson & G. Wat-

erston) 400-416; corrections 474

Bird names in Gaelic folklore and proverbs (P. Christison) 418-424

Without comment 429

The spread of some sea-bird colonies in the Forth (R. W. J. Smith) 475-
479

The Collared Dove in Scotland (A. T. Macmillan) 480-489

Records from Shetland, summer 1961 489-490

INDEX TO SPECIES

AUK, LITTLE, 199, 208, 386, 410,
434, 463.

AVOCET, 118; East Lothian 335.

BALDPATE, 31, 443; Inverness 183.

BEE-EATER, 257; Sutherland 153.

BITTERN, 5, 64, 403; Roxburgh
234

BITTERN, LITTLE, 443; Angus
183.

BLACKBIRD, 61, 210, 264, 297, 389,
AV2.-507.

Ee KCAP 22° 61,77, 100,175,
206, 209, 232, 264, 281, 339, 344,
386, 413, 431, 434, 461, 465, 507;
nesting in Moray 40.

ee OAT, SA See 259755357,

ao 62, 213, 225, 233, 264,

LS:

PUELPINCH, 258, 358, 415, 508;
Northern Bullfinch in Cairn-
gorms 98.

BUNTING, CORN, 62,
early nesting 277;
nesting period 495.

BUNTING, LAPLAND, 8, 32, 62,
eee 001 19.175; 176, °213, -227,
264, 345, 357, 436; Aberdeen 44.

BUNTING, LITTLE, 119, 176: In-
ner Hebrides 20.

BUNTING, ORTOLAN, 84, 356, 357.

BUNTING, RED-HEADED, 62,
mig 258, 354.

179,- 415:
prolonged

BUNTING, REED, 62, 179, 198, 258,
344, 415.

BUNGING RUSTING a7Z.. 17523357:

BUNTING, SNOW, 62, 119, 205,
214, 231, 233, 264, 415, 508; feed-
ing on Moor-rush 45.

BUNTING, YELLOW-BREAST-
ED, Isle of May 20.

BUZZARD, 31, 58, 77, 99, 206, 256,
261, 405, 458, 497, 501; illustra-
tion 230.

BUZZARD, HONEY, 31; Mull 148.

BUZZARD, ROUGH-LEGGED,
405, 458, 474, 501; East Lothian
328; Inverness 426.

CAPERCAILLIE, some
tions on 283.

CHAFFINCH, 62, 210, 213, 226, 264,
415; nesting on ground 155.

CHIFFCHAFF, 8, 61, 100, 120, 139,
194, 206, 226, 233, 280, 281, 283,
339, 383, 386, 413, 435, 437, 445,
461, 465. 474, 498; in winter in
Ayr 73.

CHOUGH, 132; Argyll 238.

COOT27887406>< 502:

CORMORANT, 32, 56, 99, 129, 227,
280, 387, 403, 430, 476.

CORNCRAKE, 58, 130, 173, 211, 261,
355, 406, 497.

CRAKE, LITTLE, 188, 406, 444, 474:
Shetland 235.

CRAKE, SPOTTED, 406, 474.

observa-

520 SCOTTISH BIRDS

CRANE, 444;
land 187.

CROSSBIVESS= 77) 100rais3e is
174, 194. 198, 204, 207, 213, 233,
240, 278, 383, 436, 462: Scottish
Crossbill in Wester Ross 457.

CROSSBILL, TWO-BARRED,
258; Inverness 154; Shetland
193.

CROW, CARRION, 21,
25757339) alee

CROW, HOODED, 262, 411; pred-
ator of salmon 286.

CUCKOO, 60, 410.

CUCKOO, GREAT SPOTTED,
254, 257: Orkney 152.

CURLEW, i 59, 63, 84, 116, 207,
261, 409, 502.

CURLEW, SLENDER-BILLED,
442; Easter Ross 235.

DIPPER, 412, 446; “Black-bellied”
Dipper in Angus 336.

DIVER, BLACK-THROATED, 119,
259, 278, 385, 400, 432, 474.
DIVER? “GREAT 2NORTHERN,

178, 194, 227, 462.

DIVER, RED-THROATED, | 133,
178, 278, 400, 432, 462.

DIVERS WELBE-BIbEE Dy? F255:
Easter Ross 91.

DOTTEREL, 279, 498.

DOVE, BARBARY, 189, 237, 481.

DOVE, |. COLVARED 330" S34 120)
198, 257, 259, 445; Moray 37;
Ayr 125; illustration 131; Fife
189; Perth 237; Rhum and Lew-
is 379; The Collared Dove in
Scotland 480.

DOVE, ROCK, 60, 262.

DOVE, STOCK, 410.

DOVE, TURTLE, 60, 120, 132, 198,
280, 339, 355, 357, 431, 460, 490,
497; Aberdeen 72.

DOWITCHER, 76, 256, 444; Ber-
wick 34: East Lothian and Lan-
ark 330.

DUCK, LONG-TAILED, 6&4, 99,
117, 210, 229, 255, 385, 404, 432,
462, 490, 496.

DUCK. TUFTED 56" Z10@22852255:
260, 404, 432; breeding in Shet-
land 184; St Kilda 491.

DUNEIN, (21, 59; 15165 133™ 207872615
409; request for information
449,

Shetland 12; Suther-

194, 206,

Vol. 1

EAGLE, GOLDEN, 58, 130, 229, 339.

EIDER, 31) -115s9215, 9234-91258, Z60;
385, 443 ; spread in East Suth-
erland 66; drake sitting on egg
146; notes on plumage variation
270: request for information
(marked birds) 479; breeding
in Moray 491.

EIDER, KING, Shetland 184.

EIDER, STELLER’S! 271-7 Sather-
land 234

FALCON. GREENLAND, Perth

FALCON, GYR, West
Dunbarton 378.

FALCON, RED-FOOTED,
ness 451; Berwick 492;
tion 504.

FIELDFARE. 215 (61-0 179.2203, 212
232, 262265: 356, 389, 412 463,
489, 499,

FIREGRESE, 176) 92546258, -397-
Isle of May 153; status in Scot-
land 195; illustration 219. ©

FLYCATCHER; 7 PEED 120" 175:
198, 206, 264, 283, 340, 344, 461,
aoe breeding in Clackmannan
19.

FLYCATCHER, RED-BREAST-
ED, 84,° 176,177; 178; 264; 357;
445; Aberdeen 192, 338, 494:
Fife 337.

FLYCATCHER®>. {SE.O© agin: as 162)
258, 283, 389, 413, 461, 489, 498,

Stirling/

Inver-
illustra-

FULMAR, 32, il Senos 732 1O7-

214, 227, 260, 339, 430, 475.
GADWALL, 5, 64, 99, 128, 197, 199,
210, 228 255, 258, 339, 385, 403,
432, 458.
GANNET, 197, 214, 260, 266, 339,

GARGANEY, 100, 128, 199, 228, 255,
339, 387. 403, "464, 496.

GODWIT, BAR-TAILED, 6, &,
128, 200, 464, 503; migrating
through Moray Firth 35.

GODWIT, BLACK-TAILED, 6, 99,
100, 119, 128, 199, 200, 207, 231,
279, 339, 384, 387, 433, 436, 444,
A638, 464, 498, 502; Solway 13,
0.

GOLDCREST, 86, 195, 204, 208, 226,
264, 413, 507.

GOLDENEYE, 228, 229, 260, 385,
404, 496; illustration 170.

Vol-A

GOLDFINCH, 195, 212, 414, 431.

GOOSANDER, 228, 404; prospect-
ing for nest-site 120.

GOOSE, BARNACLE, 31, 58, 74, 77,
99, 177, 194, 199, 211, 229, 256,
261, 278, 386, 405, 433, 463, 501;
hybrid 147, 195.

GOOSE, BEAN, 6, 56, 99, 255, 463.

GOOSE, BRENT, 58, 99, 174, 211,
229, 443, 463, 498, 501; Wigtown
ge

GOOSE, CANADA, 6, 120, 196, 280,
339, 405, 445, 496; small race in
Islay 274.

GOOSE, GREY LAG, 56, 99, 229,
272, 278, 383, 405, 462, 500; hy-
brid 147, 195.

GOOSE, LESSER WHITE-FRON-
TED, 99, 272, 443; Wigtown
and Clackmannan 271.

GOOSE, PINK-FOOTED, 6, 58,
199, 216, 229, 255, 261, 278, 340,
405, 463, 500; Shetland in June
Fl,

GOOSE, RED-BREASTED, 30.

GOOSE, SNOW, 255, 386, 463, 501;
Aberdeen 68, 185; North Argyll
67; North Perth, West Lothian
and Inverness 121; Lanark 272;
Midlothian, Berwick and North
Vist 425.

GOOSE, WHITE-FRONTED, 21,
>. Sols 255). 200; 385;) "433:

3.

GOSHAWK. 444; Islay 186; Kirk-
cudbright 275; East Stirling
329,

GREBE, BLACK-NECKED, 5, 119,
197, 280, 338, 340, 400, 436, 462,
474; Aberdeen 33.

GREBE, GREAT CRESTED, 100,
Z55, 338, 385, 400.

GREBE, LITTLE, 194, 400.

GREBE, RED-NECKED, 6, 199,
340, 383, 432, 462; predator of
salmon 286.

GREBE, SLAVONIAN, 227, 340,
400, 432, 462.

GREENFINCH, 213, 414.

GREENSHANK, 21, 59, 133, 198,
211, 231, 256, 386, 434, 437, 467,
503, 509.

GROSBEAK, SCARLET, 172, 175,
357; Foula 240.

INDEX

521

GROUSE, RED, 406, 444, 474; St
Kilda 329.

GUILLEMOT, 111, 410.

GUILLEMOT BLACK, 86,
£125) 202," S43, “459:

GULL, BLACK-HEADED, 51, 60,
77, 203, 207, 262, 281, 388, 389,
410, 459, 467, 497.

GULL, COMMON,
389, 410, 445, 499.

GULEMGEAUCOUS 317) 505, 775) 80
1005 2024 21 231,) 25755278, A10,
434, 463.

GULL, GREATER BLACK-
BACKED (7... 32, 74.4116, - 120;
202, 261, 410.

GULL, HERRING, 32, 74, 116, 198,
262, 410. 446, 459.

GUEEsIGELAN TD s9:7;> 60265, 477;
129, 194, 198, 199, 211, 410, 434,
490, 497.

GULL, IVORY, 442; Fife 151.

GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACK-
EDS 65:.. 745.198... 2305, 257, - 278;
410, 464.

GUE BEETLE, 65, 118. 129,133,
176, 199, 202, 232, 279, 339, 384,
431, 444, 464, 467, .499, 505;
East Lothian in summer 37;
Angus and Fife 1953-56 362.

GULL. MEDITERRANEAN
BLACK-HEADED 117.

HARRIER, HEN, 128, 130,
341, 430, 463, 501.

HARRIER, MARSH, 99, 279, 341;

100,

60, 134, 280,

194,

Kirkcudbright, West Stirling
and Aberdeen 122; Caithness
426.

HAWFINCH, 132, 206, 340, 414, 462;
Aberdeen 98; Tiree 154.

HERON, 56, 108, 206, 260, 384, 403,
457; feeding on carrion 92; il-
lustration 447.

HERON, NIGHT, 31, 228, 354, 355,
443, 496.

HOBBY, 31, 444: Inverness 275.

HOOPOE, 118, 344, 345, 445; Perth
38, 276; Inverness 38, 126; Mid-
lothian 126; Fife, Roxburgh
and Arran 276; Selkirk 427.

IBIS, GLOSSY, Tiree 66.

JACKDAW, 21, 132, 238, 412.

PAYNE 100:, 212- “Ayr 18

b2Z SCOTTISH BIRDS

KESTREL, 58, 206, 384, 406, 502;
assisted passage to Norway 123;
killing Treecreeper 492.

KINGFISHER, 339, 411, 497.
KITE, 118; Aberdeen 11.

Kit Din A Ke 11591325 617655262,
281, 459, 477; North Perth 15.

KNOT, 59, 63, 65, 128, 179, 201, 207,
261, 341, 436.
LAPWING, 7, 58, 124, 206, 231, 261,
409; unusual egg colour 13.
LARK, SHORE, 119, 212, 386.
LARK, SHORT-TOED, 60, 257.
CINNIB® °213;,/226) 415.
MAGPIE, 65, 206, 412, 460, 497.
MALLARD, 56, 100, 128, 228, 260,
403, 437.

MARTIN, HOUSE, 60, 99, 129, 157,
205, 207, 385, 411, 465, 506.

MARTIN, SAND, 61, 74, 257, 411,
465, 506.

MERGANSER, RED-BREASTED,
56, 178, 228, 340, 404, 458, 500.

MERLIN, 58, 119, 261, 502.

MOORHEN, 58, 134, 256, 406.

NIGHTINGALE, 61, 257.

NIGHTJAR, 410.

OSPREY, 120, 130, 164, 168, 207,
229, 275, 279, 352, 384. 406, 459.

474, 501; successful breeding on
Speyside 149; Aberlady 427.
OUZ EL, RING 208) 232) 57-6 204.

385, 412; illustration 247.
OWL, BARN, 339, 410, 431, 460.
OWL, sein et 120 A125) 1986330.

nesting in Scotland 37; Mid-

lothian 453.

OWL, LONG-EARED, 60, 232, 257,

411, 431, 460; numerous in Ab-

erdeen 17.

OWL, SHORT-EARED, 26, 60, 74,
120) 2575.) 202, . 3894: Moray,
38.

OWL, SNOWY, Kincardine 238.

OWE) AW VENIYS 9 2058) 411004372

OMe TENGMALM’S, Orkney

3.

OYSDER CAR EHRs Sik ilonnl33;
261, 409, 508.

PARTRIDGE, 345, 406; nesting at
high altitude 186.

PARTRIDGE, RED-LEGGED,
Roxburgh 94,

Vol. 1

PELICAN sp., Isle of May 354, 356.

PEREGRINE, 6, 58, 134, 211, 261,
406, 502.

ae ne LEACH’S, 30, 46, 64, 110,
SL

PETREL) STORM 2 AG:
432.

PHALA ROPE, IGRinere 205, 2516
343, 384, 434, 444.

PHAVAROPE, RED-NECKED,
23, 279:

PHEASANT, 345, 406.

PINTAIL, 56, 228, 403, 458.

PIPIT, MEADOW, 57, 62, 226, 264,
265, 414; albino 43, 239.

PIPIL, ROCK} Zisiiae 1258 264-
Kinross 97.

PIPIf, DREE 62.14

PLOVER, AMERICAN GOLDEN,
256; Fair Isle 68; identification
of 69; illustration 75.

PLOVER, GOLDEN Gan 08) 207,
231, 261, 279, 409.

PLOVER, GREY, 84, 99, 200, 231,
279, 341, 384, 433, 444, 464, 502.

PLOVER, RINGED, 58,: 63, 118,
130. 132, 206, (261459:

POCHARD, 388, 404, 432.

tga RED Ck sdee 17;

111, 260,

PTARMIGAN, 21.

PUFFIN, 111, 478; unusual mortal-
ity of young on St Kilda 1959
218.

QUATE, 77. 130) 178; (256; 280) “406;
459, 474, 497.

RAIL, WATER, 27, 58, 65, 73, 99,
118, 258. 261, 345, 386, 406, 502:
Wester Ross 12; song 187.

RAVEN, 116, 262, 411; feeding hab-
its in Shetland 17.

RAZORBILL 112, 343, 478.

REDPOLL, 62, 264, 344, 465, 508.

REDPOLL, GREENLAND, 62.

REDPOLEL, PESSHRaZiag 7. 15:

REDPOLL, MEALY, 77, 100, 465.

REDSHANK, 59, 63, 207, 261, 384,
409, 489.

REDSHANK, SPOTTED, 6, 31, 84,
990)" 128; “175s 200 207 ae2oll ae 2 50:
341, 345, 384, 436, 444, 463, 503;
Moray and Nairn 33; autumn
1958 71.

Vol. 1

REDSTART, 33, 61, 129, 208, 264,
281, 385, 413, 434.

REDSTART, BLACK, 32, 82, 84,
172, 198, 232, 257, 298, 355; Ab-
erdeen 73.

REDWING, 21, 61, 63, 203, 213, 264,
265, 412, 489, 497, 507; overland
mass migration 97: breeding in
Sutherland 190; breeding in
Ross 454.

ROBIN, 210, 232, 264, 344, 385, 413,
507, 509.

ROLLER, 97; Shetland 72,
Orkney 96.

ROOK, 21, 61, 215, 411.

RUFF, 7, 59, 128, 189, 194, 202, 207,
279, 330, 343, 384, 387, 431, 437,
464, 467, 505.

SANDERLING, 7, 21, 59, 63, 65, 128,
133, 202, 269, 279, 342, 387.
SANDPIPER, BUFF-BREASTED,
65, 117, 257, 444; East Lothian

and Sutherland 334.

SANDPIPER. COMMON, 59, 409,
464, 465.

SAN OPIPER -CURLEW, 7, 98,
ae 207, 279, 342, 345, 384, 444,
05.

SANDPIPER, GREEN, 6, 200, 211,
Polen? Aan 2O5e258,, 341, 384. 465,
503; Solway 14.

SANDPIPER, MARSH, 101.

SANDPIPER, PECTORAL, 9%,
444, Dunbarton 236; East Stir-
ling 333; East Lothian 493.

SANDPIPER, PURPIEE,. 594200.

SANDPIPER. SEMI-PALMAT-
ED, 30, 76, 118; Isle of May 35.

SANDPIPER, SHARP-TAILED,
7, 254, 256; Lanark 94.

SANDPIPER, WHITE-RUMPED,
(118.

190;

SANDPIPER. WOOD, 31, 59, 101,
178, 200, 254, 256, 258, 278, 341,
345, 444, 445, 465, 498. 503; In-
verness, Lanark, East Lothian
124; breeding in Sutherland
150; breeding in West Inver-
ness 331.

SOA. 56, 199, 210, 228, 255, 278,
340, 404, 432, 458, 496.

SCOOTER, COMMON, 56, 65, 207,
a 278, 280 see 294, 404, 432,

INDEX 523

SCOTER, SURF, Outer Hebrides
145.

SCOTER, VELVET, 21. 117, 129,
133, 207, 255, 278, 404, 433; St
Kilda 491.

SHAG, 101, 115, 172, 227. 260, 477;
ilustration 419.

SHEARWATER, CORY’S, Firth
of Forth 8, 117.

SHEARWATER, MANX, 30, 74,
84, 174, 176, 177, 255, 495; spring
observations on St Kilda and
Rhum 46; inland in Perth 450.

SHEARWATER, SOOTY, 30, 56,
174, 176, 177, 199, 207, 260, 356,

357, 500: large numbers in
ae of Forth 144; early May
ie

SHELDUCK, 175, 228, 255, 340, 358,
385, 405, 430, 465, 496.

SHELDUCK, RUDDY, 405.

SOWIE Ss 0s AO WW AO
228, 384, 403, 500.

SHRIKE, GREAT GREY, 30, 66,
He 77 198) 2045, 212.5 233-5278,
344, 358, 387, 414, 435, 463, 507.

SHRIKE, LESSER GREY, 119;
Ayr 455,

SHRIKE, RED-BACKED, 83, 84,
173, 344, 489; Aberdeen 456.

SHRIKE. RED= TAILED, 445.

SISKGING 8) 119213 Ne 259e5 28086 344)
357 376, 414, 508 ; request for
information 479,

SINA, AIR CIMIC, WO, us, es. 197,
339, 434, 46/7, 505.

SKUA, GREAT, 60, 74, 76, 118, 156,
179, 259, 358, AAA breeding Papa
Westray, Orkney 14; North
Perth 15; nesting in Outer
Hebrides 124.

SKA, WONG MAIL HD! 32, 119
343; Lewis 125.

SKUA, POMARINE, 202, 207, 464.

SKYLARK, 60, 213, 226, 262, - 411,
434.

SMEW, 99, 210, 229, 255. 385, 404,
433, 462, 489.

SNIPE, 59, 225, 261, 389, 409.

SUNIURI ANGI ZAI G8) ADL AE As
409, 431.

SPARROWHAWEK, 21, 84, 405; at-
tacking intruder at nest 185.

SPARROW, HEDGE, 62, 134, 210,
258, 413.

524 SCOTTISH BIRDS

SPARROW. HOUSE, 63,
264, 415.

SPARROW, SONG, Fair Isle 254,
446.

210, 258,

SPARROW. TREE, 8, 62, 77, 206,
233, 383, 415, 431, 489, 498.
SPARROW, WHITE-THROAT-

ED, 446.

SPOONBILL, 31.

STARING 116) 21052112592 1559225:
226, 264, 283, 414, 436, 437; win-
ter breeding in Shetland 97.

STARLING, ROSE-COLOURED,
119; Wigtown 43; Shetland 193,
380; Dunbarton 456.

STILT, BLACK-WINGED, Ren-
frew 72.

STINT, LITTLE, 7 21, 59) 128; 201;
207, 231, 256, 261, 342, 356, 357,
384, 409, 444, 464, 467, 503; ex-
ceptional numbers in Moray
333.

STINT, TEMMINCK’S, 31.

STONEGHAG 2204). 212 9232.28
339, 413, 431, 460, 497, 507;
breeding in Shetland 455.

STORK, WHITE, 442; Fife 145:
Dumfries 451; iHustration 466.

SWALLOW, 21, 60, 77, 129, 134,
207, 384, 411, 506, 509.

SWAN, BEWICK’S, 6, 31, 99, 157,
211, 229, 278, 386.

SWAN, MUTE, 108, 120, 229, 405,
458: white cygnets at Dalbeat-
tie 93: illustration 103.

SWAN, WHOOPER, 21, 58, 68, 199.
291, 341, 348, 388, 405, 433, 458,
497, 501.

SWIFT, 21, 60, 116, 129, 199, 207,
280, 411, 465.

SWIFT, ALPINE, 118.

TEAL, 21, 56. 210, 228, 260, 294,
358, 383, 403.

TEAL, GREEN-WINGED, Aber-
deen 10, 117; Midlothian 490.

DERN, Sp.87,.99) 176; 3577

TERN, ARCTIC, 17, 280, 410, 445,
477; illustration 438.

TERN, (BLACK 32 ls) 7952203:
232, 280, 343, 468, 506; October
in Angus 16; South Uist and
South Perth 16.

TERN, COMMON, 7, 32. 215, 343,
387, 410, 478; illustration 85;

Vol. 1

feeding flight of inldnd nesting
birds 152.

TERN, GULL-BILLED, East Loth-
ian 335, 444.

TERN, LITTLE, 120, 280, 343, 445:
breeding in Wigtown 16.

TERN, ROSEATE, 118, 280, 343.

TERN, SAN DPWiIGHES 7 100) 157
206, 207, 410, 464, ‘478 « breeding
in Shetland 494. .

Rieee cs” BLACK-THROATED,

THRUSH, DUSKY, Argyll 238, 442.

THRUSH, “MISPER 232" 412 Sez

THRUSH, SONG, 213, 264, 265, 389,
412, 489, 507; bigamy and mul-
tiple nest building 126; carrying
young 190; illustration 282.

TIT. BLUE, 179, 198, 210, 412: un-
usual nests 18.

TIT, COAL, 210. 275.6 380:04 12: «4370
TIT, CRESTED, 32, 497; Moray 40.
TIT,. GREAT 17252209) 232" Al2:

TIT, LONG-TAILED, 194, 212, 226,
412, 446. 506.

TIT, MARSHES seam.

TIT, WILLOW, 383, 412.

TREECREEPER, 21, 100, 412, 460.

er 58,65, 118, 256, 26%

TWITE, 573 62,9205) 213) 220.0259
240, 436.

WAGTAIL, GREY, 120, 283, 414,
461; breeding in Lewis 19.

WAGTAIL, PIED, 177, 264, 340,
414, 509.
WAGTAIL, WHITE, 21) 5/,0n

ree 140, 177, 179, 207, 264, 340,
WAGTAILS, “YELLOW,” 127, 129,
204, 208, 280, 414, 461, 499, 507;
Blue-headed 129, 204, 258, 414;
Grey-headed 32, 62, 127, 499.
WARBLER, AQUATIC, 356, 357;
illustration 364.
WARBLER, ARCTIC,
356; Aberdeen 42.
WARBLER, BARRED, 61, 174,
175, 176, 204, 240, 356; Fife 19;
Lewis 380.
ea aes BLACK-and-WHITE,

119, “354

WARBLER, GARDEN, 61, 264,
281, 413, 461, 498.

Vol. 1

WARBLER, GRASSHOPPER, 129,
198, 281, 339, 355, 413, 461.
Bee LER, GREAT REED, 254,
WARBLER, ICTERINE, 83, 356:

Shetland 191.

WARBLER, MARSH, 240.

WARBLER, REED, 174.

WARBLER, SEDGE, 61, 208, 413,
461, 465.

WARBLER, SUBALPINE, Isle of
May 41, 76.

WARBLER, WILLOW, 61, 207,
226, 264. 413, 467.

WARBLER, WOOD, 61, 257, 413.

WARBLER, YELLOW-BROWED,
62, 177, 258, 357, 445; Lewis 239;
Stirling 380.

WAXWING, 76, 101, 178, 204, 210,
278, 344, 386, 414, 445, 463; in-
vasion of, 1958 102; invasion of,
1959 241.

WHEATEAR, 61, 207, 264, 297,
412, 507.
Tae “GREENLAND,”

WHEATEAR, PIED, 257.

WHIMBREL, 6, 21, 59, 133, 207,
215, 341, 386, 387, 409, 465;

breeding in Lewis 13: illustra-

INDEX 925

tion 382; breeding in Suther-
land 427.

WHINCHAT,, 61, 204, 208, 413, 465.

WHITETHROAT, 61, 174, 413, 461,
465, 489.

WHITETHROAT, LESSER, 84,
119, 173, 355, 357, 385, 413; Skye
and Wester Ross 41.

WIGEON, 56, 260, 403, 500.

WOODCOCK, 59, 261, 409; White,
in East Sutherland 493.

WOODPECKER, GREAT SPOT-
TED, 194, 206, 411, 497.

WOODPECKER, GREEN, 33, 132,
206, 232, 257, 383, 411, 460: Lan-
ark, in 73, breeding 454; breed-
ing Dumfries 379.

WOODPIGEON, 60, 101, 211, 232,
410.

WREN, 33, 262, 412.

WRYNECK, 83, 8&4, 118, 120, 173,
344, 356, 357: South-east Suth-
erland 39: illustration 364; In-
verness 494,

YELLOWHAMMER, 86, 119, 415.

YELLOWLEGS, GREATER, 189,
256; Aberdeen 94.

YELLOWLEGS, LESSER, Aber-
deen 188, 442.

526 SCOTTISH BIRDS

SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF SPECIES INCLUDED IN

Vol. 1

INDEX

Species not included in the index are not included here. Some obsolete scientific

names, an

da few Scotish vernacular names, are used in the text. These are not

included here, but the identity is usually clear from the text, or from the use of

scientific and vernacular names together.

Except for the order of species within certain genera, scientific nomenclature
follows the 1952 B.O.U. Check-List of the Birds of Great Britain and Ireland with
the changes recommended in 1956 by the Taxonomic Sub-Committee (bis 98:
158-168), and the 1957 decisions of the International Commission on Zoological

Nomenclature (Ibis 99: 569).

English names follow The Handbook of British Birds with the alterations de-
tailed in British Birds in January 1953 (46: 2-3) and January 1956 (49: 5).

Gavia immer Great Northern Diver

Gavia adamsii White-billed Diver

Gavia arctica Black-throated Diver

Gavia stellata Red-throated Diver

Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps griseigena Red-necked Grebe

Podiceps auritus Slavonian Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps ruficollis Little Grebe

Oceanodroma leucorrhéa Leach’s Pet-
rel

Hydrobates pelagicus Storm Petrel

Procellaria puffinus Manx Shearwater

Procellaria diomeda Cory’s Shearwater

Procellaria grisea Sooty Shearwater

Fulmarus glacialis Fulmar

Sula bassana Gannet

Phalacrocorax carbo Cormorant

Phalacrocorax aristotelis Shag

Pelecanus sp. Pelican

Ardea cinerea Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax Night Heron

Ixobrychus minutus Little Bittern

Botaurus stellaris Bittern

Ciconia ciconia White Stork

Platalea leucorodia Spoonbill

Plegadis falcinellus Glossy Ibis

Anas platyrhynchos Mallard

Anas crecca Teal

Anas crecca carolinensis Green-winged
Teal

Anas querquedula Garganey

Anas strepera Gadwall

Anas penelope Wigeon
Anas americana Baldpate
Anas acuta Pintail

Spatula clypeata Shoveler

Netta rufina Red-crested Pochard
Aythya marila Scaup

Aythya fuligula Tufted Duck
Aythya ferina Pochard

Bucephala clangula Goldeneye
Clangula hyemalis Long-tailed Duck
Melanitta fusca Velvet Scoter
Melanitta perspicillata Surf Scoter

Melanitta nigra Common Scoter

Polysticta stelleri Steller’s Hider

Somateria mollissima Eider

Somateria spectabilis King Hider

Mergus merganser Goosander

Mergus serrator Red-breasted Mergan-
ser

Mergus albellus Smew

Tadorna tadorna Shelduck

Casarca ferruginea Ruddy Shelduck

Anser anser Grey Lag Goose

Anser albifrons White-fronted Goose

Anser erythropus Lesser White-fronted
Goose

Anser arvensis arvensis Bean Goose

Anser arvensis brachyrhynchus Pink-
footed Goose

Anser caerulescens Snow Goose

Branta bernicla Brent Goose

Branta leucopsis Barnacle Goose

Branta canadensis Canada Goose

Branta ruficollis Red-breasted Goose

Cygnus olor Mute Swan

Cygnus cygnus Whooper Swan

Cygnus columbianus Bewick’s Swan

Aquila chrysaetos Golden Eagle

Buteo buteo Buzzard

Buteo lagopus Rough-legged Buzzard

Accipiter nisus Sparrowhawk

Accipiter gentilis Goshawk

Milvus milvus Kite

Pernis apivorus Honey Buzzard

Circus aeruginosus Marsh Harrier

Circus cyaneus Hen Harrier

Pandion haliaetus Osprey

Falco subbuteo Hobby

Falco peregrinus Peregrine

Falco rusticolus Gyr Falcon
Falco rusticolus candicans Greenland
Falcon

Falco columbarius Merlin

Falco vespertinus Red-footed Falcon

Falco tinnunculus Kestrel

Lagopus lagopus Red Grouse

Lagopus mutus Ptarmigan

Tetrao wurogallus Capercaillie

Alectoris rufa Red-legged Partridge

Perdix perdix Partridge

Coturnix coturnix Quail

Phasianus colchicus ~ Pheasant

Megalornis grus Crane

Rallus aquaticus Water Rail

Porzana porzana Spotted Crake

Porzana parva Little Crake

Crex crex Corncrake

Gallinula chloropus Moorhen

Fulica atra Coot

Haematopus ostralegus Oystercatcher

Vanellus vanellus Lapwing

Charadrius hiaticula Ringed Plover

Charadrius squatarola Grey Plover

Charadrius apricarius Golden Plover

Charadrius dominicus American/ Asia-
tic Golden Plover

Charadrius morinellus Dotterel

Vol. 1

Arenaria interpres Turnstone
Limnodromus sp. Dowitcher
Gallinago gallinago Snipe
Limnocryptes minimus Jack Snipe.
Scolopax rusticola Woodcock
Numenius arquata Curlew
Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel
Numenius tenuirostris Slender-billed
Curlew
Limosa limosa Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit
Tringa ochropus Green Sandpiper
Tringa glareola Wood Sandpiper

Tringa hypoleucos Common Sandpiper
Tringa totanus Redshank
Tringa erythropus Spotted Redshank

Tringa melanoleuca Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa flavipes Lesser Yellowlegs
Tringa nebularia Greenshank

Tringa stagnatilis Marsh Sandpiper
Calidris canutus Knot

Calidris maritima Purple Sandpiper
Calidris minuta Little Stint

Calidris temminckii Temminck’s Stint
Calidris fuscicollis White-rumped Sand-

piper
Calidris melanotos Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris acuminata Sharp-tailed Sand-

piper
Calidris alpina Dunlin
Calidris testacea Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla Semi-palmated Sand-
piper

Crocethia alba Sanderling

Tryngites subruficollis Buff-breasted
Sandpiper

Philomachus pugnax Ruff

Recurvirostra avosetta Avocet

Himantopus himantopus Black-winged
Stilt

Phalaropus fulicarius Grey Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatus Red-necked Phala-
rope

Catharacta skua Great Skua

Stercorarius pomarinus Pomarine Skua

Stercorarius parasiticus Arctic Skua

Stercorarius longicaudus Long-tailed
Skua

Pagophila eburnea Ivory Gull

Larus marinus Greater Black-backed
Gull

Larus fuscus Lesser Black-backed Gull

Larus argentatus Herring Gull
Larus canus Common Gull

Larus hyperboreus Glaucous Gull
Larus glaucoides Iceland Gull

Larus melanocephaius Mediterranean

Black-headed Gull
Larus minutus Little Gull
Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull
Rissa tridactyla Kittiwake
Chlidonias niger Black Tern
Gelochelidon nilotica Gull-billed Tern
Sterna hirundo Common Tern
Sterna macrura Arctic Tern
Sterna dougallii Roseate Tern
Sterna albifrons Little Tern
Sterna sandvicensis Sandwich Tern

INDEX 527

Alca torda Razorbill

Plautus alle Little Auk

Uria aalge Guillemot

Cepphus grylle Black Guillemot
Fratercula arctica Puffin
Columba oenas Stock Dove
Columba livia Rock Dove
Columba palumbus Woodpigeon
Streptopelia turtur Turtle Dove
Streptopelia decaocto Collared Dove
Streptopelia risoria Barbary Dove

Cuculus canorus Cuckoo
Clamator glandarius Great Spotted
Cuckoo

Tyto alba Barn Owl

Nyctea scandiaca Snowy Owl

Athene noctua Little Owl

Strix aluco Tawny Owl

Asio otus Long-eared Owl

Asio flammeus Short-eared Owl

Aegolius funereus Tengmalm’s Owl

Caprimulgus europaeus Nightjar

Apus apus Swift

Apus melba Alpine Swift

Alcedo atthis Kingfisher

Merops apiaster Bee-eater

Coracias garrulus Roller

Upupa epops Hoopoe

Picus viridis Green Woodpecker

Dendrocopos major - Great Spotted
Woodpecker

Jynx torquilla Wryneck

Calandrella cinerea Short-toed Lark

Alauda arvensis Skylark

Eremophila alpestris Shore Lark

Hirundo rustica Swallow

Delichon urbica House Martin

Riparia riparia Sand Martin

Corvus corax Raven

Corvus corone corone Carrion Crow

Corvus ecorone cornix Hooded Crow

Corvus frugilegus Rook
Corvus monedula Jackdaw
Pica ca Magpie

Garullus glandarius Jay
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Chough

Parus major Great Tit
Parus caeruleus Blue Tit
Parus ater Coal Tit

Parus cristatus Crested Tit
Parus palustris Marsh Tit
Parus montanus Willow Tit

Aegithalos caudatus Long-tailed Tit
Certhia familiaris Treecreeper

Troglodytes troglodytes Wren
Cinclus cinclus Dipper

Turdus viscivorus Mistle Thrush
Turdus vpilaris Fieldfare

Turdus philomelos Song Thrush

Turdus musicus Redwing

Turdus eunomus Dusky Thrush
Turdus ruficollis Black-throated Thrush
Turdus torquatus Ring Ouzel
Turdus merula Blackbird

Oenanthe oenanthe Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe leucorrhoa ‘‘Green-
land’’ Wheatear

Oenanthe leucomela Pied Wheatear

528 SCOTTISH BIRDS

Saxicola torquata Stonechat
Sazicola rubetra Whinchat
Phoenicurus phoenicurus Redstart
Phoenicurus ochruros Black Redstart
Luscinia megarhynchos Nightingale
Cyanosylvia svecica Bluethroat
Erithacus rubecula Robin
Locustella naevia Grasshopper Warbler
Acrocephalus arundinaceus Great Reed
Warbler
Acrocephalus
Acrocephalus

Scirpaceus Reed Warbler
palustris Marsh Warbler

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Sedge
Warbler

Acrocephalus paludicola Aquatic War-
bler

Hippolais icterina Icterine Warbler

Sylvia atricapilla Blackcap

nisoria Barred Warbler

borin Garden Warbler

communis Whitethroat

Sylvia curruca Lesser Whitethroat

Sylvia cantillans Subalpine Warbler

Phylloscopus trochilus Willow Warbler

Phylloscopus collybita Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus_ sibilatrix Wood Warbler

Phylloscopus borealis Arctic Warbler

Phylloscopus inornatus Yellow-browed
Warbler

Regulus regulus Goldcrest

Regulus ignicapillus Firecrest

Muscicapa striata Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa hypoleuca Pied Flycatcher

Sylvia
Sylvia
Sylvia

Muscicapa parva Red-breasted’' Fly-
catcher

Prunella modularis Hedge Sparrow or
Dunnock

Anthus trivialis Tree Pipit

Anthus pratensis Meadow Pipit
Anthus spinoletta Rock Pipit
Motacilla alba yarrelli Pied Wagtail
Motacilla alba alba White Wagiail
Motacilla cinerea Grey Wastail
Motacilla flava ‘Yellow’ Wagtails
Motacilla flava flava Blue-headed Wag-
tail

Vol. 1

Motacilla flava thunbergi Grey-headed
Wagtail

Bombycilla garrulus Waxwing

Lanius excubitor Great Grey Shrike

Lanius minor Lesser Grey Shrike

Lanius cristatus ssp. Red-tailed Shrike

Lanius cristatus collurio Red-backed
Shrike

Sturnus vulgaris Starling

Sturnus roseus Rose-coloured Starling

Mniotilta varia Black-and-White War-
bler
Coccothraustes coccothraustes Hawfinch

Chloris chloris Greenfinch
Carduelis carduelis Goldfinch
Carduelis spinus Siskin
Carduelis cannabina Linnet

Carduelis flavirostris Twite

Carduelis flammea Redpoll

Pyrrhula pyrrhula Bullfinch

Carpodacus erythrinus Scarlet Grosbeak

Lozxia curvirostra Crossbill (N.B. Some
notes on ‘“‘Crossbills’” refer to Scot-
tish Crossbills).

Loxia pityopsittacus scotica Scottish
Crossbill
Loxia leucoptera Two-barred Crossbill

Fringilla coelebs Chaffinch

Fringilla montifringilla Brambling

Zonothricia albicollis White-throated
Sparrow

Melospiza melodia Song Sparrow

Emberiza calandra Corn Bunting

Emberiza citrinella Yellowhamer

Emberiza bruniceps Red-headed Bun-
ting

Emberiza aureola Yellow-breasted Bun-
ting ;

Emberiza hortulana Ortolan Bunting
Emberiza rustica Rustic Bunting
Emberiza pusilla Little Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclus Reed Bunting
Calcarius lapponicus Lapland Bunting
Plectrophenax nivalis Snow Bunting
Passer domesticus House Sparrow
Passer montanus Tree Sparrow

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HALL NT a IY OE aE RE EE

Pee ile Rees oe

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SsCOTTISH
em BIRDS

The Journal of
The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club

= Vol, I Special Supplement Summer 1961

THE BIRDS OF DUDDINGSTON LOCH
EDINBURGH

FIVE Sa rLE Lin Gs

THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB

HE Scottish Ornithologists’ Club was founded in 1936 and membership

is open to all interested in Scottish ornithology. Meetings are held

during the winter months in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and

St Andrews, at which lectures by prominent ornithologists are given and

films exhibited. Excursions are organised in the summer to places of
ornithological interest.

The aims and objects of the Club are to (a) encourage and direct the
study of Scottish: Ornithology in all its branches; (b) co-ordinate the
efforts of Scottish Ornithologists and encourage co-operation between field
and indoor worker; (c) encourage ornithological research in Scotland in
co-operation with other organisations; (d) hold meetings at centres to be
arranged at which Lectures are given, films exhibited, and discussions held;
and (e) publish or arrange for the publication of statistics and information
with regard to Scottish ornithology.

There are no entry fees tor Membership. The Annual subscription is
25/-; or 7/6 in the case of Members under twenty-one years of age or in
the case of University undergraduates who satisfy the Council of their status
as such at the time at which their subscriptions fall due in any year.
Joint membership is available to married couples at an annual subscrip-
tion of 40/-. “Scottish Birds” is issued free to members, but Joint mem-
bers will receive only one copy between them.

The affairs of the Club are controlled by a Council composed of the Hon.
Presidents, the President, the Vice-President, the tion. Treasurer, one
Representative of each Branch Committee appointed annually by the
Branch, and ten other Members of the Club elected at an Annual General
Meeting. Two of the last named retire annually by rotation and shall not
be eligible for re-election for one year.

A Scottish Bird Records’ Committee, appointed by the Council, produce
an annual Keport on “Ornithological Changes in Scotland.”

An official tie with small white Crested Tits embroidered on it can be
obtained in dark green or in navy blue by Members only from Messrs R.
W. Forsyth Ltd., Princes Street, Edinburgh, or 5 Renfield Street. Glasgow,
C.2.at a cost of 16s 9d post extra. A small brooch in silver and blue can be
obtained for the use o1 Alembers ot the Club. Price 2s 6d each from the
Secretary, or from Hon. Branch Secretaries.

Forms of application for Membership, copy of the Club Constitution,
and other literature is obtainable from the Club Secretary, Mrs George
Waterston, Scottish Centre for Ornithology and Bird Protection, 21
Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7. (Tel. Waverley 6042).

CLUB-ROOM AND LIBRARY

The Club-room and Library at 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7, will
be available to members during office hours, and on Wednesday evenings
from 7 to 10 p.m. (except the Wednesdays of Branch Meetings). Mem-
bers may use the Reference Library and borrow books from the Dupli-
cate Section. Facilities for making tea or coffee are available at a nominal
charge and members may bring guests by arrangement. The Aldis 2” x
2” slide projector and screen may be used for the informal showing of
slides at a charge of 2s 6d per night to cover the replacement of bulbs.

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

All notes dealing with birds in the eastern Lowlands, from Berwick-on-
Tweed to Dundee, should be submitted to A. T. Macmillan, 66 Spylaw
3ank Road. Edinburgh, 13; all other contributions to M. F. M. Meikle-
john, 16 Athole Gardens, Glasgow, W.2. It would be helpful if notes were
typewritten, if possible, and double spaced.

SCOTTISH BIRDS &

KZ LLL

THE JOURNAL OF THE SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGIS1'S’ CLUB

Vol. I. Special Supplement Summer 1961

Edited by M. F. M. MEIKLEJOHN, with the assistance of D. G. ANDREW and
A. T. MACMILLAN, Business Editor, ArR?1HUR J. SMITH. Cover design
(Whimbrel) by LEN FULLERTON. Published quarterly.

THE BIRDS OF DUDDINGSTON LOCH, EDINBURGH
Foreword

by” sik CHAREES “G. CONNELL

Chairman, The Committee on Bird Sanctuaries in the Royal Parks (Scotland)

[ WELCOME the invitation to write a short foreword to this

publication. When the Sanctuary was established by H.M.
Office (now Ministry) of Works in 1925 notes were kept on the
birds by a number of observers and this practice has continued
ever since. For some years an annual report containing a
record of these observations was published, but as it had a
small circulation and a limited value it was discontinued. The
Committee has now decided that a Check-List, which it is
hoped may be brought up to date from time to time, will be
more useful as a record of what can be seen at Duddingston
and how the Sanctuary has succeeded in its purpose.

The description of the Sanctuary written by the late Pro-._ |

fessor James Ritchie of Edinburgh University is of great
interest, and this gives me the opportunity of paying tribute
to his outstanding work for Natural History in Scotland. He
was Chairman of the Committee from 1955 until 1958 and was
largely responsible for the developments which have made
the Sanctuary so successful. In addition to Professor Ritchie's
contribution there is the Check-List of the birds prepared by
Mr Duncan R. Anderson and Mr George Waterston which
consists of a summary of the published records of birds seen
within the Sanctuary area at the Loch and includes all records
up to the end of 1960. It is hoped that this will form the basis
for further observation and study of the birds of the Loch
and its surroundings. The illustrations are designed to show
the types of habitat found in the Sanctuary area.

I wish to record here the Committee’s appreciation of the
grant made available by The Ministry of Works which has
enabled the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club to publish this Sup-
plement to their journal, “Scottish Birds.” Copies may be
obtained at a cost of 5s (postage 2d extra) from The Scottish
Centre for Ornithology and Bird Protection at 21 Regent
Terrace, Edinburgh 7. CHARLES G. CONNELL.

1(SS)

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1961 395),

DUDDINGSTON LOCH BIRD SANCTUARY
in the Royal Park of Holyrood, Edinburgh

By the late Professor JAMES RITCHIE, C.B.E., M.A., D.SC.

Introduction

Duddingston Loch and its surroundings, in the Royal Park
of Holyrood, has many claims to interest. It is relatively
secluded, in spite of its proximity to Edinburgh, within the
municipal boundaries of which it lies. Its situation is im-
pressive, at the foot of Arthur’s Seat, the relic of a volcano
of palaeozoic times, and in view of signs of earlier volcanic
activity like the basalt columns of Samson’s Ribs and the
eminences of the Hangman’s Hill and the Lion’s Haunch. For
the historian it has its own particular interest and for the
naturalist the variety of its haunts and of their vegetable and
animal inhabitants, and its place as a refuge for summer nest-
ing birds and for great congregations of autumn migrants
from the far north, make it a source of unending surprise and
pleasure. |

‘The purpose of this account of the Sanctuary is to indicate
some of its outstanding interests, for the benefit of the visitor
to Edinburgh who might be unaware of its existence, of the
youthful naturalist who would find variety and exercise in
identifying birds and observing their habits, of the teacher |
who could find no better place for introducing his pupils to
nature’s diversity and the seasonal changes in plant and bird
life, and of the expert naturalist on the look-out for fresh ex-
perience and new knowledge. The “Check-List” also aims at
putting on record details of the birds observed within the
Sanctuary, in order to aid visitors in the identification of
species and to fix a base-line from which future changes in
population may be gauged; for we know that in this limited
area alterations in the bird population take place with re-.
markable rapidity whenever a fluctuating water level affects:
the surroundings of the Loch.

Duddingston Loch

Duddingston Loch is a natural lake formed after the re-
cession of the glaciers of the Ice Age, which have left the
marks of their passage, grooves and scratches running west
and east, upon a glaciated rock bordering the Queen’s Drive
nearby. The present Loch is fed by spring water from the
Wells o’ Wearie near the base of the basalt pillars known as
Samson’s Ribs, and its outlet flows south-eastward into the
Braid Burn near Duddingston Station. Contracted by drainage
of the surrounding land and by accumulations of silt from the

396 1(SS)

hill and organic debris from its own plant life, the Loch is
now reduced to some 30 acres, including its reed-bed. Its maxi-
mum depth is 10 feet and its average depth slightly over 5
feet. Perhaps the nearest recorded approach to its prehistoric
dimensions occurred on September 13th, 1744, when a
“water-spout” broke upon the top of Arthur’s Seat with such
force and volume that one branch of the deluge carried away
the gable of the most western cottage in Duddingston village,
“flooded the Loch over the adjacent meadows,” and contribu-
ted to the silting up of the Loch, while the other branch tore
out a rocky channel to the south of the summit, known as the
“Gutted Haddie” (Scots for ‘disembowelled haddock’).

Even a couple of centuries ago the Loch must still have
considerably exceeded its present area, for in his mature
years Lord Henry Cockburn (1779-1854) recorded that when
he was a boy “tne reeds were then regularly cut over, by
means of short scythes, with very long nandles, close to the
ground, and this made Duddingston Loch nearly twice its
present size. All between the loch and the house (of Preston-
field) was a sort of Dutch garden, admirably kept.”

What the Loch looked like in the days before Scottish his-
tory began we do not know, but we know that prehistoric
peoples lived in its neighbourhood and may have fished in its
waters. When the Queen’s Drive was being constructed in
1846 a Bronze Age burial with cinerary urn was unearthed
just above Samson’s Ribs (that would carry us back some
3,000 years), and almost directly above the Loch bronze swords
were found. But the most exciting discovery was made in an
odd way in the Loch itself. In 1772 Sir Alexander Dick of
Prestontield, in order to increase the fertility of his fields,
commenced to dredge a deposit of marl clay from the bed of
the Loch. He used a flat-bottomed boat which dragged after it
a weighted leather bag in which the calcareous mud collected.
This is how he described the discovery of August 9th, 1775:
“In the third year of my progress, in dragging successfully
great quantities of marl, now and then I met, in the middle of
the Loch, with large fragments of deer’s horns of an uncom-
mon magnitude. As my operations were proceeding northward,
about 150 yards from the verge of the lake, next to the King’s
Park, the people employed in dredging in places deeper than
usual after having removed the first surfaces of fat blackish
mould, got into a bed of shell marl from five to seven feet
deep, from which they brought up in the collecting bag a very
weighty substance, which when examined, as it was thrown
into the marl boat, was found to be a heap of swords, spears,
and other lumps of brass, mixed with the purest shell marl.”

The greater part of this discovery was presented, along with
the letter quoted above, to the newly founded Society of
Antiquaries of Scotland in 1780; it was their first donation of

1961 397

relics and it remains “the largest hoard of bronze implements
recorded from Scotland.” The 49 items still extant were de-
scribed by Dr J. G. Callander and identified as of late Bronze
Age, that is about 2,700 years ago.

‘Does this remarkable find of broken and battered swords
and spear-heads suggest a votive offering to the deities of the
Loch or, perhaps more likely, the scrap collected by a pre-
historic bronze founder for recasting? Sir Daniel Wilson
thought they might indicate the position of a lake-dwelling
or crannog, a house or houses raised above the water surface
on wooden piles, and built away from the shore for safety.
His idea is supported by the fact that at one time piles of
some sort projected from the bed of the Loch, for the Rev.
John Thomson, the famous Scottish landscape painter, incum-
bent of the loch-side manse of Duddingston from 1805 to 1840,
was accustomed to attach his boat to wooden piles when he
was fishing or sketching in the Loch. But if a crannog existed
there in the late Bronze Age it would be unique in Scotland
because of its early date and in its construction on unusually
long piles.

A glimpse of the prehistoric natural history of the loch-side
is also given by these marl dredgings. They contained human
skulls and "large fragments of deer’s horns of an uncommon
magnitude.” The human skulls were never examined and have
disappeared and so have the horns; but we can conclude that
large Red Deer (comparable with the great stag whose antlers
were found in the Meadows in Edinburgh in a similar bed of
marl in 1781) roamed about the Loch in a forest of oak trees
and hazel scrub, remains of which were found under deposits
of peat and gravel during ditching and draining in the neigh-
bouring fields in the eighteenth century). As well as those
of Red Deer the antlers included, according to a contemporary
note by Alexander Smellie, a well known Edinburgh natural-
ist, antlers of the Elk, an imposing deer now confined to
northern Europe and Asia, but up to Roman times a native of
the Scottish lowlands.

The Loch itself has yielded evidence of the Roman occupa-
tion for a copper coin reported as of the Emperor Tacitus (275-
276 A.D.) was dredged from marl the year after the bronze
hoard was discovered.

This is not the place for tracing the history of the locality,
but visitors to the Sanctuary cannot fail to notice the church
of Norman architecture, still used as the parish church, which
dominates the north-east bank of the Loch. Its main structure
dates back to the twelfth century and is modified only by an
aisle on the north side added in 1631, Until the Reformation
this church was under the patronage of the Abbey of Kelso.
Two relics of its more recent past exist at the church gate—an

398 1(SS)

iron collar (the “jougs”) for the church’s punishment of mis-
behaviour, and a “loupin-on-stane”’ for the convenience, in
days before roads and carriages, of the farmer’s wife when
she rode on horseback behind her husband.

It may also be recalled that on the slope of Arthur’s Seat
overlooking Duddingston Loch, on September 19th, 1745, part
of the army of Prince Charles Edward was encamped before
marching to defeat General Cope at the Battle of Prestonpans.
Nearly two centuries earlier, on May 10th, 1572, the Windy
Gow] was the scene of a battle between the forces of the Earl
of Huntly (Queen Mary’s men) and those of the Regent, the
Earl of Morton.

Duddingston Loch Bird Sanctuary

Duddingston Loch must long have been regarded as a
private bird reserve, for as early as 1680 the Duke of Lauder-
dale placed swans in it, but it was not until December 1923,
when W. K. Askew, Esq., of Ladykirk presented the Loch and
the land immediately surrounding it to the nation, that the
idea of a national sanctuary became practicable. By this gift
the area became part of the Royal Park of Holyrood and the
then First Commissioner of Works, Viscount Peel, impressed
by the success of Bird Sanctuaries established in the Royal
Parks in England, decided to set up in Scotland a Committee
to consider similar action. This Committee, under the chair-
manship of Lord Elphinstone, was formed in 1925, and after
examining the two Royal Parks in Scotland considered that
while Linlithgow Loch. for several reasons, was unsuitable,
Duddingston Loch would make an interesting and attractive
Bird Sanctuary. Its merit lav in its considerable extent of
fresh water, the richness of its food suovly of aquatic vege-
tation and animals, the variety of its surroundings, its relative
shelter from wind, and its proximity to the Firth of Forth, a
noted area for winter immigrants.

The Sanctuary having been constituted, steos were at once
taken to improve it. A strip of ground 33 acres in extent, gen-
erously given to the nation by His Grace the Duke of Aber-
corn, was incorporated to give access to the surroundings.
Additional cover and nesting sites were provided by the plant-
ing of shrubs and trees, berry-bearing shrubs and _ trees
designed to attract winter migrants, and conifers, low willows,
alders, poplars and white beam were placed alongside the
adjoining railway line partly for shelter and partly to check
the damage from live cinders ejected by engines climbing the
up-grade, which had previously started considerable fires in
the Sanctuary area. A small group of voluntary bird-observers
Was appointed, to whose expert records made throughout the
years is due most of the information in the Bird List which
follows, Lastly a Warden was employed during the nesting

1961 399

season to protect the birds and their eggs from trespassers,
and a fence was erected at vulnerable boundaries.

The level of the Loch which lies just below the 150’ contour
line above sea-level, was subject to changes which affected
the surrounding areas, but this has been corrected by. the
clearing of channels and ditches, and particularly by the con-
struction of a control on the outlet to the Braid burn. Obser-
vation of the birds themselves by the official: observers has
been improved by the erection of “hides” on the border of
the reeds, and by the cutting of wide swathes through the
reed-bed, which at the same time are potential fire-breaks.
Nesting boxes have been placed on some of the trees for
the smaller birds.

The Sanctuary falls into several natural or ecological areas,
each serving its own particular purposes : —

(1) The Loch has now about 19 acres of water surface. It
contains a food supply of aquatic vegetation and invertebrate
animals and fishes which attract surface feeding and diving
birds; it offers safe shelter and a resting place; and it is the
winter resort of large numbers of winter immigrants, close on
2,000 duck, including 1,550 Pochard, having been counted on a
single day.

(2) The Reed-bed, 114 acres in area, almost surrounds the
water surface but is best developed at the western end. Here
in former days it used to be cut regularly for thatching cot-
tage roofs and about 1750 “it supplied about 30 weavers’ looms.
They were chiefly employed in manufacturing a coarse
flaxen stuff, then known by the name of Duddingston hard-
ings, which generally sold for 34d to 4d a yard.” Now the value
of the reed-bed lies in the shelter it gives from the prevailing
winds, and in its suitability and safety as a nesting place
either for birds nesting practically on the water surface or for
those which suspend their nests amongst the reeds.

(3) The Meadow. Continuous with the reed-bed on the west
and south-west, but drier, is an area of 634 acres covered with
rough tussocky grass. It is a feeding ground and a nesting
place for a variety of ground nesting birds.

(4) The Marsh. A marshy area of about 34 acres borders the
eastern end of the Loch and is a much frequented feeding
ground.

(5) Scrub and Trees. These occur rather sparsely on the
southern border of the Sanctuary and on Hangman’s Hill.
They offer shelter and nesting sites to an assortment of birds
different from the aquatic inhabitants of the Sanctuary.

When the Sanctuary was established in 1925 a survey of the
birds within it, made during the first year, showed that it
possessed seventeen resident and breeding species, forty reg-

400 1(SS)

ular visitors and sixteen casual or occasional visitors. As four
of these occur both as nesting birds and as regular winter
immigrants the total number of different species of birds then
recorded from the Sanctuary was sixty-nine—a contrast with
the list of birds now recorded in these pages.

Finally it may be said that, although the public are excluded
from the Sanctuary itself and trespassing is strictly prohibited,
excellent prospects of the Sanctuary may be obtained from
many points on the roads in Holyrood Park, and closer in-
spection of the birds on the Loch may be made from Dudding-
ston Foreshore, where the Loch merges on the Park close to
Duddingston Road. Here also occasional anglers may be seen
testing their luck in the Loch.

CHECK-LIST OF THE BIRDS OF
DUDDINGSTON LOCH

By D. R. ANDERSON and GEORGE WATERSTON

Arrangement and nomenclature follow the B.O.U. Check-List of the Birds of
Great Britain and Ireland, 1952. For References and Contractions see end of List.
All notes up to the end of 1960 have been included.

DIVERS AND GREBES

BLACK-THROATED DIVER Colymbus arcticus L. Rare. The only
record is of a single bird seen from 9 to 27 February 1937.
(SANE oS eee):

RED-THROATED DIVER Colymbus stellatus Pontopp. Rare. Two
records of single birds seen in March and July 1928 (S.N.
1937: 45); and one record of a single bird seen between 26
September and 15 October 1951 (E.B.B. 2:2).

GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus (L.). Breeds. Original-
ly an occasional winter visitor, but first bred in 1937. Al-
though one or two pairs visit the loch every summer no
young were reared between 1953 and 1959. In 1960 however
four pairs bred, but between them only reared four young.

SLAVONIAN GREBE Podiceps auritus (L.). Rare. Three records of
single birds—one on 26 December 1927 (S.N. 1928: 27); one
in February 1929 (S.N. 1937: 45); and one between 31 ea
uary and 4 February 1937 (S.N. 1937: 56).

BLACK-NECKED GREBE Podiceps caspicus Hablizl. Rare. The only
record is of two seen between 31 January and 4 February
1937 (S.N. 1937: 56). [Stated to have bred successfully in
1943. Edinburgh To-day].

LITTLE GREBE Podiceps ruficollis (Pallas). Breeds annually—

401

1961

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1961 403

usually up to five or six pairs. Less common in winter. Oc-
casional passage migrant.

CoRMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo (L.). Occasional winter vis-
itor. One or more visited and fished on the loch from Feb-
ruary to May 1933 and from February to March 1935 and
one bird was seen in March 1934. Since then it has appar-
ently been recorded only in January 1948 and October 1949;
but in 1959 and 1960 was becoming more frequent.

HERON Ardea cinerea L. Occasional visitor. Has decreased in
numbers during the last ten years. During the great frost in
1947 four frequented the outlet burn for several weeks—two
eventually dying of starvation.

BITTERN Botaurus stellaris (L.). Rare. Four records; one re-
mained for three weeks in February 1947 (E.B.B. 3: 56),
one seen in August 1953 (E.B.B. 3: 66), one on 24 February
1955 (E.B.B. 5: 46), and one between 2 and 10 October 1955
(E.B.B. 6: 8). The extensive reed beds which are the typical
habitat for this species no doubt provided the attraction.

DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS

Ma.uarpD Anas platyrhynchos L. Common throughout the year;
breeds. 1937—about 25 pairs bred; in 1960—about 30 pairs
bred. In winter as many as 300 may be seen (Baxter & Rin-
toul, 1953, 2: 393).

TEAL Anas crecca L. Increasing in numbers as an autumn and
winter visitor. Pair bred in 1955 and 1959. In October 1959
89 were seen—the highest number recorded.

GaRGANEY Anas querquedula L. Rare. Three records; one in
July 1950 (E.B.B. 3: 56), one between 11 and 15 October 1952
(E.B.B. 3: 3), and one between 22 and 31 March 1953 (E.B.B.
3: 48).

Gapwat.L Anas strepera L. Rare. Three records; a pair on the
loch between 6 and 17 April 1951 (E.B.B. 1: 52); a single
drake present between 22 March and 3 April 1954 (E.B.B. 4:
51) and a pair on 22 October 1956 (E.B.B, 7: 11). (Recently
fairly regular winter visitor to Dunsappie Loch on Arthur’s
Seat).

WicEon Anas penelope L. Regular winter visitor—52 being
the highest number seen at one time. The only summer
record is of a drake on 10 July 1960.

Pinta, Anas acuta L. Occasional winter visitor; seven records
since 1928 (two in April 1944).

SHOVELER Spatula clypeata (L.). Seen in small numbers in

404 1(SS)

autumn and winter; maximum 27 on 25 September 1960.
Does not breed.

RED-CRESTED POCHARD Netta rufina (Pallas.). Two records; a
male was seen on 21 December 1924 which remained until
17 February 1925 (S.N. 1925: 21) and a duck was present
between 28 October and 3 November 1957 (E.B.B. 8:5).

Scaup Aythya marila (L.). Occasional winter visitor in small
numbers—usually after rough weather. (This species is
abundant in winter on the sea between Leith and Porto-
bello).

TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula (L.). Present throughout the
year. First bred in 1918 and has bred in small numbers every
year. A common winter visitor; maximum numbers 636 on
17 January 1960.

Pocuarp Aythya ferina (L.). Present throughout the year.
Eight to ten pairs breed annually. In winter is the most
numerous duck on the loch—averaging between 600 and 700.
A peak of 1,560 was recorded on 12 December 1936 (Baxter
& Rintoul, 1953, 2:412).

GOLDENEYE Bucephala clangula (L.). Now a regular winter
visitor in small numbers. Between 1927 and 1931 it was
rarely recorded. :

LONG-TAILED Duck Clangula hyemalis (L.). Rare. One record of
a female shot on 15 November 1886 (Nash, 1935, 174), pro-
bably the bird referred to by Speedy (1892, 82). One immat-
ure bird seen on 28 October 1938 (S.N, 1939: 28).

VELVET ScoTER Melanitta fusca (L.). Rare. A female was rec-
orded on the loch on 24 March 1956 (E.B.B. 6: 38).

Common ScoTeR Melanitta nigra L. One record of a male on
5 May 1919 (S.N. 1919: 197).

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Mergus serrator L. Rare. Six were
seen in November 1914 (Baxter & Rintoul, 1953, 240); and
Kirke Nash records five on another occasion (Nash, 1935,
181).

GOOSANDER Merqus merganser L. Occasional winter visitor;
formerly (1933) appeared more frequently. Only recent
records are one on 31 May 1951 (E.B.B.1: 62) and one on 26
November 1953 (E.B.B. 4: 27). Maximum number of 20 seen
on 12 January 1934.

Smew Mergus albellus L. Rare. One female was on the loch
between 3 February and 24 April 1929 (S.N. 1929: 28); one
female was present on 4 January and between 17 and 24
February 1930 (S.N. 1930: 26 and 1937: 40); and one female
was seen between 11 February and 25 March 1956 (E.B.B.
6: 26 and 38).

1961 405

SHELD-DUCK Tadorna tadorna (L.). Rare. Three records. On 29
September 1929 a flock of eleven was seen flying westwards
overhead (S.N. 1937: 37). One visited the loch for ten min-
meson) May 1953 (E.B.B. 3: 56); and one was seen on 9
December 1960 (D.R.A.).

Ruppy SHELD-DUCK Casarca ferruginea (Pallas.). Rare. One
record of a female on the loch from October 1923 to 29 March
1924 (S.N. 1925: 68).

GreEY Lac GoosEe Anser anser (L.). Rare. Writing in 1775, Sir
Alexander Dick wrote “woodcock have appeared and wild
geese in large numbers” (Baird, 1898, 260). The species how-
ever is not defined. The only record of a bird within the
sanctuary is of one on 15 December 1955 which was shot in
an adjoining field (D.R.A.). (A flock of thirteen birds was
introduced to the loch early in 1961).

PINK-FOOTED GOOSE Anser arvensis brachyrhynchus Baillon.
Flocks frequently pass over the loch in winter.

BARNACLE-GOOSE Branta leucopsis (Bechstein). Rare. One was
on the loch on 29 April 1956 (E.B.B. 6: 50).

CanaDA GOOSE Branta cadensis (L.). Rare. Used to breed in 1913
and prior to that (Nash, 1935, 154). The only recent record is
ommvoronm ls May 1953 (£.B.B. 32 56).

MutTE Swan Cygnus olor (Gmelin). Introduced by the Duke
of Lauderdale about 1678 (Baird, 1898, 259). One to two pairs
resident throughout the year; breeds. In 1933 it is recorded
(Report 1933) that the cygnets hatched at Duddingston
walked up the hill to Dunsappie Loch in September and did
not return. It is of interest to record that in 1953 there was
the same form of behaviour, but on this occasion three cyg-
nets were lost—probably killed by Carrion Crows as the
family walked up to Dunsappie (E.B.B. 4: 70). The move-
ment of the Swan family to Dunsappie is now an annual
event.

WHOOPER SWAN Cygnus cygnus (L.). Irregular winter visitor.
The only post-war records are of one in January 1949
(D.R.A) and twelve on 15 November 1953 (R.S.).

HAWKS

BuzzARD Buteo buteo (L.). Rare. Baird (1898, 508) described the
Buzzard as “occasional.” A bird thought to be this species
was seen over the loch on 12 September 1955 (R.S.).

ROUGH-LEGGED BuzzARD Buteo lagopus (Pontopp). One seen on
Za®ectooes 1954 (E-B B: 55,8):

SPARROWHAWK Accipiter nisus (L.). Speedy (1892, 104) describ-

406 1(SS)

ed it as “frequently seen.” It is now rare and does not breed.

OspREY Pandion haliaetus (L.). One record of an Osprey
“noticed one Sunday evening in the Spring of 1890 circling
round Duddingston Loch” (Speedy, 1892, 104).

PEREGRINE Falco peregrinus Tunstall. One record of a Pere-
grine seen over the loch on 19 January 1956 (E.B.B. 6: 26).

KESTREL Falco tinnunculus L. Usually a pair resident through-
out the year; occasionally breeding. In 1955 four pairs bred
in Holyrood Park, including one brood on Hangman’s Rock
(i-BeB. 5): 166).

GAME BIRDS

RED GROUSE Lagopus scoticus (Latham). Speedy (1892, 109)
states “several gentlemen of our acquaintance have seen
them on Arthur’s Seat.” There are no other records.

PARTRIDGE Perdix perdix (L.). Present throughout the year
and frequently seen in the Sanctuary where a pair bred in
1960; also breeds in the vicinity.

QualIL Coturnix coturnix (L.). Speedy is quoted as stating that
“the Quail is occasionally found in the district” (Baird,
1898). There is no other record.

PHEASANT Phasianus colchicus L. Seen throughout the year;
breeds. The present population in the Sanctuary is believed
to be about twenty.

RAILS AND CRAKES

Water Rai Rallus aquaticus L. Speedy (1892, 103) stated that
it is “frequently seen at Duddingston Loch.” It is a regular
winter visitor (fifteen trapped and ringed to date), and one
pall, bred) im lols Ol):

SPoTTED CRAKE Porzana porzana (L.). Speedy (1892, 103) stated
that “the Spotted Crake is a rare visitor.” No other record.

LITTLE CRAKE Porzana parva (Scopoli). One seen 30 November
1952) (EBB ore 9):

CoRNCRAKE Crex crex L. Rare summer visitor. Once recorded
calling in the Sanctuary for some days in May 1932 (S.N.
1937: 45). Up to 1953 was a regular summer visitor to the
fields on the north side of Duddingston village.

MoorHEN Gallinula chloropus (L.). Seen throughout the year
in varying numbers subject to weather conditions; breeds.
Birds ringed at the loch have been recovered at Lochgelly,
Gullane and in Northumberland.

Coot Fulica atra L. Numerous and breeds. Numbers increase

407

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PouedIos AT[eIjued) apr, yWM ‘You sUTYyOo| Agenqyoueg ulory MOTTA

¢ ALV Td

1(SS)

408

‘901 943 UL Sfood ye
TMOjJ10}CM JO SUOT}EI}UGDUOD asie,] UM JIJUTM UT
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1961 409

in winter. Maximum number of 300 recorded in February
ia6nCE 5.5, 6: 26).

WADERS

OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus L. Regular passage
migrant in small numbers. Does not breed.

LaPwING Vanellus vanellus (L.). Occasionally seen at loch-
side and formerly bred in vicinity. Bred in Holyrood Park,
1960.

GOLDEN PLOVER Charadrius apricarius L. Apparently only two
records: seen on 24 September 1933 and a flock of 40 on 27
October 1936 (S.N. 1937: 44).

CoMMON SNIPE Capella gallinago (L.). A regular winter visitor
in small numbers, D.R.A. was informed by a local shepherd
that it once bred in the marshy ground near the Wells o’
Wearie. In 1935 two birds were observed at the breeding
season and one of them was drumming over the loch (S.N.
1937: 44).

JACK SNIPE Lymnocryptes minimus (Brunn.). Frequents the
ditches and marshy ground every winter. Up to three have
been seen at one time.

Woopcock Scolopax rusticola L. Regular winter visitor; does
not breed.

CURLEW Numenius arquata (L.). Regular passage migrant
over the loch, and has been seen on the ditches in hard
weather.

WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus (L.). Occasionally heard or
seen passing over on migration (S.N. 1937: 44).

GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus L. Only one record of one
seen on 5 Ausust 1933 (Report 1933).

COMMON SANDPIPER Tringa hypoleucos L. Regular passage
migrant in small numbers.

REDSHANK Tringa totanus (L.). Seen occasionally at the loch on
passage. Does not breed.

LITTLE STINT Calidris minuta (Leisler). Only one record of a
bird seen on 2 May 1935 (Report 1935).

DUNLIN Calidris alpina (L.). Only three records. Recorded for
the first time in 1930 (no date) (Report 1930); on 8 Decem-
ber 1934 a flock of ten flew up the loch low over the
water (Report 1935): and one seen on north side of loch on
11 February 1956 (E.B.B. 6: 26).

PHALAROPE Phalaropus sp?. One record of a Phalarope (? spec-
ies) seen on 20 October 1951 (E.B.B. 2: 2).

410 1(SS)
GULLS AND TERNS

GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus marinus L. Seen through-
out the year. Increased numbers in winter.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus fuscus L. Passage migrant
and occasional summer visitor. Has been recorded in every
month in winter.

SCANDINAVIAN LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. Larus f. fuscus L.
One record of two seen standing on the ice on 7 December
1950 (£.B.B. 1: 48).

HERRING GULL Larus argentatus Pontopp. Large numbers fre-
quent the loch at all seasons; more numerous in winter.

Common GuLuL Larus canus L. As Herring Gull.

Giaucous GuLL Larus hyperboreus Gunnerus. One seen on
loch on 7 May 1960 (D.R.A.)’.

ICELAND GULL Larus glaucoides Meyer. One seen on the loch
on 3 May 1949, remained for three davs (E.B.B. 3: 57).

BLACK-HEADED GULL Larus ridibundus L. Large numbers fre-
quent the loch in autumn and winter.

ComMoNn TERN Sterna hirundo L. Occasional passage migrant.

Arctic TERN Sterna macrura Naumann. One record of a bird
identified on 1 June 1952 (E.B.B. 2: 60).

SANDWICH TERN Sterna sandvicensis Latham. Only two rec-
ords—one seen diving in the loch on 30 May 1931 (Report
1931); and in the summer of 1936 (S.N. 1937: 44).

LittLeE Auk Plautus alle (L.). One record of one on 17 Feb-
ruary 1904 (A.S.N.H, 1904: 127).

GUILLEMOT Uria aalge (Pontopp). One oiled bird on the loch
on 15 August 1947 (D.R.A.).

StocK Dove Columba oenas L. Never at any time numerous,
but breeds in the vicinity.

Woop PicEon Columba palumbus L. Present throughout the
year; several pairs breed.

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus L. A regular summer visitor; usually
single birds. Not known to breed.

Barn Owt Tyto alba (Scopoli). Occasionally seen; said to have
nes*‘ed near the Sanctuary in 1936. One roosted in conifers
in the Sanctuary in October and November 1945 (B.B. 39:
90).

Tawny Owt Strix aluco L. Present throughout the year. Has

1961 | 411

bred every year since 1956 in an artificial nestbox.

LONG-EARED OWL Asio otus (L.). Baird (1898, 508) described

this bird as rare, but it is now a regular frequenter of the
Sanctuary and breeds in the vicinity. Eight seen roosting in
small tree in reed bed on 21 January 1946 (D.R.A.).

SHORT-EARED OwL Asio flammeus (Pontopp). Three frequented
the fields on the north side of Duddingston Village in the
winter 1955-56; and two were recorded on various dates in
October and November 1958 hunting in the marsh (D.R.A.).

NIGHTJAR Caprimulgus europaeus L. One was seen near Sam-
son’s Ribs in Holyrood Park on 2 June 1913 (S.N. 1913: 234).

SwiFrT Apus apus (L.). In summer appears over the loch in
large numbers.

KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis (L.). Recorded regularly at the loch
up to 1935. Has now become scarce. Last seen on 26 August
1950 when two birds were present (D.R.A.).

GREEN WOODPECKER Picus viridis L. A recent arrival in the
district. First recorded on 5 January 1956 (£.B.B. 6: 24) and
seen on several subsequent occasions. Bred in 1959.

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopus major (L.). First re-
corded on 24 July 1946 when two were seen. Is now a reg-
ular visitor. In 1954 a nesting hole was excavated but was
later abandoned.

SKYLARK Alauda arvensis L. Breeds in the vicinity.

SwaLLow Hirundo rustica L. Summer visitor; does not breed.
Large numbers feed over the loch.

House Martin Delichon urbica (L.). Summer visitor; does not
breed.

SaNnD Martin Riparia riparia (L.). Summer visitor; does not
breed.

RAVEN Corvus Corax L. Macgillivray (1837 1: 510) stated that
Ravens formerly bred on Arthur’s Seat. The species is now

rare and the only recent record is of two flying over the
Girnal Craig on 15 February 1947 (S.N. 1948: 50).

CARRION Crow Corvus corone. L. Baird (1898, 508) quotes
Speedy as stating “Rare.” It has increased greatly in recent
years and breeds. annually. . :

HoopEp Crow Corvus cornix L. Occasional winter visitor—
mainly hybrid birds. . :

Rook Corvus frugilegus L. Seen throughout the year; breeds
in the vicinity.

412 1(SS)

JacKDaw Corvus monedula L. Numerous throughout the year.
At least one pair breeds in the Sanctuary.

MacpiIEe Pica pica (L.). Baird (1898, 508) quotes Speedy as
stating “plentiful.” Magpies are not so common on the
eastern fringes of the City as they are on the west side. It
is normally only an occasional visitor; but in 1960 a pair
bred in a garden in Duddingston village and six were seen
in the Sanctuary on various dates in September that year.

GREAT Tit Parus major L. Common throughout the year;
breeds.

Buue Tit Parus caeruleus L. Common throughout the year;
numbers increase in winter; breeds.

Coan ir Pars ater: te e fairly Hogue winter visitor; does
not breed.

WILLOW oR Marsu Tit Parus sp?. A party of four was seen on
10: October 1951A(#-8 B85):

LONG-TAILED TIT Aegithalos caudatus (L.). A fairly regular
winter visitor; does not breed.

TREECREEPER Certhia familiaris L. Present throughout the
year; bred 1957.

WREN Troglodytes troglodytes (L.). Common throughout the
year; breeds.

DIPPER Cinclus cinclus (L..). One was seen on 18 October 1933
(Report 1934).

MIsTLE THRUSH Turdus viscivorus L. Seen throughout the
year; occasionally breeds.

FIELDFARE Turdus pilaris L. Regular winter visitor—sometimes
in large numbers.

Sonc THRUSH Turdus ericetorum Turton. Seen throughout the
year; breeds. Numbers decrease in winter.

REDWING Turdus musicus L. Regular winter visitor, appearing
in October and November to feed on haws. Latest spring
record—one on 6 May 1955 (E.B.B. 5: 55).

RING OUZEL Turdus torquatus L. Occasional autumn passage
migrant.

BLACKBIRD Turdus merula L. Common throughout the year;
breeds. Big influx of winter immigrants.

WHEATEAR Oenanthe oenanthe (L.). Regular summer visitor

and the first migrant to arrive in spring. Breeds in the vic-
inity.

1961 : 413

StonecHAT Saxicola torquata (L.). Formerly resident; bred in
the Sanctuary in 1932 (Report 1932). After being scarce for
a number of years, is beginning to re-establish itself and
bred near Dunsappie Loch in 1954 (E.B.B. 4: 68).

WHINCHAT Saxicola rubetra (L.). Occasional summer visitor;
breeds in the vicinity.

REDSTART Phoenicurus phoenicurus (L.). Occasional passage
migrant.

Rosin Erithacus rubecula (L.). Seen throughout the year;
breeds. Numbers increase in winter.

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER Locustella naevia (Bodd.). One record
of a bird seen on 11 May 1957 (£.B.B. 7: 71).

SEDGE WARBLER Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (L.). Summer
visitor; many pairs breed in the reed bed.

BiackcaP Sylvia atricapilla (L.). Rare. One at Curling Pond
on 10 May 1925 (Report 1926); one from 1 to 7 July 1952
(E.B.B. 3: 3) and one singing 19 June, 16 to 18 July 1953
(E.B.B. 3: 66).

GARDEN WARBLER Sylvia borin (Bodd.). Rare. One on 12 May
1947 (D.R.A.); and one on 26 May 1951 (£:B.B. 1: 62).

WHITETHROAT Sylvia communis Latham. Regular summer vis-
itor; several pairs breed.

LESSER WHITETHROAT Sylvia curruca (L.). Rare. One on 10
May 1930 (Report 1930).

WILLow WarBLER Phylloscopus trochilus (L.). Common sum-
mer visitor; many pairs breed. Earliest arrival date—8 April.

CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita (Vieillot). Baird (1898)
quotes Speedy as stating “occasionally seen.” There is no
recent record.

Woop WarRBLER Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Bechstein). Baird
(1898, 509) quotes Speedy as stating “fairly plentiful.’ We
know of only one definite record—a male on 7 May 1955
CEA 5. Di D4).

GoLpcREST Regulus regulus (L.). Occasional winter visitor in
small numbers.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa striata (Pallas). Common sum-
mer visitor; four or five pairs breed every year.

HEDGE SpaRROow Prunella modularis (L.). Seen throughout
the year; breeds.

414 Sse:

Meapow Pipit Anthus pratensis (L.). Common summer visitor
and occasionally seen in winter; breeds.

TREE Pipit Anthus trivialis (L.). Rare. Four were seen on. 23
Noval WSS) (VFRIBIE, Bs. ON).

Piep WactaIL Motacilla alba yarrelli Gould. Seen throughout
the year. Occasionally roosts in large numbers in the reed
bed (300 counted in October 1936, S.N. 1937: 41). Breeds in
the vicinity.

WuitEe WactaiL Motacilla a. alba L. Eight or nine were iden--

tified on 6 May 1927 (Report 1928).

GreY WactTalIL Motacilla cinerea Tunstall. Regular passage
migrant.

YELLOW WactTAIL Motacilla flava L. Evans (A.S.N.H. 1896:
252) stated “seen about Duddingston now and then.’ The

last record was of a female seen from 26 April to 4 May 1924

(Report 1924).

BLUE-HEADED WacGTAIL Motacilla f. flava L. Rare. A male was
seen on 14 May 1955 (E.B.B. 5: 54).

Waxwinc Bombycilla garrulus (L.). Rare. One seen on 11
April 1937 (Report 1937); and three seen on 11 November
1946 (D.R.A.).

GREAT GREY SHRIKE Lanius excubitor L. Rare. One on 29 Jan-
uary 1954 which remained two days (E.B.B. 4: 36) and an-
other, possibly the same bird, arrived on 11 January 1955. It
was caught and ringed on 30 March and was last seen on 2
April (£.B.B, 5: 30 and 46).

STARLING Sturnus vulgaris L. Seen throughout the year;
breeds. Occasionally very large numbers roost in the reed
beds and up to 10,000 have been recorded (E.B.B. 2: 2).

HawFINcH Coccothraustes coccothraustes (L.). Rare. One was
seen on 29 April 1953 which remained for three weeks in the
pene ety (E.B.B. 3: 58); also two on 29 to 30 April 1955
CE BeBe 5):3755))

GREENFINCH Chloris chloris (L.). Seen throughout the year;
breeds. Flocks of up to 50 have been seen.

GoLpFINCH Carduelis carduelis (L.). Occasional winter visitor.
Fourteen seen on 23 November 1950 (D.R.A.).

SISKIN Carduelis spinus (L.). Rare. Four seen on 19 November
1949 (E.B.B. 3: 45); three on 27 October 1950 (D.R.A.); and

1961 415
three on 19 January 1960 (D.R.A.).

LINNET Carduelis cannabina (L.). Seen throughout the year;
breeds. Flocks of up to 200 have been seen in winter.

LESSER REDPOLL Carduelis flammea cabaret (P. L. S. Muller).
Formerly uncommon. Now a regular winter visitor; first
bred in 1935. Flock of sixteen seen on 22 November 1955
(E.B.B. 6: 8).

BULLFINCH Pyrrhula pyrrhula (L.). Seen throughout the year;
more frequent in winter. Not known to breed.

CHAFFINCH Fringilla coelebs L. Common throughout the year;
breeds.

BRAMBLING Fringilla montifringilla L. Occasional winter vis-
itor.

YELLOWHAMMER Emberiza citrinella L. Seen throughout the
year; breeds. Up to 75 have been recorded roosting in the
reeds.

Corn BunTING Emberiza calandra L. This species breeds in the
vicinity and large numbers roost in the reeds in winter—up
to 300 being counted on one occasion (E.B.B. 6: 26).

REED BUNTING Emberiza schoeniclus (L.). Although described
by Speedy (1898) as “not numerous,” it is now a common
breeding bird and flocks in the adjoining fields in winter.

Snow Buntine Flectrophenax nivalis (L.). Regular winter
visitor to Holyrood Park. Notably abundant in 1929 and
1932.

House Sparrow Passer domesticus (L.). Common resident
bird; breeds.

TREE SPARROW Passer montanus (L.). Seen throughout the
year. Has bred in the vicinity. Flocks of between 20 and 50
have been seen in winter (E.B.B. 7: 18).

416

1(SS)

REFERENCES AND CONTRACTIONS USED

1892-1911.

1898.

1953.

1946.
1950-1957.
1954.

1926-1938.

1837.

1935.

1935.

1912-1939:
1948-1957.

d892.

Anderson, Duncan R. (D.R.A.).
Annals of Scottish Natural History (A.S.N.H.).

Baird, William: “Annals of Duddingston and Porto-
bello.’ Andrew Elliot, Edinburgh. (Contains ab-
breviated list by Tom Speedy).

Baxter, E. V. and Rintoul, Gdn. Aheires of
Scotland,” 2 vols. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh.

British Birds Magazine (B.B.).
Edinburgh Bird Bulletin (E.B.B.).

Edinburgh To-day (a quarterly magazine), June
1954, p. 22. The Albyn Press, Edinburgh.

H.M.S.O. Reports on Bird Sanctuaries in Royal
Parks in Scotland (Report).

Macgillivray, W.: ~A History of Srinish@eimds: 25
vols. Scott, Webster & Geary, London.

Nash, J. Kirke: “The Birds’ of IWitdlothiaiae seeks cz
G. Witherby, London.

Rintoul, L. J. and Baxter, EB. OWe- 9) 2 wWertebrate
Fauna of Forth.” Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh.

The Scottish Naturalist (S.N.).
Smiths (Ras):

Speedy, Tom: “Craigmillar and its Environs.”
George Lewis & Son, Selkirk.

The Committee on Bird Sanctuaries in the Royal Parks (Scotland)

Sir CHARLES G. CONNELL, w.s., (Chairman).
DUNCAN R. ANDERSON.

JOHN BERRY, PH.D., F.R.S.E.

Major The Hon. HENRY DOUGLAS-HOME, M.B.E.
CHARLES E. PALMAR.

Councillor BRUCE L. P. RUSSELL.

GEORGE WATERSTON, F.R.S.E., M.B.0.U.

M. D. KING (Secretary).

THE ISLE OF MAY

A Scottish Nature Reserve

W. J. EGGELING
Foreword by V. C. Wynne-Edwards
“Conveys admirably the charm and appeal of

this tiny isle. The book is of outstanding interest
to every naturalist and ornithologist.”

The Weekly Scotsman

276 pages 39 half-tone plates, line drawings
Price 30s

OLIVER & BOYD

FAIR ISLE BIRD OBSERVATORY

The HOSTEL is open between April
and October with Comfortable Accom-
modation for 14 Visitors.

TERMS : from Six Guineas per week.
(Reduced Rates for Parties from
Schools and Universities).

FIELD WORK, in which Visitors take
part, includes Trapping, Ringing, and
Laboratory Examination of Migrant
Birds ; also Studies of Breeding Biolo-
gy of Great and Arctic Skuas.

PROSPECTUS obtainable from the Hon. Secretary, Mr George
Waterston, 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh 7.

Applications for Bookings

should be made to Mr Peter Davis, Warden, Fair Isle Bird Obser-
vatory, Fair Isle, Shetland. (Telephone Fair Isle 8).

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