Читать книгу Report on the Migration of Birds in the Spring and Autumn of 1881. Third Report онлайн

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Anatidæ.—Wild Geese. Spring: Records at Whalsey Skerries, Auskerry, and Isle of May. Earliest March 6th, at Whalsey Skerries, eight resting on island for several days, E. gale, and haze; latest April 21st, at Isle of May, large flock flying E., accompanied by Curlews.—Autumn: Records at Whalsey Skerries, Sumburgh Head, Auskerry, Pentland Skerries, Isle of May, and Inch Keith. Earliest "Wild Geese," Oct. 2nd, at Isle of May, thirteen flying W. in line. Earliest "Barnacle," only record, Aug. 12th, at Inch Keith, one flying due N.; latest "Wild Geese," Dec. 23rd, at Isle of May. Immense flock flying N.E., 11.80 a.m., S.W., haze, approaching to fog; and another flock same day, at 12.30 p.m. Besides the above, one "Brent" Goose (?) is noted on Nov. 25th, flying N., with S.W. gale, and showers. Swans.—Spring: Records at Sumburgh Head, Pentland Skerries, and Bell Rock. Earliest Feb. 27th, at Sumburgh Head, two "Wild Swans," apparently much fatigued, flying S.; latest May 6th, a flock flying N.E. Autumn: Records at Sumburgh Head. Earliest Nov. 12th, at Sumburgh Head, eight flying S.E.; latest Dec. 25th, at Sumburgh Head, two resting on a lock near the lighthouse, where they frequently rest on their way south every year. Note:—If these are the same birds each year, it is interesting as proving the undeviating lines of autumn flight of waterfowl. Eider Ducks.—Spring: Whalsey Skerries only; noted as arriving at breeding haunts on March 9th. Autumn: Records at Whalsey Skerries, Auskerry, Pentland Skerries, and Isle of May. Earliest July 5th, when Eiders left the island at Whalsey Skerries. "The Drakes had left previously," light S., haze, and fog; latest Oct. 20th, at Auskerry, ten Eiders remained all day; they also remain at Auskerry all winter. Rush, largest number recorded at Pentland Skerries on Oct. 8th, when a flock of 100, mostly males, were seen swimming past the island, light S. breeze, and fog; and forty took shelter on Oct. 12th, at 9 a.m., at Whalsey Skerries, S.W. gale and rain; and all left next day. Sheldrake.—Autumn: Having remained here (Auskerry) all summer since end of June, leave in September or October. Records from Auskerry and Pentland Skerries. Earliest Aug. 27th, at Pentland Skerries, one found dead; latest Oct. 5th, at Pentland Skerries, flock flying S.E. Other dates, Aug. 31st, at Pentland Skerries, flying S.; Sept. 3rd, flying about light, not striking. Teal.—One on Sept. 21st, at Isle of May, another at Pentland Skerries, on Oct. 8th. Wild Duck at Isle of May, Sept. 24th, Oct. 4th, and Nov. 21st. Long-tailed Duck at Sumburgh Head, Nov. 12th (about twenty). On Sept. 12th Tufted Ducks were abundant on Loch Leven,—the most abundant species there,—and the young were not able to fly, "some being not larger than a Water Rat." Other species seen were Scaup, Golden-eye, Pochard, Teal, and Mallard (P. D. Maloch, in lit.).