Kenneth Hurlstone Jones

“ About Arosa Bay every one of the little tors, and every church tower of any height, was tenanted by a pair of these handsome Hawks. At Santiago de Compostela at least half a dozen pairs had their quarters in the great cathedral, and it was a matter of surmise how they found sufficient food, for apparently they did not hawk for prey outside the limits of the town. At Gibraltar this species breeds in dozens on the great precipice forming the North Front. At Lisbon, Ronda, Algeciras, and in Sardinia they were also plentiful, though not nearly so numerous as about Arosa Bay and at Gibraltar. ”

“ In the north of Spain it is apparently more plentiful in the spring, and in the south in the autumn.
S. atricapilla.—The Blackcap-Warbler is fairly common at Gibraltar and in its neighbourhood during November and December, and around Arosa Bay in the spring. It bred in the latter place in some numbers. It also occurs in Sardinia.
S. hortensis.—The Garden-Warbler was noticed in the Alameda Gardens at Gibraltar in November and December. At Arosa Bay it was observed in May. This species was less numerous than the preceding. ”

“ They are not very many, and, I fear, they are not very important. They were made partly whilst I was surgeon to the steamship 'Anselm,' of Liverpool, in 1897, and partly during my service in H.M.S. 'Repulse,' of the Channel Squadron. In the 'Anselm' I sailed from Liverpool to Hamburg, and thence to Havre, Lisbon, Madeira, and Brazil. In the Channel Squadron most of my time at sea has been spent cruising off the coasts of Spain and Portugal, though I have also been to Sardinia in the Mediterranean, besides much cruising in British waters. ”

“ At Aranei Bay, in Sardinia, a few pairs were observed at the end of April hawking about after their prey down at the sea-level, as well as up the sides of the hills, and in the valleys. This bird was plentiful at Gibraltar in November and December, 1899. ”

“ R. titys.—One pair of Black Redstarts was noted in November, 1898, but, like the preceding species in 1899, the birds were very much more plentiful than in the year previous.
Erithacus rubecula.—Robins are common both at Arosa Bay and around Lisbon; they are, however, much more shy and retiring than in England. A few occur at Gibraltar in the winter.
Daulias luscinia.—Several Nightingales were observed in the vicinity of Algeciras in April, 1899; and this bird was also noted in Sardinia. ”

“ Passer domesticus.—Though fairly common in the towns and villages about Arosa Bay and at Algeciras, Sparrows were scarce by comparison with their numbers in England. At Gibraltar this species is very much more common than in the places mentioned above. ”

“ Most of these birds are, I believe, such as have by some accident, often doubtless stress of weather, lost their way and their companions in migration at the same time, and, wandering over the waste of water, gladly take advantage of any passing ship for the purpose of resting. ”

“ It is particularly to be understood that in writing the present article no pretence is made at compiling a list of the birds for the localities mentioned. To do so would require much longer periods of observation, and fuller acquaintance with their avian fauna than have fallen to the lot of the present writer. ”

“ Carduelis elegans.—Many Goldfinches were noted at Arosa Bay in March, and all were then paired. In May they had apparently considerably diminished in numbers, probably, however, many having gone elsewhere to breed. At Algeciras, in November, a few specimens were observed, and a flock of five hung about the rock at Gibraltar for a few days in March. ”