Richard Manliffe Barrington

“ Analyses of the West Coast schedules almost always show much lighter returns than those from the East Coast, even from the best West Coast stations. Our previous five years' experience in great measure explains why it is so, and it seems natural to expect lighter returns on the West than on the East in most winds or weather. But, having regard to the said experience and the facts of migration which may now be said to be ascertained and certain, there are also one or two additional causes for the light nature of West Coast returns as against East Coast ones ”

“ There is one record of Bats being seen at Rockabill, around the light, the first instance of such an occurrence on the Irish coast.
As our records increase and statistics accumulate, it becomes the more necessary that the investigation should be continued, so that results may be confirmed beyond question.
To all the light-keepers who have, again, so kindly given their time and attention to the subject of migration, we are much indebted. We feel sure that many are anxious to continue their observations, and that none who are able will refuse to further our enquiry. ”

“ I have never seen so few birds early in spring, but as the spring advanced the numbers of Linnets, Fieldlarks, Stonechats, and Yellowhammers increased so much that I have not seen such numbers for many years past. The different species of Gull and Cormorant remain throughout the year; they breed on the cliffs on the large island of Arran. No birds ever strike this lantern, the light being red, and not showing in the direction of the general flight of birds. Autumn: I have noticed fewer birds than usual. ”

“ The southerly movement of migrants was well established in July, and from this time to the end of the third week in January, 1885, there has been a steady flow, with slight intermissions, of birds either passing up the coast to the south or moving directly inland, the vast majority coming from the east across the North Sea, and moving westward or in westerly directions. Occasionally there have been heavy rushes or persistent bird waves continuous for days, and even weeks.
The periods of migration occupied by different species vary greatly, from four weeks to as many months ”

“ With very few exceptions, the vast majority of our British birds, such as are generally considered habitual residents, the young invariably, the old intermittingly, leave these islands in the autumn, their place being taken by others, not always necessarily of the same species, coming from more northern latitudes, or from districts of Eastern Europe, where, on the approach of winter, the conditions of locality and food-supply are found less favourable to existence. ”

“ In previous reports we have drawn attention to the fact of a migration in opposite directions going on at the same time over the North Sea. This is observed more particularly at southeastern stations, on light vessels moored at many miles distance from the nearest land, where, during the spring and autumn, the same species of birds, as Crows, Rooks, Jackdaws, Starlings, Larks, Sparrows, Buntings and Finches, are recorded crossing the North Sea moving from opposite quarters and passing both towards the British coast and towards the Continent. ”

“ Tearaght.—March 23rd, Sea-parrots arrived at 4 p.m., wind light, clear; 24th, great numbers came on island; 26th, Sea-parrots entirely disappeared until the 29th, when they returned; or perhaps they were new arrivals. They are as plentiful this year as last, and arrived one week earlier. [See general remarks under Clare Island.—R. M. B.] I found a nest with one egg on 11th May, and on 11th June it was hatched, the time occupied being one month. It is in the night-time all the young birds leave their holes and go to the sea, and once there they are no more to be seen. ”

“ In the spring the continental visitors disappear, and our so-called resident Blackbirds come back to their nesting-quarters. In this way we have a regular interchange of birds in the spring and autumn,—a double migration, carried on twice a year between the British Islands and the Continent. As far as our knowledge extends the normal conditions of locality and climate over the whole area are such as do not necessitate a regular interchange of the members of their respective avi-faunas. ”

“ Chickens Rock, Isle of Man.—A very heavy rush is recorded between 15th Oct. and 21st to 26th, "the flocks being so dense that no approximate number could be given; they formed by far the most numerous flocks of migrants seen this season" (James Black, principal keeper) . We were singularly unfortunate at the Isle of May, the winds there being N. of E. or W.; while here, in the Isle of Man, they were, during the heaviest filled dates, 15th and 21st Nov., strong W. and haze, the migrants crossing the wind, and showing largely at these more southerly stations of our West Coast. ”

“ Clare Island.—Aug. 17th, a "Mother Carey's Chicken" caught fluttering against lantern at midnight; wind light, gloomy.
Tearaght.—May 18th, Stormy Petrels arrived on this date, or perhaps previous to it; plentiful on 23rd. Eggs taken on June 19th. Will lay the third egg if the others are taken. They are very plentiful this year, but are never seen in the daytime, but at night continually striking the glass. They are not very welcome visitors, owing to the blotches of oil they eject on the glass and balcony. They are so plentiful skimming about that they often come close to a person's ears. ”

“ Lightest returns in February, March, April and May in spring; lightest in August, November and December in autumn. Heaviest returns in September and October. They participate less in spring migration, and search of food, as at that time they have more local habits and are preparing their nesting-places, but more in autumn, because the young are hatched off, able to look after themselves, and working hard in the "struggle for existence." ”

“ Starlings, 18th to 20th October, and the first fortnight in November; Blackbirds, October 24th; Swallows, about the 12th May. Whimbrel were more plentiful than usual at our southern stations when going north in the spring.
The migration of the Starling is perhaps more evident than that of any other bird; they strike in the greatest numbers. Woodcocks, on the other hand, usually strike singly; it is a rare occurrence to have more than one killed on the same night. Very few birds of any kind strike the lights on the west coast of Ireland.
Sea-birds scarcely ever strike the lanterns. ”

“ Clyne. The true Grey Wagtail is a yellow bird with a black throat and very long tail. [Surely British ornithologists can find a more descriptive and truer name than Grey Wagtail for Motacilla boarula. If confusion occurs amongst ordinary observers as to names, it is as often the fault of the naturalists who misapplied the names in the first instance as not.] In September a further rush of the same young Pied Wagtails observable on the 10th at Langness—a flock seen—and a dozen at Rhinns of Islay on 7th; and a few at Barra Head and one at Dhuheartach on Sept. 1st. ”

“ Several stations filled two, and some light-keepers, who took a special interest in Ornithology, returned as many as three and four schedules, both in spring and autumn. Observers placed on isolated rock stations at a distance from the coast, or on light-vessels, have, as a rule, taken the most interest in the subject of migration. This is fortunate, as such stations are least influenced by the local movements of birds on the mainland. ”

“ As a rule, the young birds of the year migrate independently of the old, and some weeks in advance; there are, however, frequent exceptions to this, more especially late in the season, when the flocks are sometimes composed of old and young. With some of our shore birds, as Grey Plover, Knot, Sanderling, a few old birds, still in summer plumage, arrive very early in the season, some weeks later the main body of the young, and lastly the bulk of the adults, the latter having then assumed the ordinary winter dress. ”

“ Bean-fields near the coast are always a very favourite haunt in the early autumn of the soft-billed insect-feeders. I have frequently at this season found such places swarming with various Warblers, Wagtails, and Pipits, the situation affording the very best cover as well as an abundance of food in the numerous insects and their larvæ which infest the bean plant in its latter growth. ”

“ Its breast was torn open, and much lacerated. It may have struck the side of the dome, and glanced off; but we were in the lantern-room at the time, and it sounded on the W. side. It had evidently dropped after striking outside the balcony, and then, recovering, flew straight for the Pilot House, the white-washed walls of which were reflecting the lantern-light.
[23] Some birds, even in light winds and haze, seem more impetuous than others at the lantern-lights, such as Woodcock and Snipe.—J. A. H. B.
Sterninæ.—Few records. ”

“ In future, it is hoped that the light-keepers will not think it too much trouble to preserve and label the wings and legs of at least one specimen of each kind of bird which is killed at their station. This is very desirable, since it cannot be expected that with so short experience as they have had the light-keepers would be able to identify all species beyond a doubt. ”

“ Should our English winter prove generally severe, or even partially so, our old birds will also leave, and in their place we have an influx of old Blackbirds from the Continent, pushed forward by similar causes. In the last autumn and winter, which has been exceedingly variable, with many sudden changes of temperature, our East Coast reports show an enormous migration of this species to have taken place. This commenced on September 12th, and was continued at intervals throughout October, becoming nearly continuous in November ”

“ To be able to offer opinions, or even to speculate on the various problems connected with the migration of birds on the West Coast of England, will require much careful study based upon reports for some years, and it will be much regretted that this coast has been neglected for several seasons. ”

“ The rapid increase of the Stock Dove in South and Central Scotland is very remarkable. They appeared commonly in East Stirlingshire in 1884-85, and have been nesting for some years in the Vale of Menteith, one of the high roads of migration. Many crossed the North Sea this past season to the East English coasts. Migration undoubtedly has a great influence upon extension of range, and the process seems easy to trace out ”

“ The number and continuity of the movements of this species, as observed at some stations, may, in a measure, be due to its well-known habit of massing in the autumn and winter. These flocks disperse in the morning, - 118 - when the birds seek their food at varying distances from their roosting-quarters. They return in the evening, and in doing so would pass many of the West Coast stations, not a few of which are situated in estuaries easily crossed. ”

“ In the course of its retreat it is discovered by vast shoals of fish, which pursue these minute forms of life even to the uttermost limits of its possible extension, up certain firths arid inlets of our East Coast of Scotland. Naturally also the last link of the migratory chain is taken up by the enormous population of Gulls and other species of sea-fowl, as we know has been the case in the winter of 1884-5 in the Firth of Forth. ”

“ Clare Island.—"The birds came to breed in the cliffs a couple of weeks earlier than usual. From April 20th to end of month, large numbers of sea-birds continually arrived to breed. The sea-birds that hatched this summer were very numerous. They will all be taking their departure by the end of August. During October few birds inhabit the island, except Grouse, Curlew, Wild Pigeon, Snipe, and a few Woodcocks and Cormorants; and round the rocks a few Great Northern Divers. The Eagles did great destruction, killing geese and hens. There are a great number of Seals in the caves. ”

“ The cause was, no doubt, comparative scarcity of entomostracan life, dependent, most likely, upon certain undefined conditions of sea-temperatures, affected, possibly, from the river-basin of Tay and its tributaries. If light can be thrown upon these not-difficult-to-ascertain data, in a few years, at most, much of our uncertainty as to causes and effects of migration of Entomostraca, Sea-fish, and even Salmon and migratory Salmonidæ will be removed. ”

“ In September we have ten records of above species, at two stations, and in October ten more also at the same stations, viz.: Pentland Skerries and Isle of May; on eight dates in September and eight dates in October.
We do not think more minute data will serve any useful purpose, except where decided migrations of large numbers of Hawks are observed, or distinctly foreign or new and unusual species.
Pelecanidæ.—We have records of Solan Geese in every month in the year except January, November and December, but on only one date in February, three in March, four in April; but bulking heavier. ”

“ No birds seen in January but sea-fowl. A remarkable absence of sea-birds this year. March 25th was the last day I saw Divers; they generally return in Oct. The young or Black Gannet have come since the 1st June in small numbers, accompanied by some white ones. Autumn: I have received the eight volumes of Morris' 'British Birds,' and am sorry to say that all birds heretofore entered as 'Titmice' were probably Willow or other warblers, and 'Titlarks' were Rock Pipits. Most of the small land-birds rest on the rock for about five minutes before flying to shore (seven miles distant) . ”

“ An important movement commenced on Oct. 20th, when heavy flocks were noted at Bardsey L.H.; and on the 22nd it occurred abundantly at nearly all the stations from the Dee to Eddystone, the movement being continued on the following night at several stations between the Dee and Land's End (Longships) . Another important migration commenced on the 10th of Nov., and lasted until the 14th. Noted only during the night or early morning, and mostly in company with other species. Observations made on the sex of those killed at Dee L.V., prove that males and females migrate in company. ”

“ The records of all the species are light, and no rush, unless of Wheatears, ut sup., Oct. 22nd, at Isle of May, increasing by the 25th. During our stay on the island (27th Sept. to 17th Oct.) we observed a good many straggling birds. A few accompanied the rush of other species on Nov. 12th (see Turdidæ) . One Whitethroat is returned from I. of May, striking face of lantern, "facing the wind," on Sept. 12th. Mr. Agnew has the note,—to date of the 19th of September,—"I am surprised at so few birds with such thick fog." ”