Robert Warren

“ Thompson of this bird in Ireland, and nothing more was heard of the species until April 25th, 1851, on which day I had the good fortune of shooting, on the island of Bartragh, the first authentic specimen known to have been obtained in Ireland. I met the bird in a field where some men were sowing barley, and as it followed the harrows, picking up insects. ”

“ When visiting the Terns' breeding haunts near Killala on June 13th, I found, as usual, the Common Terns confining themselves to the gravelly "Inch," about thirty pairs having nests on it, and perhaps eight or ten pairs of the Lesser Tern; while the Arctic Terns were scattered all over the Ross sands for over half a mile along with the majority of the Lesser, laying their eggs on the bare sand and gravel. The numbers of the Common Terns have diminished, while there has been a great increase in those of the Arctic Tern. ”

“ The Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla raii (according to Yarrell and H. Saunders) , is generally distributed as a breeding species throughout England and Wales in all suitable localities. In Ireland it is a remarkable fact that, as far as at present known, the breeding range of this species is restricted within the very limited areas of the shores and islands of four lakes (Loughs Neagh, Carra, Mask, and Corrib) ”

“ Mr. Williams began imitating the call, and did it so cleverly that in a short time the female was joined by a lovely male; and as he continued to call, a second male also came up to where the other two birds were; but although we spent more than half an hour searching for the nest, we were unable to find it, and had to return disappointed at our want of success. The next evening we saw the birds at the same place, and again searched for the nest without success, but felt quite satisfied that two pairs were breeding at the place somewhere about the oat-field. ”

“ I am sure that I have often seen the species before. As the bird was not obtained, its occurrence would not be inserted here without my perfect reliance on the knowledge and acute observation of my informant. ”

“ Ussher saw two pairs on islands lower down the lake towards Oughterarde, thus showing that the birds were widely distributed along the shores and islands of these two lakes. It is very strange and impossible to explain why these birds should be restricted to these four lakes, while no trace of them in the breeding season is to be found on other lakes throughout the island which are apparently as well suited in every respect. ”

“ On June 13th I observed several flocks which altogether might number one hundred and fifty birds, and in the midst of a small group, near Moyne Abbey, was a bird exhibiting the red plumage of summer, a very unusual sight in this locality, for out of the many hundreds of birds seen here in summer I have observed only two or three birds in a similar stage of plumage. The birds frequenting this western coast are apparently all immature, too young to assume the red breeding plumage. When at Bartragh on the 5th inst. ”