REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 141 



conditions were the dominating factor over Western Europe. 

 While England and East Scotland were wholly within their 

 influence, the more western parts of the kingdom were 

 affected by an ocean depression which occupied the northern 

 half of the Atlantic. For the rest of the month cyclonic 

 conditions mainly prevailed. 



For the first ten days of April a good deal of migration 

 is recorded from Fair Isle and the West Coast, but not 

 from the East. The arrivals included Wheatears, Chiffchaffs, 

 Willow-warblers, Meadow and Tree-pipits, Swallows, and 

 House-martins. On the loth numbers of Wheatears arrived 

 at Tiree and Fair Isle, and Sand-martins at Saltoun (E. 

 Lothian). Migrants continued to arrive on the West Coast 

 and in smaller numbers on the East; on the I4th Yellow 

 Wagtails and Common Sandpipers made their appearance 

 on the West, and the latter two days later on the East Coast. 

 On Tiree small parties of White Wagtails were seen travelling 

 north from I5th April to /th May. A decided immigration 

 of Passeres over all Scotland took place from the i/th to 

 the i pth increasing in intensity, and for the next ten days 

 a veritable rush ensued. By the end of the month almost 

 all the summer migrants had arrived, a very different state 

 of affairs from what obtained at the corresponding date in 

 1908. Swallows and Sandpipers are recorded from all 

 parts on the 2Oth, and the Cuckoo appeared on the West 

 next day. On the 22nd Whimbrel arrived at Tiree, and 

 Whinchats, Common and Sandwich Terns in East Fife. 

 Next day the rush increased, and on the 24th Cuckoos are 

 recorded in numbers in various places on both East and 

 West Coasts. Swifts arrived at Beith on the 25th and 

 next day at Kirkliston, while Whitethroats and Blackcaps 

 are reported from the East Coast and Sedge-warblers from 

 the West. 



May. The distribution of pressure during this month 

 was mainly favourable to anticyclonic conditions over our 

 islands. The rush continued till 9th May, slackening some- 

 what after that date. Numbers of the Greater Wheatear 

 are recorded from Fair Isle on the 3rd, and on the same 

 day a flock of about 150 Fieldfares was seen at Yester, the 

 last mainland record. On the 4th Wood-warblers arrived 



