REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN 1909 147 



have reports of large numbers of Fieldfares, Redwings, and 

 Bramblings ; they are recorded as numerous in Mull, Fair 

 Isle, the Isle of May, and East Fife, and in smaller numbers 

 from various inland localities. A good many Blackbirds 

 are reported from Lerwick, and Snow-buntings in their 

 usual numbers at St. Andrews and Fair Isle. In January 

 Swans are noted at Inverbroom (West Ross) and Fair Isle, 

 and a Whooper at Morton Loch (East Fife). Barnacle 

 Geese were in Solway in their usual numbers, but Mr. 

 Service remarks on the absence of Grey Lags. Great flocks 

 of the common winter duck are reported, and Pintail are 

 recorded as being more than usually plentiful in Solway ; 

 a flock of twenty to thirty Gadwall visited Morton Loch in 

 January. Glaucous Gulls were frequent at Fair Isle, and 

 Little Auks were seen there in enormous numbers from the 

 ist to the 5th February. Swans are reported from the Butt 

 of Lewis in the middle of February, and large numbers of 

 Red-throated Divers in Largo Bay. 



The end of the year 1909 was a contrast to the beginning. 

 The numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares were much below 

 the normal, notes of the scarcity of these birds coming from 

 both the East and West of Scotland. Many of the former 

 were killed by the November frosts. The absence of 

 Bramblings is noted in various parts of the country. Great 

 Spotted Woodpeckers were unusually numerous in the last 

 quarter of the year, reports of these species coming from 

 various parts of Scotland. On i/th November Merlins were 

 numerous in Tiree, chasing flocks of Fieldfares, while an 

 unusual number of Greenland Falcons appeared during the 

 winter. 



Other winter birds appear to have been present in their 

 usual numbers ; large flocks of Snow-buntings are recorded 

 from the Flannans, Pentland Skerries, and Fair Isle. Brent 

 Geese, Sheldrake, Wigeon, and Golden-eye were plentiful in 

 our northern firths in November, flocks of White-fronted and 

 Barnacle Geese and Golden-eye at Tiree, large flocks of 

 Barnacles at the Flannans, huge flocks of Mallard in Largo 

 Bay and at Crosswood Reservoir, while Gadwall were 

 noticed in Elginshire and Tiree. Wigeon were late in 

 returning to Solway and Craignish (Argyll), though the 



