BIRD NOTES FROM THE ISLE OF MAY AUTUMN 1910 5 



species is not new to the island, having been procured there 

 by Mr. Agnew in May 1885. Reed Buntings (Emberiza 

 schceniclns] appeared on i6th and I7th October, and a 

 Lapland Bunting (Calcarius lapponicd) on 4th October (W. 

 wind, strong). We secured this bird, which proved to be a 

 young female, and is the first authenticated record for Forth. 

 We saw one on the island in 1907, but as we failed to pro- 

 cure it the record was not confirmed. Great numbers of 

 Starlings {Sturnus vulgaris) appeared along with the Black- 

 bird rush from I4th to iyth October ; and on the latter date 

 we saw two Jackdaws (Coloeus monedula} ; one was the usual 

 type of bird seen here, but the other had a broad white collar, 

 it may have been the east European form Colceus monedula 

 collariS) but unfortunately we were not able to secure it. 



Skylarks {Aland a arvensis) passed fairly constantly, but 

 there was no big rush, and a Wood-lark (Lullula arbor ea) 

 appeared on i6th October, and next day we secured it. 

 It is new to the fauna of Forth. We had no difficulty in 

 distinguishing it from a Skylark by the noticeably shorter 

 tail, and also by the note, which it uttered constantly and so 

 attracted our attention. A Swift (Cypselus apus) on 3rd 

 September was an addition to the list of birds seen by us on 

 the island. On 1st October, a very hot day, we were just 

 going into the lighthouse to lunch when a Hoopoe {Upupa 

 epops) flew over our heads ; needless to say we immediately 

 gave chase. In Saunders's " Manual" this bird is referred to 

 as " tame and confiding," but our Hoopoe was most 

 uncommonly well able to take care of itself. It never let us 

 get within a hundred yards of it, but with our glasses we 

 were able to see it very well as it strutted about on the grass 

 probing the ground with its bill, its crest half-erected and 

 the bold black and white banding on the wings showing most 

 distinctly. When flying it was constantly chivied by the 

 Pipits and other small birds. Next morning it wa's seen about 

 six o'clock, after which it no doubt proceeded towards its 

 winter quarters, and, we hope, reached them safely. There 

 is one previous record of a Hoopoe for the island, a female 

 having been procured there on 3Oth April 1898. 



Several Short-eared Owls (Asia flammeus) were seen, 

 both during our stay and after we left, while Peregrines 



