FURTHER BIRD NOTES FROM NORTH RONALDSHAY 87 



RUFF (Machetes pugnax). The best year I ever remember for Ruffs. 

 Four occurred on the 24th August, which were the first seen; 

 during the remainder of August, and up to the 22nd September, 

 there were numbers about. On one occasion I saw as many as 

 eleven in a flock. On the 22nd September a single bird, the 

 last seen. 



SANDERLING (Calidris arenarid). First seen for the season 2ist 

 August. 



GREENSHANK (Totanns canescens). I shot one on the iSth of 

 August ; during this month I saw several, single birds, four or 

 five all told. Last seen 29th August. 



BAR-TAILED GODWIT (Liinosa lapponica). A few odd birds about 

 this season, always singly. I shot three : the first on the 4th of 

 August, the last on the 2oth of September. 



WHIMBREL (Nnmenins phaopus). Often seen from May till end of 

 August. I saw eleven on the i4th, and two on igth May; 

 three on the 4th June. A single bird remained the most of 

 July in a corn-field close to the house. During August they 

 were plentiful. 



SANDWICH TERN (Sterna cantiaca). This season (1893) a small 

 colony of Sandwich Terns bred among the Black-headed Gulls 

 in the Mill Loch here. They chose a clear space among the 

 reed-beds, where a short thick grass grows, and where a few 

 Arctic Terns also place their nests. There were sixteen pairs 

 in all ; and so close were the nests placed together that an 

 ordinary table-cloth would have covered the lot. By the i6th 

 May most of the nests contained two eggs ; in three, however, 

 there were three eggs, which, I believe, is an unusual number. 

 It seems a most curious spot for birds of this species to nest ; 

 but the loch had very little water in it, owing to the protracted 

 drought, and the place where they nested was quite dry. This 

 is the first record I have of the Sandwich Tern breeding in 

 North Ronaldshay. 



GLAUCOUS GULL (Lams glaiicus}. I saw a mature bird on the 

 23rd October. 



RICHARDSON'S SKUA (Stercorarius crepidatus). - - Appeared earlier 

 than usual this summer, many being seen during the month 

 of July ; seldom observed later in the season. 



GREAT NORTHERN DIVER (Colymbus glacialis). A single bird 

 close to the rocks on the south shore on the pth of April. 

 Some ten days after I again saw a single bird in Otterswick 

 Bay, Sanday, when crossing over to that island. 



LITTLE GREBE (Podiceps fluviatilis). On the 23rd October I saw a 

 Little Grebe on Garso Loch : on the same loch I had shot one 

 the previous winter. 



