MOVEMENTS OF BIRDS IN SCOTLAND DURING 1898 143 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



The series of mild winters was not broken by that of 

 1897-98, and the spring was also of the same character as 

 the preceding year ; namely, wet and cold for the most part, 

 and therefore retarding migration. To some extent the 

 summer visitants were late in arriving, and conspicuously 

 fewer in number than usual in most districts. 



The pronounced spring movements were few in number. 

 At North Ronaldshay, on April 2ist, Wheatears and other 

 small birds were in swarms all night ; and at Dunrossness 

 there was a remarkable rush, culminating on April 3Oth, 

 details of which are given in "Annals," 1898, pp. 178-179. 

 At Tiree, on April I9th and 26th, White Wagtails in 

 numbers were passing north, and on April 29th and May 

 6th the usual passage of Whimbrels was observed. At 

 Skerryvore, on April 22nd, a rush of Pipits, Whinchats, 

 Wheatears, and Warblers took place. 



The principal autumn migratory movements on the 

 East Coast occurred on Oct. 8th, 2Oth, and 2ist, when 

 Song Thrushes, Redwings, Fieldfares, Starlings, etc., were in 

 swarms at Dunrossness, N. Ronaldshay, and Rattray Head. 



On the West Coast, from Sept. 7th to 9th, rushes of 

 Wheatears, Wagtails, Pipits, and other small birds are 

 recorded from Dhuheartach, Skerryvore, and Lamlash. Other 

 rushes are noted from these stations, and from Skervuile and 

 Mull of Kintyre, on Oct. 9th to 22nd, Nov. 8th and 

 9th, and I9th and 2Oth, the birds mainly being Thrushes, 

 Blackbirds, Redwings, Fieldfares, Goldcrests, and Woodcocks. 



The appearance of the Great Spotted Woodpecker, in 

 unusual numbers, in many widely separated districts, and 

 the flocks of Jays that in the autumn invaded the south- 

 western counties, may be alluded to as special features of 

 the fall movements. 



The interesting occurrence of Macqueen's Bustard at 

 Pitfour, Aberdeen, on Oct. 22nd, the first Scottish 

 example, is the chief ornithological rarity of the year. 

 Among other casual visitants to Scotland may be mentioned 

 the Black -bellied Dipper, at Dunrossness, on Nov. 27th ; 

 Golden Oriole, Arbroath, June 8th ; Red -backed Shrike, 



