MOVEMENTS OF BIRDS IN SCOTLAND DURING 1902 81 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



The leading characteristic of the weather in the spring 

 months of 1902, as in 1901, was its great variability; 

 alternate spells of cold weather being succeeded at short 

 intervals by periods of unusual mildness, while the rainfall 

 in most districts was decidedly under the normal. During 

 May and greater part of June cold, changeable, and showery 

 weather was experienced until towards the close of the 

 latter month, when more genial conditions generally pre- 

 vailed. 



An absence of haze during the time when most of the 

 migrants were seeking their summer haunts seems to have 

 been a conspicuous feature at most of our eastern and 

 northern Light Stations ; consequently the records of the 

 spring movements are unimportant. More decided move- 

 ments are noted by West Coast observers, but as a whole 

 birds seem to have been less abundant than in some previous 

 years. 



On the East Coast the first movement noted at the Isle 

 of May took place on March i, when many Thrushes, 

 Blackbirds, and a few Missel Thrushes were at the lantern ; 

 Wagtails and Wheatears on the 3ist; and on April 7-12, 

 Goldcrests. At the Bell Rock station an early movement 

 of Skylarks and Starlings, on February 26-27, is noted. 

 The same species in larger numbers, with Thrushes and 

 Blackbirds, were at the lantern on March 2-6. Goldcrests, 

 Robins, Larks, and Greenfinches were flying round light on 

 April 4-9, while on the I 3th to I7th Wheatears, Wagtails, 

 Pipits, Blackbirds, and Starlings were the species observed. 



A rush of Larks is recorded at Noup Head, Orkney, 

 on January 29, and again on March 5. Wheatears were 

 at the light on April i 7, and on the 2Oth Ring Ousels. 



On the West Coast migratory movements were more 

 extensive, or at any rate more in evidence, during the spring 

 than on the east of Scotland. At Dhuheartach, between 

 February 23 and March 7, great numbers of Turdidae, 

 Starlings, Larks, and Pipits were flying round nearly every 

 night. At Skerryvore rushes of Thrushes, Pipits, etc., on 

 February 1 7, and Larks, Thrushes, Blackbirds, and Starlings 

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