182 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



G. Tullock of Lerwick, who reports Redbreasts, Chaffinches, 

 Greenfinches (Ligitrinus chloris), Willow Warblers (Phylloscopus 

 trochilus), and Rooks as being numerous, some of them especially 

 so during the period named. EDS.] 



Bird-Notes from Shetland. During the five months January 

 to May inclusive, the weather has on the whole been unsettled, wet, 

 and stormy. During January the prevailing wind was S.W., 

 February W., March S.E. to S.W. (about equal), April N.E., May 

 W.-S.W. Mean barometric pressure = 29-775 inches at sea-level. 

 Rain has fallen on 134 days, the total amount of rainfall being 

 17-68 inches, as compared with 22-19 inches during the same period 

 last year. 



The following is a list of the rarer migratory birds which have 

 visited us up to date : 



CARRION CROW (Corvus corone). Five seen along with two Hooded 



Crows at Haroldswick at 2 P.M. on 25th February. These are 



the first I have seen in Shetland. 

 ROOK (C. frugilegus). Arrived on 4th March, last seen on igth 



April. 

 JACKDAW (C. monedula). One seen at 1 1 A.M. on 3rd February, 



another (or perhaps the same one) at the same place on ist 



April. 

 BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula). Commenced building on i6th April. 



Four nests with eggs up to date. Young first hatched on 



22nd May. 



MOORHEN (Gallimtla chloropus). One on 28th April. 

 SNOWY OWL (Nyctea scandiaca). One in grey plumage at Balta- 



sound on 4th April. 

 BULLFINCH (Pyrrhula europaa). First seen on igth March at 2.10 



P.M. Others in my garden from i6th April to 26th; they 



seemed somewhat larger and duller coloured than our usual 



English Bullfinch. 

 LANDRAIL (Crex pratensis). First heard on i6th May, seen, 



" flushed " by my dog, on i7th May. 

 GREAT SKUA (Stercorarius catarrhactes). Arrived on nth April, 



first eggs seen on 24th May, at least thirty-four nests with eggs 



on ist June. One new colony started. 

 WHITE-TAILED EAGLE (Haliactus albicilla}. One seen at Balta- 



sound at 6 P.M. on ist June. 



Between the i6th and iSth of April, there was a fair rush of 

 the following migrants, viz. : Chaffinches, great numbers ; Bull- 

 finches, a few ; Goldcrests, a few ; Pied Flycatchers, a few ; Red- 

 breasts, fair number ; Willow Wrens, a few ; Redwings, good-sized 

 flocks (numbers increased on 25th April). 



