BIRD NOTES FROM NORTH RONALDSHAY, ORKNEY 159 



(Gallinago gallinula), the only ones seen and the first for the 

 year. Sept. 10. Damp, cold day; wind S.E. Shot two 

 old male Redstarts and two Whinchats, the latter being birds 

 of the year. Sept. I I. Dull day ; wet and misty in after- 

 noon ; wind S.E. Garden Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, female 

 Redstart, several Willow Wrens, and a Robin (Erithacits 

 rubeculd) in garden. Sept. I 2. Stormy ; heavy rain showers 

 throughout the morning ; very wet afternoon ; wind S.E. 

 Swarms of Redstarts in the garden and all along the west 

 side of the island ; I never remember to have seen anything 

 like it. We generally see a few Redstarts every season, but 

 this was a regular rush ; the red tails were flirting by the 

 dozen along every dyke side, and every large boulder on the 

 beach sheltered one or more. They were almost entirely 

 young birds, as far as I could make out. Among the host 

 of Redstarts were many other Passeres, but owing to the 

 blinding rain it was difficult either to identify or shoot many 

 of the little creatures, which were blown about like leaves 

 among the boulders and stones on the beach by every gust 

 of wind, or went jinking out and in about the open stonework 

 of the dykes ; however, I made out Song Thrush (one), Robin 

 (one), several Pied Flycatchers, several Whitethroats, Whinchat 

 (one). I shot a fine old male Blackcap, the only bird of the 

 kind with a black head I have met with here, the brown - 

 headed birds being frequently seen in late autumn. I also 

 shot a female Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis], this being the 

 first time I have met with the species in this island. A good 

 many immature Pied Wagtails were among this rush of birds. 

 Sept. i 3, Sunday. Better weather, sunshine at times. Birds 

 in garden : Pied Flycatchers, Willow Warblers, Whitethroats, 

 one Robin, one Blackcap, numbers of Redstarts. Out for a 

 walk with my wife and Traill, we saw three Tree Pipits 

 together, between the house and the west rocks, identified 



o 



for certain through the binoculars at a close range. Sept. 

 14. Misty morning; heavy rain in afternoon. Traill and 

 myself were both out and tried different directions. Traill 

 killed a fine old cock Goldcrest (Regulus cristatus] ; it was by 

 itself along the side of the west sheep-dyke. He also secured 

 two fine old male Redstarts. A single Swift was again about 

 the house and farm buildings at I I o'clock in the forenoon, 



