SULE SKERRY, ORKNEY, AND ITS BIRD-LIP^E 91 



SULE SKERRY, ORKNEY, AND ITS BIRD-LIFE. 



By JAMES TOMISON. 

 ( Continued from p. 26.) 



III. REGULAR AUTUMN AND WINTER VISITORS. 

 Under this heading are: Song Thrush (Turdus inusicus), 

 Redwing (7". iliaais\ Fieldfare (T. pilaris), Blackbird (T. 

 menila), Ring Ouzel (T. torquatus\ Wheatear (Saxicola 

 oenantJie), Robin (Erithacus rubecula], Pied Wagtail (Motacil/a 

 lugubris), Twite (Linota flavirostris], Common Bunting 

 (Emberiza miliaria), Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis), 

 Starling (Sturnns vulgaris), Merlin (Falco cesaloii), Heron 

 (Ardea drier eci), Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis\ Lap- 

 wing ( Vanellus vanellus), Turnstone (Strepsilus interpres], 

 Woodcock (Scolopax rustiaila), Snipe (Gallinago gallinago], 

 Purple Sandpiper (Trmga striata}, Redshank (Totanus 

 calidris], Curlew (Numenius arquata), Glaucous Gull (Lams 

 glancns\ Iceland Gull (Lanis leucoptenis], Little Auk (Alca 

 alle\ Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis). 



Most of the above are only seen for a day or two during 

 migration. The Song Thrush, Redwing, Fieldfare, Black- 

 bird, and Ring Ouzel, are sometimes seen in great rushes in 

 October and November, especially the Redwings and Field- 

 fares. They very seldom call on the way north, in spring, 

 but occasionally they are seen for a day or two in April. 

 Wheatears are common in large flocks in August and 

 September. Very few seen in spring. The Pied Wagtail is 

 a very irregular visitor, sometimes seen for a few hours at 

 intervals from May to the end of September. The latter 

 month is the time they are most in evidence. 



The Robin calls every year in the end of August and 

 through September. The Twite is most commonly seen in 

 April and May, sometimes in large flocks, staying for a few days 

 and then disappearing. A few call in August and September, 

 and I have seen them in November. The Starling is not at 

 home on the island. I have seen a few for a day and a 

 night in every month of the year with the exception of 

 December and January. Ten is the greatest number I have 



