NOTES ON BIRDS OBSERVED IN SHETLAND 211 



NOTES ON BIRDS OBSERVED IN SHETLAND 

 DURING THE SUMMER OF 1896. 



By ROBERT GODFREY, M.A. 



THE following notes were made during a visit to Shetland 

 in June and July this season, and are supplemented by a few 

 references to a short holiday spent in Walls in June 1895. 

 I worked the Mainland from various centres, but did not 

 pass south of the line joining Scalloway and Lerwick. I 

 also paid short visits to Yell and to Unst. 



Such a holiday is, of course, always full of surprises, and 

 some interesting species not expected beforehand are sure to 

 turn up, whilst others eagerly sought for evade the pursuer's 

 gaze. I was especially disappointed in failing to see the Red- 

 necked Phalarope, although I was certainly in one of the 

 haunts occupied in former years, and found its associates the 

 Dunlin and the Snipe in the marsh, but I never succeeded in 

 rousing the bird I sought. All the species inserted in this 

 list were personally met with. 



Whilst expressing my gratitude to all who assisted me 

 during my tour in the islands, I must especially mention 

 Mr. Bowie of Infield, Mossbank, for the great kindness 

 shown to me, and for the interest he took in my pursuits. 



WHEATEAR, Saxicola anant/ie. Occurs abundantly and is universally 

 distributed throughout Shetland. I heard this bird singing all 

 night about the middle of June. 



WREN, Troglodytes parvulus. I found this little bird widely distri- 

 buted, frequenting alike the neighbourhood of human abodes 

 and the wild regions removed from human haunts. 



MEADOW PIPIT, Anthus pratensis. Common. I got a nest with 

 five fresh eggs in Aithsting on igth June, and another with 

 four, incubated, on 3oth June. 



ROCK PIPIT, AntJms obscurus. A never-failing object of the cliff 

 scenery of Shetland. 



SWALLOW, Hirundo rustica. Twice observed by me : a pair at the 

 Sound of Weisdale on nth June, and a single bird at Gruting 

 Loch in Sandsting on i5th June. 



SPARROW, Passer domesticus. Common beside houses everywhere. 



