THE BIRDS OF THE ST. MARY'S LOCH DISTRICT 201 



GOLDEN PLOVER (Charadrius pluvialis). Breeds in fair numbers 

 on the higher parts of the hills. 



GREEN PLOVER ( Vanellus vulgaris). Several pairs nested near the 

 mouth of the Meggat. Comes and goes during the winter 

 according to the weather. 



OYSTER-CATCHER (Hczmatopus ostrakgus). On 1910 May I saw two 

 at the mouth of the Meggat. Sim says he has never seen any 

 so far up the Yarrow. 



DUNLIN (Tringa alpina). Saw a single bird at the mouth of the 

 Meggat on ist May and again on the i4th. On the iSth my 

 brother saw three. 



COMMON SNIPE (Gallinago ccekstis). A few pairs breed in the 

 swampy ground. 



COMMON SANDPIPER (To tan us hypoleucus}. Numerous. Saw the 

 first on 24th April. By the end of the month they were quite 

 numerous both on the loch and on the Meggat. On loth May 

 I saw a pair on Loch Skene. 



REDSHANK (Totanus calidris). Two pairs nested at the mouth of 

 the Meggat. They leave in winter. 



CURLEW (Numenius arquata). Numbers breed on the hills. Absent 

 in winter. 



BLACK-HEADED GULL (Lams ridibundus). Usually to be seen. 

 Their favourite haunt is the mouth of the Meggat. 



LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Lams fuscus). A few sometimes at 

 the mouth of the Meggat. All I saw were immature. 



HERRING GULL (Larus argent atus). A few at times. 



RED-THROATED DIVER (Colymbus septentrionalis). On 3oth May 

 my brother saw a single bird on Loch Skene. In winter they 

 sometimes appear on St. Mary's Loch (Sim). 



- GOOSE. At about 5.30 on the morning of 2ist April I saw a 

 lot of about thirty wild geese flying nearly due north. The 

 morning was dark and misty, and the birds high, so I could 

 not make out to what species they belonged beyond the fact 

 that they were neither Brent nor Bernicle. Another lot passed 

 over about 7 P.M., also going north. On ist or 2nd May Sim 

 says he saw upwards of one hundred pass over. 



Birds which I have not seen myself, but which sometimes 

 frequent the district : 



SHELD-DUCK (Tadorna cornuta). Seen occasionally on the loch 

 (Sim). 



