BIRDS OBSERVED IN SOUTHERN SHETLAND u 



SANDERLING, Calidris arenaria. The Sanderling was undoubtedly 

 the commonest wader observed by us, though, apart from 

 Saxby's information for Unst, where the bird is described as a 

 spring and autumn visitant, there appear to be only two records, 

 each referring to single individuals only, of the bird's occur- 

 rence in Shetland. 



On visiting Quendale Bay on the loth, the day after our 

 arrival in the islands, we saw from forty to fifty Sanderlings in a 

 flock. At the Pool of Virkie we found them more numerous, 

 and consorting with Ring Plovers and Dunlins. Here we 

 observed a hundred or more during each visit down to the i Qth, 

 after which date they became less numerous both at Virkie and 

 Quendale. They were present, however, in both haunts, but in 

 smaller parties, down to the end of our visit. 



RUFF, Machetes pugnax. The Ruff was one of the species which 

 appeared with the slight increase of migratory birds on the 

 i yth. A young male was shot on that date from the marsh at 

 the head of Loch Spiggie. Another, also a male from its 

 size, was observed by us feeding on the margin of Pool of 

 Virkie on the following day. 



Although there are but few actual records of the occurrence 

 of this species in the Shetlands. yet, from the information 

 afforded us by Mr. Thomas Henderson, jun., there can be 

 little doubt that this species is a regular autumn visitor to the 

 south portion of the main island. 



BAR-TAILED GODWIT, Limosa lapponica. This species was not abun- 

 dant, but several small parties frequented the sands of the Pool 

 of Virkie. Usually four or five were noted, and on no occa- 

 sion were more than a dozen seen. They appeared to be less 

 numerous after the igth, but six of these birds were still there 

 on the occasion of our last visit on the 22nd. 



Though regarded as an irregular visitor to Shetland, we 

 suspect that it might be observed annually on passage in suit- 

 able haunts, such as the sands at Virkie. 



WHIMBREL, Numeriius phceopus. Not only had the Whimbrels 

 which summer in Shetland departed prior to our visit, but the 

 passage of the birds which arrive in the autumn was also 

 apparently over, for we only came across a single individual, in 

 company with Curlews, at Grutness Voe on the i4th. 



ARCTIC TERN, Sterna macrura. Two parties of three birds seen at 

 the Pool of Virkie on the iSth were the only Arctic Terns 

 observed. This Tern breeds in the district, but had taken its 

 departure prior to the gth. 



LESSER TERN, Sterna mimtta. The Lesser Tern is an addition to 

 the fauna of the Shetland Isles. 



On the 2oth, after several days of strong southerly winds, 



