REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN I918 loi 



in their dates of arrival, but in autumn the arrival of winter 

 visitors is recorded at very early dates. 



The following abbreviations are used in this Report : 



1. = TJie Scottish Naturalist. 



2. British Birds (magazine), 

 (O.H.) = Outer Hebrides. 



(L.) = Lantern. 



We are indebted to the Weekly Weather Report ,of the 

 Meteorological Office for the meteorological data contained 

 in this Report. 



Birds New to Faunal Areas, and Uncommon 



Visitors. 



Owing partly to the exceptionally difficult conditions 

 under which observation was carried out in 191 8, and partly 

 to the unfavourable weather conditions which prevailed 

 during the periods when migration is at its height, the list 

 of uncommon visitors this year is a very short one. 

 Various interesting species put in an appearance, however, 

 and are duly chronicled below. A male Hawfinch {Cocco- 

 thraustes coccothraustes coccothraiistes) was caught in a 

 dama{;ed condition in the woods at Castlecraig, Peeblesshire 

 (i. 1918, 34), this being the first record of the species for that 

 county. Four Ortolans (^Eniheriza hortulana) visited the 

 Isle of May on 6th May, and six were present there on 9th 

 May, while a Waxwing {Bonibycilla garniltis') is recorded at 

 Cairntown, Deeside, on 24th December (i. 1919, 50). Black 

 Redstarts {Pha;nicurus ochruriis gibraltariensis) were fairly 

 well represented in 191 8, single birds occurred on the Isle 

 of May on 12th and 13th April, 5th, 6th, and 9th May, 

 and "some" there on 7th May. A large grey Owl, 

 believed to be a Snowy Owl {Nyctea nyctea), was seen 

 on North Unst on 21st April, and a bird of this species 

 occurred at Port Errol, Aberdeenshire, on 7th September 

 (i. 191 8, 274). On 28th April a Rough - legged Buzzard 

 {Buteo lagopus lagopus) is recorded from Vallay (Outer 

 Hebrides), where this species occurs but rarely, and one 

 frequented the Lauderdale Glens in the winter of 191 8-19 



