report on scottish ornithology in i918 103 



Summer and Nesting. 



This year again we are, happily, in a position to 

 record a fair number of species increasing in various 

 localities. From Possil Marsh comes a note of more 

 Magpies, Kestrels, and Sparrow-hawks, this being probably 

 attributable to absence of gamekeepers, the usual enemies 

 of these birds. Willow-warblers, Wood-warblers, Garden- 

 warblers, Redstarts, and Tree-pipits were more numerous 

 than usual at Duns, and Garden and Sedge-warblers and 

 Tree-pipits at Kilmacolm. Tree-pipits, Spotted Flycatchers, 

 Wood-warblers, Whinchats, Redstarts and Corncrakes are 

 described as "rather more numerous" in the Kirkmichael 

 district; Goldcrests are common there, and several parties 

 of young were seen. Garden- and Wood-warblers and 

 Cuckoos were much commoner in the Darvel district than 

 last season. Other birds were " forward in good numbers, 

 but the above three are most marked." An extra number 

 of Sedge-warblers reared their broods successfully at 

 Duddingston (i. 1918, 216), and in the Dundee district 

 Missel-thrushes were "rather above previous averages," 

 Blackbirds " reoccupied some of their town haunts which 

 were deserted last year," while Goldcrests " made a distinct 

 recovery." Missel- and Song-thrushes were plentiful in 

 Mid- Banffshire, and Blackbirds there were quite as numerous 

 as usual, perhaps more so. Lesser Redpolls and Skylarks 

 too are described as numerous, while more Whitethroats 

 than ever before are noted at Durris. From Collessie 

 (Fife) we have reports of an increase in the number of 

 Swifts and Cuckoos, nearly double the usual number of 

 the former having nested there, while Great Spotted Wood- 

 peckers are increasing about Melrose. Reports from the 

 Isle of May show more Shags and Oystercatchers nesting; 

 formerly one pair of Shags nested on a ledge on the cliffs 

 on the west side, but in 191 8 Mr Baigrie says more bred, 

 and adds, " the other ones are in a cave, farther north than 

 the old pair." Four nests of Oystercatchers were found, 

 two being the old number. At least 300 Black-headed 

 Gulls nest now at Loch of Park, Lower Deeside, they were 



