SOME BIRD NOTES FROM SOUTH UIST igi 



comes to the Hebrides as a summer visitor. At one time we 

 knew of as many as forty pairs, but I fear very much their 

 numbers are now less, as that bane of bird life, the egg- 

 collector, found out their haunts. 



The Woodcock. The Woodcock is an abundant winter 

 visitor to the Outer Hebrides, arriving about mid-October 

 and staying till late February or early March. They frequent 

 the deep wild ravines and sides of mountain streams, where 

 good heather covert and overhanging rocks afford all the 

 shelter they require ; in fine weather they are found all over 

 the open moor among the Grouse and afford capital sport, 

 especially in November and early December, when the 

 migratory Snipe are all over the moor along with them. 

 After the exceptionally severe winter of 1897-98, Woodcock 

 were never so numerous, as all birds suffered severely, 

 especially those living by suction. The " Cock " frequented 

 the same haunts year after year, in fact the same holes on 

 a stormy day. They are very shy birds especially when 

 migratory, and should always be allowed to settle for at least 

 a fortnight in their winter quarters before being shot at ; the 

 same ground should not be disturbed often as no bird is so 

 easily scared. The Peregrine and Merlin follow the birds 

 from the far north and exact a terrible toll, especially when 

 they are tired on landing. 



The Snipe. Breed all over the low-lying moors and 

 green grazing ground between the " Machrie" and the moor, 

 and numbers of migratory Snipe arrive in October. There is 

 very good Snipe ground all over Barra, South Uist, and 

 Benbecula. 



Jack Snipe. 'These arrive in October and the number 

 migrating to the Hebrides every year is marvellous. How 

 they manage to weather the storms of the North Sea is a 

 mystery to me, they seem so weakly. 



The Dunlin. Stays all the year round and nests freely 

 on the plains near the Atlantic shores. 



The Redshank. This bird is very common in the 

 Outer Hebrides, especially during winter and spring, but is 

 not so numerous in the nesting time, as many leave the 

 islands to breed elsewhere. 



