WILD LIFE IN A WEST HIGHLAND DEER FOREST ' 



Common Sandpiper, Tot anus hypoleucus. 



Is found commonly in the spring and summer on the margins 

 of all the lochs, rivers, and larger burns, and nests there from 

 7yo feet at Loch Treig to 1940 feet at Loch na Lap. Has been 

 observed on Loch Ossian side on the 30th of April, and leaves 

 in September. 



Curlew, Numenius arquata. 



An abundant summer visitor to the extensive tracts of grassy 

 moorland ground of the subalpine zone where it nests from 1000 

 to 1350 feet. In the alpine zone it is not uncommon, and breeds 

 on suitable mountain slopes up to 2500 feet. Arrived at Corrour 

 in the springs of 191 6 and 191 7 on the 7th of April. 



Golden Plover, Charadrius apricaritis. 



There seems to be a dearth of ground in the Forest suited to 

 the requirements of this bird, for its summer haunts at Corrour are 

 confined to one or two dry, heathery and mossy plateaux at 2700 and 

 3000 feet. These nesting haunts, however, are only resorted to by 

 a few pairs. In both spring and autumn some numbers are observed 

 on their way to and from neighbouring breeding habitats. At 

 Corrour much ground which would be otherwise suitable for nesting 

 purposes is of too moist a nature. 



Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus. 



This is a very scarce native of the Forest, to which it is a 

 summer visitor. A single pair breeds annually on some rough 

 grassland at the foot of Loch Ossian at 1300 feet, but in 191 7 

 two pairs nested there for the first time. In the same season 

 another pair reared young on moorland ground, where it had been 

 previously unknown, at 1350 feet. Finally a pair was observed on 

 the moor, probably annually resorted to, bordering the Blackwater 

 (1100 feet) in June 1917. In autumn it has been observed as late 

 as the 20th of November, and in spring has arrived as early as the 

 24th of February. As travelling migrants, twenty-four passed Ossian 

 on the 24th of March 191 6. 



Oystercatcher, Htematopus ostralegus. 



This bird is only an occasional visitor, chiefly at the periods of 

 its vernal and autumnal migrations, to the margins of Loch Treig 

 (784 feet) and Loch Ossian (1269 feet). 



