report on scottish ornithology in i917 161 



Migration, 

 summary of movements. 



January. 



The first half of January shows little migration, but small 

 weather movements are recorded, and numbers of Hooded 

 Crows and Thrushes visited the Isle of May on the 6th, 

 in frost. 



During the second half of the month these weather 

 migrations were much intensified owing to the severe and con- 

 tinuous frost, Turdince being especially affected. The cliff- 

 breeding birds began to pay visits to their nesting places. 



February. 



During the first fortnight of February, in spite of the 

 continuous frost, there were distinct indications of the return 

 of Lapwings, Curlew, and Oystercatchers to their nesting- 

 places ; otherwise the movements are similar to those of the 

 second half of January. The frost broke on the 17th, and 

 a spell of south-east to south-west winds followed, up to the 

 25th ; during this time large movements of Turdince, 

 Starlings, Skylarks, and Wader took place, probably chiefly 

 returns of our breeding-birds, as the records all come from 

 our southern lanterns and from inland nesting quarters. 

 On the 26th the wind changed to the north-west, and little 

 movement is recorded till the end of the month. 



March. 



The weather of March was cold and unsettled, with 

 variable winds, and a well-marked weather movement, with 

 south-east wind and snow, took place from the 7th to 

 the 9th. 



Movements similar to those of February continued during 

 March ; no rush of any kind took place, nor was there any 

 indication of passage migration. Winter visitors were 

 making their way northward, Duck began to move, and 

 the earliest summer migrants are noted, namely a Lesser 

 Black-backed Gull on the 4th and a Wheatear on the 26th. 

 79 AND 80 U 



