REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN I917 175 



The Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra rubetra. Was late in 

 arriving in 191 7. The first records are from Kinnelhead, Beattock, 

 on 2nd May, Beith and Bardowie next day, and the Isle of May and 

 Darvel on 5th May. After this, arrivals at breeding stations are 

 noted up to 12th May, by which time Whinchats seem to have been 

 generally distributed. A passage migrant visited Swona on nth 

 May, and Whinchats on the Isle of May on this date and 13th and 

 14th May may also have been on passage overseas. By 5th August 

 movement is reported at Perth and Summerston, and the local 

 birds had left about Dundee. Last seen Summerston on 2nd 

 September, Bathgate on 6th, Largo Bay on 10th, and Beith on 

 22 nd September. 



The Stonechat, Saxicola torquata. Two are reported from 

 Galson (O.H.) on 29th March and 6th August, and one at the same 

 station on 14th August. 



The Redstart, Phcenicurus phcenicurus phoenicurus. The first 

 records for the season are from the Little Ross lantern at 2 a.m. 

 and n p.m. on 25th April, Duns on 29th April, Kinnelhead on 

 1st May, Comiston (Midlothian) on 2nd May, and Darvel, Kil- 

 macolm, and Swordale (E. Ross), on 6th May. After this notes 

 of arrival at breeding-places come up to 19th May. From 8th to 

 22nd May a few Redstarts were present on the Isle of May; some 

 of these may have been passage migrants. By 21st July return 

 movement is reported, and by 24th July most of the local birds had 

 left the district round Dundee. 



Four passage migrants are recorded from Swona on 29th August, 

 and birds at the Isle of May from 26th August to 12th September 

 may also have been on passage. Last seen Balgay on 2nd September, 

 Little Ross on nth, and Bathgate on 16th September. 



The Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica gcetkei. See p. 150. 



The Redbreast, Erithacus rubecula. A few Redbreasts are 

 recorded from the Isle of May on 29th January and 9th March, 

 two at the Pladda lantern on 18/ 19th February, one at the Rhinns 

 of Islay lantern at 3 a.m. on 24th March, several at Barra Head all 

 March and April, and one at the Isle of May on 3rd April. It is 

 difficult to assign these to either the Continental or British race, 

 though probably most of them refer to returns of our breeding birds. 

 Evident emigrant E. r. rubecula are recorded from Swona, Fair 

 Isle, Lerwick, and North Unst, from nth to 22nd May. 



Autumn records of movement are scanty : a Redbreast, probably 

 one of the British race, visited the Isle of May on 25th September, 



