REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY IN I917 179 



The Purple Heron, Ardea purpurea purpurea. See p. 150. 



The Little Bittern, Ixobrychus minutus. See p. 150. 



The Bittern, Botaurus stellaris stellaris. See p. 150. 



The Whooper Swan, Cygnus cygnus. Five Whoopers visited 

 Barra Head on 19th February, and "Swans" at Hellyar Holm on 

 30th January and North Unst on 1st May probably belonged to 

 this species. On 18th October seven arrived at Grogary (O.H.), 

 six flew west over Largo on 4th November, three were on Bardowie 

 Loch on 5 th December, two were seen at Sule Skerry on 19th and 

 seven on 20th December, while several frequented Barra Head 

 during that month. 



Bewick's Swan, Cygnus bewickii bewickii. First seen at 

 Grogary (O.H.) on 25th October, and one was found dead on the 

 shore at Graemsay on 2nd December. 



The Grey-lag Goose, Anser anser. Flocks of thirty to forty 

 returned to Vallay, N. Uist, after breeding on 28th July. 



"Grey Geese" or "Wild Geese," species not mentioned, are 

 recorded going north-east near Largo on 24th March, huge flocks 

 going south-east near Cromarty on 14th April, and a flock of twenty 

 flying over, Pitlochry on 7th May. A flock of seven had returned 

 to the neighbourhood of Dundee on 23rd September; large arrivals 

 are reported from three stations in East Fife on 28th September, 

 and a flock of about sixty at the Beauly Firth on 5th October. 



The White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons. A flock fed on 

 the farm at Galson (O.H.) from 31st March to 5th April, nine were 

 seen there on 27th April, and one on 6th May. First seen at 

 Grogary (S. Uist) on 14th October, and three flying south-west at 

 Vallay (N. Uist) on 3rd November. 



The Bean Goose, Anser fabalis fabalis. One is reported from 

 Glenorchard on 14th January. 



The Pink- footed Goose, Anser brachyrhynchus. A dozen are 

 noted near Crail on 13th February, about forty at Aberlady on 

 7th April, and about a hundred and fifty on the Beauly Firth on 

 7th May, while on 6th October many were seen at Aberlady, and on 

 10th October eight had returned to Glenorchard. 



The Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis. Was last seen in 

 North Uist on 3rd May, and at Barra Head on 2 9th May. Reappeared 

 at Barra Head during the first week of September; a flock of twenty 

 went north-east over Vallay, N. Uist, and arrivals are recorded from 



