NOTES ON BIRD-LIFE IN THE OUTER HEBRIDES 33 



birds, were seen frequently up to the middle of June. Other 

 non-breeding waders were a Grey Plover, observed in summer 

 plumage on 6th June, and some Turnstones seen on 16th 

 June. 



We paid three visits to a well-known colony of the Red- 

 necked Phalarope. As far as we could judge, the number of 

 birds breeding there at present is anything from thirty to 

 fifty pairs. The owner of the place does all in his power to 

 protect the birds, but owing to the nature of the ground, it 

 is very difficult to watch it adequately, and unfortunately it 

 is well known to collectors. 



We discovered a colony of the Common Tern, nesting 

 among some Black-headed Gulls, on an island to the north 

 of any breeding-station previously recorded for the Outer 

 Hebrides in the Annals of Scottish Natural History. The 

 Arctic Tern was breeding in considerable numbers in the 

 same district, but in separate colonies. Two or three pairs of 

 Lesser Terns were also seen in this localitv, and from the 

 date 5th June it is probable that the birds meant to breed 

 there, but the eggs were not found. 



On 31st May M. D. H. observed a Black Tern (Hydro- 

 chelidon nigra) on the west coast, flying in a south-westerly 

 direction. 



The Common Gull, Herring-gull, Black-headed Gull, and 

 Greater and Lesser Black-backed Gulls all bred in the 

 districts that we visited. The least common was the Lesser 

 Black-back. We visited a breeding-place of the Richardson's 

 Skua during the second week in June, but found no nests and 

 only saw two and a half pairs of the birds. This particular 

 moor is generally occupied by a dozen pairs, and we are at a 

 loss to account for the birds' non-arrival in 19 13. 



Of other sea-birds, we saw a few Manx Shearwaters in 

 the Minch at the beginning of May, and picked up a newly 

 killed Fulmar on the machar in the middle of June. We also 

 saw a few Puffins, Razorbills, and Black Guillemots probably 

 visitors from Haskeir on the west coast. We also saw a 

 mature Black Guillemot on 4th June, swimming in a fresh- 

 water loch, five miles from the sea. 



The Dabchick is common, and breeds on every moorland 

 26 E 



