December, i89_J 253 



RECENT OBSERVATIONS ON THE SEA-FOWL OF 



THE DUBLIN COAST. 



BY CHARGES J. PATTEN, B.A., M.D. 



One might almost have expected that the heavy gales, which 

 raged so furiously during the middle and latter parts of last 

 September, would have tended to turn out of their course 

 large numbers of sea-fowl which happened at that time to be 

 journeying on their southern migration. Observations made 

 about the Dublin coast show this to be true to a certain 

 extent, for some species appeared earlier than is usual, these 

 having probably been wafted out of their direct line of migra- 

 tion. Indicative also of the rough weather many birds remained 

 with us for a longer period than they generally have done, 

 their numbers not thinning out so rapidly soon after their 

 arrival as on previous occasions, but curiously enough, as far 

 as I am aware, very few rare species have been recorded from 

 Dublin Bay or its vicinity during this autumn. 



Of the large and varied Order of Limicolae, the Golden 

 PeovER (Charadrhis pluvialis) has been very numerous this 

 autumn. It appeared on the North Bull, Dolly mount, as 

 early as the 20th of September. On that date I only can be 

 certain that I observed a single bird, although sportsmen 

 inform me that it is often seen in large flocks even earlier. 

 On Monday, September 25th, Mr. E. Williams noted an 

 enormous flock at Portmarnock. I have not seen large flocks 

 of Golden Plover about Dublin Bay earlier than the middle of 

 October. 



Grey Peover 1 (Squatarola helvetica) have made their 

 appearance since the beginning of October. Compared with 

 previous seasons, their arrival was somewhat late, the middle 

 of September being the usual time. 



On October 7th I noticed three "Or four flocks, consisting 

 each of ten to twelve birds. 



Turnstones (Strepsilas interpres) have been exceptionally 

 numerous this autumn. I noticed an adult bird in summer 

 plumage as early as August 2nd, 1899. Towards the end of 

 the same month, viz., August 26th, hundreds of immature 



'Old birds in summer plumage seldom occur on our coasts. (See Irish 

 Naturalist, vol. vii., p. 233.) 



A 



