Vol. III. SEPTEMBER, 1894. No. 9. 



NOTES ON THE BREEDING BIRDS OF INCH, 



LOUGH SWILLY. 



BY D. C. CAMPBELL. 



Thk district of Inch, Lough Swilly, with its heather- clad hill, 

 its extensive sloblands, and stretches of weed-grown fresh 

 water, is a most interesting one to the ornithologist. Indeed 

 nowhere have I found a locality frequented by so many species 

 of birds. Professor Leebody has given much interesting 

 information regarding the winter visitants to Inch {Irish Nat., 

 Dec, 1892). In the following paper I give a few notes upon 

 some of the breeding birds and their nests, selecting only the 

 more interesting species. 



The first I mention is the Whinchat (Pratincola rubctra, 

 L.)- I n May, 1891, Mr. Gibson and Mr. Samuel Bryson 

 found a nest in a Whin-bush on the border of the slobland. 

 They saw and identified the birds. This is the only instance 

 I know of this species breeding near Derry. 



The Sand-martins {Cotile riparia, I,.) used to breed in con- 

 siderable numbers in the sand-bank beside Inch Road station, 

 but of late years have almost abandoned the spot. The last 

 time I visited the bank only one pair had nested. Close to 

 this bank I had the pleasure of seeing together in the air at 

 the same time the Sand-Martin, Swallow (Hirundo rustica, 

 L,<)> Martin {Chelidon urbica, L-)> anc ^ Swift {Cypselus apus, 

 L,.)- When the Swift arrives, the winter visitants are wending 

 their way northwards. A few, however, remain a week or 

 two later. The Scaup {Fuligula marila, L-)> Wigeon (Mareca 

 penelope, 1,.), and White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons, Scop.) 

 are to be seen until the second or sometimes even until the 



third week of May. 



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