May, 1904. lOI 



BIRDS MET WITH IN THE SHANNON VALI.EY. 



BY R. J. USSHKR, D.I,. 



Thk largest river in the British Islands, with its great lake 

 expansions, was, until twelve years ago, as unknown to me as 

 it is to many a naturalist and tourist even in our own island ; 

 but since in 1892 I began by exploring I^ough Derg and L,ough 

 Ree, I have become familiar with aspects of bird life almost 

 absent from the eastern and southern parts of Ireland. 



I^ough Derg runs a tortuous course for twenty-seven miles, 

 with two branches, which form the bays of Scariff and Youghal. 

 The shores are much diversified with wood, some of which is 

 natural. There are many small islands and considerable reed 

 beds, which afford nesting-places to various waders and water- 

 fowl, while mountains overlook the lake in certain parts, 

 heightening the grand effect of the lake and its surroundings. 



I was hospitably entertained at Castle Eough, which forms 

 a projecting part of the Co. Tipperary shore, and here vestiges 

 of the native forest intermix with more modern timber. The 

 proprietor, Mr. Anthony Parker, has a collection of the birds 

 of Eough Derg in his hall, and in a list of those he had ob- 

 served he mentioned the Garden Warbler. Not expecting a 

 bird so little known in Ireland, I asked him for a specimen, 

 and in May, 1893, I received from Castle I^ough a bird of this 

 species, recently shot. The interest excited by this specimen 

 was enhanced by the statement that Mr. Parker had discovered 

 a nest, which, on my visiting him a few days afterwards, he 

 showed me in a deep bed of briars not far from the house. I 

 was able, in this case, to identify the bird which owned this 

 nest, which, to establish the discovery, was taken, and is in 

 the Dublin Museum. The warning note is a ticking sound 

 quite unlike the churr of the Whitethroat. Both before and 

 after the taking of this nest I heard the song of the male birds 

 near that and several other spots in the Castle I^ough woods 

 and grounds. A cautious observer might at first think it came 

 from a Blackbird, but it is more voluble and varied. The bird 

 does not dwell on its notes, but hurries over them and then 

 ceases, to recommence after an interval in some neighbouring 

 tree or brake to which it had made its way unobserved ; for to 



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