1907. Patterson. — Birds of Lamb ay. 25 



their own name over and over again. All these birds get 

 wonderfully tame and confiding on Lambay, because they are 

 not shot at or unnecessarily disturbed, the object of the owner 

 being to provide a sanctuary for his feathered guests. All day 

 long the chorus of gulls never ceases, the soprano of the Kitti- 

 wakes blending with the baritone of the Herring Gulls and the 

 bass of the Black-backs. And when night comes on the Shear- 

 waters join in, their mysterious and unbird-like calls, heard all 

 round one at once, rising and falling according to the distance of 

 the unseen producers of the weird sounds, giving the impression 

 that angry and vindictive spirits are about. The first night I 

 spent on the island was made memorable by the hootings of 

 numerous Shearwaters and the trilling of the Nightjars near 

 Lambay Head — an unusual combination of little known and 

 remarkable bird calls. 



The curious pellets of indigestible portions of the Herring 

 Gulls' food are found all over the island. They are composed 

 of grain, fish-bones, rat-bones, rabbits' fur, mussels, and crab 

 shells and claws. On the rocky islets round the coast bones of 

 deer and of rabbits may be found, brought there by the gulls 

 and picked clean. Thus on Carrickdorrish we found ribs and 

 leg bones and caudal vertebrae of deer, and bones of rabbits 

 and rats, while on Sunk Island, in addition to the foregoing, 

 the wing of a Corncrake was found, and remains of numerous 

 crabs and mussels. 



The wealth of bird-life in summer is in marked contrast to 

 the dearth in winter. Even by September the diminution is 

 remarkable, and although many species may be seen in winter 

 (on Christmas Day last Mr. Baring noted twenty-six species) 

 the number of individuals is very small in comparison. But for 

 five months of the year Lambay is an ornithological paradise 

 for the study of sea-birds, which will undoubtedly increase under 

 fostering care. As it is, there is a distinct increase in the numbers 

 of Kittiwakes on the island. 



The following list contains every species known to have 

 frequented the island in the last century, and then follow some 

 condensed notes on the more characteristic birds. 



My thanks are due to Mr. Baling for sending me frequent 

 bird notes, and for answering queries. Also to Nevin H. Foster, 

 M.B.o.u., for much assistance on the island. 



