BIRD NOTES FROM NORTH RONALDSHAY 77 



different parts of the island up to 2nd September, but after 

 this there was not one to be seen. They seemed to mix little 

 with other waders ; in any case in which I observed them do so, 

 it was only a single bird, or at most two. 



Purple Sandpiper (Tringa striata). — Occurs every autumn. The 

 first I noticed for 1892 was a flock of five on 23rd August. 

 In November they swarmed all along the rocks; on the nth 

 of that month I counted fifty-three birds in one flock, and there 

 were many other much larger flocks. 



Curlew Sandpiper (Tringa subarquata). — I shot two on 24th 

 August 1892, and on 30th August killed ten at a shot, out of 

 a good-sized flock, which appeared to be all of this species. 

 After this I saw them fairly common all over the island. The 

 last mention I find of them in my diary was 1st October, when 



I shot a single bird. I never saw the Curlew Sandpiper in 

 North Ronaldshay before this year. 



Knot (Tringa canutus). — Noticed almost every August I have been 

 here. I shot a single bird on 12th August 1892 ; on 17th I 

 saw a flock of about a score, and 23rd August found them 

 plentiful along the west rocks. During this winter I have not 

 remarked their presence. 



Ruff (Machetes pugnax). — In my experience of North Ronaldshay, I 

 have found that the Ruff occurs pretty regularly during the 

 months of August and September. In 1887 tne > T were more 

 plentiful than usual, being often seen during August. On the 

 20th August of that year I shot five (two Ruffs, three Reeves), 

 from a flock of nine, this being the only occasion on which I 

 have seen a flock. They usually appear only singly, or perhaps 

 as many as three together. This season I have noticed less 

 than a dozen, of which I shot three at different times, viz. 9th 

 August, 26th August, 1 st September 1892. 



Sanderling (Calidris arenaria). — Wonderfully numerous in 1S92. 

 First seen on 25th August, when fourteen were counted in 

 flights of Ringed Plover. Since then they have been con- 

 spicuous among the shore birds. 



Redshank (Totanus calidris). — Scarce during the breeding season, 

 only a few pairs nesting here. Common all along the shore 

 in autumn and winter. 



Greenshank. (Totanus canescens). — A scarce autumn visitor. I shot 

 one on 27th August 1S87, and had only recognised them on 

 two previous occasions. In iN<;j I identified one, by its 

 peculiar call, Hying overhead on 25th October. On 10th 

 November, picked up the remains of another, and subsequently 

 heard that a man had shot two, out of a lot of six, some time 

 in October, at the loch where I found the dead bird. 



