BIRD NOTES FROM THE ISLE OF MAY 9 



Redstart, R. phoenicurics. — On ist May two Redstarts were on 

 the island all day ; in the early morning of the 3rd five were at 

 the light ; but they were " swarming on the lantern " from 1 1 

 P.M. on the 4th till daylight on the 5th, and next night they 

 were again numerous. 



On the return journey the first was seen on 23rd August, 

 and one was at the lantern on the night of the 30th. I saw 

 none till 19th September, when the wind at last came out of 

 the W. into the S.E., and several appeared. On the 22 nd a 

 lot arrived, and many more came in on the 24th, when the 

 island was full of Redstarts. A good many left on the 28th 

 and only one or two remained, which stayed till ist October. 

 My last entry is a single bird on 6th October. 



Red-spotted Bluethroat, C. siiecica, — On 22nd September (S.E. 

 wind, very light) to my great joy I had my first glimpse of a 

 Bluethroat ; it was among some rocks near the south end of the 

 island, and was very wild, but before it disappeared I saw that 

 it had a distinct stripe of blue, bordered with rust-red, on the 

 breast. Next day I saw another also among the rocks ; this bird 

 had the whitish throat of a young bird, but it was even wilder 

 than the last. On the 24th there were two in Mr. Ross's garden, 

 and on the 25th several in the gardens. Thereafter I saw no 

 more till 5th October, when one made its appearance in the 

 lighthouse garden, but left the same day. They were so very 

 wild that I only succeeded in securing one, a bird of the year. 

 When about to alight Bluethroats spread out their tails like a 

 fan, when the chestnut basal portion of the tail feathers contrasts 

 strongly with the dark-brown terminal portion, forming a strik- 

 ing and most pleasing picture. They also have an attractive 

 way of cocking their tails straight up into the air while sitting 

 on the ground or on a wall, at the same time making a funny 

 little bob. 



Redbreast, E. ricbecula. — Mr. Maccuish reports single birds on 

 1 2th and 30th January, and loth February (at lantern), and 

 two on 1 2th February. On 27th April there were a great 

 many all day, and they were numerous on the lantern from 10 

 P.M. on 5th May till daybreak on the 6th. 



One reappeared on 6th September, and on the loth I saw 

 a Robin in the lighthouse garden. I observed single birds on 

 eight occasions between 20th September and 2nd October, and 

 several on 5th October. In some cases they were very wild 

 indeed, and would not let one anywhere near them ; a wild 

 Robin strikes one as a queer anomaly. This species parti- 

 cipated in the great October rush. They were numerous all 

 day on 17th October; several were at the lantern on the night 



