BIRD NOTES FROM THE ISLE OF MAY 19 



Black-headed Gull, L. ridibundus. — I saw only a single bird 

 during my stay, on 13th September. 



Common Gull, L. canus. — One on 15th September. 



Greater Black-backed Gull, L. marimis. — There were Greater 

 Black-backs about the island throughout my visit, a good many 

 from 1 2th to 19th September, otherwise a few only. 



Kittiwake, R. tridactyla. — On 15th March great numbers are 

 reported as being on the cliffs all day. On 22nd June they 

 were laying. They were numerous during my stay, and were 

 usually to be seen some little way out to sea. 



Great Skua, S. catarrhactes. — On 6th October I noticed that 

 something had disturbed the Gulls on a rock, a little way north 

 of me, and then I caught sight of a Great Skua, which, how- 

 ever, paid no attention to the Gulls, but flew towards the south 

 rather close to the surface of the sea and quite near the 

 island. The white alar patches were very conspicuous. 



Arctic Skua, S. crepidatus. — I saw single birds on six occasions 

 between 12th September and 6th October, they were usually 

 employed in chasing the Kittiwakes, and I saw one that 

 appeared to be extra aggressive, giving an immature Kittiwake 

 a very bad time. Not content with making swoops at its 

 victim it closed with it, grappling it with its feet, and the 

 two birds tumbled over several times in the air together. Then 

 the Kittiwake got away, but the Skua pursued it and hit it 

 several times with its bill, and at last I saw the aggressor 

 seize the poor little bird by the back of the head with its 

 beak and hold on for some time, all this in the air. Occasionally 

 the Kittiwake sought to escape by sitting on the sea, but 

 each time the Skua made it rise by flying very close over its 

 head. The whole time of the chase, the Kittiwake screamed 

 dolefully, and at last it got away and sat on a rock, looking 

 very rueful and draggled. 



Storm Petrel, P. pelagica. — One of these little birds came to the 

 lantern at 12.30 a.m. on 31st October. 



Fork-tailed Petrel, P. leucorrhoa. — A beautiful specimen came 

 to the lantern in the early morning hours of 7 th October (S.W. 

 wind, very light, hazy), the first I had ever seen in the flesh. 



Manx Shearwater, P. anglorum. — On 22nd September at 7.15 

 p.m., I was startled by hearing loud shrieks coming from the 

 lantern ; they proved to have been uttered by a Manx Shear- 

 water, which was attracted by the light. When caught it 

 screamed loudly and constantly, and bit so viciously as to draw 

 blood each time. 



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