AUTUMN BIRD NOTES FROM THE OUTER HEBRIDES 5 



tail, that it was a Black Redstart (R. titys). Not only was it 

 larger than R. phoenicui^us, but it struck me as being of 

 slimmer build. The only other bird worthy of note seen on 

 this occasion was the Hen- Harrier. 



WoBURN Abbey, Woburn. 



BIRD NOTES FROM THE ISLE OF MAY 

 FOR THE YEAR 1908. 



By Evelyn V. Baxter. 



Thanks to the observations made by Mr. Maccuish, I am 

 able to supplement the account of my own work on the Isle 

 of May with many interesting notes which he has sent me 

 during the year. I arrived on the island on loth September 

 and stayed till 9th October. I was alone for the first fort- 

 night, but my cousin, Miss Jackson of Swordale, was with 

 me for the latter half of my visit. During my stay on the 

 island I saw 83 species of birds, and Mr. Maccuish has sent 

 me reports relating to 2 1 others, which bring the total up 

 to 104 species observed on the May this year. 



The first appearance of birds at the lantern in any 

 numbers was on lOth February, when Thrushes, Redwings, 

 Skylarks, and Starlings are reported. On the night of 

 7th March (N. wind, light) a " miniature rush " took place, 

 and later in the month, on the 25 th and 26th, great flocks 

 of Fieldfares, Blackbirds, Thrushes, Rooks, Hooded Crows, 

 and Jackdaws arrived on the island and remained for several 

 days. Only small numbers of migrants are recorded till we 

 come to 29th April, when a "great flock" of Fieldfares is 

 noted, and the next night there were many Wheatears and 

 Willow Warblers at the lantern. On 4th May there was a 

 rush, when Wheatears, Willow Warblers, and Redstarts are 

 noted as " swarming on the lantern from 1 1 P.M. till day- 

 break on the 5th " (N.E.-E. light, fog), and next night the 

 three species named above, as well as Fieldfares and Red- 

 breasts, were numerous at the light. Throughout May, and 

 until 2nd June, we have occasional records of migrants ; and 

 on 13th August the first of the autumn movement is 



