NOTES ON BIRDS OBSERVED AT THE BUTT OF LEWIS 77 



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NOTES ON BIRDS OBSERVED AT TH^ ^^^^g,.^, < 



BUTT OF LEWIS. fuul »- I ^ ?? -^ <* 



By Robert Clyne. X-^V 



{Coiiduded from page 37.) ^--^r^ ^ V 



Water-rail (^Rallus aquaticus). — In 1909 and 19 14 specimens 

 were seen near the loch in April and September, and they may 

 breed there ; it is a most likely locality. 



Water-hen {Gallimda chloropus). — About six or eight pairs 

 usually breed at the loch each summer, and a few remain all winter 

 unless frozen out. 



Coot {Fi/lica atrd). — Coot are also at the loch all the year. 

 About thirty pairs are present all summer, and six to ten all 

 winter. They breed in June before the reeds are sufficiently grown 

 to conceal their bulky nests. 



Golden V^.ox'EYt. {Charadriiis ph/vialis). — Arrive in large flocks 

 in September ; they are seen very frequently throughout the winter, 1 



and flocks in breeding garb appear in April, remaining on till | 



end of May before leaving to breed on the moors. I have one ' 



record in July 191 2, probably of non-breeding birds. Many of j 



these fall a prey to the Falcons. In September 19 13 six were 1 



killed by striking the lantern. ' 



Ringed Plover {/Egialitis hiaticuld). — Are resident all the 

 year, but most numerous in autumn and spring. They breed in ' 



scattered pairs in different places, the young being hatched out 

 in May and June. 



Turnstone {Strepsilas ititerpres). — Arrive in September and 

 October every year, but not numerously. On ist June 1913 a , 



dozen in beautiful breeding plumage were seen. 



Lapwing {Vanellus cristatus). — A small flock of these remain 

 all winter if the weather keeps moderate. In 1910 and 191 1 early 

 February arrivals occurred, and movements are observed every 

 March. Midsummer visitors have also been observed, evidently 

 birds which had finished their nesting duties on the mainland. 

 About a dozen pairs are all that breed in the neighbourhood. 



Oyster-catcher {JIcBfuatoptis ostralegus). — Every year they 

 arrive in March and April. At times very large flocks pass, but 

 more usually they are seen in small parties of six or under. In 



