MIGRATORY BIRDS OBSERVED AT FAIR ISLE 105 



Arctic Bluethroat, Cyanosylvia svecica. — Several appeared 

 on their spring passage, from 7th to 12th June. The autumn 

 movements did not come under Wilson's notice. 



Hobby, Falco siibbuteo. — This handsome little Falcon, which is a 

 rare visitor to the Northern Islands, occurred in both spring and 

 autumn in 1914. Single birds appeared on 9th June and on 21st 

 November. There is one previous record for the island, namely, a 

 male on 7th May 1913. 



Whitk-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons. — Hitherto there has 

 only been one authenticated record of the occurrence of this species 

 at Fair Isle. On 28th December 1914 four of these birds appeared, 

 and two were secured. " Gray Geese " are often seen at the period 

 of their passages ; but their specific determination is seldom possible, 

 owing to their characteristic wariness and to the entire absence of 

 cover of any description on or near the ground they usually frequent. 



* Pallas's Sand-grouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxus. — The record 

 of the visit of this bird to Fair Isle during its great irruption in the 

 spring of 1888 has hitherto escaped my notice. The late Rev. H. A. 

 Macpherson, in his account of the visitation of the species to 

 Scotland in that year, relates that a flock of forty arrived at Fair Isle 

 at the beginning of June. They were, he tells us, mercilessly 

 slaughtered, so that when Mr Laurenson visited the island at the 

 end of June only five survived. 



Woodcock, Scolopax msticola. — This bird appeared at the 

 island in extraordinary numbers during the period of its spring 

 passage movements. Indeed the observer reports that he had never 

 known it more abundant on its great autumn flights. This remark- 

 able rush set in on 25th March, and further great numbers arrived. 

 on the following day, while many again appeared on the 30th. 

 A few were observed on the 31st, and again on 8th April. During 

 the autumn passage a bird was shot which had the whole of 

 the primaries of both wings of the purest white. Wilson tells me 

 that the moment it rose on the wing he thought the bird was a 

 domestic pigeon. 



Wood-sandpiper, Totanus glareola. — Single birds on their 

 passage north visited the island on nth and 12th June. 



Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa. — Two appeared on their 

 passage northwards on 26th May— an interesting event, since this 

 species has not hitherto been observed on the island on its 

 seasonal migrations. There is, however, one previous record of a 

 visit paid by a single bird on 8th January 1908. 

 41 O 



