the birds of renfrewshire 275 



Alcid^. 



The Razorbill and Common Guillemot are common in the 

 estuary, at times coming as far up as Renfrew ; while inland, single 

 birds occasionally occur, especially of the Guillemot, which is the 

 commoner species. About fifty years ago, according to Gray, the 

 Black Guillemot occurred in small numbers in the firth from 

 Wemyss Bay to Port-Glasgow. We have not heard of it being 

 obtained in recent years farther up than the shores of Bute, a little 

 south of our territory. The Little Auk has been observed in the 

 firth near Inverkip, but most of the examples obtained have been 

 picked up inland, after periods of strong easterly winds. The 

 Puffin is well known in the firth, and several examples have been 

 got or seen far inland. 



COLYMBID/E. 



Mr John Lang has seen the Great Northern Diver occasion- 

 ally in the estuary, where he knows the Black-throated Diver to 

 be a regular but not a numerous visitor. Liland, single birds of the 

 latter species have occurred at Balgray (twice) and Knapps Loch. 

 Rather more numerous, the Red-throated Diver affects much the 

 same situations as the last. 



PODICIPEDID^. 



A few pairs of the fine *Great-crested Grebe nest annually on 

 several of our lochs and reservoirs. A nest discovered by Mr 

 Robert Read at Harelaw Dam, on 7th June 1889, was the first 

 recorded for Scotland. Single examples of the Red-necked Grebe 

 were obtained near Paisley and at Caldwell about 1864 (Gray). 

 The *LiTTLE Grebe is everywhere common, Mackeith in one 

 locality having seen six nests within half an hour. 



Procellariid^. 



A bird found dead near Newton-Mearns in December 1879, is 

 our only record of Leach's Fork-tailed Petrel. The Storm- 

 petrel has been observed by Mr David Boyd on three several 

 occasions off Gourock and Greenock. It " has been taken as far 

 up the firth as Port-Glasgow" (Gray), and one was caught near 

 Kilbarchan on 5th November 191 1. 



