240 STUDIES IN BIRD-MIGRATION 



Summer and Autumn Movements within the British 

 Islands. — At the close of the nesting season, Lapwings 

 old and young gather together and form flocks. As 

 early as mid- June, or during July, small parties, even 

 flocks, sometimes leave their nesting grounds to appear 

 in the vicinity of the coast, and occasionally a few are 

 recorded as visiting the islands, or as occurring at the 

 rock-stations and lightships off the east and west coasts 

 of Britain. Such local movements are not without 

 interest ; but as a rule it can scarcely be claimed for them 

 that they possess any direct bearing upon the ordinary 

 migrations of the bird. During the second week in 

 July, Lapwings from Shetland appear in small parties 

 at Fair Isle, and movements southward have been 

 recorded ; ^ but these must be regarded as exceptional, 

 and in some cases are possibly due to the disturbing 

 influence of local meteorological conditions. 



In August emigration from Shetland continues, 

 and many leave during the month. The records of 

 Lapwings at the coast stations and at the off-lying light- 

 houses and lightships ^ are numerous, though as yet 

 irregular and uncertain, but they indicate that move- 

 ments or wanderings are in progress. 



In September the migration southwards sets in in 

 earnest. Early in the month, those which have summered 

 in Shetland, Orkney, and the Hebrides, continue or 



' The chief of these was observed at the Leman and Ower lightship 

 (twenty-five miles north-east of Cromer) on 30th July 1887, when, during un- 

 settled weather, a great flock passed southwards at 3 p.m. On 2nd July 1901, 

 after a strong north-east wind and dirty weather, Mr T. Southwell saw on 

 board a Lowestoft trawler two which had been captured out of a large 

 flock about forty miles north-east of that port. 



■" At the vSeven Stones lightship (seven miles off the Land's End), on 

 26th August 1880, about fifty lapwings were observed flying south-west in 

 the direction of the Scilly Isles at 10 a.m. 



