SULE SKERRY AND ITS BIRD-VISITORS 299 



from the end of February until i6th May; but March 

 is the main month for its visits at this season. As a 

 straggler it has been seen in June and July. The 

 return migration dates from 20th August to 4th 

 November. There are one or two instances of visits of 

 a few birds in January and early February. 



^GiALiTis liiATicoLA, Ringed Plover. — There is only 

 a single record for the visit of this species ; but that it 

 should be so extremely rare is remarkable. Four were 

 seen on i8th August 1906. 



Hy^MATOPUS o^TKKL'^Q\}^,Oyster-catchc7\ — The skerry, 

 with its broad belt of low rocks, affords an ideal nursery 

 for this species, and hence it is a summer resident in 

 considerable numbers. The harbingers of the nesting 

 season appear in the second week of February, and 

 continue to arrive until the end of April. All leave 

 early in the autumn, and I did not see a single Oyster- 

 catcher during my visit on 22nd September 1904. 



Strepsilas interpres, Turnstone. — A winter resident 

 and bird of passage. The winter visitors have been 

 known to arrive as early as 20th July, and depart in April. 

 Mr Tomison relates that these winter birds are very 

 tame, and come to the vicinity of the lighthouse to 

 be fed. 



The visits on passage in spring date from 6th May 

 to 4th June, during which period considerable numbers 

 are observed on their way north. In autumn the main 

 movements are observed in August and September. 



PiiALAROPUs HYPERBOREUS, Red-necked Phalarope. — 

 A single record only : one was captured at the lantern 

 on the night of 29th October 1908, and sent for 

 identification. 



Phalaropus fulicarius. Grey Phalarope. — Has 



