154 Guide to Belfast. 



Black Redstarts have been obtained in both counties; the 

 latest at Portaferry, County Down, in November 1899 

 (Ussher). The *Whitethroat, *Chiffchaff, *Willow-Wren, 

 and *Sedge-Warbler are all common summer visitors; while 

 the *Blackcap and *Garden-Warbler are very rare, and 

 almost unknown. The *Grasshopper-Warbler breeds in 

 both counties, and is increasing. 



The *Golden-crested Wren and the *Common Wren are 

 both resident and numerous ; but the only record of the 

 Wood-Wren is one observed in the Bog Meadows, near 

 Belfast, on 5 May, 1889. On our mountain streams, the 

 *Dipper is fairly numerous. The *Hedge-Sparrow is one of 

 our commonest birds. The four Tits (*Long-tailed, *Great, 

 *Coal, and *Blue) are common, but the Marsh-Tit has not 

 been obtained since the time of Thompson. In the wooded 

 districts the *Tree-Creeper is fairly common, and has even 

 been taken on Rathlin. Of the Wagtails, the *Pied is 

 common, the *Grey less numerous, and the *Yellow (found 

 only in summer) is confined to one or two places on the 

 shores of Lough Neagh ; while the White Wagtail has only 

 been noted once, in May 1902. The *Meadow-Pipit is 

 very common everywhere, and the *Rock-Pipit frequents 

 suitable localities. The Golden Oriole has occurred six and 

 the Great Grey Shrike about ten times; while the only Irish 

 example of the Red-backed Shrike was shot in August 1878 

 near Castlereagh, Co. Down. The Waxwing has occurred 

 about a dozen times, the last capture being in February 

 1894; but the Rev. C. H. Waddell informs me that one 

 was seen in January 1901 near Saintfield, Co. Down. The 

 *Spotted Flycatcher is fairly common in summer. The 

 *Swallow, *Martin, and *Sand-Martin are all common in 

 summer, but the last is rather loc.nl. The Fringillid^. 

 are well represented : the ^Greenfinch, *House-Sparrow, 

 *Chafiinch, *Yellow-Bunting, and *Reed-Bunting being very 

 common; the *Siskin, *Linnet, *Lesser Redpoll, *Twite, 

 and *Corn-Bunting common; and the *Goldfinch is found 

 locally. The ^Bullfinch is increasing in both counties. The 

 Snow-Bunting and Brambling are found in winter in varying 

 numbers, the former being frequently observed on Divis 

 Mountain, above Belfast. The Hawfinch is a very rare winter 



