Autumn in the Western Highlands 



observed. Sanderlings there were in plenty; they had kept 

 together in large flocks, usually haunting the water-line, 

 but at times feeding on the grass above high tide. Knot 

 were scarce, and I saw these birds on two occasions only. 

 They were with dunlin and ringed plover, and their larger 

 size and flight, somewhat like that of a golden plover, made 

 them easily recognisable. 



Where seaweed-covered rocks broke the continuity of the 

 sand turnstones were to be seen, and on the fields fringing 

 the shore the plaintive whistle of the golden plover was 

 usually to be heard. Once I disturbed a greenshank from 

 a boggy creek, and he flew off, uttering that wild note of his 

 which cannot be mistaken for that of any other bird, and which 

 always recalls to the mind wide moorlands and pine woods, 

 where the bird makes his home in the season of nesting. 



A few wheatears remained at the close of the month, 

 but the majority had gone south. Twites were in flocks, 

 and the forerunners of the hosts of widgeon had already 

 arrived on the lochs. The last days of the month were beauti- 

 fully fine and calm, and one afternoon I watched starlings 

 in their hundreds acting as flycatchers, and soaring into the 

 air after the many insects that were disporting themselves 

 in the sunlight. On the 28tK I was surprised to see a 

 turtle dove feeding on a stubble field surely this bird must be 

 an uncommon visitor to the Hebrides and that same day 

 I saw a peregrine swooping down on some lapwings which 

 were migrating. 



The last evening of the month brought a sunset of won- 

 derful beauty, the sun sinking behind an unrippled sea, and 

 even the distant islands appearing close at hand. One 

 felt the touch of autumn clearly on this day, but summer 

 lingers long beside these islands of the Atlantic, and will not 

 finally leave them for some weeks to come. 



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