BIRDS 



Scilly during autumn migration and irregularly through- 

 out the winter. 



13. Redbreast. ErMacui rubecula (Linn.). 



Common and generally distributed throughout the 

 county, including Scilly. 



14. Whitethroat. Sylvia cinerea (Bechstem). 



A summer migrant, but very unevenly distributed ; 

 common about Launceston, Liskeard, Bodmin, the 

 Lizard and Penzance, but never seen about Camel- 

 ford, rare at Trebartha, and though remarkably 

 abundant about Truro in 1902, was not again re- 

 corded till 1905. An autumnal visitor at Scilly. 



15. Lesser Whitethroat. Sylvia curruca (Linn.). 



A casual autumn visitor to the Bude and Launceston 

 district ; obtained at Bodmin in September, 1904, and 

 at Scilly in 1857. 



1 6. Blackcap. Sylvia atricapilla (Linn.). 



A summer migrant, not uncommon in the east of 

 the county, but scarce elsewhere, though nesting as 

 far west as Penzance. Has been seen at Scilly occa- 

 sionally on autumn migration and twice in January. 



17. Garden Warbler. Sylvia bortensis (Bechstein). 



A summer migrant breeding regularly in the east, 

 but except around Falmouth apparently rare in the 

 rest of the county ; on 27 September, 1900, a storm- 

 tossed flock of fifteen appeared at Kenwyn, Truro, 

 and rested there for two days, the only record of its 

 occurrence in that district ; recorded as an autumn 

 migrant at the Lizard. Only reported three times 

 from Scilly, viz., 1849, October, 1874, and 29 Sep- 

 tember, 1900. 



1 8. Dartford Warbler. Sylvia undata (Boddaert). 



Locally, Pink-eye. 



This resident bird was in the late seventies fairly 

 common in the Land's End district and bred in 

 suitable localities throughout the county. The 

 severe winters of 1880 I and 18867 seem to 

 have almost exterminated it in the south-western 

 peninsula, and from 1885 there is no further Cornish 

 record till May, 1 899, when it was seen by Miss E. A. 

 Reynolds at Hayle. In April, 1 904, a nest with five 

 eggs was found near Penryn, and in 1905 a nest with 

 four young ones near Linkinhorne, and another with 

 four eggs near St. Burian. 



19. Gold-crest. Regulus cristatus (Koch). 



Resident ; fairly common and generally distributed 

 in congenial localities, but not nearly so abundant as 

 twenty years ago ; in the autumn and winter fre- 

 quently reinforced by immigrant flocks, which on several 

 occasions during the past five years must have con- 

 tained many thousands of birds. Does not breed at 

 Scilly, but arrives in large flocks in autumn and winter. 



20. Fire-crest. Regulus ignieapillus (Brehm.). 



A regular visitor, usually in small numbers, in 

 autumn and winter, to the south of the county from 

 Looe to Scilly, but most frequent in the west. In 

 October, 1900, several came in at the Lizard on an 

 easterly wind with a large flock of chiffchaffs and 

 several black redstarts, and two were seen at Tresco. 

 In January, 1901, over a dozen frequented some fir 

 trees near Tregothnan, with a number of gold-crests, 

 for about a fortnight. In November, 1902, one was 



shot near Truro; in November, 1903, there were 

 several at Tresco, and in the first week of December, 

 1904, two were seen for several days near Gulval, and 

 one was shot near Helston. At times common at 

 Scilly. 



2 1 . Yellow-browed Warbler. Phylloscopus suferci/iojui 



Q. F. Gmelin). 



Two shot on St. Martin's Common, Scilly, in 

 October, 1 867, by Pechell, were mistaken for fire-crests 

 in immature plumage, and were not identified till 

 1890. On i October, 1905, David Smith killed 

 another specimen with a stick on Tresco. 



22. ChifFchaff. Phylloscopus rujus (Bechstein). 



A fairly common summer migrant, not infrequently 

 heard and seen during the winter months. Small 

 flocks on migration are common in the autumn, espe- 

 cially with an easterly wind. Appears on Tresco and 

 St. Mary's every autumn, and has been recorded 

 so frequently during the winter that it is probable 

 a few remain most years till the spring. 



23. Willow Warbler. Pbylloscopus tnchllus (Linn.). 

 A summer migrant, common but local ; fond of 



nesting near running water. In some years extra- 

 ordinary numbers arrive on the south coast about the 

 middle of April. So far only recorded for Scilly as an 

 autumn bird of passage, but two were both seen and 

 heard in Tresco Abbey gardens in April, 1904. 



24. Wood Warbler. Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Bechstein). 

 A summer migrant locally common in the east of 



the county, but either very rare or overlooked in the 

 middle and west and at Scilly. In 1904 it nested 

 near Devoran, and in May, 1903, several specimens 

 were seen and heard at Tresco ; at least an occasional 

 bird of passage in spring and autumn at Scilly. 



25. Melodious Warbler. Hypolais hypoglotta (Vieillot). 



An accidental visitor, represented by a solitary adult 

 male shot at Sandplace, near Looe, 12 May, 1905. 



26. Reed Warbler, dcncephalus streperus (Vieillot). 



A summer migrant, scarce and local, known only 

 in the south of the county from Looe to Falmouth ; 

 has bred near Truro every year since 1899. In April, 

 1904, there were several in song by the side of the 

 Long Pool, Tresco. 



[Great Reed Warbler. Acncephalus turdoldes (Meyer) . 



About the end of September, 1 884, David Smith shot 

 a bird on the reeds at Long Pool, Tresco, which he 

 identified as this species. He had it in his hand, and 

 ' It spread out its tail like a fan ; before he could kill 

 it, it slipped from his hand and went away like a 

 mouse.' (Note in the Abbey MS. Bird Record for 

 the Isles of Scilly.)] 



27. Sedge Warbler. Acncephalus phragmltis (Bechstein). 



A summer migrant locally distributed throughout 

 the county, but commoner in the south and west 

 than in the north. Breeds freely on Tresco. 



28. Grasshopper Warbler. Locustella naevia (Boddaert.) 



A scarce summer migrant, somewhat commoner on 

 autumn migration ; nests have been found now and 

 then from Trebartha to Falmouth and at Newquay. 

 Recorded by the Rev. H. O. Astley, on Tresco, 

 12 May, 1901, and two were watched for over an 

 hour on Samson, 13 April, 1903. 



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