94: BIRDS. 



These are extremely uncommon dates on which to see Fieldfares, 

 and here the ordinary explanation of " Missel-Thrushes " will 

 hardly avail, as these latter birds are so very rare in Orkney. 



If these Fieldfares had not bred at, or near, Melsetter, their 

 appearance at that time is quite abnormal. 



We have since been informed that these birds showed no 

 signs of breeding ; there were some eighteen or twenty in the 

 flock, and Mr. Moodie-Heddle is sure they were not Missel- 

 Thrushes. 



Turdus merula, L. Blackbird. 



Not rare in Low's time ; resident the year round, and breeding 

 in Hoy. 



It seems, however, to have increased since then, from all 

 accounts, which is likely, seeing how many small plantations, 

 gardens, whin hedges, etc., have sprung up. 



Thus Mr. Watt of Skaill, writing us in 1888, says : "In 

 1863 there were only one or two couple in this parish, and 

 these were carefully preserved, so they have increased in 

 numbers, but not much, as I only know of six or seven pairs, 

 but they are a nuisance in the gardens. A pair build every 

 year in our old smithy, off the garden." 



Mr. W. Reid informs us that Blackbirds were more numerous 

 in 1865, in which year he found a nest in the Old Palace 

 Garden, Kirkwall. 



The Blackbird builds chiefly in the gardens in Sanday, as 

 we are informed by Mr. Harvey and Mr. Denison. Buckley 

 saw none in 1888 in N. Ronaldsay or the Westray group. 

 He however saw a few in S. Eonaldsay in 1889, and was 

 informed they bred there. 



Here, as elsewhere, Blackbirds are migratory, and we have 

 a note that on November 4th, 1830, and again on April 17th, 

 1837, great numbers were seen in Sanday. 



Our experience in Rousay is to the effect that this species 

 is much more numerous in winter than in summer, though to 

 some extent this may be accounted for by the garden then 

 acting as a gathering-ground for a good part of that island. 



