Birds. 9763 



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young seem to prefer the topmost twigs. Sometimes the nest is situ- 

 ated in a hole, in the face of a low peat-cutting, never very far back, 

 and sometimes in a crevice upon the sun-dried surface of the peat- 

 moor itself. Often when approaching a nest in the former situation I 

 have seen the sitting bird fly out hurriedly while I was yet many 

 yards distant, and, being on the level ground above, of course out of 

 sight. In these cases it is probable that the vibration caused by my 

 footsteps was the cause of alarm. 



Bramblvng. — On the 2nd of May large numbers of bramblings 

 arrived with a strong S.W. wind. 



Purple Sandpiper. — Numerous parties of purple sandpipers are 

 still to be observed among the rocks. 



Whimbrel. — Whimbrels have beeome very numerous during the last 

 few weeks, and are to be heard, if not seen, almost everywhere. 



Skua and Ricliardsoii's Skua. — I am not sure when these birds 

 arrived, but I saw one of each for the first time this season when I 

 visited Burrafirtli on the 3rd of May. 



Manx Shearwater. — Manx shearwaters were found in their burrows 

 on the 3rd. 



Black Guillemot. — Black guillemots in gray or mottled plumage are 

 still numerous. 



Lesser Blackhacked Gull. — Lesser blackbacked gulls were in pairs 

 very early in the month. 



Golden Plover. — I saw the first four golden plover's eggs on the 

 4th, but they must have been laid some considerable time previously, 

 as they were nearly ready for hatching. 



Raven. — On the 4th a raven's nest in the Keene contained young 

 ones nearly fledged. 



Ringed Plover. — Ringed plovers are hatching. Between the 12th 

 and 16th I found several nests, some containing fresh eggs and others 

 eggs within a few hours of hatching. Although all the nests were in 

 perfectly dry situations, there W'as always water near at hand. It is 

 very difficult indeed to surprise the ringed plover upon its nest, even 

 when the spot has been carefully marked. 



Twite. — Twites' eggs w^ere found very early in the month. During 

 the summer there is scarcely the channel of a mountain burn which 

 does not contain at least one nest. These birds commonly sit very 

 closely, so that it would be diflScult to find them in the above situa- 

 tion were it not for their inability to resist flying out when^they feel the 

 shock of a pair of feet as the intruder jumps across the burn. 



