9128 Birds. 
House Sparrow.—Vouse sparrows returned to their nesting-places 
about the 10th of April: their attention is now about equally divided 
between nest-building and the destruction of young gooseberries. For 
the last six years a pair of sparrows has bred regularly in one par- 
ticular crevice in a cottage-wall; the plumage of the female is remark- 
ably pale and faded in appearance, but this peculiarity seems not to 
be transmitted to any of the young birds. 
Osprey.—On the 28th of April I saw an osprey standing upon a 
small hillock, devouring something, probably a fish, which it held down 
with its feet. | tried to get within shot, and should have succeeded if an 
impudent hooded crow had not seared it by endeavouring to snatch a 
share of the meal. The osprey frequently removed to the distance of 
about a hundred yards, carrying its food in its claws, and at length 
when the last morsel was finished, away sailed the graceful bird, 
wheeling in circles and gradually ascending to a great height, and all 
this with scarcely a perceptible movement of the wings. 
Kittiwake and Guillemot.—Kittiwakes and guillemots returned to 
Burrafirth, their main breeding station, about Candlemas, keeping 
almost entirely to the water for several weeks, and then taking up their 
quarters in the cliffs. The kittiwakes are unusually numerous this 
season. A few small flocks remain with us all through the winter. 
The young birds do not breed during their first year, and are known 
in Unst as “ yield kittiwakes.” 
Kestrel—On the 13th of April hoopers were last seen, and on the 
15th I observed several kestrels. A few pairs of the latter breed in the 
sea-cliffs, and there is reason to believe that, with very few exceptions, 
both old and young leave us in winter. 
Cormorant and Shag.—Cormorants returned to their breeding- 
places a few days ago, but shags were already building at that time. 
Redbreasted Merganser.—Redbreasted mergansers are still in flocks; 
this is nothing unusual, for they are late breeders. 
Water Rail.—No water rails are now to be seen. ~ 
Snow Bunting.—Snow buntings are returning northwards. At this 
season large flocks come from the south, and after resting for a few 
days continue their journey, taking with them the few which have re- 
mained with us all the winter. 
Slarling.—Although there are still some small flocks of starlings 
about, many pairs are busy with their nests. Last year there was 
quite a colony of these birds among some large stones upon the shore, 
a few yards above high-water mark: the nests were easily discovered, 
but most of them were far beyond arm’s reach. 
