Patten : Migratory Movements of certain Shore-Birds. 5 1 



■Grey Plover [Squaterola helvetica). 



Rather too much emphasis is laid on the fact that the Grey 

 Plover is a noisy shore-bird, so much so, indeed, that frequently 

 its presence is not sought in early autumn because its whistle 

 is not heard. I believe that the adult birds, which arrive about 

 the middle of October and later, are much more noisy than the 

 immature birds. I have often watched, and crept quite close 

 to immature Grey Plovers, which, on becoming aware of 

 my near presence, flew away without a sound. The very 

 tame immature birds which are occasionally met with are, as a 

 rule, silent. From repeated observations I am of the opinion 

 that flocks continue to arrive and move southward during 

 September and early October, and that the numbers, chiefly 

 late comers, which remain during the winter, are proportionately 

 small. With regard to the apparent scarcity of the bird as a 

 vernal migrant, I am not satisfied. Considering that it is on the 

 whole more abundant during autumn on the east side of Ireland 

 than on the west, one would expect to meet it on its return 

 journey in greater numbers on the Dubin coast than have 

 hitherto been recorded. That it does visit the Irish coast in 

 ■considerable numbers in Spring is evident from Mr. Robert 

 Warren's data (Ussher and Warren's ' Birds of Ireland,' pp. 

 256-257). The few birds which may be seen in late summer 

 (August) in apparent nuptial or transitional plumage, are 

 probably those which, not breeding, remained on our shores 

 after their companions had travelled northward. 



Turnstone [Strepsilas interpres). 



I am now satisfied that the Turnstone, apparently in adult 

 plumage is to be found regularly throughout the year along the 

 Dublin coast. Nevertheless, though I have examined an 

 adult female (procured on July i8th, 1900, by the late Mr. E. 

 Williams) containing ripe ova, the inference can hardly be 

 made that the bird was breeding in the locality. For it was 

 without a mate, nor indeed have I as yet discovered this species 

 in distinct pairs, and showing the signs of anxiety which one 

 might expect if the nesting-site was being approached. How- 

 ever, from recent data afforded regarding its appearance in adult- 

 like plumage at the height of the breeding season, it is not 

 altogether improbable that we may yet claim this species as 

 indigenous rather than merely migratory. From July to 

 October this bird is plentiful on the North Bull, gathering in 

 flocks of twenty to forty, which somewhat diminish in number 



1909 February i. 



