THE BIRDS OF WALNEY ISLAND. 
A. HAIGH LUMBY. 
In this journal for 1907 (p. 270), Mr. Booth gave some notes 
on this subject. The Bradford Natural History Society has 
since paid two visits to the Island. 
The 1908 visit was, in most respects, a replica of the pre- 
ceding year, except that no eggs of the Sandwich Tern were 
seen, and there was probably only one pair of birds. The 
Lesser Tern was rather later in nesting. There was a very 
large flock of Sanderling, which had collected on the Island on 
its way north, and the marvellous harmony these birds exhibited 
in their intricate aerial evolutions was astonishing. The three 
species of Pipits were seen, but no Stonechats. 
The Island was visited on June roth this year, and the 
programme was practically identical with that of 1907 and 
1908; and, with few exceptions, very similar conditions in 
the status of the various species of birds prevailed. 
BLACK-HEADED GULL.—This still occupies a pre-eminent 
position as far as numbers are concerned, and this year there 
was apparently much less mortality amongst the young birds. 
This was no doubt due in some measure to the exceptional 
spell of fine weather during nesting time. 
COMMON TERN.—Several healthy colonies of this species 
were noted ; the largest of which was some distance from the 
‘headquarters of 1907 and 1908. This seemingly frail and 
defenceless bird is very pugnacious towards the Black-headed 
Gulls which approach the vicinity of its nest, and soon drives 
them beyond its boundaries. 
ArcTIC TERN.—The shingle where this species builds its 
nest, or rather, lays its eggs, along with the Lesser Tern and 
Ringed Plover, was not worked very much, and only a nest 
or two of each were found. Owing to the difficulty in dis- 
tinguishing between the Common and Arctic species in flight, 
nothing can be definitely reported as to the status of the latter, 
but the Lesser Tern and Ringed Plover were seen in good 
numbers. 
SANDWICH TERN.—One of the most interesting surprises 
was to find this species established in two colonies, numbering 
together about eighteen nests. In 1907 only one nest with a 
single egg was seen, whilst in 1908 we failed to find a solitary 
example. As the date was only two days later than that of 
our visits in 1907, it is evident that the scarcity in that year 
was not due, as Mr. Booth suggested, to the bird not having 
commenced nesting, but rather to its tendency to shift its 
quarters from year to year. 
Igt1 Aug. I. 
