160 SoLWAY Nature Notes. 



For several days I watched the Scoters gathering up 

 preparatory to their flight northward to their breeding 

 grounds, and on the evening of the 23rd of June I saw them 

 leave in a huge flock several thousand strong. I have 

 watched this migration of the Scoters for a number of years 

 now, but this is the latest date I have known them leave. 

 Usually they are off before the 20th. Three seasons running 

 they left on the i8th. 



On the 2ist of May I was rowing at low water round 

 Heston Island, and from a small bay amongst the rocks two 

 birds rose which were quite unfamiliar. They settled a little 

 further on, and I was able to have another look at them. At 

 first I took them for Dabchicks, but was puzzled, as I had 

 never seen these birds on the open sea. A closer inspection 

 satisfied me they were not Dabchicks, and I watched them 

 diving and swimming close in to the rocks for some time. 

 On getting home I searched through some plates of British 

 birds, and came to the conclusion that they were Phalaropes. 

 I had another good chance of watching them on May 23rd, as 

 they were still frequenting the same place. The day after 

 they were gone. I am satisfied they were Phalaropes, but I 

 cannot say whether they were the Grey or the Red Necked. 

 They were dark brown on the back with a lighter throat and 

 breast. It was impossible to get nearer than 20 yards, and 

 they were very active. They seemed to be under water longer 

 than on it. Unfortunately, I had no glasses. 



Another unusual visitor to the Solway during last year 

 was a Brent Goose, which was shot by .my brother-in-law at 

 Southerness on December 31st. It was a bird of the first year, 

 with the white ring round the neck still imperfect. Refer- 

 ence to Mr Gladstone's Birds of Dumfriesshire makes it clear 

 that the Brent occurs very rarely in the Solway district. 



Year by year one notices an increase in the number of 

 Gulls of all kinds, or at any rate of the Great and Lesser 

 Black Backs, the Herring, and Black-Headed Gulls. Quite 

 recently I counted 21 Great Black Backed Gulls sitting 

 together on the Mersehead Bank. They were a fine sight, for 

 they are handsome birds ; but they are pirates and robbers, 

 eggs and young birds forming important items of their diet. 



