Clare Island Survey — Aves. 20 29 



Cygnus musicus, Beclist. Whooper Swan. — McCabe on Clare Island reports 

 that Wild Swans are often seen passing. Among their chief resorts in 

 Ireland are the lakes on the Mullet (whence they fly to Lough Carrow- 

 niore in rough weather), Keel Lake in A chill, Loughs Foylc and Swilly, 

 also Lough Gill near Castlegregory, and others in Kerry. Though the 

 great majority of the flocks are of Bewick's Swans, Whoopers also occur 

 among them (Dr. Burkitt). 



Cygnus bewicki, Yarrell. Bewick's Swan. — By far the most numerous wild 

 Swan, frequenting the lakes above-mentioned in moderate flocks, which, 

 in exceptionally hard winters, are sometimes increased to thousands on 

 the Mullet ; while on Keel Lake, Achill, K. B. Sheridan has counted 175. 

 The majority are immature birds. The Swans usually arrive about the 

 end of November, and depart about the end of February, but sometimes 

 occur earlier and later. Lough Gill, on the north coast of Kerry, is 

 another long-established resort. 



Cygnus olor (J. F. Gmel.). Mute Swan. — Nests on lakes South of Louisburgh, 

 quite unprotected. This shows that the bird can establish itself near 

 wild coasts. Stragglers visit Achill at times. 



Tadorna cornuta (S. G. Gmel.). Common Sheld-Duck. — Several pairs with 

 their broods were seen in Clew Bay, and there is evidence of this bird 

 from Achill. It visits the Mullet in summer, and the numbers that 

 breed increasingly on Killala Bay are largely reinforced in winter, when 

 flocks appear. It is generally increasing round Ireland, and has bred on 

 an island so exposed as Roaninish, off western Donegal. 



Anas boscas, Linn. Mallard.— Praeger found a nest on a pool near Craig- 

 more on Clare Island, and McCabe says it breeds regularly; the light- 

 keepers there frequently recorded flocks of Wild Ducks towards the close 

 of the year and in April. Foster found Mallards numerous in May on 

 lakes south of Louisburgh. They are common and resident along the 

 west coast generally, and breed on Achill and Deer Island off Connemara. 



Anas strepera, Linn, Gad wall. — Frequent visitor in autumn and winter to 

 Achill, the Mullet and Killala Bay. A female containing unripe eggs was 

 obtained near Belmullet, 25th May, 1894. There are no records of the 

 occurrence of the Gadwall between Achill and Kerry. 



Spatula clypeata (Linn.). Shoveler.— An occasional winter visitor to Achill. 

 The extension of the Shoveler's breeding-range, which is taking place 

 in Ireland, has reached the great lakes of Mayo, and an egg has been 

 identified from Lough Carrowmore in 1905 ; while three immature birds 

 have been shot in August near Belmullet (Wallace). 



