Clare Island Survey — Aves. 20 35 



Strepsilas interpres (Linn.). Turnstone. — Patten saw a few on Clare Island, 

 in March and July, and flocks in September. In June there were flocks 

 in Clew Bay among the islands. Very large flocks occur in autumn on 

 Achill ; but Turnstones may be met with every month in the year, seldom 

 in July, on these coasts and the adjacent rocks, though the nest has not yet 

 been found in Ireland. Ussher has seen parties, chiefly of year-old birds, 

 with some adults in full plumage, on islands off the coasts of Donegal 

 and Connemara ; and instances of this occur round Ireland, though much 

 more frequently in the north and north-west. 



Haematopus ostralegus, Linn. Oyster-catcher. — Resident and breeds on 

 Clare Island and Achill, keeping to the rocky Atlantic shore until 

 September, when great flocks resort to bays and estuaries, and the 

 numbers increase again in March and April. This is a most character- 

 istic bird of the west coast, breeding commonly on the islands, even on 

 stacks and reefs, where it nests on rock or turf, forsaking the shingly 

 shores ; and eggs are laid regularly on rock-ledges on the Skelligs and 

 the Aran Islands. The west coast broods form the winter flocks, which 

 are probably reinforced from the isles of Scotland. 



Phalaropus fulicarius (Linn.). Grey Phalarope. — Obtained in October in 

 different years on Achill, Black Eock (Mayo), at Belmullet, and on the 



Moy River, at Killybegs, and Rathlin O'Birne, Slyne Head (in 



different years), in Connemara, the Aran Islands, the north-west of 



Kerry, and the Skelligs. In the storms of October, 1891, many of 



these occurred, when Phalaropes and Petrels were driven inland in 

 numbers. 



Phalaropus hyperboreus (Linn.). Red-necked Phalarope. — A specimen in 

 summer plumage was shot on Achill in May, 1902 (Sheridan). A very 

 small colony, discovered in 1902, breed in the west, where they are 

 protected, owing to raids of collectors. 



Scolopax rusticula Linn. Woodcock.— Visits Clare Island and Achill most 

 numerously from the end of October to the end of December, though 

 some remain until March. It has not been established that they breed 

 on the island ; but Messrs. Williams say this bird has been obtained at 

 Grlendarary wood, Achill, in May, and is believed to breed there. In 

 1890, Good had found a nest on the mainland; though in 1S81 it was 

 said Woodcocks never bred in Mayo. Its woods have indeed been 

 famous for cock-shooting ; and forty brace have been shut in one day in 



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