OtiNlTIIOLOGICAL NOTI'lS FtiOM SOUTH MAYO. 4S3 



20tli I found a Snipe's nest containing eggs. Snipe nest 

 commonly on the bogs, and tlie males " drum " incessantly all 

 day and all night ; they also utter their other two notes while in 

 the air and on the ground. 



The first Swallow appeared on April 2'2nd, which is the same 

 date as its arrival last year. 



After being absent for a little time, Redpolls were again very 

 numerous on April 24th. 



On April 25th we cycled to the northern end of Lough 

 Carra ; the first find was a Redshanks' nest with eggs, on a bog 

 which we crossed on the way; here we also found Green Plover 

 nesting. In a bay below Moore Hall a pair of Great Crested 

 Grebes were feeding ; they are fairly numerous on the lake. 



Tufted Duck were to be seen in most of the bays, and Mallard 

 were very numerous. 



Derrinrush, a long peninsula, is a paradise for Warblers, 

 being densely covered with natural timber growth. At one spot, 

 on the way back, we noticed Sand-Mavfcins innumerable, and we 

 saw the first Swift. 



Round the coasts several Water-Rails were put up. 



Corncrakes were first heard on April 26th. 



On April 27th House-Martins were seen early in the 

 morning, and they went straight to the old nests. These birds 

 are far more plentiful this year than I have ever seen them at 

 this place. 



The Cuckoo was first heard on April 27th (this is the third 

 year running it has arrived on this date). 



In the afternoon of the 27tli we again visited the bog-lake 

 where the Ringed Plover nest ; this time we observed four and 

 later found a nest with four eggs. Along with flocks of Curlew 

 there were many Whirabrels ; in some cases they mixed with 

 the Curlew and sometimes were in flockg by themselves. 

 Whimbrels were numerous over the bogs for about a fortnight 

 after this. 



April 29th was spent visiting the islands of Lough Carra.* 



It was rather early for the nests of some species, but we found 



some Wild Ducks' nests and a colony of nesting Common Gulls ; 



Tufted Duck were numerous, as were also Common Sandpipers. 



* ' Irish Naturalist,' vol. xxv, pp. 96, 97. 



ZogI. ith ser., vol. XX., November, 1916. ll 



