564 The Migration of Birds. By James Hardy. 



April. 

 Apr. 1, Grey Wagtail at Tower burn and castle ; Lapwings at nesting- 

 places. Apr. 2, 16 Wild Ducks at sea ; Stonechats in dean, resident pair. 

 Apr. 3, 4 Wild Ducks only ; 10 Eider Ducks ; 5 Grebes ; 1 Heroii ; Com- 

 mon Linnet in dean. Male and female Pied Wagtail. 2 Water-hens now 

 at pond. Apr. 4, 26 Wild Ducks, and 4 Eiders at sea ; Pied Wagtail flying 

 northward along coast, 3 others inland ; 2 Coots at Townhead pond. Apr. 

 5, 10 Eiders and 6 Grebes at sea ; no Cormorants, Curlews, or Redshanks ; 

 female Wheatear; 26 Fieldfares roosting in some tall ashes and elms, 

 rather restless ; when alarmed flew up and circled round and round as if in 

 search of other trees, and then they flew ofE. Apr. 6, Still a sprinkling of 

 Wild Ducks and Curlews at sea ; 2 pairs of Wagtails flying from coast 

 inland ; pair of Grey Linnets in furze. Apr. 7, no Wheatears nor Wagtails. 

 Apr. 10, Only 1 Curlew and 1 Heron on coast ; 3 Coots at pond. Apr. 11, 

 6 Eiders ; 2 Wild Ducks ; I Cormorant (female) and 1 Grebe only left ; 2 

 Wheatears paired. Apr. 12, 13 Eiders in three parties, 6 of them males; 

 2 Wild Ducks and 2 Curlews only. Apr. 14, 3 or 4 Wheatears flying north- 

 wards ; 2 after an interval ; and then 3 a mile to the east— these were all 

 advancing along the coast and not going inland. 3 Cormorants, 2 males in 

 summer dress ; 4 Grebes and 6 Eider Ducks. Apr. 16, Pair of Swallows 

 came to saw-mill at Cockburnspath, as if going to nest ; seen early in the 

 morning. Apr. 15, From 20 to 30 Moor Pipits in a grass field near 

 Tower; when they rose they directed their course northwards ; two others 

 more to the west apparently stragglers from a migratory band ; 4 Coots in 

 pond, no combats this year, as when 5 were present. Apr. 10, Two parties 

 and stragglers of Eock Pipits making for the north along the coast ; one 

 of the parties of 10 to 12 ci*ossed a field, and took the line of Oldcambus 

 dean ; 4 Eiders. Apr. 18, Ring-ousel on Bell Hill. Apr. 20, Cormorants 

 have left, except a female. Upwards of 10 Wheatears crossing a wheat 

 field and going inland in a south direction ; alighting on clods and low 

 bushes and paling, and stretching out long necks in alarm. Apr. 12, 2 

 fresh Wheatears ; rest gone. Apr, 22, Swallow flying high and singing. 

 Apr. 23, Lesser Black-backed Gull at pond. Apr. 24, Solan Geese from 

 Bass were numerous at Cove shore on 22nd; were " striking " young 

 Heirrings ; 3 seen to-day ; 3 male Eiders. Apr. 25, 2 Herons at Green- 

 heugh. These notes prove that there are solitary birds at the coast in 

 most months of the year, which are augmented in autumn, by young 

 broods and their parents. Apr. 26, Two pairs of Eiders ; ncAvly arrived 

 Willow Wren associated with 3 Hedge Sparrows, in quest of insects among 

 long grass near a sheltered drain mouth at hedgeside. Sand Martins seen 

 at 11 a.m. Has been cold and cheerless weather for some time. Only 1 

 Dotterel seen this year at Dowlaw. 



May. 

 May 1, A single Willow Wren at Oak-brae attempting to sing. Vege- 

 tation suffering from cold north winds. May 3, 1 Wagtail seen. May 5, 

 Willow Wren widely spread in Tower and Pease deans, preferring the 

 outskirts of the woods ; Redstart in song in Aikieside, a harsh challenge 



