54.4 



Notes on the Rarer Birds observed in the Dunbar District. 

 By George Pow, Dunbar. 



The Merlin. — This bird according to Mr Gray, was about thirty years 

 ago, not uncommon in the neighbourhood of Dunbar, it is now exceed- 

 ingly scarce here. The only example of it which I have seen for several 

 years was on 7th August 1886, near the Tyne estuary. It made two un- 

 successful attempts to breakfast on a small bird. I could easily have shot 

 it, but refrained ; but I watched it for some time as it sat on some wreckage 

 on the beach. On my way home in the evening, I met with a young friend. 

 We were walking along the beach when my companion stopped, and said 

 he saw a bird sitting among some stones in front of us. I could not, 

 however, see anything like a bird. It was a long shot, but my companion 

 wished to try his gun. He fired, and we paced seventy yards, and found 

 the bird quite dead. It was a Merlin — probably the one I had seen in the 

 morning. It seemed to be a bird of the year. 



I have been informed by Mr McDonald, gamekeeper, Hailes, that the 

 Merlin has nested and reared its young on Traprain Law for the last three 

 years. They appeared in due course this Spring, but unfortunately were 

 frightened away, and have not yet returned. It is to be hoped that they 

 will be more fortunate in that locality in future. 



Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla Bayi). I have observed this bird nearly 

 every Spring for the last ten years, on. this part of the coast ; and also at 

 East Linton and Knowesmill. At first sight it might easily be mistaken 

 for the Grey Wagtail, but as the latter has a black patch on the throat; 

 and is an inch and a half longer they can easily be distinguished on a closer 

 inspection. The tail also being shorter than that of the Grey Wagtail, the 

 "wagging" is not so apparent. The note, too, is very different. I have 

 found Ray's Wagtail not at all shy when feeding on insects on the sea- 

 beach ; for I have frequently approached within a few yards of them ere 

 they took to flight. They usually appear in companies of five or six, though 

 on one occasion I saw a flock of about fifteen in company with as many of 

 M. alba, forming one of the finest ornithological treats that it has been my 

 lot to enjoy. 



The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) was first recorded as a Spring 

 visitant by Mr William Evans, who exhibited a specimen at the Royal 

 Physical Society's Meeting in April 1886. It had been obtained here the 

 previous Spring. Since then T have observed them every Spring, and on 

 one occasion (in 1886) in the Autumn. I have noticed that they frequently 

 migrate in company with Ray's Wagtail, though I have never seen them 

 with M. YarrelU, This year I obtained a specimen at Dunglass, though they 

 have not been quite so plentiful here this Spring as in previous years. I 

 also observed the bird near Pease Glen. 



Red-throated Phalarope.— On 18th Sept. 1886, 1 walked along the coast 

 to Thorntonloch, accompanied by two friends. While we were watching 

 a small flock of Turnstones, with a view to a shot, we observed a small 

 bird alight on the water, and swim about in a very graceful manner. I 



