Rarer Birds observed at Dunbar. By George Pow. 545 



looked at it with the glass at about seventy yards distance, and dis- 

 tinguished it to be the Red-throated Phalarope, (being myself quite 

 familiar with the Grey Phalarope). The Turnstones rose, and the stranger 

 followed their example, thus preventing me from getting within range and 

 making a more satisfactory examination of it. 



Shoveller (Rhynchospis clypeata). On 2nd May 1887, 1 watched a pair 

 of Shovellers feeding in a pond at the back of the embankment near the 

 Tyne estuary. I was in hopes that they would breed in the neighbourhood, 

 but was disappointed ; for though I returned to the locality several times in 

 search of them, I could see nothing of them. The birds were not at all shy. 

 The Shoveller is occasionally seen here during winter, and specimens 

 have been shot by several of the local gunners during that season. 



While engaged, on one of the occasions mentioned above (May 8th 1887), 

 in searching for traces of the Shoveller, I was fortunate enough to observe 

 a Gkeenshank. I have never seen one in any previous Spring. It was 

 exceedingly wary, but I managed to get a good view of it sitting on the 

 ground. The Greenshank is a regular autumn visitant to the estuary, 

 where I have obtained specimens on several occasions. 



Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) . Scarcely a year passes without one 

 or more birds of this species being shot in this locality — mostly young birds. 

 I know of no breeding place of the Peregrine Falcon nearer this part of 

 the coast than Fast Castle, where, on 5th May of this year I saw them 

 nesting. I was made aware of their presence by their wheeling in circles 

 overhead, screaming, and behaving generally like birds alarmed for the 

 safety of their nests. 



Great Spotted Woodpecker (Picus major). In November 188G, a 

 considei-able flight of the above appeared on this coast, and abont a dozen 

 were captured and sent to Edinburgh for preservation. On the 25th 

 November of that year, a pair were shot in the upper part of Thurston 

 High Wood. They are now, I believe, in the Thurston collection. The 

 birds had settled on Scotch Fir trees, and were about a hundred yards 

 apart when shot. Mr Carr, (High Wood, Thurston), had his attention 

 drawn to the birds by their note, with which he was familiar, having met 

 with the species in Northumberland. Abont the same time a specimen 

 was shot near Gifford ; and another was shot in Ai'cherfield woods early in 

 December of the same year. I have lately seen a specimen in the collection 

 of the late Dr Nelson, which was shot near Pitcox in 1868. 



The Woodcock. — Mr Carr showed me a pair of Woodcock's eggs which 

 he had taken from a nest near his house in May 1885. Unfortunately the 

 nest had been trodden on, and the eggs, with the exception of the two 

 which he showed me, had been destroyed. 



Stockdove (Columba (E/ia.s). Having been informed by Mr McDonald, 

 gamekeeper, Hailes, that a pair of pigeons had taken up their abode among 

 the crags of Traprain Law, and that he was certain that it was not the 

 Ping Dove, or the Rock Dove, I suspected it was the Stock Dove (Columla 

 Kiian). On visiting the spot, on 9th April, I found my suspicion confirmed. 

 The birds were very shy, but I managed to get a very good view of them. 



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