66 STUDIES IN BIRU-MIGRATION 



Afterwards, two Mealy Redpolls {A. linaria), a female 

 Grey-headed Wagtail {M. thunbergi), a Tree-Pipit, 

 Willow- Warblers, a Short-eared Owl, the first Reed- 

 Buntings, two Swallows (one of which was captured in a 

 house), and a Corn- Crake were seen. In the morning only 

 about twenty Fieldfares came under notice, but about 4 

 P.M. they were everywhere, and vast flocks could be seen 

 circling overhead. In company with these thousands 

 of Fieldfares were many Ring-Ouzels and Starlings. A 

 flock of one hundred Bramblings was seen, and many 

 large Wheatears (S. leucorrhoa) were also present. 

 Rain again began to fall about 3 p.m., and this no doubt 

 spoiled what would otherwise have been a most eventful 

 day among the migrants, for the dull wet weather drove 

 the smaller birds to seek shelter in the ditches, cliffs, 

 and Wdlls, in fact, any hiding-place that could be found. 

 Warblers were probably far more numerous than they 

 appeared to be. 



6th May. — Yesterday evening the south-east wind 

 freshened to a strong breeze, bringing fog with it, which, 

 however, cleared off" this morning about 8 a.m. Weather 

 dull and hazy. 



The newcomers noted are an adult male Subalpine 

 Warbler, Mistle-Thrush, Redstart, Common White- 

 throat, Green Sandpiper, male Pied Flycatcher, several 

 Mealy Redpolls, Tree- Pipit, Long-eared Owl, Common 

 Sandpiper, three Black-headed Gulls (adults), male 

 Blackcap, and a large increase in the numbers of 

 Fieldfares. The vast concourse of the latter species 

 now present, prevents any estimate being formed of 

 their numbers, but there are probably not less than 

 three thousand, and they are to be seen in every 

 part of the Isle. The Mistle-Thrush mentioned 



