A YEAR AT FAIR ISLE 91 



one. Reed- Buntings, two. Siskins, a few. Meadow- 

 Pipits, many. 



Tth October. — South, light ; brilliant day. 



Chaffinches at lantern at 3 a.m., and many of both 

 sexes on isle. Bramblings at lantern at 3 a.m., and 

 numerous in the stubbles. Blackcap in potatoes. 

 Lesser Whitethroat in turnips. Jack Snipe, several. 

 Whinchat, one in potatoes. Merlins, several sweeping 

 over the stubbles in pursuit of small birds. Wood- Lark, 

 one on the wing, uttering its pretty warbling note. 

 Yellow-browed Warbler, one in garden. Meadow- 

 Pipits, many. 



Wi October.- — South-east, sunny and dull periods ; 

 increase of wind at night, with fog. 



Blackcaps, two in cabbages. Wood-Lark, another. 

 Linnet, one. Jack Snipe, several. Siberian Chiffchaff, 

 a female in turnips : a sad-coloured little bird, with 

 black legs. Garden- Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat 

 in turnips. Greater Wheatear, one. Common 

 Wheatears, very few. Reed- Buntings, three. Gold- 

 crest, one. Ring-Dove, one. Merlins, several. Little 

 Bunting, one on wall, very wild. 



(jth October. — South-east, strong breeze ; then west, 

 light, dull, warm ; south-east later, and finally south 

 breeze. 



Redwings, many around lantern at 2 a.m., and 

 thousands on island in large flocks. At 6 p.m. large 

 numbers were seen to leave the island, rising high 

 and flying south-west towards the Orkneys — a most 

 interesting incident, for emigrants are rarely detected 

 actually embarking on their night journeys. Thrushes, 

 a goodly number. Blackbirds, a number of males 

 seen on cliffs. Mistle-Thrush, one flying high and 



