ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM MAYO AND SLIGO. 133 



often seen large flocks of Wild Ducks in the bay, I thought the 

 latter were the birds they spoke of; for in the distance Ducks 

 often look very dark, and in some lights look quite black to the 

 naked eye. However, on February 3rd I was at Bartragh, and 

 as the surf had fallen considerably in consequence of the wind 

 blowing off the land, the Black Ducks came closer than usual to 

 the shore, and with the aid of my glass I was able to observe 

 them pretty closely as they dived along the breakers, and fully 

 satisfied myself that they were Black Scoters, though two or 

 three times I thought I could detect Velvet Ducks in the flock ; 

 for as they rose and flapped their wings I could plainly distin- 

 guish white markings on their wings. 



This was the only occasion that I was able to get a good view 

 of these Ducks with a glass, for they had always previously kept 

 too far outside the breakers to make out what they were, and it 

 was impossible to reach them from either punt or boat. Of 

 wading birds visiting our shores, the Gray Plover was the 

 scarcest this winter, while Turnstones and Sanderlings were 

 unusually numerous. Godwits appeared in about their usual 

 numbers, but Knots were not at all plentiful, though Curlew 

 were positively in thousands on the sands of the estuary and 

 adjacent islands. 



There is seldom any difference to be remarked in the Eed- 

 shanks or Greenshanks, although this winter I think the little 

 flocks of the latter birds appeared larger than last year. Fifteen, 

 I think, was the largest flock of Greenshanks observed this 

 winter, but the general number seen together is about seven or 

 eight birds. In this district Greenshanks remain all through 

 the winter, never leaving our shores except for their breeding 

 grounds in spring ; and their stay is so short that they are 

 frequently seen back again on our shores the last week in July. 



"When walking along the shore on March 15th, observing some 

 Wigeon and Godwits feeding on the sands, I was rather surprised 

 to see a Sandwich Tern flying past ; it appeared to be a 

 solitary bird, no others being in sight at the time, so I suppose it 

 is the first visitor of the season, till followed soon by the rear- 

 guard of our summer migrants. 



