174 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



NOTES OF BIRDS OBSERVED AT BALBRIGGAN IN 



1903-04. 



By Rev. Charles W. Benson, LL.D., Rector of Balbriggan. 



Balbriggan is a maritime town, twenty-two miles north-east 

 of Dublin. It owes its origin to the late Baron Hamilton, who 

 in 1780 built the pier and breakwater which enclose its small 

 harbour, admitting steamers drawing twelve feet of water. Its 

 population is 2443, most of whom are engaged in the manu- 

 facture of the stockings which have made the town famous. 



Balbriggan is said to be the driest town in Ireland, and it is 

 certainly a very healthy and bracing place, and were there only 

 greater bathing facilities it would become a favourite summer 

 resort. The view of the Mourne Mountains in clear weather is 

 really magnificent, and the Isle of Man, sixty miles away, is 

 sometimes, though rarely, visible. The shore is low and shingly, 

 though to the north there is a splendid strand as far as the 

 mouth of the Boyne. Inland the country is very flat and rather 

 treeless, so that one cannot expect a large avifauna. 



In my two years here I have only observed ninety-eight species, 

 and I fear that I shall not much increase this number. Mr. 

 Spencer, of Tramore, Co. Waterford, tells me tbat he has 

 observed 141 there, which I should think almost a record for 

 Ireland ; but when I was at Horsey Broad, near Martham, 

 Norfolk, years ago, I was told by Mr. Risings that their fauna 

 reached 158. This seems marvellous. 



A short distance from the town a shingly beach, covered at 

 high water, extends out some distance from the land, and is 

 called the "Long Leg." It is frequented by crowds of birds, 

 especially in the evenings, when the tide has gone down a little. 

 Five species of Gulls, Cormorants, Curlews, Oystercatchers, Red- 

 shanks, Dunlins, Ring -Dotterels seem to dispute every inch of 

 the peninsula with Rooks, Jackdaws, Lapwings ; whilst at sea, 

 not far away, the Scoters and other Ducks seem to be always 

 swimming in little groups of four or five. 



