EEPORTS. 23 



REPORT OF THE ORNITHOLOGICAL SECTION. 



The notes on Birds which have accumulated this year, 

 although possessing a certain value, include nothing very 

 remarkable. These annual Sectional Reports afford a con- 

 venient means of recording many interesting observations 

 which would otherwise be lost, owing to their apparent 

 triviality ; but I very much wish that the recordership of the 

 present section were in more efficient hands than mine, — 

 for unfortunately I am neither expert ornithologist nor 

 sportsman. If, however, those who know of the occurrence 

 of rare birds, or their nests, will be so good as to inform 

 me, it will be a help, and all information of this kind 

 will be duly acknowledged. I am again indebted to Mr. B. 

 Rowswell for kindly placing at my disposal his carefully 

 kept notes on the arrival and departure of the summer 

 birds of passage. 



Rough-leg'g'ed Buzzard [Buteo lagopus). As Cecil Smith only records 

 t^o instances of the occurrence of this bird : one in Guernsey at 

 Christmas 1870, and one in Alderney in the autumn of 1877,— it is 

 worth noting that a third specimen was caught in a gin at Herm 

 in 18S5, and is now preserved in the Guille-AUes Museum. 



Eagle Owl {Buho ignavus). A fine female Eagle Owl, belonging to Prince 

 Bliicher, has been kept in captivity in Herm. for about sixteen years. 

 Occasionally it lays eggs : and in April last it laid two, which, by 

 the kindness of ^Ir. Leicester Gore, are now preserved, one in the 

 Museum collection, and the other in my own. 



Hedge Sparrow. In England these birds seldom sing in midwinter — 

 but in Guernsey they are to be heard in full song all through December 

 and January in mild weather. 



Chiffehaff. The earliest date this year on which I heard this little bird's 

 note was April 22, the spring being late and cold, with few warm days. 



Woodpecker. I wish to correct an error which appears in the Transactions 

 for 1901, p. 59, where Mr. Kowswell is reported to have stated that a 

 Green AVoodpecker had been shot at St. Martin's. The species referred 

 to, Mr. Eowswell tells me, was the Lesser Spotted "Woodpecker, of which 

 several specimens are recorded in the Birds of Guernsey. There is no 

 authentic evidence of the Green Woodpecker ever having been seen in 

 our islands. 



Wryneck. First heard on April 3, at St. Martin's, and last heard on July 6, 

 at the Catel. 



Cuekoo. Heard by myself and others, in many different parts of St. 

 Martin's, on April 13, and reported on good authority to have been heard 

 the previous day. Its latest call was noted by Mr. Rowswell on the 

 Fermain cliffs on June 30. 



Goatsucker. On September 12 one of these birds rose almost at my feet 

 and flew a few yards, on the cliffs near the old Sommeilleuse watch-house. 



Swift. First seen on May G at Moulin Huet by Mr. Eowswell. who notes 

 that the little party which annually frequent the Town Church did not 

 arrive until May 12, when about a dozen were flying round the tower. 

 The first I saw was on May 11, near Ivy Castle. At the Forest they were 

 seen by Mr. RowsweU as late as August 31. 



