1921. RvTTLEDGE.' -Ornithological Notes. 4y 



Yellow Bunting (Emberiza citrinella). — The late Mr. 

 Robert Warren noticed the entire disappearance from the 

 BalHna district in September. Here in South Mayo I notice 

 there is very httle decrease in numbers. I took particular 

 notice of this species during the past September. 



Skylark [Alauda arvensis). — The immigration in 

 October is well marked here. I find a note in my diary of 

 1917 to the effect that, on October 6th, numbers of Skylarks 

 were passing north all morning. Again, last year, on October 

 7th, all the morning I observed Skylarks flying high N., N.E. 

 and E., but chiefly to the N.E., and so high that in many 

 cases one could only hear them. 



Pied Wagtail (Motacilla lugubris). — On October 2nd, 

 when driving between Bunowen and Clifden, in western 

 Connemara, I observed parties of half a dozen or more Pied 

 Wagtails at various places along the road. I also observed 

 many on the shores of Killary Bay between August loth and 

 14th, 1920.1 I saw a flock of as many as 14 Pied Wagtails 

 on October 4th, 1920 ; mostly immature birds. 



Swallow {Hirundo rustica). — First seen last year on 

 April loth, which is earlier than its usual date of first 

 appearance here. A pure white specimen was seen on three 

 occasions at Bloomfield, on September 12th, 1920. It was 

 only observed on this one date. 



Sand Martin [Cotile riparia) — I observed this species at 

 a nesting site on the north, or Mayo, shore of Killary Har- 

 bour, on August 13th, 1920. The nesting site was in a high 

 bank overlooking the harbour. 



Bullfinch [Pyrrhula enropaea). — This bird seems to be 

 increasing steadily in South Mayo. 



Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus). — This bird is un- 

 doubtedly increasing and spreading in South Mayo. I 

 observed more last autumn than ever before. There is 

 evidence of its having bred in Bloomfield demesne in 1919. 



Kingfisher (Alcedo ispida). — I observed several King- 

 fishers on the shore of Clifden Bay, Co. Galway, on Sep- 



' It is not very common in the extreme West of Connaught (Ussbcr & 

 Warren's "Birds of Ireland," p. 35). 



