I92I. 



RuTTLEDGE — ■Ornithological Notes. 



49 



Common Snipe (Gallinago codestis). — Evidcatly a lar^-^e 

 influx took place about August 30th, as on that date Snipe 

 were very abundant everywhere — previously there had not 

 been half the number. 



Curlew {Numenius arquata). — Never before, I think, 

 have I. observed such large flocks of Curlew frequenting the 

 bogs, as I saw last July. By the end of August, however, 

 Curlew were comparative^ scarce on the bogs in this district. 



Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus). — The first sign of the 

 return migration was on August 6th, when a single bird was 

 observed at Bloomfield, flying S.W. ; wind W.N.W., with 

 driving mist. The bird was identified by its call and was at 

 some little distance. This date is slightly early for its re- 

 appearance here. The southward movement was also well 

 marked on August 9th, i8th, and September 13th on Lough 

 Carra ; and on August 23rd a flock of 30 were seen flying 

 over Lough Mask, but not in any definite direction. 



General Observation on Arrival of Migrants. 



The Warblers were unusually late in their first appearance 

 in 1920 : the Willow Wren did not arrive until April 13th, 

 a week later than usual, and the Chiff-chaff, which usually 

 appears during the last week in March, was not heard until 

 April 7tli*. On the other hand, the Swallow and Cuckoo were 

 earlier than usual. The Cuckoo, which for three years 

 running has first been heard on April 27th, was heard last 

 year on April 20th. 



The WTiimbrel, too, was late in its first appearance, being 

 seen, true to its name of May-bird, on the ist May, whereas 

 in 1917, T918 and 1919 it appeared on April 23rd, 24th and 

 2 1st respectively. 



Bloomfield, HoUymonnt, Co. Mayo. 



