293 



NOTES ON SOME OF THE BIRDS OCCURRING IN 

 THE SOLWAY DISTRICT. 



By J. J. ARMISTEAD, 

 Solway Fishery, Dmnfries, N.B. 



The Solway District is rather an important one ornithologically. 

 Owing to the varied nature of the coast, as well as of the interior, we 

 find a great many species, either resident or migratory, as well as 

 casual visitors. The country all round the head waters of the Frith 

 may be most simply described as flat, or slightly undulating, and 

 becoming more hilly towards the south-west. The northern shore is 

 very varied, some parts being wild and rocky, others flat and sandy^ 

 while at the mouths of rivers are extensive flats of sand or mud, inter- 

 sected by creeks, and bounded by saltings or marshes. The county 

 of Kirkcudbrightshire, lying to the north of the Frith, has a seaboard 

 which is more or less mountainous, and the undulating or low-lying 

 lands of Cumberland are backed by the mountains of the Lake 

 District. It may prove to be the northern limit of some birds, as for 

 instance the Stock Dove {Colicmba oenas)^ which occurs on the 

 northern side of the Frith, but only in a few places on the coast — as 

 far as I have observed, frequenting wooded declivities facing the sea, 

 and well adapted to its habits, and where it breeds. In perusing the 

 following notes the fact must not be overlooked that they are mostly 

 from my own observation only, and on this account may sometimes 

 be meagre, and it is probable that some birds frequenting the inland 

 districts may have been to a greater or less extent unobserved by me, 

 as my chief observatory has been the Frith itself. I am much 

 indebted to the kindness of Mr. James Ferrier of the Ross Light- 

 house, who has carefully noted all the birds occurring there from 

 time to time. It is not to be expected that migrants will be met 

 with in the same numbers as at some of our East Coast lights, but 

 some of the facts recorded are interesting, and I have selected the 

 following as specially worthy of note as throwing some light on the 

 spring migration. It would be interesting to have reports from other 

 stations for about the same dates. 



April 1 2th, 1885. Three Goldcrests seen at i a.m. Wind N.E.; 

 fresh breeze. 



„ 15th, Four Goldcrests seen at 2 a.m. Wind E.; 



light breeze. 



„ 18th, „ Five Goldcrests seen through the night. Wind 

 W\; light breeze. 

 (This bird appears to be both resident and migratory. In 

 autumn many reach our East Coast, coming across the North Sea. 



Aug. 1885. . ^ 02 



