Chapter V: Part 5

_Eagle Island, West._--October, large numbers of Gannets flying to the south. November, very few Gannets. December, Gannets have all disappeared.

_Slyne Head, North._--At intervals during August, September, October, November, and December.

_Arran Island, North._--From August to Nov. 20th, a few birds occasionally.

_Straw Island._--Noted on Sept. 8th and Oct. 20th. Gannets remained in vicinity of lighthouse longer than is usual.

_Tearaght._--To be seen daily in vicinity.

_Skelligs._--Observed almost daily during September and October; continuous flocks from 25th to 31st of latter month. A few in November, December, and January.

_Dursey Island._--A few during September and October.

Tern.

_Copeland Island._--May 18th, the "Sea Tern or Perr" arrived in large flocks on this date to breed, and continued arriving up to June 1st. There are some thousands of these birds on Mew Island, which is only forty yards from Copeland; the hen bird sits three weeks on four eggs; the eggs are sometimes laid on the bare rock.

_Rathlin O'Birne._--June 2nd, seven or eight Terns; they bred on an island near this.

_Oyster Island, North._--April 9th to 12th, several Terns or Sea Swallows to be seen in bay.

_Blacksod._--May 9th, five Sea Swallows going S.; 22nd, twenty Sea Swallows.--June 22nd, six.

_Slyne Head, South._--June 4th, flocks of "small Sea Gulls with forked tails" arrived; they did not breed this year as usual.

_Copeland Island._--Sept. 10th, large flock of Terns numbering some 400 left Mew Island, going N.

Gulls.

_Galley Head._--March 1st, coming to breed; 21st, continuous flocks of small Gulls; also during April and May.

_Mine Head._--July 25th, fifty "Marsh Gulls" remained all day.

_Rathlin Island._--Large flocks of Gulls noticed frequently, during May and June especially.

_Lough Swilly._--April 1st to 10th, Gulls in great numbers. May 11th and 14th, three or four "Boatswain Gulls." June 20th, Gulls in great numbers.

_Rathlin O'Birne._--Large flocks of Gulls during months of April, May, and June, at intervals; they build on an island near this.

_Oyster Island, North._--April 10th to 12th, large flocks of Gulls. May 18th to 24th, several flocks.

_Broadhaven._--April 15th, 26th; May 8th, 13th to 19th; June 5th and 17th; Skua Gulls observed; and at frequent intervals to date of sending schedules.

_Eagle Island, West._--January and February, a few Sea Gulls. May and June, large numbers.

_Blackrock, Mayo._--March 1st to May 1st, two to four "Royal Gulls" at intervals; small flocks of Kittiwakes and large flocks of "Small Gulls or Wheelons" also at intervals. During April and May one or two "North American or Cream-coloured Gulls." I never see more than one or two of these birds.

_Blacksod._--May 3rd, flock of large Grey Gulls all day; 7th, six Royal Gulls going N.E. April 1st to June 1st, flocks of small white Sea Gulls seen.

_Slyne Head, North._--March 28th, large and continuous flocks of Sea Gulls going in a southerly direction.

_Slyne Head, South._--July 10th, continuous flocks of Skua Gulls and some Royal Gulls after fish.

_Arran Island, North._--Gulls frequent during May and June, generally going towards the large Island of Arran, where they breed. I am informed they arrive in April and leave early in August.

_Valentia._--April 18th to end of May, at intervals; on many days no bird is seen. From June 1st to 23rd, on rare occasions.

_Skelligs._--Feb. 2nd, twenty Common Gulls going N. March 22nd, flocks of Kittiwakes; 31st, ditto. During April and May flocks of Kittiwakes constantly about island. June, ditto.

_Dursey Island._--Large flocks of Gulls seen frequently during April, May, and June.

_Galley Head._--Nov. 1st, the Large White and also the Grey-backed Gulls that hatched here have left.

_Old Head, Kinsale._--Sea Gulls to be seen here all the year round.

_Coningbeg Light-ship._--Nov. 12th, large flocks of Grey Gulls remained around ship. Nov. 29th and Dec. 12th, flocks.

_Barrels Rock Light-ship._--During November, great numbers of Gulls.

_Rathlin Island._--Sept. 4th, "I may pass no remark on Gulls or Gannets; they are here lying on the water or after fry I may say every day." Nov. 24th and 26th, thousands of Skua Gulls on the sea.

_Dunree Head._--Aug. 10th to 17th, flocks of Gulls.

_Lough Swilly._--Oct. 16th, several flocks of Gulls; 21st, great numbers. Nov. 1st, Gulls in great numbers. Dec. 7th, a number.

_Tory Island._--Nov. 9th, continuously in pairs. Dec. 11th, frequently.

_Rathlin O'Birne._--Oct. 10th, continuous flocks. Oct. 28th, Nov. 2nd, and to end of month, large flocks at intervals.

_Killybegs._--Oct. 16th to 18th, rush of Herring Gulls, and several Black-headed and "Grey Gulls" after fry; remained until middle of November, when all departed going S.W., except the Black-headed and Grey Gulls, which remained.

_Broadhaven._--The Sea Gull is to be seen every day at this station.

_Slyne Head, North._--Gulls to be seen at all times.

_Arran Island, North._--Gulls at frequent intervals in August, September, and October. Fewer entries in November and December.

_Straw Island._--Gulls noted in September and October. Jan. 3rd, 1883, twenty-two Black-headed Gulls.

_Skelligs._--Aug. 26th, flocks of Kittiwakes departing. During September and October almost daily, fishing up to Dec. 6th. No entry of Kittiwakes afterwards, but a few "Gulls" entered at intervals.

_Dursey Island._--Aug. 28th, large flocks. A few in September and October.

_Dungarvan._--Nov. 22nd, "immense number of Gulls." Jan. 9th, 1883, "great number of small Gulls"; 12th, one Gull of "a uniform drab colour, very seldom seen in this locality."

Manx Shearwater.

_Skelligs._--April 5th, 10 p.m., wind N.E., clear, flocks of Manx Shearwaters; these birds only appear at night; remained about island during May and June. Nov. 6th, about twenty fishing.

_Barrels Rock Light-ship._--Dec. 3rd, continuous flocks of "Mackerel Cocks" flying W. [Manx Shearwaters?]; also on 4th and 5th; from 19th to 24th, several, generally going E.

Stormy Petrel.

_Skelligs._--June 2nd, flock flying about light, 11 p.m.

_Coningbeg Light-ship._--Nov. 8th, three Stormy Petrels remained near ship all day.

_Kish Bank Light-ship._--June 5th, 1882, two Stormy Petrels about the ship all day.

_Tory Island._--Oct. 19th, one Petrel killed against lantern.

_Valentia._--Oct. 1st, two struck lantern, not killed; caught on balcony after striking, wind strong S.W. Dec. 4th, one taken on balcony, wind very strong.

_Skelligs._--Oct. 8th, caught two outside lantern.

WEST, NEWMAN AND CO., PRINTERS, 54, HATTON GARDEN, LONDON, E.C.

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Transcriber Note

Minor typos were corrected.