Chapter VII: Part 7

_Blackrock, Mayo._--Flocks of "Puffins" noted March 4th, 7th, and April 6th. On 29th, "Sea Parrots alighted to look at building ground." On June 9th, "Puffins of all kinds on rock hatching." July 20th, "Sea Parrots leaving rock."

_Clare Island._--April 11th, Guillemots and Puffins arrived to build.

_Arran Island, N._--January 7th, flocks of "Puffins." Also on May 20th, all day; and on July 16th.

_Straw Island._--April 7th, twenty-two "Puffins." "Sea Parrots" noted April 11th and May 1st, going E. July 10th, thirty "Sea Parrots." September 4th, ten "Puffins," looked very young.

_Tearaght._--March 23d, Puffin in great numbers on water. 31st, observed on water at south side of island at 7 A.M., rose on island at 9 A.M. Again they disappeared until April 3d, and on the 4th they became permanent. The young birds were leaving on July 16th. This they never do in the day-time. They left August 15th. A white-headed Puffin was captured on June 2d. [Head received, greyish white.--R. M. B.]

_Valentia._--October 1st, one taken in yard.

_Skelligs._--March 26th, first appearance of Puffins flying; 31st, alighted on rock first time to-day; wind strong, S.W. April 24th, first Puffin's eggs seen. August 10th, Puffins left to-day _en masse_, except a few whose young are not matured.

Great Northern Diver.

_Dungarvan._--April 8th, two swimming about. November 25th, two. December 1st, four.

_Rathlin Island._--June 16th, two seen.

_Straw Island._--April 23d, two Great Northern Divers. November 7th, two.

Cormorant.

_Mine, Head._--January 15th, 1886, plentiful along the cliffs.

_Dungarvan._--November 5th, numbers feeding.

_Coningbeg Light-ship._--A few at end of April.

_Rockabill._--October 4th, Cormorants.

_Rathlin Island._--March 6th, Green Cormorants.

_Dunree Head._--Cormorants never leave all the year round.

_Arranmore._--February 5th and March 27th, Cormorants noted.

_Rathlin O'Birne._--August 4th, twelve Cormorants. These birds are always in vicinity. The "Black Diver" came here in spring, and continued while fish were plenty.

_Broadhaven._--June 30th, large numbers remain here this time of year. November 14th, they are here all the year.

_Eagle Island, E._--September 26th, October 15th and 22d, seen.

_Blackrock, Mayo._--May 25th and 29th, Cormorants alighted on rock near us. "When they flap their wings, it is a sure sign of storm."

_Straw Island._--May 19th, four seen. July 31st, three.

_Valentia._--A few Cormorants noted in April, June, October, November, and December.

_Tearaght._--March 22d, two Green Cormorants, and several times after. On March 20th, "I observed a very strange specimen of the Cormorant. The crown of the head seemed flat, the whole length of the bill being in a line with it. The under part of the bill, at a short distance from the head, terminated abruptly; white in front of eyes, large black curved streak round eyes behind, grey round back of neck, crown of head a little tufted behind."

Gannet.

_Dungarvan._--Entries on March 8th, May 20th, and June 20th. Direction of flight variable.

_Coningbeg Light-ship._--March 13th, ten; 31st, five going E. During September Gannets at intervals passing ship, generally E.

_Barrels Rock Light-ship._--March. 24th, small flocks going S.W. September 22d, flocks going east. December 27th, 28th, 31st, and January 9th, 1886, Gannets noticed going in various directions.

_Arklow South Light-ship._--Gannets noted February 14th, 19th, 20th, March 2d, 4th, 23d, and May 12th, in every case flying low to the N.E. August 16th and September 23d, flocks of Gannet.

_Arklow North Light-ship._--February 24th, flocks going N. and S. March 23d, four passed N, During the month of April flocks of Gannets constantly passed, going N. May 19th, several flocks passed, going N.E. and S.W. October 27th, six going N.

_Kish Light-ship._--A few Gannets going N. April 16th, 17th, and May 4th, and going S. on 29th May and June 17th.

_Rockabill._--March 18th, April 21st, May 9th, Gannets seen. September 21st, October 8th, 12th, 22d, noted.

_Copeland (Mew) Island._--March 25th, two--the first seen since last September. May 8th, eight seen.

_South Maidens._--April, Gannets fishing.

_Rathlin Island._--March 2d, 14th, April 3d and 6th, flocks going W. May 5th, small flock going W. all day; also on June 3d and 21st, going W. September 14th, a flock going W., and more or less every day this month.

_Arranmore._--February 7th, Gannets going S.W. March 20th and May 23d, going E. and N.E.

_Rathlin O'Birne._--Saw plenty in September.

_Killybegs._--March 22d to 28th, a few going N. Noted in June fishing.

_Eagle Island, E._--September 26th, and on frequent dates up to October 17th, Gannets in twos and threes and flocks, all going W.

_Blackrock, Mayo._--Flocks noted March 22d, 25th, and May 19th. On July 2d, a few fishing. October 18th, 19th, and 20th, great numbers of Gannets going N. January 17th and 19th, 1886, two or three, the first seen since October 20th.

_Slyne Head, North._--May 17th and 20th, large flocks of Gannets.

_Arran Island, N._--January 8th, Gannets observed. July 14th, numbers of Gannets about.

_Straw Island._--March 7th and April 3d, a few noticed.

_Skelligs._--February 28th, _Gannets first perched on Lesser Skelligs_, their breeding station. June 15th, an unusual number this year. They must have come from the Bull Rock, owing to the erection of a lighthouse on it, which is now building.

Herons.

_Dungarvan._--March 27th, two flying inland; wind N.W. October 26th, two.

_Tuskar Rock._--March 14th, two going H.

_Copeland (Mew) Island._--September 21st, two "Cranes."

_Rathlin Island._--May 24th, two going W.

_Eagle Island, E._--September 27th, one seen.

_Blackrock, Mayo._--April 20th, two Cranes seen. July 12th, one.

_Tearaght._--July 22d, "four Herons (?) flying about island, and for a few days. Was quite close to them. Never saw anything like them before. Tips of wings were black, which continued along inner side, forming a black fringe. There was a white spot at the angle of the wings in front."

_Skelligs._--March 22d, a Heron seen; wind H., strong. July 22d, two Herons perched on rock; flew E. 26th, two seen.

Geese.

_Copeland (Mew) Island._--March 11th, twenty going E.

_South Maidens._--March 19th, three Barnacle. August 25th, a flock of Barnacle going S.

_Innishtrahull._--January, small flocks of Barnacle passing S.; also on February 10th, 15th, and 18th, one shot on 20th.

_Lough Swilly._--October 8th, eighteen; 12th, large flocks passing N.

_Tory Island._--March 23d and 28th, Barnacle passed.

_Arranmore._--February 13th, Barnacle remain on island all winter. April 1st, some going N.W. October 3d, twenty-four going S.; wind W., strong. Barnacle also passed on 6th, 8th, 10th, and 18th to 22d.

_Rathlin O'Birne._--October 4th, twenty-two alighted on island; shot two. November 7th, 16th, and 20th, Barnacle noted, "one being a gander, the first seen for last two years."

_Broadhaven._--April 1st, a large flock of Wild Geese going S.W. December 22d, Wild Geese remain here until March.

_Eagle Island, E._--October 19th, seven Barnacle going S.W. November 8th, about one hundred going S.W.

_Blacksod._--January 17th, February 10th, and April 30th, noted.

_Arran Island, N._--February 14th, twelve Wild Geese. May 18th, flock of Barnacle going N. July 19th, four "Wild Geese" going S.; 23d, five going N. October 10th, large flock of Barnacle going S.

_Straw Island._--November 9th, eight Wild Geese going N. Tearaght. May 2d, thirty going N.; 17th, twenty ditto.

Ducks.

_Mine Head._--December 13th, one found dead near lighthouse.

_Dungarvan._--April 14th, large flock of Teal going to sea. June 27th, thirteen Wild Duck on a rock near station. October 25th, flock of Teal. November 1st, large flock of Duck; 11th, a flock; 13th, large flock of Widgeon; 29th, numbers of Duck and Teal on water.

_Tuskar Rock._--January 22d, one alighted on rock.

_Arklow North Light-ship._--March 16th, 23d, and 24th, flocks of Ducks going N.

_Copeland (Mew) Island._--April 12th, three; 16th, eight. May 6th, two Shelldrake. November 4th, four Wild Ducks. December 26th, twelve about island.

_Rathlin Island._--December 9th, one Shelldrake. November 8th, one Pochard shot.

_Dunree Head._--February 6th, 20th, 20th, and 27th, flocks passing station.

_Lough Swilly._--October 30th, four seen.

_Tory Island._--Ducks noted February 14th and March 17th.

_Arranmore._--Ducks on island all winter.

_Killybegs._--April 20th, two. About six pair nest in a bog near.

_Broadhaven._--March 4th, flock of Shelldrake going N.W. 29th, five Wild Duck.

_Straw Island._--March 5th, eight Wild Duck; 13th, six. October 17th, fifteen Wild Duck; 18th, two Shelldrake. November 5th, thirty Wild Duck.

Merganser.

_Dungarvan._--April 5th, eleven going S.

Birds not Identified.

_Barrels Rock Light-ship._--May 21st, "observed a curious bird hovering around the ship. It was larger than a Thrush, and of a brown mottled colour, with a streak of white across each wing. It flew N."

_South Maidens._--May 13th, "a strange bird seen on rock, not as large as a Thrush, with a portion of the back yellow, white near the tail, which was dotted with yellow spots. I have not seen a bird resembling this one since I came to station."

_Tearaght._--On 12th April, a bird Like the Great Shrike was observed.

_Skelligs._--October 16th, "a small bird about the size of a Wren with a white spot on its forehead, flitting about amongst the lichen on the face of the rocks. It uttered a note like tzit, tzit, tzit, or tzee, a little sibilant in tone."

_Skelligs._--October 23d, a Starling? feeding on rock. A gale from N.E., with mist. "This bird was spotted with white spots, the same as Morris's Nutcracker."

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Transcriber Note

Some irregularities in spelling and hyphenation were left as printed. Minor typos were corrected. The elevation of the Lochindaul Station on p. 93 was corrected to 50 based on the 1884 Report.