observations on the migration of birds at irish light-stations during the year 1927

Observations on the Migration of Birds at Irish Light-Stations during the Year 1927Author(s): John S. BarringtonSource: The Irish Naturalists' Journal, Vol. 2, No. 9 (May, 1929), pp. 174-178Published by: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25531641 .

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174 The litisii Xati/iiausts' Journal. [Vol. II*

.anee receipts during the year, which was, no doubt, due far more

to inclement weather than to lack of interest. The Gardens, to our own knowledge, are a source of delight to those who live close

-enough to visit them regularly; and those who reside at a distance

appreciate them more and more on each successive visit. We

are pleased to note that Dr. li. IA. Praeger (Chairman I.N.J.

Committee) has been elected Hon. Secretary, a position which, we feel sure, he will fill with acceptance to everyone and with

advantage to the Society. Much credit, for his continued zealous care of the animals, is due to the Superintendent, Dr. B.

B. Ferrar, F.Z.S., a real friend to all residents in the Gardens

capable of understanding what friendship means.

%:- * -* *

We hear that a new Naturalists' Field Club has been started in Limavady, Co. Londonderry, which already possesses a very

respectable membership. May we express the hope that this

-organisation will quickly embrace the I.N.J. as its official maga

zine, and that it will soon become Jinked up with the Belfast and Route Clubs, whereby it stands to gain much without losing its individ uality ? We wish the 1 j.N.F.(,'. nil prosperity.

* * ->'r *

Finally, we feel sure that all readers will most heartily wish to congratulate

our friend and Co-Editor, Rev. WT. R. Megaw,

B.A., on being honoured by election to membership of the Eoyal Irish Academy. Of late years our older field botanists have sadly

dwindled, and Mr. Megaw may be termed one of the new school, one who has benefited by the excellent work of earlier men and who bids fair to become equally as well known by his labours in the difficult field of bryology. We, who gather together the material for this Journal, have always found in Mr. Megaw a

willing and skilled helper, and beg to be allowed to offer him our

personal congratulations on the recognition he has received from

the Academy. _r\

OBSERVATIONS ON THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS AT IRISH LIGHT-STATIONS DURING THE YEAR 1927.

By John S. Barrington.

(Being a Report submitted to the Fauna and Flora Committee of the Boyal Irish Academy.)

It is gratifying to be able to state that during the year 1927 this enquiry made good progress. Greater keenness was every

where evinced by the lightkeepers, and it is to be hoped that before long a measure of interest may be shown equal to that

displayed when they were recording their observations for the late R. M. Barrington.

The issue of bird books by the Irish Lights Commissioners (as mentioned in last year's report) has been greatly appreciated by the lightkeepers, and I am anxious to record my thanks to



May, 1929. J 175

the Commissioners for putting these books at the disposal of the

lightkeepers. The number of specimens received during the year amounted

to 137, an increase of 51 over the number received last year. The stations sending most specimens were Hook Tower, Rocka bill, and North Aran Island. Only 27 schedules were received

during the year. There would probably have been more, but for the fact that many of the lightke-epers are unable to name birds with accuracy, and are therefore somewhat shy of recording their observations on paper.

Now that books have been provided for them it is to be

hoped that they will make a greater effort to complete the schedules. Those of the men who have a good general knowledge of birds continue to fill up the schedules in a very satisfactory

manner.

Messrs. A. Rohu and J. M, Trant, of North Aran lighthouse, completed no less than 5 schedules. Mr. S. M'Mahon, of Hook Tower, Mr. E. Kearon, of the Kish Hghtship, and Mr. T. J.

0'Byrne, of Rockabill, also deserve special thanks. Three rarities were received during the year, namely: two

Red-backed Shrikes and a Barred Warbler. All were received

during the autumn migration. The first Red-Jbacked Shrike was forwarded by Mr. D. J.

O'Donovan, of Rockabill lighthouse, where it was killed striking on August 26th; the second, forwarded by Mr. A. Rohu, of North Aran lighthouse, was killed striking on October 3rd. Previous to these occurrences this species had only occurred three times in Ireland, always in autumn, twice at lighthouses and once inland. The Barred Warbler was also obtained by Mr. A.

Rohu; it was killed striking on October 8th. There are only four other Irish records, all of them autumnal.

A bird which was observed by the lightkeeper at Rockabill on October 11th is described by him as follows:?' Unknown bird with crest on head, size of a Chaffinch, bluish black in

colour, with brown wings. On rock for 20 minutes and then went west.- It seems probable that this was a Waxwing, a

species which visits us occasionally in winter. I am not aware, however, of any very recent records.

Crossbills were noted from ais many as four lighthouses during the year. This is a remarkable fact. The late R. M.

Barrington only received one Crossbill from a light-station during the whole of the thirty-five years he was corresponding with the

lightkeepers. The large "irruptions "which have taken place from time to time since 1888 have thus been practically un

observed at the lighthouses. The four records from Irish.lighthouses during the year 1927

are therefore proof that a fairly large "

invasion "

must have occurred. The first bird was seen on August 8th, at Blackrock,

Mayo, where it was feeding on the sea-pinks. The lightkeeper watched it for some time and made a detailed note of its manner

of feeding. This bird was no doubt a mere straggler from the;



176 The Irish Naturalists' Journal. [Vol. II.

mainland. The other records are more interesting. On

September 2nd a Crossbill was found exhausted under a rock on

Inistearaght; when it recovered it flew towards the mainland. On

September 8th twq were caught at Rockabill lighthouse and

forwarded in flesh. On October 11th another was found in a

dazed condition at the foot of Hook Tower lighthouse, County Wexford, apparently having struck the lantern early in the

morning, with a lot of other birds. The increase in the number of Crossbills last autumn was

also noticed by observers further inland. The Goldfinch, a species which has always been extremely

successful in avoiding the lantern, is reported from two stations on the east coast. On September 16th one was observed on the Kish lightship, and a month later, on October 17th, two were re

ported at Rockabill. The few records for this species are chiefly from the stations between Rockabill and Mine Head, where cross

channel migrants might be expected to strike. Occurrences of the Hedge Sparrow at lighthouses are very

few, but this year one was killed striking at North Aran Island on November 21st. There is probably a local migration of this

species between the mainland and the islands off the west coast. On June 2nd 12 Red-necked Phalaropes were observed on

the west coast in a locality some distance south of their present breeding stations. This suggests that the birds are spreading.

Observations on "hawks" are fairly numerous, but of

questionable value. The lightkeepers' descriptions of these birds include two from the Kish lightship, a "brown hawk*' observed

resting on the ship on February 16th, and a "

sparrow-hawk "

flying round the ship on October 17th. From the Fastnet light house there are also two records. On October 16th a "sparrow hawk" was seen chasing two Redshanks, and on 27th of that

month another "

hawk," presumed to be a Sparrow-hawk, was

observed "hovering around."

Most of these entries probably refer to the Kestrel, which is known as the

" sparrow-hawk

" by many of the lightkeepers.

This species has previously been killed striking the lanterns both in spring and autumn, whereas the sparrow hawk has never been so obtained.

Observations on owls are equally vague. "Tawny owls"

and "cat owls" are mentioned from time to time. A detailed

description of a "tawny owl" seen at the Fastnet on the 25th October, proves beyond doubt that it was a Short-eared Owl. This species might be expected at the light-stations, seeing that

it is a regular winter visitor.

Large scale migratory movements are not often noticed on

the west coast, nevertheless much valuable information has been received from the light-keepers $t Blackrock, Mayo, and North Aran. In November and December the Glaucous Gull is re

ported by these observers. This arctic-breeding gull is seldom seen on any other coast.



May, 1929.] 177

As might be expected, the Wh;imbrel is mentioned only from southern and western stations, as this species chiefly travels by the west coast. The first entry is usually to be found in the schedules from Hook Tower, and a few days later Whimbrels are observed at most of the south coast lighthouses. Passing north or north-east from these stations they continue their journey up the west coast or through the chain of lakes in central Connaught. This year the birds were reported at Hook Tower on May 4th, on the 20th of that month they had reached Tory Island. (In 1926 their arrival was somewhat earlier, the entries being Hook

Tower, April 25th; Youghal, April 27th"; Valentia, May 7th.) From Tory Island comes the first observation of the return movement, namely,

" July 21st to 31st. Large flocks of Whim

brel on island, apparently resting on return passage "

The dates of arrival and departure of our summer and winter

visitors, as observed at the lighthouses, have in some cases

appeared in the I.N.J, in connexion with Mr. Stelfox's Pheno

logical Survey, but as they are one of the most interesting features of the schedules, they are briefly summarised here. In

stating these dates the lightkeeper's knowledge of birds has in each case been taken into consideration, and no records con

sidered doubtful are included.

SPRING MIGRANTS: CHIFFCHAFF OR WILLOW WREN. It is not possible

for lightkeepers to distinguish between these two species. Earliest record?Two "Willow Wrens," April 6th, Rockabill.

WHEATEAR, Earliest record?March 24th, Rockabill. Latest record?October 12th, Blackrock, Mavo.

SWALLOW. Earliest record?April 4th, Hook Tower. Latest record?October 13th, Rockabill.

CORNCRAKE. Earliest record?May 2nd, Hook Tower. Laic records untrustwOrthv.

CUCKOO. Earliest record?May 1st, Dunree Head. SEDGE WARBLER, Earliest record?April 30th, Hook

Tower. Latest record?October 3rd, North Aran. GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. Earliest record?April 30th,

Hook Tower.

WHITETHROAT. Earliest record?May 1st, Hook Tower. SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, Earliest record?May 5th,

Hook Tower. Latest record?October 10th, Blackrock, Mavo. WHTMBREL. Earliest record?May 4th, Hook Tower.

VUTUMN MIGRANTS. FIELDFARE. Latest record?April 3rd, Hook Tower.

Earliest record?November 8th, Dunree Head.

REDWING. Earliest record?October 5th, Hook Tower. BERNACLE GOOSE. Earliest record?October 20th,

North Aran. WILD GEESE. Earliest record?October 14th, Wicklow

Head. Departure of "

wild geese "

first observed at Fanad Point on March 1st,



178 The Irish Naturalists' Journal. [Vol. ***

A great rush of birds took place at Hook Tower lighthouse on May 5th, when the following species were killed striking:

Willow Wren, Sedge Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, White

throat, Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher, and Corncrake. I cannot conclude this report without mentioning how the

birds were affected by the severe weather which preceded Christ mas. Hundreds sought refuge on the islands off the west coast, where the majority of them perished owing to the intense cold.

The lightkeeper at Blackrock, Mayo, makes the following entry in the schedule : ?'' December 20th : birds on rock to-day?one "

Crow," flocks of Starlings, Golden Plover, Chaffinches, Lap wing, Pied Wagtails, Yellowhammers, Bock Pigeons, Gulls,

Snipe, Woodcock, Blackbirds, Thrushes, Redwings, and Field

fares, a record number of birds all told; wind E.8, due West, blizzard. Small land birds driven out to sea before blizzard were seen making vain attempts to make west end of rock all day. The birds on rock were dying of cold and hunger, and the

temperature broke all records here by falling to 28?F. The crow

" was

feeding on tlte starlings. Yellow-hammers and

other small birds were so tame that they hopped into the house and were kept till the blizzard was over."

In conclusion I must thank the Irish Lights Board for their kind co-operation, and I am very much indebted to all the light keepers who have given a great deal of their spare time to this

enquiry. I must also express my thinks to the Royal Irish

Academy for continuing the grant towards the expenses of the work.

(Schedule will be given in the July issue.?Ed.) _?-, .r\_

THE OCCURRENCE OF THE AMERICAN WAINSCOT MOTH IN IRELAND.

By Mrs. G. E. Lucas.

Having taken 59 specimens of the American Wainscot Moth, Leucania unipuncta, at Ummera, Timoleague, Co. Cork, in 1928, and thinking the occurrence of so many of this alien species may interest readers of the I.N.J. I give the following account:?My first specimen was captured at sallow catkins in March, 1928, three

more at ivy bloom in October and November, and the remainder on sugar during the months of November and December. Most of the moths were in perfect condition as if freshly emerged from their pupse. All were caught within a distance of two or three hundred yards, so it can be imagined what scores went undetected in other likely situations on the coast of Cork owing to lack of

observers. Kane states in The Entomologist, 1897, that the insect would appear to be indigenous in this country, possibly originally introduced by ships from America. However, up to the present the larvae have not been noted in Great Britain or

Ireland, but now there is little doubt that Leucania unipuncta is

breeding iri this locality, So far the food plant remains a mystery;



observations on the migration of birds at irish light-stations during the year 1927

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