Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 6 (1902).djvu/41

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THE BIRDS OF BARDSEY ISLAND.
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the mountain; but we did not move the female, which must have been sitting on a late clutch of eggs. During the time we were in the vicinity of the crag, the male—a beautiful old blue bird—continued to circle round, occasionally coming overhead, and comparatively close to us. He cried incessantly his harsh grating "quayk quayk quayk quayk." The next morning, when I went up by myself, he behaved in the same way.

24. Kestrel (F. tinnunculus).—Only one seen.

25. Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo).—Seen near Bardsey.

26. Shag (P. graculus).—A few along the east side, where I think they breed.

27. Stock-Dove (Columba œnas).—One on the mountain side.

28. Turtle-Dove (Turtur communis).—To my great surprise, I saw one feeding in one of the little fields. I had never previously met with it in Lleyn, nor, indeed, in any part of the counties of Carnarvon and Merioneth. This individual was probably a wanderer; and the species may be extending its range in North Wales. A friend of mine saw one this year near Dolgelly in May; the only previous occurrence in that neighbourhood known to me was in a past September, when two were seen (and, I think, shot) close to Barmouth.

29. Corn-Crake (Crex pratensis).—Common. I could hear three calling at one time.

30. Peewit (Vanellus vulgaris).—A few; chiefly about the lighthouse end.

31. Oystercatcher (Hæmatopus ostralegus).—"Saer"=the artificer. Fairly common, especially round the rocks of the south point, and along the west side. I think they were breeding where the turf merged into the rocks. But I only looked for one nest; this was among some jagged whitish rocks at the edge of the turf. It was lined with angular stones half an inch to an inch in length, and contained two eggs, the finest Oystercatcher's eggs I ever saw. The one I took was partly incubated. It is a long, rather pointed egg, well marked with large dark markings chiefly round the big end, where the blotches and streaks form a broken zone. The birds mobbed me savagely, flying within ten yards or less of my head, with loud shrieks of "pic." When they settled at a little distance this cry was uttered so rapidly that it developed into a trill.

32. Dunlin (Tringa alpina).—One or two immature birds about the landing-place.

33. Common Sandpiper (Totanus hypoleucus).—One there. It is quite posssble that this species may breed on the island.

34. Curlew (Numenius arquata).—One or two seen.