In autumn, at Pentland Skerries during July the daily movements of Gulls may be worth reproducing in detail. All the July records I have are from this station, and also all the August ones.
1883, July 12, Pentland Skerries, one "Chaser" flying N.W., 2.15 p.m.; light E., haze.
July 18th, Pentland Skerries, three Black-backed Gulls flying N., 2.30 p.m.; mod. N.W.
July 23rd, Pentland Skerries, one "Chaser" flying W., 10.20 a.m.; light N.
July 25th, Pentland Skerries, continuous and large flocks of Herring Gulls flying round all day; N., clear.
July 28th, Pentland Skerries, three "Chasers" (one flying E. at 3 p.m., and one flying S. at 5 p.m.); mod. S.W., clear.
July 29th, Pentland Skerries, one "Dirty Allan" seen. Aug. 6th, Pentland Skerries, large flock of young Gulls on rocks all day; light S., clear.
Aug. 7th, Pentland Skerries, large flock of young Gulls on rocks, 3.30 p.m.; fresh N.W.
Aug. 20th, Pentland Skerries, one "Chaser" flying S.E., 12.50 p.m.; strong S.E., haze.
On 15th, at Dunnet Head, Gulls leave breeding-places in cliffs. Our correspondent includes both "Chasers" and a "Dirty Allan," both of which names I held as applicable to the commonest species of Skua; but here they seem to be divided, as applying to two different species, probably Richardson's (common) Skua and the Pomatorhine Skua.
"Dirty Allans" are again recorded from Isle of May, along with a rush of small birds on Sept. 23rd; and in this case I doubt not Mr. Agnew applies the name to Richardson's Skua. This is the only September record. In October only two records at N. Unst; two pairs of Iceland Gulls stayed two days, coming on the 4th with fresh N. and clear; and two pairs more on 21st hovering round at 11 a.m.; fresh N., clear.
In November and December the greatest movements are noticed, which I give in detail:--Nov. 2nd, Pentland Skerries, several Kittiwakes flying S.E., noon; fresh S.W. Nov. 10th, Isle of May, thousands of Gulls (?); W. gale, clear; first seen at 4 a.m., wind shifting to north. Nov. 11th, Isle of May, all the above gone; light N.W., clear. These may have been Glaucous, from description, but this is not clear; and from subsequent records I have preferred to consider them Herring, though Mr. Agnew includes the latter later by name, I believe Mr. Agnew knows the Glaucous and Iceland Gulls well. _Land Note._--There has not been a large migration of Glaucous and Iceland Gulls at Kincardine on Forth for many years.