[From Bird-Life in the Isle of Man]

INTRODUCTORY

The following notes on birds which have been seen by me in the Isle of Man have been written only because I was asked to do so by several friends, and they merely represent many hours of perfect happiness, in sunshine and in rain, in cold and warmth, out in the open spaces amid wild surroundings, and away from all worries and troubles.

I wish to say at once that I do not pretend to any distinction as an ornithologist; that should be a patent fact to any one who bothers to read these crude notes; I have just penned, as best I can, what is the great hobby of my life, the results of the watch ing of birds and their ways. And those of us who love birds are wonderfully blessed here, for, over and above the ordinary Spring migration, there is a very big influx of all sorts of species in the Autumn and Winter, and some unusual migrants in the Spring, so that there is hardly a day throughout the year when something of interest may not be seen, whether it be duck or wader or passerine bird. Indeed, in my humble opinion, the position of ihe Island in the middle of the Irish Sea makes it almost unique for the arrivals and departures ef so many birds, which, seeing this oasis from above, make for it as a resting-place, and a spot on which to feed and drink, until they have rested enough to start off further afield. Can you not imagine what a relief it must be for a wing-weary bird ts look down and see, maybe, the long peninsula of Langness, reaching out to it as a haven of refuge: or the heather-clad flats and shingly beach of the Ayres whereon to rest a tired body? I really imagine that something of this sort must pass through the mind of many a bird; hence the joy to the simple bird-man who is lucky enough to come on some uncommon species which may be resting on land or sea. Under any circumstances it is hard to beat the Curraghs, the Ayres, the Cliffs, the hills, and Langness for sheer unadulterated pleasure of observation throughout all the seasons of the year: and some of the results are, I feel, worth recording.

For those who may be interested, I have jotted down a list, however incomplete, of the dates of arrival and departure of as many migrant birds as I can, of which I may have collected useful dates, in the hope that it may be of some slight use to others who may be as keen and contented as myself in following out the problems of the movements of our feathered friends.

The list as above is at the end of the book.

I should like to thank most gratefully the Secretary and Members of the Isle of Man Publicity Board for their very generously allowing me to select photographs from the Competitions Sets, from which I was enabled to get such beautiful views.