[From Bird-Life in the Isle of Man]

PEREGRINE FALCON

Although this beautiful bird may be seen in so many localities in the Island, my perscnal observa- tions lead me to think that Clay Head, Spanish Head and Marine Drive are their strongholds— and of course the Calf, whence I am told the young birds were annually caught for the use of the then kings of Man for falconry ; anyhow, this particular eyrie is a terrible place, down a sheer cliff, with an inlet of the sea boiling beneath where I have seen both birds carrying food for young. The cliffs above Peel ure another resort ; here, on one lovely evening late in April, F. Graves and I watched a fine fight between a female peregrine and a pair of ravens. We were close to the former's nest, which was on a ledge under an over-hanging rock; the nest of the latter was close by with young in it, from which both ravens came away as the peregrine came off her nest. She promptly attacked one raven which was too near her nest for her liking, and the other raven joined in, and for fully twenty minutes she fought them single- handed: flying high up, she would come down like an arrow in an attempt to strike at the head of one or other of her opponents, but the raven, ever watchful, would turn sideways and thrust upwards with his great wicked bill, and once again would she dart upwards, until at last the ravens retired, croaking, to their young, glad enough, I am sure, to get out of it unscathed. The speed and strength of the bird are tremendous; bear in mind that the bird is no mean weight, one which I had in the hand weighed two pounds, four ounces. Near the cliffs of the Calf, L. Sim and I saw a male bird strike down at a rock-pipit, carry it off in its talon, pursued by some guillemots for a few yards as it passed their ledge. Late in July, my wife and I actually saw, near Keranstal, a bird swoop on a fair-sized fowl; it lifted it about a yard, but then had to drop it. From off the mighty cliffs of Spanish Head, a male made eight great wing- buts from its eyrie and then floated, balancing with wings and tail at full stretch. Then I saw a raven and a small bird pass. Like lightning the peregrine dived from its height, struck the latter. Then the raven tried to interfere, but the peregrine passed it by with contempt and returned to its ledge ; and, as I passed up the brow, the peregrine and its mate both stared fiercely at A. Corris and myself and continued their well-won meal.

As shortly as I can, I must give you a description of the nesting. On April 30th, I first saw the nest with T. F. Cregeen. It was out on Marine Drive, on a ledge fifty feet down on a sheer cliff; the bird was sitting, facing landwards and sideways along the ledge ; she never took her eyes off us. Next day the female was facing sea-wards with her head very low and her hinder parts raised a bit ; then the male arrived and they "mewed" loudly to each other ; then he went off and perched on a ledge on the other side of the bay or inlet, looking very fierce; then he circled round and flew south. On May 3rd, the female was again facing sea-wards ; shortly after the male arrived at his larder, shall I call it, on the other side, with a young rabbit ; he held it with both claws and tore bits out of the side, throwing up his head at each mouthful; then he took the remains over to his mate, giving us a very defiant look as he passed — he had spotted us all right! Next day, the female was facing north; the male arrived, and they both "mewed"'; she got up off the nest, and I saw the three lovely brick-red eggs; then the guard was changed ; after two or three more "mews'', and a pecking kiss at each other, he went on, and was distinctly clumsy and uncomfortable. He first settled in landwards and then, shortly after, turned sea-wards (I am sure he was grumbling), and I had to tear myself away. On the 6th the female was facing landwards ; the male was near, and had words with a raven, which discreetly retired. On the 8th, the male was on, the female was close by, flying round and no doubt waking off her stiffness. On the 12th the female was on in a new position, facing more east of north; the male was on the larder, dozing after a meal, but flew off almost at once. On the 18th, the female was sitting on two young, and, as she moved about, we could see them well — fluffy, pretty, yellow-white things; and one dead egg. The two egg-shells were lying clear of the sitting bird. The male arrived, and many calls were given, "yelps" from the chicks, a noise like "chee-oo"' from the female —" like a hinge that wants oiling'', said a man who was with me. The male produced a bird; the female fed the young first, which uttered shrill cries all the time ; then she had a mere snack. Mum like the male flew to his larder and took a rest; then off hunting once more. The feeding finished at the nest, she settled down, just like an old hen with her chickens, covering the dead egg as well. I was away for some days, unfortunately ; but on June 24th, I found the female stretched full length on a ledge below the nest, having a well-earned rest, while the two youngsters were on the larger ledge on the other side; they looked very big and brown, with a white band at the end of the tail, and their white under-parts barred. Their faces were quite like mature birds. From the feathers about, they had been gorging on a bird; then one lay full length as if replete; the other made a most prolonged toilet, and once playfully stuck a claw several times into the other's face. Early on the 26th, I found the female, a magnificent bird, perched high up above me on a large fence pole by the cliff edge; the male, a smaller bird, was on a rock some way lower down. A little lower down still, one young bird was sprawling about on a rock. The other was on a small plateau close to the road, crouched down, as if tired or frightened. I fancy that they were being taught to fly on their own. There was such talk about it, the old birds making a deep call, like "Quer-quer", for a long time, the young ones yelping like young puppies. The male came down at last to see how the one, which was by the road, was getting on. Then I took a hand, and at last he got up and was joined by the other youngster, and they circled round quite strongly. It was curious how that young bird, when I looked at it, covered its dark brown eyes with a whitish film. Sheer funk, I think. And there on the old nest, still lay the dead egg. On the same date, April 30th, next year, I found a nest with three eggs on a grass-covered ledge in a much more accessible place a little further south; . she was sitting very tight against the cliff wall and changed her position the same way. On March arst, Canon Raven and I found three young ones in the nest, quite creamy-white. Both parents were about ; the female came and stood over them for a long time; the male paid a flying visit, literally. On the a4th, the young were very active; they were lying about on the remains of a hooded crow, and parts of young rabbits and birds were scattered around. On June roth the young had gone and the female was hunched up on a rock just below the nest, as if resting, or, maybe, sorrowing over the flight of her chicks. As late as August 8th, I have watched, on the top of South Barrule, three young birds circling and playing round some rocks, possibly at hide-and-seek, with one calling a little. I once had a bird brought to me, which was slightly wounded in the carpal joint, with fierce brown eyes and yellow rims to them, and a tremendous grip of the claws. I did my best to save it, but it was no use; it died. A glorious bird of the wild and the cliff, it does not take to captivity, poor thing.

MERLIN

I think that this little hawk gets commoner every year throughout the Island, and I do love its apparent outlook on life, a sort of fearless, cock-of-the-walk touch about it and its ways. A pair here, a pair there, one may meet it in most places, likely and unlikely. Out of many places in which I have seen the bird, I consider that Clay Head is a favourite hunting ground; the Slacks is another. One day, late in May, I watched a male make a lightning swoop down a "chimney' in the cliffs after some victim ; it was gone like a flash, for it has an amazing turn of speed. On the Calf it is always to be found, and I have not the slightest doubt that it breeds there. I have seen the bird not infrequently near the shore at Ballaugh. Once in October, latish, a female was flying low and north along the Ballaugh beach when it suddenly rose to the level of the sand cliffs at the identical moment that two swallows were passing south, and also flying low, so that they almost collided. I wonder what the feelings of those two swallows were like. I fancied that they put an extra spurt on. It was on Christmas morning one year, in these same parts, that I saw a male carrying something that looked suspiciously like a young chicken; that bird was evidently observing the customs of the Season! The Ayres are a favourite resort ; W. Berry, of Ballamoar, is sure that he saw old birds carrying food there. But where I have seen the bird most frequently is on Langness, during the autumn and winter months. Late in October I watched a bird scouting backwards and forwards by the rocks, and I am sure that he was after a redshank, which, however, was too artful for him; so presently he got tired and perched on a low wall near me, a lovely sight. Near Fort Island, in March, a female kept diving, all twists and turns, at a meadow-pipit and missing badly; then perched on a pole near my car, tried again and missed, and flew off Langness way, passing some starlings en route, fairly shaking them up; they scattered in all directions. And fearless it is! Guy and I saw it fighting a hooded crow under Cronk-ny-eary-Lhaa, and the poor old crow was under no illusions as to the danger of it and its rapid movements, and decided to give its best. Once, in January, my wife and I saw a male drinking out of a streamlet by the side of the road near Dhoon quarries; it went off, calling slightly.I have not yet found its nest; I trust that that is a pleasure to come.

KESTREL

This hawk is extremely common in the Island, and is especially fond of the cliffs. From my observations, | have found him more especially on Clay Head, Howstrake, and Marine Drive, where I have seen three pairs flying around about the time for nesting. It is one of the most charming sights in Nature to watch and admire the amazing hover, and the bird ever on the alert. On one occasion, at Howstrake, I watched a female make a series of hovers and then suddenly nose-dive into a stiff breeze, with the head drooped forward and down, eyes ever watchful, with the tail acting all the time as a rudder. Once I watched two males, late in February, hovering together, with their tails spread to the utmost, as if vying with each other. I imagine that it was done for the delectation of a lady and was a form of early courting ; anyhow, if she was watching, she ought to have enjoyed it. Then they often have their little troubles, and are well able to look after themselves. I think that ravens have a strong dislike for them, but, as they are generally running fights, the raven has no chance lo get near enough to be dangerous. The best show which I have seen was near Garwick in the middle of October; there was a male kestrel, a raven and two herons all up together, hovering in their different ways; the herons were only there a short time, then the ravens left, and, suddenly, as the kestrel was coming down from a magnificent hover, a hooded erow tried to attack him. Then four other "hoodies " suddenly joined in, but the kestrel not only skilfully evaded them, but actually feted at them and then drew off quite calmly and started hovering again a little distance off ; it was delightful. Curiously enough, I once saw a kestrel and two "hoodies" tearing at some bird together out on Langness, and were quite friendly towards each other. On two occasions I have seen a kestrel flying low over the sea, nearly skimming it and going some distance. Once T. F. Cregeen and I watched and listened to a male on Clay Head calling to its mate time after time with such frequency as I have not heard before. And at last she came and followed him along the cliff side. This was in early November. Of actual courting I have seen little, if anything, unless I might mention two sitting side by side, also on Clay Head, and taking a lot of notice of each other ; this was on March 17th. The nests are almost invariably in places difficult to observe. On June 30th, Guy and I found one near Glen Helen in the cleft of a small cliff up a very steep brow. There were five youngsters on the bare rock, probably eight or nine days old, covered with grey- white down ; in the nest (!) were the remains of some mice and a dead blackbird. I found that the female was dead, caught in a trap, but the male was manfully carrying on. I got Doctor Dorothy Pantin to examine the pellets lying there; they consisted of fully 90% mice. That same day, we also found three young birds below a small precipice near an old quarry ; they had evidently got down from the nest, independent young things, about sixteen days old, generally grey-white with a pinkish touch, with yellow rims to their eyes and very fierce. There was a rocky pinnacle jutting out and up from the cliff near Port Grennaugh, where, one year, a pair had used a hole for nesting in, almost at the top. On visiting it with Guy Pantin, we found that the female was clinging to the rock outside, like a tree-creeper; the male und one young bird came out of the hole — the young one was quite grown — it was late July ; and another young one just stayed in the hole. So we left them to it. Let me say a good word for this bird. It does a lot of good with insects and mice, and no harm worth speaking of ; and it is a very gallant bird.

COMMON BUZZARD

I have heard of this bird being seen from time to lime in the Island; after all, it is common enough in Cumberland, only a few miles away. I have only seen one once. That was on December 28th, with my two sons. It was Rex who spotted it, just above us near Ballabeg, Lonan ; and we watched it, flopping ifs round wings a bit, then sailing a few yards, and rolling a bit. Then it appeared to drop somewhere near Lonan Church. Perhaps it was having a Christmas holiday, like other folk. I trust the rolling was not one of the signs. It came direct from the sea apparently.

MONTAGU'S HARRIER

some years back, at the end of May, on the Calf, a friend and I saw a female get up very slowly, just in front of us, out of some bracken where it had evidently been lying for some time ; it flew off with some difficulty towards the west. I fancy that it was sick or wounded. I know not what it was doing there at such a time of the year. And what a size tle wings are for its body! Captain Spittall has told me that he has seen a bird or birds on the Island.

HEN-HARRIER

During December, 1921, a female was shot by one Radcliffe near Sulby; he kindly let me have the body for examination, and, after having had it mounted, I lent it to the Manx Museum. Late in April, five years later, I was with F. G. Comish at Glen Helen, when we had a magnificent view of a male above us, which presently soared above the trees, then came out again in the open, and we watched it finally disappear over the hill in a southerly direction. Five years later, within a few days, I was at the same spot, and this time saw a female just above me which gave of its best in the way of a view, when off it went in the same direction. It was remarkable in that it had a very ragged tail.

SPARROW-HAWK

This hawk, like all other birds, must live, but it appears to be always on the move, flying low and seeing what it can devour. Once, near the Douglas Cemetery, I saw a bird come over the hedge with a young corn-crake in its claws, which was squealing pitifully ; but on another occasion, it was the case of the biter bit. E. C. Kneen put up a corn-crake near his place; was firing at it when, out of the blue, a sparrow-hawk swooped and struck the land-rail, whereupon he shot the sparrow-hawk, which he handed on to me. The land-rail must have wondered what it all meant; but someway it got away in the excitement, a wiser but a wounded bird. The speed which this hawk can sometimes get up is terrific, and it will stop at or for nothing. Yet on Garwick brows I saw a herring-gull catch and strike a well-grown bird which screamed and then fell dead on the side of the cliff. I have watched a bird zigzag like a snipe in its wanderings; and a female on the telegraph wires rocking downwards and forwards like a cuckoo ; and a pair soaring round.the trees at Glen Helen, playing with each other as if they were courting, this being in the latter part of March. Unlike the kestrel, they go in for very big nests. Once up near Keppel Gate, A. E. Collister and I had a huge nest with five eggs ; it must have been used over and over again and added to each time; it was at the top of a half-uprooted fir-tree — no end of job to get up to — and had no lining but two or three feathers. But a nest which was seen by the boys and me at Ballagawne was perhaps more typical; not so large, of twigs, and lined with bark and some down: it was about twenty-five feet up and had four eggs. In a later stage, I may instance a nest which I watched at Ballacurrie, Andreas. It was about twenty feet up in a larch, and what attracted me was the shrill cries of the male while he fiercely attacked some rooks which were too near the nest. Then the female came away from the young in the nest, and he continued to guard them from the jackdaws and rooks which were too near for his liking; he still kept up his calls of alarm. On July 11th, one year, W H. Quine shewed me a nest in Laxey Glen, which was very high up a big fir-tree, but which, from the side of the hill, I could see right into. The nest was very big, which was lucky, as the young birds were wie very big; they were grey white with dark brown shoulders and wings. One unfortunately got pushed out by the others and broke its leg in the fall. Never did I see so many sparrow-hawks as there were in Gob-y-Volley plantation on the last day of July one year; it was simply swarming with them ; there was one old bird particularly which was squealing dreadfully ; and a lot of young birds were calling, just like kittens; and I have no doubt that they had taken toll of the Crossbills which had recently arrived, as we found the remains of several lying about. Speaking qutite honestly, I do not know that I quite like the bird; it is not like the kestrel, which comes out in the the open; this chap is always sneaking about the hedgerows on the chance of doing his job dirty !