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© F.Coakley , 2021
[From Bird-Life in the Isle of Man]
I am of opinion that the Scoter is a very rare visitor to the Island, and then only stays for a short rest ; it never settles down for a season of days or weeks. I once saw some twenty birds floating on the sea off the Lhane in the middle of August; and once on Boxing Day I saw nearly fifty off the Ballaugh shore. They were flying close in-shore in a clump, and then suddenly turned and went out to sea. My latest date is February 12th, when, in very bitter weather, I saw several close in off Port Jack. I have also noted them at Derby Castle (twice) and near Garwick several times. One bird I watched came quite close in to Ronaldsway rocks and started to feed, but when I got too close it rose and flew out to sea, very low, as this species always seems to do. I once had a male brought to me which was badly oiled. We did all we could for it, but it had to be killed. Thank goodness, the oil is not a curse here as in Kent and other places.
One year, in the middle of February, a bird was seen by me off Langness; it was very black and a duck, but it was only when it raised itself in the water and flapped its wings that. I saw the white patch on the wing, and I was satisfied that it was a velvet- scoter. W. Berry of Ballamoar tells me that he has seen a bird or birds off the Jurby coast; but this is the only one which I have observed.
This species might come here more often than it does if there was more chance of coming on to pools of fresh water ; but there is so little of that. How- ever, I have seen the Foxdale Dam used for resting and feeding. Considering the fact that birds only stay as a halting-place, they are, considering all things, not uncommon in out-estuaries and inlets. In the middle of March I watched four birds, a male and three females, near Fort Island, which were very busy standing up in the water shaking themselves. Three times I have seen goosanders quite close to red-breasted mergansers, which made an interesting comparison. Once I found a very tired bird on the rocks at Derby Castle, where it stayed to rest for nearly three days. Finally, I once saw a fine male which was flying past and over Castletown Bay, and it was travelling amazingly fast; but it was a fine study in black and white, and largely white, it seemed to me.
Just an autumn and winter visitor here, and frequently to be seen in Derbyhaven or Castletown Bay, not infrequently near Kentraugh and Port St. Mary, and also in Douglas Bay, especially near Derby Castle when the sea is rough. My earliest date of arrival in the autumn is September 27th, when three young birds were seen by me at Derbyhaven ; the latest in the spring, May 7th, when a male and two females were in this bay; but this date is unusual, as birds are generally gone by April 2rst. Both Rex and Guy have been with me (not to mention C. E. Raven) when we have watched their feeding arrangements. They are at their best when working slightly sub- merged rocks and seaweed, and when they also just slightly submerge, with the head and neck bent for- ward ; or again in a back-water just dipping or groping down for food. Once or twice I have seen a bird having quite a poor time with a crab which did not at all like being swallowed, and made itself felt to the last! When in deep water, I make their average dives to be about twenty seconds, and, when they come up, they often stand up in the water and shake themselves. When on the wing they fly low and very fast, and will generally go in a circle before settling on the water again. They do not come in numbers—the most I have seen at one time is fourteen—and very often they may be absent for long periods from a favourite place. I have seen them nesting in the Shetlands. I wish they would here; but I fear that there is no suitable place.
This species is not a common visitor to the Island, so far as my observations go; and their visits are very irregular and appear to be generally owing to very cold weather. The majority of visits are to Derbyhaven between late November and early March. Once in early January, at the end of an extremely cold snap, F. G. Cornish and I found ten together here, no doubt driven in by the weather. T. A. Coward and I watched two mature males here, one of which was doing a lot of "wing flapping ", and showing the dark-grey, almost black, of the wing. Once in March, I watched two females which were close in by Ronalds- way and were very busy cleaning up, biting at them- selves, and then keeling over almost on their backs and showing their white under-parts. T. F. Cregeen and I have also seen them in Garwick Bay on occasions. Once it was a male which was very busy diving, and I timed three successive dives at 60, 50 and 55 seconds ; again, it was a male which was close to a razorbill, and they were both diving, and their difference in method was most interesting. I find that their flight is very fast, and the wing beats very rapid. I watched four birds which were flying close past Peel breakwater in late February, and they were wasting no time.
What a strange-looking creature it is when it stands on a rock with its wings outstretched (like the washing just out to dry), and kept so for such a long time. Thus the observer may see them in numbers and in rows under Spanish Head or, indeed, in most places where the coast-line is rocky, for this species is a very common one here and breeds in large numbers. It is, and rightly so, detested by all fishermen, as it loves to get in among the trout. I have seen it on Eary, Bishop’s Dub, in the Curraghs, up Baldwin and in Kirby — wherever it may be, it is up to no good, from the trout point of view. It passes much of its time out at sea, fishing; it will be under for most of a minute if necessary. I have watched a bird in a clear pool off Marine Drive, and noticed how it propelled itself under water by its legs and not by its wings. When it comes to the surface, if the victim is a bit on the big side, it gives it a good shake before attempting the swallow, then takes some sips of sea- water, rises in the water, shakes its wings (and prob- ably shakes down-the fish as well), then, with a slight spring, dives again. Once, in Garwick Bay, I watched two great black-backed gulls, which were making furious darts at a cormorant which was diving; suddenly the cormorant fairly leapt out of the water with a good old squeal, and at the same time up came the vast and ugly head of a seal, which made the gulls sheer off in a great hurry. I fancy that the cormorant and the seal must have collided below the surface! Early in the year the white patch may be seen on the thigh of the cormorant, a sign of early courting to follow. The earliest date that I have noticed it is January 26th: the times of losing it vary, but it is generally in June, although I have seen a full patch still showing on July 4th. In the first two years, the young bird shows a good white breast — whiter, I think, in the second year. I have noticed cases of birds which were apparently breeding in this plumage. Besides The Calf and Spanish Head, there are other breeding-places along the coast, where the birds make vast erections, mostly of sea-weed — and most unsavoury — and lay up to four eggs. The nests are generally ready by the latter days of March, and I have seen an egg by this time in more than one nest. In at least one case I have seen a bird take possession of a Raven’s nest and not budge. I should imagine that its phlegmatic nature would be more than enough to deal even with a furious raven. With all their well-known bad habits where trout are concerned, these birds always appear to me to be a survivor of some prehistoric reptilian creature, which has come down to us through long centuries, with but little change in its snake-like appearance.
To the unpractised eye it is apparently difficult to tell Shag from cormorant; and anyone can sympathize. The shag is undoubtedly smaller. In full mature plumage it is of a fine green colour, but young birds are far more sombre. In habits there is not much difference, but in nesting the shag is, as a rule, more retiring, and prefers secretive nooks and caves. This species is, I think, equally as common as the cormorant in the likely localities, and may sometimes be seen in considerable numbers. Large packs have been seen by me off the Point of Ayre, for instance, but favourite haunts, to my knowledge, are the cliffs and caves below "Cronk-ny-eeary-Lhaa", Spanish Head and the Calf; and a certain number are to be found along the Marine Drive. When out on the sea feeding, they are continually diving for food, when they slip under with just a kick of the foot. I have timed a dive of theirs which lasted between 22 and 23 seconds. The shag is very rarely seen inland—I should say that it is not an inland fisher. The bird may be found showing its head crest in December, but it is generally in January. I have seen one fully crested as early as November 26th. The nesting operation is most interesting. From constant observation it appears to me that the female behaves very like a broody hen—perhaps more so. Pairs have been watched by me as early as January 26th: that day there were three pairs brooding, so far as the female birds were concerned, while at least one male was collecting seaweed for the nest. This particular bird arrived with a huge bit, and he had-the greatest diffi- culty in dragging it up the rock to the nest. Another time—a few days later—he made two journeys with seaweed while I watched; it was blowing very hard, and once he was caught by a heavy gust and had to make a big turn and come round again. Two years running one pair, like the cormorant, took possession of a raven’s nest. One year I watched the shag, which was busy pulling it to pieces, especially the wool and, above all, proceeding at the job in a phleg- matic sort of way with the raven darting about argu- ing, and not knowing what to do with the strange reptilian animal ; indeed, he must have at last acknow- ledged himself routed, as he went off croaking hoarsely, as if with a lump in his throat, and the shag was in possession a day or two later. These birds may start early, but they brood late, for no eggs will be seen for weeks; and that is hard enough to be sure of, as they are the hardest birds to dislodge from the nest, and stick like glue. The male takes his turn on the nest in due course; he is very clumsy too, although he goes on most carefully, but does not seem to have the knack of covering the eggs properly. Later, the feeding of the youngsters keep the parents very busy; they have enormous appetites. Soon they take to the rocks and from the rocks to the sea, and learn to fend for themselves.
From time to time the Gannet visits the sea close in to the Island in very large numbers, especially off the Ayres when the fishing is good, and the sound of the impact may I call it, when the bird plunges into the sea after its victim, can be heard a long way off. It is a fine sight to see these birds, sometimes skimming over the water, sometimes flying at a height; and then the dash in. Are some of the low-flying birds short-sighted? I wonder. But, whether or no, the result appears to be the same. Early in August, one year, Port Erin Bay was chock- full of herrings, as has, I believe, never been seen before. Some dozen birds were watched by me as they fed continuously until even they could feed no more. They are, nearly always, mature birds which come fishing off the Island, though I have occasionally seen a "black" bird showing its extreme youth ; for the first year bird is a very black-looking person. Late in April, once, there was a fierce north-west gale, and birds had gathered in Garwick Bay under the lee of the land; they appeared to be fishing very deep, as it was a matter of seconds before they emerged again, swallowed the prize, and then took a sip of water before they rose somewhat clumsily before starting again. One year, in September, a bird was examined by me which had struck the mast of the Peel Castle which was sailing from Belfast to Douglas and killed on the spot. As is always the case, the bird was simply crawling with sea-lice. They may be seen at almost any place around the Island as occasion arises. Once, also in Garwick Bay, I found a bird on the shore which was badly oiled. With the help of W. White I put it back tosea, but I knew that it was hopeless, and that it was bound to die. How sad it is that this horrible oil takes such a toll of bird-life at sea.
I can only say that I have seen this bird once, for certain, close in to the land; this was one year on January 29th, when a fierce gale was blowing. I was standing on the causeway on to Fort Island, looking out to sea and the huge waves, when one of this species came scudding by; skimming the wave- crests ; it was soon lost in the gloom and the spume.
I make no pretence at writing about the special name of this bird: P. G. Ralfe, in his great book on the birds of the Island, has done it full justice. I can merely say that it was well known as a nester on the Calf, and it is quite possible that it may do so again in days to come. For the last few years I have only known it as an occasional passer-by; and. that is not to be surprised at, as, at certain seasons of the year, thousands of birds pass the Welsh coast on the other side, and why not here at times? Most of my observations have been by the Point of Ayre. Once it was a bird off the Ballaugh shore; once, when it was a very stormy day about the middle of June, and big seas were running off Fort Island, several birds were seen by me cutting over the tops. That flight of theirs is amazingly graceful, as it literally shears its way just above the waves, turning side- ways to show its white under-parts and then careening over once more, much like the side-strokes of a powerful swimmer. I have seen them in thousands in other parts, I would that they could be seen more often off this coast.
The Island is visited by this fine-looking bird fairly regularly, in small numbers, between October and March. I think the visits are generally caused by stormy weather. I once saw a bird off the Ayres on August 25th, and Guy and I watched one diving in Pooil Yeash Bay on September 30th; but, except for these two dates and places, all my observations are confined to the vicinity of Derbyhaven Bay, and my earliest date is October 12th, when A. W. Boyd and I saw, on that and the following day, a bird, which, on the first occasion, got on the wing, circled and flew out seawards to settle again, looking very large, and brown and white in its flight over the Bay. One day, in late November, Canon C. E. Raven and I watched a bird fishing here ; it came up twice with fish in its bill, threw its head up and swallowed the capture. This bird has a most graceful way of diving, just turning down, with no splash. The latest date on which I have seen this species is April 16th, when I watched a pair which was close in off Fort Island. They were in fine spring plumage and appeared to be paired and courting, and no doubt on the way to some nesting ground, for this place does not seem to be suitable. I only wish that a pair would stay, as I have watched them at their breeding grounds in Holland. On that occasion, whilst looking at a nest with young ones, the male swam up and down near us growling like a puppy, and the female was distinctly "grousing" at us.
Whilst an uncommon visitor to these shores, this species may be occasionally seen, mostly in January, though I have several earlier dates. Once one was seen by me late in October off Fort Island ; it was very busy diving, and it just kept slipping down for very short dives; and, when it came up, apparently sipped a little water. Captain A. W. Boyd and I watched one on November 12th and 13th in much the same place: on the second day another showed up. One year, also in November, Captain Pike and I saw one here. As a rule, any of these birds which may pay a visit here stay a very short time; but one year T. F. Cregeen constantly saw what I im- agine was the same bird right through November. It is, like all diving birds, so interesting to watch, and so graceful; and the almost complete white collar is a great help in making some of its identification during its winter visits. I have never seen one except in Derbyhaven Bay.
This species is commoner in its winter visits to the Island than the Slavonian Grebe, and it is to be seen late into the early spring. Birds may be seen from time to time in November and onwards. I saw one once on the sixth, in Derbyhaven Bay; my latest date is April 2nd, when there were two together, probably paired and in nearly full plumage, off Fort Island. On only two occasions have I seen them elsewhere than at Derbyhaven ; and, curiously enough, it was the same date in different years — March 26th. One year: a pair were seen by me in Douglas Bay, close to the Victoria Pier; another year Guy and I saw a bird off the Scarlett rocks. They are very tame ; I got very close to two one day, but at last they flew off, a duck-like flight, but soon settled in the water again, and started diving again, a mere slip down. In the middle of December one year I found one on a rock, beside two mallard, standing quite gracefully, with the tarsus slightly bent, nibbling at its white breast. On another occasion one came out of the water, not far from where I was watching, and stood while I got all its markings and colourings; this was in the middle of November, and the neck looked a sort of golden brown. Elsewhere than here, I have seen them in Hungary and Holland, but I love them best in Derbyhaven Bay.
The appearance of this species is not common, so far as I have observed. Like other Grebes, Derbyhaven Bay is where it appears to make for, although I have seen birds on three occasions in Port St, Mary Harbour. My earliest date to see one is October 16th. but it is usually November that they come. I have occasionally seen a stray bird in March, and once on April 6th, but birds seem to drop in in a casual sort of way, feed about the place equally casually, and then slip off unnoticed, so that one can never be quite sure. I have seen four together once, but gener- ally it is just a single, or possible two, birds. One year, on December 4th, T. A. Coward and I were at Fort Island and had a bird under observation which was very close in; it was specially interesting; as we considered that it was very nearly in summer plumage. We could still see a little yellow on the face.
The Little Grebe is resident and, I should say, quite possibly not migratory, although this is a dangerous assertion to make. Whether I am right or wrong, it happens that there are only a limited number of grebes of this species which nest here; and only a limited number which appear in the bays in the winter months; possibly, probably, some go elsewhere, allowing for surplus population; the others stay. Again Derbyhaven is the favourite winter resort. I have seen a bird there on August 21st, but it is generally in September that they arrive ; the 18th September seems an average date. On that day, one year, I timed two dives of a bird which was close in; they came to 31 and 36 seconds. T. A. Coward and I watched three birds which were all busy diving, one September 26th; and also once in early December. Occasionally birds have been seen by me at Port St. Mary, once in Garwick Bay in March, and the sea was very rough. Some time in February the birds appear to be paired and courting, and it is not long after that that they leave the sea for inland waters to prepare for the important work of nesting. From my own knowledge, Eary Dam, Bishop’s Dub and Ballaugh Curraghs are their chief breeding places. I once saw a bird at Smeale, Andreas, in early April; no doubt he had a mate somewhere on a nest. The male begins to look very cocky in these days. On the Eary I have seen him swimming along, high up out of the water, with a sort of "I'm coming" air about him, and then he may be heard to give a sort of squeaking call to the unseen mate ; or, as a variant, a kind of low whistle. The nest, as often as not, is floating on the water, and constructed most compactly of a jumble of green weed, yellow sedge and suchlike. The female starts sitting or nesting at once on getting to the side. Early in March the birds may be seen on Bishop’s Dub, or elsewhere. By the end of the month I have surprised the female on her nest. I have watched her cover her eggs in a flash with four strokes of her bill left and right ; then she dived and made for the far side of the Dub as if she had nothing to do with her nest. By May 20th I have noted the female and the male who were swimming about with three well-grown youngsters, the male looking very handsome with his chestnut markings, which he will lose later on; then he and she become very ordinary little brown birds floating and diving wherever they may be. I have seen some may be down for a change of air at Derbyhaven when others may still be at the Eary or Bishop’s Dub. The latest date on inland water has been September 13th. Fine divers as they are, I cannot say the same for their efforts at flight when one may see them spattering off in their funny way and soon dropping once more into the water.
I fancy that this species does not come here in the winter months as much as it did, certainly I have not noticed so many. Peel Harbour is at times a favourite resort, but I suppose that it has to be a question of food, and, if the food is not to be found, the birds go elsewhere. One year, for two days running, while there was a fierce gale blowing from the south- west, I found thirteen birds, close together, here, and mostly immatures. This was early in January ; once in December, also a very stormy day, ten were seen by me. The earliest date I have seen birds here is October 9th. In Garwick Bay I once saw a bird on September 5th. Douglas is at times a favourite resort in and about the harbour. Rex and I have seen aS Many as seven here.. These birds will often hang about off the Point of Ayre feeding. I have seen one here as late as May 12th. At times the birds make prodigious dives. One was watched by me at Port Erin which was under for nearly two minutes ; it went under without making so much as a ripple, and sipped water when it came up. It was also interesting when it came up with a fairly large fish and adjusted it in its mouth to a nicety before swallowing it, cocking its white tail well up at the same time. This bird is a powerful flier. Once at Derbyhaven it was blowing a full gale; a bird was flying right into the wind, with neck craned well forward and wings well out, and so far back it circled and then went forward again; it repeated this performance several times, each time making ground until it finally disappeared towards Castletown Bay; and it is a heavy bird. One dead bird which was examined by me weighed nine pounds! No wonder that Rex said it was as big as a goose. It is always a beautiful bird, even in winter plumage; but it is far more so when in its summer plumage, as I have seen it, when a bird has stayed here very late, or round Orkney late in June.
I consider that this bird is an uncommon visitor here, but I have seen it on several occasions. The best, and saddest, view which I have had was of a bird which A. Corris and I found badly oiled by the Port Erin rocks; it was flapping its wings in despera- tion and we could do nothing for it; parts of the plumage left unoiled were lovely, a sort of mouse- grey. I found another once at Point of Ayre which was oiled—what a scourge it is to sea-birds. Once there were two birds which stayed for a week at Derbyhaven. It was nice to watch their mode of just slithering under, and hardly submerged. One bird cleaned its bill on its back feathers, careening over to do it; then, later, it stretched its wings out and rose up on the water with its bill tilted up at an angle. Another day the two birds appeared to be playing about rather than feeding. Once in March I watched one bird which was apparently moving northwards, and, as it swam, it kept moving its head from side to side.
Next to the Great Northern Diver, this species is the commonest winter visitor to these shores, from what I have seen of it. Besides the fact that it is smaller than the great northern, it is fairly easy to identify, owing to the bill being slightly up-tilted and, as T. A. Coward said to me once, the immature black- throated is rather the other way. I once saw two off Langness on September 27th, my earliest date ; they were busy fishing along the sides of the rocks, and only partially submerging. I noticed that one got quite a big fish there. Once, in the middle of October, I saw what I took to be a bird of the year at Peel; it appeared to be very weary and lay close in with its head on its shoulder. The markings were very plain, spotted and dotted with straight lines of spots. Once I saw four together in Garwick Bay—it was New Year’s Day. One rose and flew north and west, looking like an elongated duck, and travelling very fast. I have been lucky enough to see them in full summer plumage when I was in Shetland one summer, and it was indeed a beautiful sight; especially as I was able to see a bird on its nest and quickly scramble ofi—they cannot walk properly — into the water near by and swim off in all its glories of grey and white and red.
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