# The Zoologist/4th series, vol 1 (1897)/Issue 672/Migration at the Spurn Lighthouse in 1896

Published in: The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1, issues 672 (June, 1897), p. 245–247
THE ZOOLOGIST
No. 672.— June, 1897.
MIGRATIONat theSPURN LIGHTHOUSEin 1896.
By John Cordeaux, F.R.G.S., M.B.O.U.
The new lighthouse on the Spurn, which was lighted for the first time on the night of September 12th and 13th, 1895, throws abeam equal to 80,000 candles in fine, and 100,000 in stormy weather. The light is visible twenty to thirty miles at sea under favourable conditions of the atmosphere. I am indebted, through Dr. Hewetson, of Leeds, to Mr. W.Y. Counter, one of the lightkeepers, for the following record of birds which struck the lantern in 1896.
January.
3rd.— A large number of small birds flying round the lantern; three or four Larks caught. Weather foggy with southerly light airs.
14th.—One Golden Plover and several Knots struck the lantern and killed between two and six o'clock a.m. The weather very clear but dark with a drizzling rain and a moderate breeze from S. and S.E.
February.
7th.— One Knot killed. Weather foggy; wind W.S.W.
13th.—Caught a Snow Bunting against lantern. Overcast and dark; wind light W.
15th.—One cock Blackbird and twelve Starlings. Overcast, but clear; wind E.
March.
7th.—Many Starlings flying round the light, two caught. Wind S., fog and drizzle.
​8th.—Many small birds about lantern. One Starling and a Lark caught. Cloudy, but clear; wind N.W.
9th.—Between one to five a.m. several Starlings flying about lantern, one caught. Misty; wind N.W.
10th.—An immense number of Starlings around the light all night, also a flock of Lapwings, Golden Plovers, and Stints. Six dozen Starlings, two Lapwings, two Stints, and one Blackbird captured against lantern, and about four dozen Starlings found in the morning, at the base of the tower, dead. Wind S.W., dark, with showers. I have noticed we always get more birds when the wind is off the Lincolnshire coast, than when it blows in any other direction.
11th.—A few Starlings round lantern; one Blackbird caught.
16th.—Several birds striking the lantern between one and four a.m. Wind S.W., dark night. Caught four Starlings, two Blackbirds, and one Fieldfare.
18th.—Several birds struck between one and four a.m. Wind N.W. and dark night. Six Starlings and one Fieldfare caught.
April.
1st.—3.45 a.m., Water Rail struck and was killed, breaking its leg. Wind W.N.W., slightly overcast, with drizzling rain.
July.
29th.—A Swift roosting in one of the tower windows.
August.
9th.— A Lesser Tern killed against lantern at two a.m. Wind N.E., overcast and clear.
13th.—Carrier Pigeon caught and released at daylight. A Snipe roosting on the gallery.
September.
2nd.—Oystercatcher killed against light, many flying round; also many small birds. S.W. wind and a dark night.
4th.—During the small hours of the morning two Wheatears and a Tern killed against lantern, and one Wheatear caught. Wind E., rain, very dark.
October.
7th. —Large flocks of Knots to the south; one killed against lantern.
​10th.—Flocks of Knots to the south.
11th.—Ring Ouzel and two Redwings caught against lantern.
13th.—Several Starlings, Chaffinches, and Snow Buntings. Five Starlings and three Larks captured.
15th.—First appearance of the Woodcock. Snipe killed against light.
17th.—Hundreds of birds around lantern from one to five a.m. Wind N.E. and drizzling rain. Nine dozen captured, including Lapwings, Ring Ouzels, Fieldfares, Starlings, Blackbirds, Redwings, and Chaffinches. Several Woodcocks shot on dunes in the morning. At 10.45 p.m. a Golden-crested Wren flew against lantern.
November.
7th.—Large numbers of birds about lantern from seven to nine p.m.—Curlews, Golden Plovers, Oystercatchers, and Larks. Seven Larks and one Golden Plover caught. Wind W., thick, rain.
13th.—4 a.m., two Blackbirds, two Starlings, and one Knot killed against lantern.
19th.—A large number of birds were flying about the light from dark to dawn of the 20th. Wind S.E., strong (6), overcast, misty and drizzling rain (O.M.R.). Caught four Lapwings, one Golden Plover, ten Starlings, and two Stints; a great number also were picked up at foot of tower, killed after striking lantern.
20th.—Flock of Lapwings flying round lantern, but none struck. Weather overcast; S.E., moderate gale (7).
29th.—A Golden Plover killed at 2 a.m. Wind S.E. fresh (5), overcast, misty and rain.
December.
11th.—A large number of Knots flying round all night to daylight of the 12th. Wind S.W., gentle breeze (3), overcast, misty and rain, fog at times. Caught two Knots; one Dunlin killed against lantern.
12th.—At 4.30 a.m. a large bird struck the lantern and fell with a heavy thud to the ground; it was found dead in the morning some distance from the tower, and proved to be a Coot. Wind S.W., gentle breeze (3), fog. A female Wigeon was also picked up at foot of tower.
18th.— 4 a.m. Titlark caught against lantern. Wind E. light (2), overcast but clear.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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