When sea-birds fly high stormy weather is not far off (Portessie).
When sea-birds fly high and wheel round and round before the wind, a breeze is not far on". When the breeze comes the birds face it (Macduff).
When sea-birds fly high in circles stormy weather is at hand. When they fly to sea eastward it is a sign of settled weather (St. Comb's).
Birds flying high and wheeling round and round indicate a "changin win" (Pittulie).
If the scratt (cormorant) fly through the wind at night it is an indication of fair weather, but, if the bird fly before it, stormy weather is looked for (Macduff).
When the mawr or queet, in the early morning, utters out at sea the notes ur-r-r-r, "a fine easterly haar is comin up" (Pittulie).
When gulls fly high "in the top of the air" a northerly breeze is not far off (Macduff).
If ducks dart through the pond they are swimming in and flap their wings, it is looked upon as indicating a coming breeze (Keith, inland). When doing so, they are said to be "leukin for ween."[1]
When swallows fly low stormy weather is at hand.[2]
A larger number of midges than ordinary is an indication of rain.
When herring rise and swim in shoals on the surface, which some fishermen (Macduff) call "brushin", the saying is: "The herrin's brushin; they'll get a gale i' their tail."
When mackerel rise to the surface and rush through the water flapping their tails, a breeze is approaching (Pittulie, Rosehearty).
If salmon are seen leaping in numbers a breeze is approaching (Macduff).
When the "saithe"—the young of the cod-fish—comes to the surface in shoals, a breeze is looked for (Rosehearty).
