igi ■ The Irish Naturalist. October, 



Wcdjicsday, September nth. — Starting at 9.30 a.m. for 

 Breanaskill Bay, I took np a position at the open window in 

 Mr. Williams' house. Here I remained until 6 o'clock, p.m., 

 experimenting with the telephoto camera and making obser- 

 vations with the prism-binoctilar. For telephotography, 

 requiring short exposures, the light was very poor, and few 

 birds, even when driven in by the rising tide, came into the 

 photographic field, and when they did, they were so inces- 

 santl}^ active, that time expostires were useless, while in- 

 stantaneous work with the telescopic attachment was equall}^ 

 so, especially with the poor light at ni}' disposal. 



We again watched the Redshanks splashing in the channel; 

 I was interested to learn from Mr. Williams that liere the 

 w^ater, flowing down from the bog, was soft and fresh, and, no 

 doubt, more refreshing for shore-birds to bathe in than the 

 briny sea-water. Along several points on the Dublin coast, 

 where fresh -water rivulets enter the beach, I have noted 

 different species of wading-birds bathing. 



Presently the scene was marred b}^ the arrival of three tame 

 ducks; these birds having wandered the whole wa}^ across 

 the slob, took up their position in the channel, obscuring 

 several of the waders, with whom they seemed quite out of 

 place. 



But the presence of the ducks sank into oblivion when a 

 great flock of Curlews alighted at the edge of the channel, 

 and marched boldly into it. The majority of the birds con- 

 tented themselves with wading until their breasts touched the 

 water, but a few launched themselves into the channel, swim- 

 ming successfully against the current for several yards, and 

 reaching the other side, rapidly mounted a seaweed-covered 

 rock and commenced to peck vigorously at the wet, slippery 

 weed. 



In the room where I was making observations, a Swallow 

 had built her nest, and just at that moment she flew in by the 

 window, out through the door of the room, and coursing 

 up and down the hall, gained exit through the open hall- 

 door. 



It was interesting to see a Wood-Pigeon alight among the 

 shore-birds and remain for several minutes picking on the 

 sands. Returning to the Sound at eventide, I noticed 



