^2 Thorpe iMere 



Mere,* though the different parts, as a fact, have separate 

 names. 



It is very small ; that is very much in our favour if birds are 

 at all numerous, because the different species are more readily 

 recognised, and they can be more easily " picked up " again with 

 the glasses if they shift their ground. 



It presents three quite distinct varieties of feeding ground, 

 and, best of all, there is a sea-wall between the first two meres, so 

 that one or other side of the wall will almost certainly give you 

 shelter, and a good stalk M-ill often bring \ou within a few yards 

 of a group of perfectly unsuspicious Waders, feeding, sleeping or 

 what not. 



There is still another advantage about these meres — m.any 

 birds use them entirely for the length of their visit, but at the top 

 of the tide, most of the Waders from the river come over here for 

 an hour or two until tlie river-f^ats are again exposed. 



I propose, then, taking the visitor out for an imaginary trip on 

 the Thorpe Mere. I say " imaginary," although this particular 

 day has been extracted from my diary, but it must be understood 

 that this particular day in May was selected by me because it was a 

 reddetter day. 



The chief pleasure of working on the Thorpe Mere is the certainty 

 that with care you can get a view of almost every bird that is on it. 

 The foreshore has been largely built over lately, and other changes 

 have damaged it somewhat as a collecting ground, but on good days, 

 one may still see a good and varied show of birds, and no day is so 

 bad as not to yield something. Our enthusiast, it is true, can do 

 as well, perhaps better, at many other watering places along the 

 Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Lincolnshire or Yorkshire coasts. The lie 

 of the ground, and the manner of approaching tlie birds will vary, 

 but there will be Waders to see if a reasonably good place be 

 selected. 



Before describing our spring day, may I say just a word about 

 shooting and collecting. 



We should have sympathy with and love for all birds, but I 

 fail to understand why we should not take a toll of the Waders for 

 eating purposes, as readily as of our game-birds, or even our domestic 

 poultry. 



You may say that, so far as eating goes, our game-birds are so 

 much poultry, with variations. That may be true of Pheasants, 

 it is certainl}^ not true of Partridges or of Grouse. But, even if it 

 were, these Waders have a far safer breeding nursery in their x\rctic 

 haunts (taking the Knot and Godwit as examples) than any amount 

 of artificial help can ever give to our game-birds. 



*The natural characteristics of Thorpe Mere have been greatly altered since this description 

 was written. In 191 2, " improvements" were commencecl, with a view to increasing the 

 amenities of Thorpeness as an ordinary sea-side resort. Bungalows have multiplied ; an artificial 

 lake has been created, and the marshy areas of the old Mere have been drained. Ornithologists 

 will deeply regret the passing of this famous bird-resort, whose attractiveness to bird visitors 

 will be greatly impaired. — Editor. 



