Redshank 9 



breeding ground in Sufiulk, with which I an: very faniihar, is inter- 

 sected by a railwa}-, and it is no uncommon thing to see four or five 

 Redshanks perched on the telegrapli wires, swaying to and fro, 

 and ever and again uttering their everlasting cry. It is a point of 

 some interest how a wading bird, with toes formed as a Redshank's 

 are, is able to perch, and perch securely, on an>-thing so thin and round 

 as a telegraph wire. Their swaying to and fro is not due to the 

 insecurit}' of their foothold, for you observe birds that have lighted 

 on a gatepost or barway executing precisely the same movements, 

 and indeed, }'ou may often watch a Redshank on terra firma 

 executing the most absurd bows and nods, when he is alarmed, 

 and before he finally takes to flight. 



A Redshank is one of the few birds with which I am acquainted 

 that build sometimes open nests with little more attempt at conceal- 

 ment than is practised by a Lapwing, and sometimes the most 

 elaborately hidden nests. A large, rushy tussock is selected, deep 

 in the middle of which lies the nest, with a carefully-prepared passage 

 leading through the tussock to the nest : and in some cases I have 

 seen a sitting bird leave such a nest and deliberately arrange the grass 

 or rushes over the opening, as though shutting the door, before flying 

 off. One or two nests of this kind that I can call to mind now were 

 exceedingly beautiful to look upon. 



The Redshank is an early breeder, the four eggs being generally 

 laid before the middle of April, and, in connection with their nesting, 

 I may mention one curious habit wln'ch they have in common with 

 a good many other Waders, notably the Lapwing, and that is the 

 habit of making false nests. Any time after the second week in 

 March, if you walk over a ground 'on which Redshanks are going to 

 breed, you may find many of these false nests ; little depressions 

 scrabbed out on the ground with a few bits of rushes and grass 

 roughl}- arranged in them. The}' look like the work of a 'prentice 

 hand — of a Redshank who was lacking in experience, and was trying 

 to get his " hand in " before taking to the serious work of nest- 

 building. What the meaning or the object of these false nests is, 

 I have no idea, nor whether both males and females are engaged in 

 making them, or whether it is only the male. Most of our Norfolk 

 and Suffolk gunners hold the latter view ; w'hy, I don't know, 

 and call them "cocks' nests." 



Redshanks commonly breed on the marsh, or within a very 

 short distance of the marsh, but I have found a Redshank's nest 

 on an open common of whins and heather, a mile or more away 

 from the water. In these cases, it is necessary for the parents to 

 convey the young directly they are hatched from the upland com- 

 mon down to the marsh in some way or another, for they cannot 

 obtain the necessary food in the former situation. Woodcock, we 

 know, carry their young between their thighs, steadying them with 

 their bills, and one would think that Redshanks must adopt some 

 such plan, if they have to transport their young any distance. I 



