Birds of Britain 

 THE DUNLIN 



Tringa alpina, Linnseus 



Of all our shore-birds the Dunlin, or, as it is sometimes 

 called, the Ox-bird, is the most numerous. At all times 

 of the year and round all our coasts it may be seen running 

 about and feeding on the animal life to be found among 

 the rocks or in the soft muddy ooze recently left by the 

 ebbing tide. It is almost always found in flocks, which are 

 often made up of thousands of individuals, and when disturbed 

 from one place they may be seen twisting and turning on 

 the wing in graceful flight, preparatory to settling again 

 on some rich feeding - ground. At times it is most 

 absurdly tame, so that it is possible to walk right among 

 a flock, which will continue feeding or resting as though 

 unaware of the presence of a stranger. Suddenly an in- 

 dividual will sound the little alarm-note, and the whole flock 

 will rise as though governed by one mind, even those who 

 were asleep flying off in full possession of their faculties 

 as though they had been on the alert all the time. In 

 summer many leave us to nest in Northern Europe, while 

 others betake themselves to inland moors or salt marshes 

 round the coast on which to breed. It cannot be called a 

 common nesting species with us, but it has been found in 

 suitable places throughout the United Kingdom, becoming 

 more numerous in the north. 



The nest is a shallow " scrape " among heather, rough 

 grass, or some other cover, and during the nesting season the 



324 



