BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 63 



visitor. For this reason it is popularly termed the ' Summer 

 Snipe' in certain districts. Its stay with us, moreover, is 

 a comparatively short one. It does not usually appear 

 in any numbers till about the middle of April, and not 

 till early May in very late seasons. For a short time 

 the birds may be seen about the seashores and estuaries, 

 but they rapidly disperse to their inland nesting-places. 

 By the end of July they begin to seek the coast again 

 with their young, and there small flocks may for some 

 time be met with. As a rule, they keep apart from 

 other small Waders. During September most of them 

 leave us altogether, but a few may be recorded later. 



The nesting-haunts of the Common Sandpiper are the 

 banks or islands of rivers and lakes. It is naturally 

 absent, except on passage, from most of the south-east of 

 England, but becomes fairly common in the north, as 

 well as in Wales and most of Ireland. Throughout 

 Scotland it is abundant even up to the western and 

 northern isles. 



The nest itself is generally close to the water. It is 

 composed of grass, moss, and leaves, and is usually a rather 

 better structure than most Waders build. As a rule, it 

 is placed on the ground, more or less concealed among 

 grass or stones. At times, however, it is in very exposed 

 situations, while at others it is some feet from the ground 

 in a bush or tree. The eggs are generally laid during 

 May. They are four in number, and are of a reddish- 

 buff tint, minutely spotted with dark brown and purplish 

 gray. The chick in down is white below, pale gray with 

 black mottlings above. 



At all times this is a very restless but not really veiy 

 shy bird. Even when standing in one place it is rarely 

 still, but keeps bobbing up and do^vn and jerking its tail 

 in a curious and characteristic manner. When in anxiety 



