34 



Case 199. 



COMMON SANDPIPER {Totanus hypoleucus). 

 Local names : Summer or Sand-Lark, Willie Liltie. 



A regular visitor, arriving in April and departing in September. 

 It is common in Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and in the northern 

 and western portions of England, but less plentiful in the southern 

 and eastern counties. In Lancashire it breeds on the fells and uplands. 

 The nest, made of dry grass and leaves, is placed in a hollow on the 

 ground, usually near fresh water. The four eggs are of a creamy buff 

 colour, finely spotted with grey and with two shades of brown (see 

 British Bird Egg Cabinet, drawer 21). 



REDSHANK {Totanus calidris). 



An autumn and winter visitant, occasionally seen in large flocks, 

 but a few always resident throughout the year. It breeds in marshy 

 districts and pastures, nesting in a hollow in the ground among rushes, 

 heather or long grass. The birds betray great anxiety when the nest 

 is approached, and endeavour to lead the intruder away by flying 

 round and uttering their shrill and plaintive note. The eggs which 

 are usually well concealed, are four in number, and are of a greenish- 

 buff colour, blotched and spotted with purplish-brown (see British 

 Bird Egg Cabinet, drawer 21). The nesting localities in Lancashire 

 are few in number, Carnforth and Martin Marshes, Winster Valley 

 and Walney Island among others. 



Case 200. 



COMMON HERON {Anlea cinerea). 

 Local names : Longricks, Jammy. 



This species is generally distributed throughout the British Islands. 

 The food consists of fish, frogs, reptiles, mice and voles as well as 

 worms, molluscs and insects. Although the Heron often leads a 

 solitary existence on the coasts and inland waters, during the breeding 

 season numbers congregate together and form what are known as 

 heronries. The most important heronries in this district are at Ince 

 Blundell, near Waterloo, Scarisbrick, near Southport, and there are 

 several flourishing colonies in Cheshire. The nests are generally 

 placed on the tops of high trees ; they are large flat structures formed 

 of sticks and lined with roots, etc. The eggs, three to five in number, 

 are bluish green in colour (see British Bird Egg Cabinet, drawer 10), 

 and are laid in March or in mild seasons much earlier. Both parents 

 assist in tending on the young. 



