WITH THE BIRDS IN WALES 165 



larch containing the Sparrow-hawk's nest in my own 

 plantation, and found that another egg had been laid, 

 which, though handsome, was nothing very excep- 

 tional. In the evening I strolled up the hill where 

 the Wood Wren's nest is ; only two eggs had been 

 laid, however. I saw, too, another pair of Pied Fly- 

 catchers, and in a very ancient oak found a Creeper's 

 home with nearly fledged young. Creepers are, I 

 think, double-brooded usually, the second clutch of 

 eggs being laid during the first week in June, the 

 first towards the end of April. This species deserts 

 its nest remarkably easily, that is if it contains fresh 

 eggs, just as the Wren and Blackcap will ; but quite 

 the reverse happens should it have incubated eggs or 

 young. I heard and saw some Tawny Owls, one of 

 my special favourites. Did not reach home till nearly 

 midnight. By the way, how I miss the Nightingale 

 here ! though in certain parts of this county it may 

 be found very sparingly. 



JPfay 20th. — Visited with a friend a sheet of water 

 buried in the hill solitude, called L. pool. I had 

 some waders with me, but unfortunately one of them 

 had a hole in the toe, which rendered them worse 

 than useless. My friend went after shells chiefly, 

 whilst I investigated the birds of the place. The 

 first find was a Coot's nest with seven eggs, and I 

 waded nearly up to my waist to reach it. Shortly 

 after I was overjoyed by the sight of a Great Crested 

 Grebe floating daintily on the water, and almost 

 immediately after saw the nest, which was very 

 exposed (but there are few reeds here). It was 

 moored to a few tall reeds, and the merest tiro at 



