170 BIRD LIFE IN WILD WALES 



weeks ago, sure enough there was one pair of these 

 birds. We only saw one, howev^er, and a fine dance 

 it led us. What a sad note this bird has, though 

 quite in keeping with the mountain solitude ! At 

 times this bird settled quite close to us on some little 

 hillock ; at others it flew round us in wide circles. 

 After a long and fruitless search we gave up our 

 hunt. The only thing we did find was a Peewit's 

 nest with four addle eggs. 



May 22nd. — Through the rain to L. lake in quest 

 of the Crested Grebe. This lake is a fine sheet of 

 water, three-quarters of a mile across, two and a half 

 in length, and between six and seven in circumference. 

 Whilst waiting for a boat I was interested in watching 

 a Yellow Wagtail (^M. rail) perched on a stump, 

 uttering its alarm cry. Owing to the heavy down- 

 pour the birds on the lake for the most part were 

 skulking in the reeds and equisetums, which in parts 

 of the lake grow very thickly. Just keeping on the 

 outskirts of this reedy bed, we noticed a few Reed 

 Buntings and Reed Warblers, as well as Coots and 

 a Moorhen or two ; but just opposite the church we 

 noticed a pair of Crested Grebes with their one young 

 one, which was about half-grown. This must have 

 been an exceptionally early hatch. I now got out 

 of the boat and did some wading ; but beyond a 

 Coot's nest with a solitary &^<g and a baby Coot just 

 hatched, which we much admired, found nothing. 

 Those left in the boat also found a Coot's nest, but 

 as we had not a proper boat for getting well into the 

 reed-beds we put about and made for the landing- 

 stage, where we at once got into conversation with 



