&8 BIRD LIFE IN WILD WALES 



All the nests were in oaks of no great altitude, 

 and one or two were of enormous size. One I 

 measured was five feet across all but a few inches. 

 Several nests had been blown down. At some 

 distance from the main colony there were two rather 

 old-looking nests, one a very small one, and under- 

 neath these I found remains of a broken egg, pro- 

 bably a Carrion Crow's work, for this black rascal is 

 very partial to Heron's eggs, and indeed they must 

 offer very tempting morsels. I waited in ambush 

 for a long time to watch the Herons return to their 

 homes, nor was I disappointed. It is quite a fallacy 

 to suppose that this species incubates in a different 

 way to other birds. Like all the feathered race, they 

 gather their legs under them. And yet one repeatedly 

 meets people who assure you that they either put 

 their legs out straight behind or else one leg each 

 side of the nest, an idea as ludicrous as the sight 

 would be. The Green Woodpecker seems to be very 

 plentiful about here, at which I am much pleased, for 

 he is both ornamental and useful. 



April IO//2. A pair of Kingfishers reported in the 

 boat meadow. I went up to the Carrion Crow's nest 

 in the oak spinney, close to the line ; but the birds 

 had not finished lining it. I did not expect to find 

 eggs, because even down south it would be full early 

 for this species. Just after this I watched a Water 

 Ouzel for some time, and saw a Sandpiper for the 

 first time this year. 



April nth. Heard from Mr. G. V., a most ardent 

 naturalist, that the Kites are not in the C. valley this 

 season. Last year, and indeed for a succession of 



