A BIRDLOVER'S YEAR 



Now the mist is beginning to thicken 

 and towards the east a driving storm of 

 rain is to be seen sweeping over the hills. 

 The colour seems to fade away from the 

 waters of the loch whilst the wind stirs the 

 ripples into miniature waves. Black-headed 

 gulls fly overhead, and pipits and starlings 

 are to be seen at close quarters. 



The bog myrtle scents the air, and crouch- 

 ing among its long shoots are a couple of 

 partridges which whirr away at our approach. 



And now a dunlin suddenly springs from 

 beneath our feet and flies off in zigzag 

 fashion to the edge of the loch. The dunlin 

 is a shore bird that repairs to the hills for 

 the nesting season, and is often to be seen 

 in company with the golden plover. The 

 high piping notes tell us that a " flock " of 

 these birds is now close at hand, and sud- 

 denly they sweep past us, with a rapid and 

 twisting flight. 



How quickly has the afternoon passed! 

 Already it is six o'clock, and we have many 

 miles to travel ere we reach our home in 

 the valley. As we walk to the road to 

 rejoin our motor, whea tears innumerable 

 are to be seen, here perching on a stone, there 

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