A BIRDLOVER'S YEAR 



afternoon than lying on one's plaid hidden 

 away by some bush or tree ; for with the 

 aid of one's field-glasses and these are 

 a priceless treasure to any naturalist 

 one may see any amount of birds and 

 become initiated into their daily life and 

 labours. 



The Tayside skies can be of a marvellously 

 blue colour, which reminds one of the Riviera; 

 and while one gazes high o'erhead one catches 

 sight of the rapidly vibrating wings of the 

 kestrel, as it hangs poised in the air prior 

 to making a swoop. The prey of this falcon 

 consists chiefly of mice, rats, and such small 

 deer, so that it is an ally and not an enemy 

 to the farmer. The " wind-hover " is 

 another name by which this bird is known. 

 The kestrels we may notice during the winter 

 months are birds which have come to us 

 in autumn, while most of our summer 

 residents move farther south. This is the 

 way with a great many of our so-called 

 resident species, there being a partial and 

 mainly local migration or substitution of 

 individuals, instead of a total migration, 

 clearing all individuals of the species out 

 of the country. 

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