A BIRDLOVER'S YEAR 



birds of passage there is also the arrival of 

 great numbers of winter visitors which have 

 selected the British Isles for their hiemal 

 quarters. 



With the appearance of autumn and the 

 disappearance of the standing corn, partridges 

 form into larger coveys, becoming each day 

 more wary and difficult to approach. It is 

 not easy to estimate the pace at which a 

 driven partridge will fly, particularly with 

 the wind at its back, but as one watches 

 the rapid skimming flight of these birds 

 one realizes how strong they are on the 

 wing. 



The woodcock may be found any day 

 in the woods resting after his arduous 

 journey from the Swedish peninsula, whilst 

 those of his brethren which nested with us 

 have now joined the rush of. migrants and 

 are proceeding southwards. Chaffinches and 

 linnets are flocking on the open stubble and 

 the golden plover have come down from 

 the high ground. 



There is perhaps nothing more charming 

 to watch than the wonderful aerial evolu- 

 tions of these neat little birds. With what 

 precision do they wheel and turn, whilst 



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