134 SOME BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA 



each island is a still broader expanse of mud. Out in 

 the middle of the channel, and far from any possibility 

 of danger, the Storks are feeding, five or six of them, 

 moving slowly down the stream. They feed in line, ten 

 or twenty yards apart, in a dignified manner and without 

 hurry of any sort ; it seems to be recognised by the 

 other birds that they are old-established patrons of the 

 estuary, and that their feeding grounds must not be 

 encroached upon. They are wary though, and never 

 allow themselves to be surprised, but if they think 

 danger is -likely to threaten them they slowly rise and 

 fly off in line to a more secluded part. But few of these 

 wading birds breed in the neighbourhood of Knysna, 

 the majority of them being only visitors during the 

 " off season." 



A small bird that may often be seen as it searches 

 the flotsam and dead sea-grass on the shores of 

 these islands, is the Quick Stertje ; literally, quick-tail. 

 These birds, the Cape Wagtails, we found common 

 wherever we went ; they were very difficult birds to 

 photograph, as are all of this species, on account of 

 their habit of incessantly moving their tails. They 

 nest in all sorts of odd places, and in positions very 

 similar to those chosen by most Wagtails. The nest 

 shown in the illustration is not very easily seen, but it is 

 situated under the piece of overhanging rock just below 

 the centre of the picture. 



Life on the estuary presents a different appearance 

 when the tide is up ; the birds are not then feeding, and 

 crowds of Curlew will assemble on one of the smaller 

 islands in the distance, making a great noise among 

 themselves, which is borne across by the breeze ; not 



