BIRD NOTES 119 



on Breydon. Wind north-north-east ; fine, but huge 

 red clouds, like mountains, made the sky wild. Saw 

 three Swans. I fancy they were Whoopers. Their 

 note was a bad imitation of a Curlew's ! Also saw 

 forty-five Geese (probably Bean Geese) in one flock 

 flying above and around. A few Lapwings ; one 

 Goosander. 



THE COMMON SANDPIPER 



No bird makes itself more conspicuous upon our 

 Norfolk waterways in the finer portion of the year 

 than this shrill-voiced, noisy, restless little wader. 

 In spring and autumn small parties, sometimes of 

 as many as eight individuals, may be seen busily, 

 and with restless activity, picking up the small 

 crustaceans young ditch prawns (Palceman varians) 

 that have passed into the river through the sluices that 

 drain the marshes, and opossum shrimps, that skirr 

 and frolic at the margin of the stream. As soon 

 as a yacht or wherry comes within the limit they 

 consider safe for them, up they get with ear- 

 piercing pipings, and hurry on ahead, to settle 

 and feed until again disturbed. For a mile or two 

 will they hurry along in this way, scarce ever think- 

 ing to double back, and so remain at peace. I had 

 long suspected this bird of nesting in the neighbour- 



