CHAPTER XI 



MIGRATION OF SHORE-BIRDS AND WILDFOWL 



Some notes relative to the dates on which numbers of our 

 shore-birds and wildfowl visit our shores from their breeding 

 homes and northern haunts will be useful in such a book as 

 this. Several species of shore-birds and wildfowl breed in our 

 islands, but their numbers (even if all stayed the year round) 

 are very small compared with those which reach us from the 

 north. What are known as residential birds, such as the red- 

 shank, curlew, green plover, golden plover, dunlin, mallard, 

 and teal, by the end of July begin to flock on the coast, either 

 from our local breeding-grounds or from those abroad. In 

 August most of the curlew and golden plover have left their 

 moorland haunts and resorted to quarters adjacent to the coast. 

 In the same month large numbers of knot, godwit, whimbrel, 

 and mature grey plover arrive ; also the less plentiful green 

 sandpiper, common sandpiper, and greenshank are in strong 

 evidence. At this season oyster-catchers, turnstones, sander- 

 lings, and many other species are to be met with flying the 

 coast-line in search of new quarters. In August also the home- 

 bred mallard have flocked, and daily wing to the estuaries and 

 other safe retreats. The beginning of September brings an 

 increase in the numbers of birds on the coast. Great flocks 

 of gulls and terns, leaving their sea-bound breeding homes 

 for more southern climes, may be seen. At this time the 

 curlew-sandpiper, little stint, and other smaller flocks of birds 

 pay us a passing visit. They stay from a week to a fortnight 

 with us, then depart for the south. By the middle of September 



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