86 Alexander Goodman More. [1806 



Returning from a sail, no gun on board, I spied near the stump 

 of the outer boom (of Brading Harbour), on a bit of sand left dry, some 

 dark objects which I soon made out to be good-sized Tringae, of a sin- 

 gularly plump and stumpy appearance ; and as the water rose upon the 

 sand they would hop and jump in the most amusing india-rubber 

 fashion, keeping all the time close together, and never moving further 

 than just clear of the water. I carried the boat in as far as possible, and 

 then stood up and shouted ; still they remained without taking the least 

 notice. Under the circumstances I thought that there was a chance of 

 getting back in time, and so hastened to run home and fetch the gun, 

 with which I ran down and poled up as hard as I could to the boom, 

 where the water had meanwhile risen so as just to cover the little sand- 

 bank where I had left my friends sitting and hopping about. 



But as I neared the boom, there was another glorious sight : for 

 some large brown bird was resting on the top ; not a Cormorant not 

 black enough nor heavy enough for that not a Gull or Gannet for 

 they do not perch but a large strong Raptor of some sort. I shoved on, 

 and within 150 yards my friend arose (and with him from under his feet 

 the little Tringae), and showed the broad wing, the whitish chin of the 

 Osprey. But he took care to give me a wide berth. The little bevy of 

 birds wheeled twice, and then came overhead ; a large bird led them on 

 (a Bar-tail Godwit I suspect) ; he kept out of reach, but the others 

 paid toll of one dead, and one that was picked up far up the harbour. 

 Meanwhile the great bird wheeled, and flying high made for the har- 

 bour, and " Spit " ; but just as he was nearly over Prior's I saw him 

 make a sudden turn, a plunge or drop through the air ; then he checked 

 himself, and then, again, he fell like a Gannet or a Tern, splashing the 

 water up all round. He had spied a mullet no doubt, but I think 

 missed his hold, as he kept wheeling round, and sometimes flew 

 swiftly, and then would sail or shoot along on his outspread wings. 

 However, he kept hanging about until some Gulls came out and mobbed 

 him with the most clamorous outcry, while his broad wing and stouter 

 frame kept him conspicuous among the herd of Herring and Common 

 Gulls. To the young of the former he bears great resemblance, and I 

 might not have noticed him if it had not been for the "perch." 



Only once afterwards (on May 2nd, 1859) did he meet 

 with the "Fish-Hawk"; and his account of the second 

 occurrence (also at Brading Harbour) may as well be 

 quoted here : 



At Carpenter's Creek saw a large dark Hawk, hoveringlike a'Kes- 

 trel, as we thought above the flock of Titterels which had just settled 

 upon the mud-bank ; but on approaching more closely it became clear 

 the bird was poised over the water at the shallowest part of the inlet, 

 though with an east wind it was everywhere very turbid. Presently the 

 great Hawk swerved, and wheeling to leeward came much closer, and 



