Wanderings of a Naturalist 



they both flew across to the loch side to feed. The hen 

 returned after about fifteen minutes, but instead of brooding 

 her eggs — knowing, no doubt, that in the warm sunshine they 

 would come to no harm — stood motionless near the nest, 

 dozing. 



At last she did brood the eggs for a few minutes, panting 

 continuously by reason of the great heat. The cock during 

 this time flew up into the air with quick wing beats, uttering 

 flute-like calls very much after the manner of the redshank 

 during its nesting season, but the notes were deeper and more 

 musical than those of the latter bird. 



On this date. May 26, two of the eggs were just com- 

 mencing to chip. 



On May 29 the eggs were still unhatched, but one of the 

 chicks could be heard hammering on the shell. The green- 

 shank was now comparatively indifferent to the hide, return- 

 ing almost at once to the nest, and, after calling repeatedly 

 with short, sharp whistling cries, walking confidently on to 

 her eggs. On the afternoon of May 30 we found, on visiting 

 the nest, that the small greenshanks had hatched out. I 

 entered the hide at 3.30 p.m. and remained till 5.5 p.m. The 

 mother greenshank seemed very proud of her young family, 

 brooding them contentedly and pecking occasionally at a 

 piece of broken eggshell lying just outside the nest. At 

 4.50 p.m. she suddenly sprang up on the nest, then flew off 

 calling. The cock had arrived. 



She soon returned, however, and had trouble with one 

 of the chicks, which was restless and would not remain 

 beneath her. On these occasions she would push it gently 

 under her breast with her bill. 



Early on the morning of May 31 we visited the nest for 

 the last time. The chicks were still beside the nest, but about 

 9 a.m. the mother greenshank led her young brood away to 

 a rush-fringed pool for their first feed. Here we left them, 

 wishing them well and hoping that they would be successful 

 in avoiding the many dangers that beset the chicks of ground 



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