BIRD-WATCHING IN A BREYDON PUNT 59 



gulls standing watchfully around know plumage of springtime, their long glossy 



that there will be a chance for one of black crests waving in the wind, like 



them when he flings it away in disgust, pennants. You will notice, too, that 



Not fifty yards from where we are they do not stand still and wait, 

 skulking, less than two years ago I Micawber-like, for what may turn up, 

 saw nine dainty avocets sitting afloat as juvenile herons do ; but like gro- 

 in this very drain, dancing up and tesque sentries they march along by 

 down on the rippled waters just as you the edge of the flat and snatch 

 see a fleet of ships riding at anchor ; up victims that would evade them, 

 and some of them, ducklike dipped, Young birds exhibit more patience, 

 with tails up, pricking their needle no doubt, but exercise less common- 

 bills in the soft ooze for mollusca ; sense, 

 and if perchance they discovered a 



mud-worm it suited them just as well. Those two rows of short, scragpy, 



One of the delights attending a trip upright timbers are all that is left to 



among the mudflats is the unremote view of the old brig Agnes. Let us 



possibility of falling in with unex- fasten the punt to a couple of them : 



pected rarities. I have thus come this is a favourite post of observation 



across an Iceland gull, a stork, a Cas- of mine. The Agnes regularly crawled 



pian tern, a pelican asleep with his to the Straits and back in the days of 



pouch full of flounders, and many a Nelson, carrying wine and fruit ; they 



spoonbill. And only quite recently a knew stem from stern by the jutting 



friend of mine saw four glossy ibises ; out bow-sprit. In the seventies the 



he went next day to try and get a shot Commissioners brought her and sunk 



at them, and fell in with thirteen red- her here at the mouth of a drain : there 



crested whistling ducks instead, and was far too much scouring taking place 



with punt and shoulder gun secured under the protecting wall, by all the 



nine ! body of water that dropped off the 



Let's make now for the " Ship " flats as the ebb tide made. They cut 



drain. But stay ! turn your glasses the drain with a more circular sweep 



on yonder herons near the " walls " ; into the Channel. In 1878 a pair of 



they are fishing for eels and flounders swallows nested under her decks, not- 



in the North Wall drain. You will withstanding the hold was then always 



observe that they are in the excellent full of water ; to-day where the decks 



