THROUGH THE YEAR 245 



fish will move. Hence the reed bunting is a constant 

 companion of the trout-fisher. 



REDSHANKS 



The most volatile of the wading and marsh 

 haunting birds may be the redshank. The dunlins 

 rest after their drill in the morning, but what rest is 

 there for a redshank ? On the ground at the nesting 

 time it is mobile as a sandpiper or grey wagtail, and 

 all through the season it is constantly on the wing, 

 in a state of emotion. I watched it on the New 

 Forest marshes during hard frosts in January. 

 There were redshanks on the wet heath by Brocken- 

 hurst ; though undisturbed by human intruder, 

 they were ever on the wing, circling wildly round the 

 forest ponies and cattle, and calling with the rather 

 sweet, anxious note that faintly sounds like a quick 

 uttered " took, took," or " tuk, tuk." 



This was long before the pairing passion can have 

 stirred them. All through the winter redshanks 

 are circling about their marshy haunts and crying. 

 In spring their excitement grows. I went to watch 

 them on the estuary meadows by Christchurch, and 

 the sandy stony fields, where at this time they are 

 often mingled with the ringed plovers and with 

 lapwings and starlings. " Took, took," is heard as 

 soon as one reaches the estuary, and a white-barred 

 wing is seen flitting about amidst the starling parties. 



The starlings are intent only on food. They are 

 incessantly up and off to a new spot, and at every 

 starling movement the long pointed wing of a red- 



