288 BRITISH SEA BIRDS. 



the departure of such birds that are found only 

 in winter in the British Islands Redwings, Field- 

 fares, Bramblings, Siskins, Snow Buntings, and so 

 on. The departure of these birds begins in 

 February, or early March, and lasts until the 

 beginning of May. About the same time, also, 

 many coast birds pass from our islands, such as 

 Golden Plovers, Lapwings, Curlews, Redshanks, 

 Woodcocks, and Snipes that is to say, the 

 migratory individuals of these species that only 

 visit us during winter. Ducks and Geese also 

 begin to move north, and many indications of 

 their passage may be seen by the careful observer 

 of birds along the shore. March, April, and May, 

 the two former months especially, is the period of 

 their departure. At this season, also, many indi- 

 viduals of these species pass along our coast 

 districts from more southern countries, on their 

 way to northern haunts. These birds are known 

 as coasting migrants. The most typical of these 

 coasting migrants, and those that may be readily 

 distinguished, are such species as Whimbrels, 

 Ringed Plovers, Sanderlings, Stints, Skuas, and 

 Curlew Sandpipers. Whimbrels are very regular 

 in their appearance, arriving at the end of April, 

 and the migration continuing through May. 



Early in March, on our southern coasts, the 

 purely summer visitors begin to be seen, Wood- 

 cocks and Pied Wagtails, amongst others, making 

 their appearance. Towards the end of March, 



