56 BIRD HAUNTS AND NATURE MEMORIES 



near enough for us to see the markings on its breast and 

 its strong moustachial patch. It sailed over flocks of 

 startled waders and then began to mount ; it had singled 

 out a victim, a straggling dunlin or sanderling. Down 

 it came with a magnificent swoop, but the scared wader 

 dodged and the pursuer missed. Up it went again, then 

 down once more, and four or five times the fugitive eluded 

 the deadly stoop. Then the falcon changed its plans, 

 and, following every turn and twist of its quarry, actually 

 flew it down. As it passed, flying landward, we could see 

 it plucking its victim, getting ready for the meal. 



When the gutter was fordable, a huge expanse of sand 

 stretched once more towards the Welsh shore, and to the 

 anchored fishing-boats, now heeled over, in the gutter 

 off the stranded port of Parkgate. 



