BIRD- LIFE BY RIVER AND STREAM. 73 



below Galmpton, the little Grebe is a fairly 

 familiar species ; whilst in winter the Great 

 Crested Grebe may occasionally be met with. 

 The banks of mud left bare each tide are re- 

 sorted to by Waders of various species in spring 

 and autumn, one of the commonest perhaps 

 being the well-known Summer Snipe which breeds 

 upon the adjoining moorlands; Sanderlings, Cur- 

 lews, and Whimbrels are also tempted to alight 

 upon them. The latter birds are marvellously 

 regular in their migrations across the county, and 

 their well-known cries, both in going to and 

 returning from their northern breeding grounds, 

 may be heard every spring and autumn almost 

 to the hour as they speed across the night sky. 

 The mudflats in the Dart valley are scarcely 

 extensive enough to entice a very large number 

 of wading birds ; whilst the even more limited 

 accommodation during flood-tide is another serious 

 drawback to their assemblage. The county, how- 

 ever, is by no means wanting in accommodation 

 for such species, as we hope to show in a future 

 chapter. Perhaps the most favoured spots in 

 the lower valley of the Dart for these kinds of 

 birds is between Dittisham and Stoke Gabriel. 



