BIRDS 107 



low for a moment, then circling high, and sweeping down almost to the ground. 

 It looks a much larger bird in the air, owing to its spread of wings, long and 

 pointed, and showing much white ; but once on the ground it appears almost 

 transformed (the white disappearing) into another bird small, plump, and 

 grey, moving with short, quick steps. 



Redshank. There are very few counties in which this bird does not 

 breed locally, especially in low-lying meadows by rivers, and marshes. In 

 fact, on beach, or marsh, or moorland, salting or rough pasture, it may be 

 heard, acting as a sentinel, giving all too speedy an alarm cry at the approach 

 of strangers " Too-oo-ee, too-oo-ee ! " The Redshank frequently breeds in 

 companies, and nests are generally found close to one another. They are 

 a deep scrape, generally well hidden in herbage, and lined with grass. 



The eggs, two to four, are a deep cream colour, speckled and spotted 

 with dark brown, larger than the Dunlin's or Sandpiper's. The bird is like 

 the Common Sandpiper in shape (see Fig. 133). In summer it is coloured on 

 the upper parts pale brown, streaked and barred with umber ; white rump, 

 flecked with dusky ; white tail feathers, barred with blackish ; white under 

 parts ; streaked with umber on neck and breast. It may be identified by 

 its long orange-red legs and feet, and the white on the wing and rump. In 

 winter the upper parts are ash-coloured ; rump and under parts white, 

 slightly spotted, and streaked with grey on neck and breast. 



Redwing. One of the Thrush family, often seen flying about in flocks 

 during the winter, like the Fieldfare. It is only a winter visitor, and does 

 not nest with us, preferring Norway, Scandinavia, and other countries. Its 

 distinguishing feature is the rich red (not on the wing, in spite of its name, 

 but) on the flanks, under the wing coverts. Otherwise it resembles the Song 

 Thrush. It feeds on worms, insects, snails, and berries. 



Sanderling. One of the Sandpiper family has no hind-toe. In summer 

 plumage has the upper parts, including the upper breast, a mahogany-brown, 

 streaked with black, and touches of white on the margins of some of the feathers ; 

 the under parts are white : in the winter the upper parts are grey, under parts 

 all white. It does not breed in the British Isles, but is often seen in the winter 

 on the coasts, where it feeds on worms, small crustaceans, and molluscs. A 

 quiet bird compared to other waders. Its alarm note, something like a Chaf- 

 finch's, " Wick-wick," or " Swink-swink." 



Sandpiper, Common. Notice that the Sandpipers belong to a family repre- 

 sented by quite a number of species, including Dunlin, Knot, and Redshank. 

 The Common Sandpiper is a summer visitor, fairly common in Cornwall and 

 Devon. More numerous west of Severn and north of Trent ; rare in the 

 south-eastern counties. Recognized by its brown back, with arrow-shaped 

 markings of black on the feathers. Below white, with a few dark spots on 

 chest. Tail short, barred with blackish, tipped with white ; outer feathers 

 nearly all white. Bill rather long, but not so long as the Snipe's. 



Its note is " Peep-peep," or " Teet-teet." 



