The Bird Book 



In front of us is a Ringed Plover, running 

 nimbly out after a receding wave, stooping 

 daintily to pick up some morsel, then retreating 

 to escape a wetting, as the next comes in. He is a 

 pretty little bird, light brown above and white 

 below, except for a broad black collar across the 

 foreneck. The crown of the head is pale brown, 

 separated from the white frontal band by a broad 

 band of black. His short bill is orange, tipped 

 with black \ legs and feet are the same colour. 

 Such is his portrait, but it is hard to convey in 

 words the impression of sprightliness and grace 

 he leaves upon our minds. 



As we approach the estuary bird-life becomes 

 more plentiful. A spit of sand running out into 

 the sea is occupied by a flock of Gulls, which 

 apparently have fed well, for they stand com- 

 placently preening their feathers. Even at this 

 distance a pair of Great Blackbacked Gulls are 

 conspicuous among their fellows owing to their 

 size, and we are able to recognise the immature 

 Herring Gulls by their mottled brown plumage. 



Near by is a flock of Dunlin, a little silvery line 

 on the sand. The Gulls look giants beside them. 

 Now they rise as one bird and fly with amazing 

 swiftness, their white underparts flashing in the 

 sunlight at one moment; the next, their brown 

 backs are towards us, and the birds are hardly 

 visible till they wheel again. 



Rocks now begin to show through the surface of 

 loo 



