on winter birds in Mid-Dorset.



129



unusual to see two at the same time, but every conceivable place was

graced by one of them, displaying its handsome blue-edged scarlet

breast, avoiding the company of other birds, except occasionally to

peck snappily at one and then fly away. Robins have notably slender

legs, and are altogether delicate-looking birds, yet endure winter

successfully. They are dainty and haphazard feeders, merely picking

up bits here and there, almost perfunctorily, in contrast to other birds.

Their fearlessness in the presence of man needs no emphasis. As a

cart was loaded with manure a Robin would perch and peck, merely

giving a quick hop as each forkful was thrown up, and snatching a

scrap out of it. A stable door left open would be followed by the

entrance of a Robin, darting amongst the horses’ hoofs. When the

fowls were fed a Robin joined them. One hopped up to the men at

lunch in the fields, and finally perched on the toe of one of their

heavy boots, surveying the chances of crumbs from that vantage

point. A cottage bedroom window had a small pane of glass broken,

and through it a Robin entered several times, once Hying down¬

stairs. Another was found in the harness-room, having got in by

a swing window left open a few inches. When we were thrashing

wheat one day in January a Robin flew often on to the machine as

it was working, and helped itself to corn. The trusting confidence

of the Redbreasts is generally respected, and they flourish in spite of

their rigid individualism.


Pied Wagtails, one of the most graceful and pleasing of

British birds, are well distributed throughout this district, and called

locally “ Polly Dishwashers.” Grey Wagtails are found less, keeping

away from buildings and cultivated land, preferring the streams and

ponds of the moors and uplands. Pied Wagtails show little fear of

human presence. They follow the ploughs and harrows picking up

food, search over the dung-heaps as they are tipped and spread in

the fields, and resort to the low-lying meadows in company with

many other birds which make wet places a habitat.


The existence of a river and several streams and ponds down

the valley, and the system of canalising and irrigating the adjacent

meadows during winter, so that they are partially flooded, attracts

many water-loving birds. Wagtails work these wet spots regularly,

so do Gulls, Plovers, Herons, Ducks, Water-hens, and Snipe. Other



