BIRD LIFE ON THE BROADS 207 



running, its mud-coloured back harmonising so 

 well with the natural surroundings that when at 

 rest it is almost invisible, unless the eye has first 

 detected it while in motion. This is the Common 

 Sandpiper or Summer Snipe, as it is often called. 

 On taking flight it skims out over the water with 

 quick pulsations of the wing, returning in a semi- 



THB BEARDED TIT. 



circle to the shore some distance away as it utters 

 a sharp note and oft-repeated " weet, weet, weet." 

 From the side of a marsh drain we may often see a 

 larger and darker Sandpiper spring up with a louder 

 whistle, " tui, tui, tui,"and take the air like a Snipe, 

 flying not unlike one, but looking somewhat smaller, 

 blacker, and with a white rump, which may be 

 seen at a considerable distance, as in the case of 



