The Common Redshank 



In winter it occurs abundantly round all our coasts and 

 causes much annoyance to shooters from its habit of flying 

 up on the least alarm and warning all the other less wary 

 fowl, with its shrill " tui too too." 



The nest is usually situated on some inland marsh or 

 low-lying grass field intersected with ditches. It is a very 

 slight structure of grass and bents well, concealed in a 

 tussock of grass or tuft of rushes. The four eggs are of a pale 

 stone colour, mottled and blotched with rich reddish brown. 

 During the nesting season this bird becomes very noisy, and 

 if the nesting site be approached, especially after the young 

 are hatched, they fly round the intruder or sit on some 

 bank, calling out vigorously all the time. It is a most 

 interesting sight to take a sporting dog to where they have 

 young and watch the way in which time after time these 

 birds will decoy the dog away by fluttering under his very 

 nose until they have led him to what they consider a safe 

 distance, when they will spring in the air and with a cheery 

 note return to their brood. This habit is common to many 

 species and orders of ground-nesting birds, but unless we 

 take a keen hunting dog with us we shall fail to realise 

 what an excellent device it is for safeguarding the young 

 from mammalian vermin. The food and habits of this 

 species call for no special comment, as it does not greatly 

 differ from its congeners. 



In winter the adult is greyish brown on the back ; 

 secondaries nearly white; rump and under parts white, 

 with a few dark streaks on the neck and breast. Bill 

 black with a red tip ; legs red. 



In summer the upper parts are yellowish brown 

 34i 



