SOME BIRD-NOTES FROM SOMERSET COAST. 29 



catchers, some sitting and stretching, others standing sentinel- 

 like, but all with a melancholy aspect, waiting for the ebbing of 

 the tide and the approach of feeding-time. 



Nine young Sheld-Ducks left the rock and swam out to sea- 

 ward ; one old bird led the way, and the other, the female 

 apparently, brought up the rear. In the brilliant sunshine they 

 looked lovely; the ducklings resembled little balls of down 

 tossed to and fro on the gentle waves. About twenty more 

 almost half-grown began to swim from the island in charge of 

 two old ducks, and it was surprising how fast these ducklings 

 could swim against the tide. 



As the tide went out, several hundreds of Black-headed Gulls, 

 immature and adult, arrived and stood thickly along the shore, 

 moving slowly as the tide ebbed. Feeding with them were 

 a few Herring-Gulls and Kittiwakes, with the Oystercatchers 

 at varying distances from each other as far as the eye could 

 see them. 



I distinctly heard the "purre" of the Dunlin, but did not see 

 one. A small party of Einged Plovers came up the shore, and 

 quickly turning flew outwards to the receding tide. Oystercatchers 

 and Einged Plovers nest along the shore, and it is quite probable 

 that the Manx Shearwater will some day be included in the 

 breeding birds of Somerset, considering that there are several 

 stations on the west coaBt from Scilly to the smaller island of 

 St. Tudwals, off Carnarvon. 



