Part 22

A solitary example of this species was shot on the 16th September 1906 at Tresco in the Scilly Islands. It is an American species and is not unlike a very large Redshank, but the legs are longer in proportion and yellow in colour. Length 12·15 in.; bill 2 in.; wing 8 in.

THE COMMON REDSHANK Totanus calidris (Linnæus)

The Redshank is a common breeding species in suitable localities throughout our islands.

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 barred and spotted with blackish, the under parts white, profusely streaked on the neck and sides of the breast with ash brown, the flanks being barred with the same colour. Length 11 in.; bill 1·8; wing 6·25 in.

The female resembles the male, and the young may be recognised by the feathers of the mantle having buff spots and the legs being yellow.

The white secondaries are very conspicuous in flight.

THE SPOTTED REDSHANK Totanus fuscus (Linnæus)

The Spotted Redshank is a rare migrant on both the spring and autumn migrations. In Scotland, Ireland, and the west of England it is almost unknown, but in the eastern counties a few probably occur every year on passage, but their stay is of such short duration that they are often unnoticed.

It breeds in the north of Scandinavia and Russia, laying its eggs in very dry situations at a considerable distance from its marshy feeding-ground. The young are, however, taken to the marsh as soon as they are hatched.

In summer the male has the upper parts black mottled with white, except the rump, and upper tail coverts, which are white, barred with black. Under parts black. Bill black, red at base of lower mandible; legs and feet deep red. The female at this season often has a white chin. In autumn the upper parts and neck are ashy brown mottled with white; under parts white. The young differ from the autumn plumage of the adults in having the chin white and the rest of the under parts thickly barred with ash brown. Length 13 in.; wing 6·6 in. This species lacks the white wing bar.

GREENSHANK Totanus canescens (J. F. Gmelin)

In a few places in Scotland where large tracts of pine forest exist some small boggy swamps varying in size from two or three acres to perhaps half an acre, may be found situated in the midst of the woods. These swamps form the summer home of the few Greenshanks that nest with us. The eggs are placed on a tussock in the centre of one of these bogs, so that to reach them is by no means an easy matter, and so cunning are these birds that they are seldom seen feeding on the swamp where they nest, but prefer to dine elsewhere. The eggs are generally of a light stone colour, boldly blotched and marked with darker brown. As soon as the young are hatched the parents remain in constant attendance, and should any one disturb the peace of their solitude, fly round, calling out incessantly. Amid such surroundings, therefore, be it in Scotland, Sweden, Finland, or elsewhere, the Greenshank is born, but as soon as he is able to fly at about five weeks old he departs with his parents for the nearest sea-shore where the mud-flats exposed at each tide afford him abundant nourishment. He is a wild and restless bird, and continually utters his clear "tui-tui" when on the wing. As a rule he is more partial to ditches filled and emptied at every tide than a broad flat expanse of mud, and by walking quickly along a ditch he may often be closely approached and watched as he probes the soft ooze for worms, shrimps, sand-hoppers, or anything that may come handy. At the least sign of danger, however, he is off, calling out as he rises and displaying a very conspicuous white rump. Although liking to associate with others of his kind, his wild flight soon breaks up the family party, so that by the time he reaches our shores in August and September it is generally in twos and threes. The abundance of food on the shore has not been without its effect, and he is at this time of year exceedingly fat, doubtless a wise provision, as both old and young are moulting and migrating, which must be a serious tax on their system. They stay but a short time with us, and by the beginning of October the last of them has gone and their ringing "tui-tui" no longer enlivens the shore. In April they will return, but they are then anxious to reach their summer home, and brief as is their passage in autumn it is still shorter in spring, and if we wish to see them then it must be at their home in Scotland or farther north.

In summer the back is nearly black, each feather being margined with white; rump white; head white streaked with dark brown. Under parts white with a few blackish streaks on the throat and upper breast. In winter the back is greyer and the under parts are pure white. The sexes are alike. The young are browner on the back, and have buffish margins to the feathers. Length 14 in.; wing 7·25 in.

THE RED-BREASTED SNIPE Macrorhamphus griseus (J. F. Gmelin)

Some half-dozen examples of this American species have been met with in England, all of them during the autumn months.

At this time of year, except in size, it resembles a Dunlin; but in spring the under parts are chestnut, spotted on the breast, and barred on the flanks with dark brown. The feathers of the back are black, edged and barred with rufous. Rump and upper tail coverts white barred with black. The shaft of the outermost primary is pure white. Length 10 in.; wing 5·5 in.

THE BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica (Linnæus)

On migration this species visits us in fair numbers, being found on low sandy shores and sheltered estuaries. A few remain throughout the winter, but by far the larger number pass on to Africa after a short sojourn. In May there is a return migration, especially along the east coast, the birds being then in full nuptial plumage.

It breeds in the northern portions of Europe, and in winter it is found throughout Southern Europe as well as in Africa. The note is a loud "louey, louey."

In autumn the sexes are alike, and the general colour is brownish grey above and white below. The tail feathers are brown with no bars, but the tail coverts are barred at all seasons.

The young have a shorter beak than the adults, and are brown chequered with buffish above and dull buff below. The tail feathers are broadly barred.

In spring the male has the back blackish with tawny markings, the head and neck chestnut with dark streaks. Whole of the under parts deep chestnut, the sides of the breast spotted with brownish black. Rump white. Tail whitish with brown bars. Length 15·5 in.; bill 2·25 in.; wing 8 in. The female is much larger and has very little of the ruddy tint.

THE BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa belgica (J. F. Gmelin)

During the first half of last century this species used to nest in small but diminishing numbers in the fens and marshes of Lincolnshire and East Anglia. It is now only met with on passage, and even at such times it is by no means common, and in Scotland and Ireland it is scarce and its visits very irregular. On the Continent it breeds in South Scandinavia, Central Russia, Poland, North Germany, Denmark, and Holland, migrating during August to the Mediterranean basin.

Their food consists of insects and worms, which in this country are chiefly sought for in marshes near the shore. In the autumn plumage the general colour is ash brown above and greyish below. There is a conspicuous white wing bar, and the tail feathers are mostly black with white bases. In spring they have the mantle brown, mottled with black; head, neck and breast pale chestnut, the latter being barred with black. The female is considerably larger and rather duller than the male. The young in their first autumn resemble their parents, but have the neck and upper breast tinged with buff. Length 16 in.; wing 9 in.

THE CURLEW Numenius arquata (Linnæus)

The Curlew is an abundant resident throughout the United Kingdom. In the winter it is essentially a shore-bird, moving about in large flocks, which may be found in the meadows and pasture-lands near the coast; these flocks journey to the shore twice daily to feed on the mud or rocks left bare by the ebbing tide. In April it leaves the coast to nest on the heath-covered moors, and though it breeds in larger numbers in Scotland it is well distributed in the north and west of England and Ireland.

The nest is a shallow "scrape" with hardly any lining, and is placed among the heather or in a grass field. The four eggs are very pyriform in shape and are olive green in colour blotched with brown; the duties of incubation are undertaken by both sexes. It is extremely wary, rising on wing at the least alarm and calling out its loud "cour lie," which may be heard a considerable way off. Its food consists of worms, slugs, snails, and other insects, and when on the shore, small fish and crustacea are added to the bill of fare.

The general colour is a pale brown, with dark streaks; rump, vent, and upper tail coverts white. In winter the under parts are very pale in colour, almost white. The female is larger and the young in their first plumage are spotted rather than streaked on the back. Length 21-26 in.; bill 4·7-6 in.; wing 11·5-12·25 in.

THE WHIMBREL Numenius pheopus (Linnæus)

The Whimbrel only passes through these islands on migration, though a few pairs breed on the Orkneys and Shetlands. The spring passage generally takes place in May, from which it is known in some countries as the May-bird. In habits and food it closely resembles the Curlew, but its note is very different, being a rather melodious rippling whistle, which may be syllabled as "telly, telly, telly, tet." The fells of Arctic Europe form its chief nesting-grounds, whence it migrates in winter to the shores of the Mediterranean.

In plumage it is very similar to the Curlew, but may always be distinguished by having the crown of a uniform dark brown with a pale stripe down the centre. It is also a much smaller species. Length 17·5 in.; bill 3·4 in.; wing 10 in.

THE ESKIMO CURLEW Numenius borealis (J. F. Forster)

The home of this bird is in Arctic America, and some eight or nine examples have been procured in this country.

In appearance it is rather like a small Whimbrel, but it may be recognised by the absence of barring on the primaries, no white on the rump, transverse arrow-head markings on the under parts, and the axillaries being chestnut barred with brown. Length 14 in.; wing 8·25 in.

THE BLACK TERN Hydrochelidon nigra (Linnæus)

Up till the middle of last century the Black Tern was a regular summer visitor to our shores, remaining to breed in the fens and marshes of England. For the last forty years, however, it has only occurred on passage, the adult birds passing through in April and May, and flocks in immature plumage being found along the east coast in the autumn. To the west of England and Scotland it is a very irregular visitor, and the same may be said of Ireland.

It nests in colonies on inland marshes, the nest being an accumulation of decaying vegetation floating on the surface of the water. The eggs, three in number, are olive green blotched with dark brown. Its food consists largely of aquatic insects and their larvæ, dragon-flies and such like, but it also feeds readily on small fish.

South of the Baltic it breeds in suitable localities throughout Europe, migrating from its more northerly summer quarters to Africa.

The adult in summer has the head, neck, and under parts dark greyish black, the rest of the plumage slate grey, except the vent and under tail coverts, which are white. Bill black. In winter the forehead, nape, chin, throat, and under parts are white. The young resemble the adults in winter, but the upper tail coverts are lighter and the back and wing coverts are greyish mottled with brown. Length 10 in.; wing 8·5 in.

THE WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN Hydrochelidon leucoptera (Schinz)

This species, which is nearly allied to the preceding, breeds in the marshes of Central and South-eastern Europe. It is a very scarce and irregular visitor to our eastern and south-eastern shores, especially in spring.

In habits it resembles the Black Tern, from which it may be distinguished in summer by its red bill, white tail and tail coverts, and whitish wing coverts. The young may be distinguished from those of _H. nigra_ by their longer toes and much paler rump and tail. Length 9·5 in.; wing 8·25 in.

THE WHISKERED TERN Hydrochelidon hybrida (Pallas)

This is a more southern species than its congeners, breeding in Spain, on the delta of the Rhone, and eastwards in Turkey, Greece, and South Russia. To our shores it is a very rare visitor, some half-a-dozen specimens only having been obtained.

In summer it is not unlike the Black Tern, but it may be recognised by the bill, which is stouter and red; the black of the head and nape is sharply contrasted with the grey of the back. A broad white stripe runs backwards from the base of the bill. Chin and throat grey, shading to black on the belly. In winter the forehead and under parts are white. Length 11·5 in.; wing 9·25 in.

THE GULL-BILLED TERN Sterna anglica, Montagu

With this species we come to the true Terns or Sea-Swallows, the preceding species being known as Marsh Terns. The Gull-billed Tern is only a very scarce straggler to our shores, being a southern European species though occurring yearly as far north as Denmark.

In habits there is nothing to distinguish it from our commoner species.

In summer the adult has the whole of the upper parts, including the tail, pearl grey; head and nape dense velvety black; primaries blackish. Under parts pure white; bill and legs black. In winter the head is white streaked with black. Length 15·5 in.; wing 13 in.

THE CASPIAN TERN Sterna caspia, Pallas

This large Tern is, like the preceding, only a rare straggler to our shores. It nests in Denmark and various islands on the Baltic, as well as in the Mediterranean basin eastwards to the Aralo-Caspian area.

Plumage much as in preceding species, but the tail nearly white. Bill vermilion red; legs black. Length 20 in.; wing 16 in.

THE SANDWICH TERN Sterna cantiaca, J. F. Gmelin

This species arrives on our coasts about the middle of April and at once repairs to its breeding-stations. In England these are very few in number and mostly in the north, but occurring equally on the east and west coasts. In Scotland the colonies are rather more numerous, while Ireland can only boast of one in the north.

It nests on the bare shingle, the nests being usually placed quite close to each other. Two or three eggs of a pale stone colour, spotted and blotched with reddish brown and black, form the clutch.

Like all Terns, this bird is a powerful flier, and seizes the fish on which it feeds by plunging into the water with considerable force. Its note is a loud and harsh "kirhitt," which may be heard some way off and often enables this species to be detected when among other Terns. It leaves our shores as soon as the young are well on the wing, and though a few stragglers may occur on the coast during the autumn it is by no means a common species, and needs all the protection it can get, if it is to remain an annual summer visitor to our shores.

The adult male in summer has the crown of the head black; the rest of the upper parts pearl grey; rump, tail, and under parts white, the breast being suffused with a delicate rose tint which soon fades after death. Bill black with a yellow tip. Legs black. The female is similar but slightly smaller. In autumn the back of the head and nape are white, the latter being lightly mottled. In the young the head is white mottled with black. The feathers of the back and wing coverts have black and brownish crescentic markings and white tips. The tail is also marked with angular lines of black, the outer feather being almost entirely greyish. Length 16 in.; bill 2·5 in.; wing 12 in.

THE ROSEATE TERN Sterna dougalli, Montagu

This Tern still nests in small numbers round our shores, but it is extremely scarce and somewhat erratic in its choice of breeding-quarters, which often vary from year to year. It arrives very late in May, and leaves our shores as soon as the young can fly, so that it is not often met with on migration. It breeds sparingly on the coast of France, but its chief breeding-quarters are along the Atlantic coast of the United States.

In general habits it resembles its congeners, but it is an exclusively sea Tern, obtaining most of its food some distance out at sea.

In plumage it is almost indistinguishable from the two following species, but it may be recognised at all ages by the white inner margins to the primaries reaching the tip and even some little way up the outer web. The bill in the breeding season is black; legs and feet red. Length 15·5 in.; wing 9 in.

THE COMMON TERN Sterna fluviatilis, Naumann

This species arrives in May and nests in colonies round the whole of the coast as well as on some inland waters. In England it is the commonest Tern, but in Scotland and Ireland the Arctic Tern is almost if not quite as numerous, and both species may often be found nesting on the same island or beach.

Its food consists of small fish and crustacea, which it catches after the manner of all Terns by dropping down on them with closed wings from a moderate height.

They nest in colonies on rocks, shingle beaches, or near the margins of large inland waters, and very little attempt at a nest is made, though this species almost invariably gathers a few bents together. The eggs are usually three in number, often only two, and are very variable in colour, being as a rule greenish or stone buff, with brown and grey spots and markings.

The note is a sharp "kik-kik," but during the nesting season they utter a loud "ee-arre," which is rather characteristic of this species.

The young are covered with pale brown down mottled with black, and leave the nest as soon as they are hatched, but they remain near the spot until they are fully fledged and well able to fly, as they are during that period entirely dependent on their parents for food.

Soon after the young can fly, old and young gradually disperse along the coast, slowly working southwards till by the beginning of October the last straggler has left for its winter quarters in Africa.

In summer the adult has the crown of the head and nape black, the rest of the back pearl-grey; rump white; tail feathers white with greyish outer webs. Under parts white tinged with grey. Bill orange red with _horn-coloured tip_; legs coral red. The sexes are alike. In winter the forehead is sprinkled with white and the under parts nearly pure white. The young in its first plumage has the head white; spotted with blackish brown, the feathers of the back pale pearl-grey barred with buff or brown and tipped with white; by late autumn, however, the back is pure grey with the exception of a dark band along the carpal joint. Bill and legs yellowish. Length 14·25 in.; bill 1·7 in.; tail 6·5 in.; wing 10·5 in.

THE ARCTIC TERN Sterna macrura, Naumann

Except in a few minor points of plumage and in its distribution this species is the counterpart of the preceding one. In England it is only met with on migration, though a few pairs may nest in the north, but in Scotland it is the commonest Tern, breeding in increasing numbers northwards. In Ireland it breeds commonly, especially on the wind-swept islets of the north and west. Elsewhere it breeds in circumpolar regions, and has been met with in winter in Antarctic seas, so that it has a latitudinal range of from 82° N. to 74° S., probably the largest range recorded for any one species.

Its nesting habits are similar to those of the Common Tern, and as a rule it collects absolutely no materials for a lining, but lays its eggs in a shallow "scrape" or even on the bare rock. The eggs are indistinguishable in colour from those of the Common Tern, but are on the average slightly smaller. To the experienced ear the note is also rather different, but that difference is too slight to be expressed on paper.

This species may be distinguished from the preceding species by its blood-red bill, which is _not_ darker at the tip, and the shorter tarsi. The under parts, especially in summer, are much darker, and the stripe on the inner web of the flight feathers is narrower and darker than in _S. fluviatilis_. In other respects these species are almost indistinguishable. Length 14·5 in.; bill 1·6 in.; tail 7·5 in.; wing 10 in.

THE LITTLE TERN Sterna minuta, Linnæus

This is the smallest of our Terns and is a summer visitor, breeding in fair numbers on shingle beaches round the coast but becoming scarcer in the north.

It may often be seen fishing in small parties at the tidal mouth of some small stream, especially when the tide is flowing. At such times it flies slowly towards the sea till it sees a fish, when it stops, hovers for a moment, and then drops on its prey, rising immediately from the water to resume its search; after progressing a short distance it will wheel back and return to its starting-point.

The eggs are laid on the bare sand or shingle without any attempt at a nest; they are usually three in number and of a pale stone colour spotted with grey and brown. The note is a sharp "kik."

In summer the head and nape are black, except for the forehead, which is white. Upper parts grey, tail and under parts white. Bill yellow with a black tip. Legs orange.