File:Birds through the year (1922) (14752238971).jpg

Identifier: birdsthroughyear00thom (find matches)
Title: Birds through the year
Year: 1922 (1920s)
Authors: Thomas, William Beach, Sir, 1868-1957 Collet, Anthony Keeling, 1877-
Subjects: Birds -- Great Britain Birds -- Pictorial works
Publisher: London, Edinburgh, T.C. and E.C. Jack, ltd
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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waist deep on the margin, theynibble them up to the merest remnant, passing the succulentblades through their handlike fore paws as might theirrelatives, the squirrels. Such sights and sounds may any observer enjoy wholoafs through the long warm day, and continues his vigilthrough the silent night hours, until the marsh mists vanishin a new days sunbeams, when the sky in the east turnsfrom deepest blue to palest green, when the stars grow dim, 78 SPRING and streaks of golden break above the horizon and changefrom fiery red to paler yellow, even until the full glory of theday appears. The least shuffle of the feet sets all the littlesedge-warblers off singing their rough ditties, whilst moor-hen croak notes of astonishment, and the grebes hard bycluck their annoyance at the disturbance. There are othercries—there is the crake of a water-rail, the screech of an owlin the wood yonder, the call of a night-prowling heron thatbreaks harshly on the ear like the wail of a ghostly wanderer.
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OYSTERCATCHERS Those who have attempted sleep during a night on the broadswill certainly be awakened by such strange night noises. Otters are much more likely to be heard than seen, thoughtheir traces are evident. You might see now and then thetail end of a big tench, or a bit of an eel,—they are fondof big eels—you might even observe the sedges trampledwhere they landed, but so wary are they, that even themarshmen can seldom catch sight of one landing. In oneplace where a pair had three or four young at a litter itbecame a standing marvel how they managed to bring themup in secret; and the anglers who grumbled about thenumber of fish killed in the neighbourhood never penetratedthe secret. When day first comes how many birds are seen NIGHTS ON THE WATER 79 here which are seldom seen elsewhere. A clamber throughthe gap in the sandhills brings the watcher to the beach,where he will find the ringed plover mournfully piping to hisfellows, the sanderling with his freckled gorget round

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