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© F.Coakley , 2021
[From Bird-Life in the Isle of Man]
Of the dove species this is, as might be expected, the commonest in the Island, and at times in the winter they may be found in great numbers where the food which they like is to be found, places where there are beech-trees being specially favoured. What I thought shewed a lot of pluck was the view of a solitary bird which was seen by me flying in the company of two ravens and two hooded crows over the Calf one day at the end of May; but perhaps it thought that there was safety in numbers! I love to hear these birds "cooing" in the early hours of the morning. I have listened to them on a cold morning in January; I have heard them in July and on many other occasions. One bird hardly missed a morning from July to September in Garwick Glen. Their nests are nothing to boast of, consisting of just a few sticks badly thrown together. I once found one in Ballaugh Curraghs on a stunted tree only four feet from the ground, with the usual two eggs. Sometimes, indeed generally, they are a good height from the ground. The youngsters are funny-looking little creatures, and change their colours pretty rapidly. Guy and I found two which were nearly all black with great big grey bills and white tips to them. Another pair which we saw were in a yellowish stage with slate-like and yellowish points. The birds nest early and late. I have found, on March 10th, an egg which was partly sucked, probably by a magpie. The great trouble about this bird is, that it is, no doubt, a great pest to the farmers, when it descends in flocks of several hundred, as I have frequently seen in Kirby Park, and works through the fields for food. Indeed, a man told me that he had an idea of soaking a lot of peas in whisky so as to get a lot of the birds drunk and then shoot into them, because they were so destructive — the pity of it, and they are so lovely. A curious thing about these birds is how there is a sort of ‘‘ crack ’’ from the wings when they fly past.
From a good many observations, I think that the Baldwin Valley is a very favourite place for these birds ; probably the biggest lot which has been seen by me in that part is about 50, and the parties have always been in the early months of the year. Once, at the end of December, I watched some thirty birds which appeared to have just arrived on the clifis of Marine Drive; after circling about the lower part of the clifis they rested. Then, presently, they were off again, tumbling or turning in the wind and then straightening out. Parties have also been seen by me near Derbyhaven and Garwick. A small colony of nests may be found at the top of the Sulby Glen, where the birds nest high up the side in holes in the rocks, or rabbit holes. W. Berry of Ballamoar showed me a nest from which the bird flew, and which was some thirty feet up a big tree in the centre of some ivy. Once, in August, I came on two birds which were lying in the grass on the Ayres and not far from the shore, as if they were resting from a long journey. It would be, presumed that, like most birds, there is a good deal of migratory movement at certain times of the year.
I notice that P. G. Ralfe, in his book, very rightly points out that the origin of these birds, which are seen on the Manx coast, is doubtful as a genuine species. I mention this, as I only recognize these small doves with a bluish back and white rump, as coming under this category — and I cannot say that they are common. Most of the birds which have been seen by me have been between Garwick Bay and Clay Head, and there is not much doubt that a few pairs nest in the rocky cliffs. Once, in February, eight were seen by me flying along the Garwick cliffs, which went into the cliffs; but, as a rule, they have just been one or two. One bird, during July, settled near me on a stone down the cliff, when it was blowing hard; then it flew off and had to twist and turn all over the place so as to make headway. Bradda Head appears to be a favourite place. Once, late in May, I was out in a boat below the Head, and watched a bird which was sitting by what looked like a nest hole up a rocky crevice. On two occasions in April I saw two along the cliffs on Marine Drive, but not since. I shall never forget a nest which I found on the Island of Mousa in Shetland ; it was on the floor of a filthy dungeon at the bottom of a Castle or Brough, to which I had to get by crawling on all fours. I had better draw a veil over the state I was in when I got out; but it was worth it.
All the time, in England, this bird keeps slowly pressing forward, ever more north and west. It is Over six years ago since I saw the first one which had come my way here. J. F. Crellin had shot it on September 13th at Ballamoar, Jurby, among a lot of ring-doves, and very kindly sent it to me; it was a bird of the year, with no neck patches. It was nearly four years later, in June, when a pair were seen by me not far from Bride which were flying southward, so far as I could see. About two years later I was in Government House grounds and saw a pair which flew close past, coming in from the sea. About three weeks later I was here early in the morn- ing and saw a bird fly into the grounds. It made me wonder, and I, unfortunately, never had the time or opportunity to follow it up; for it looked very much as if a pair were nesting. Again in late August, when on the Ayres, I watched a pair which were flying past close inshore and bearing east. It will be so nice if these charming birds become regular summer visitors, and I begin to be very hopeful.
This is probably the commonest wader which fre- quents the Island shores and rocks, and it is here all the year round, though from February onwards its numbers increase largely. On occasions birds may be seen inland, as in Holland, where every field seems to have a pair or two. Here I have seen them in April in the wet fields near St. Jude’s. The packs seem to get pairing in February and courting soon after. Vast numbers of birds nest in every suitable locality round the shores, and make very little nests in the sand or shingle except a scratch in the ground; occasionally small stones are used to make a semblance of a nest; a few birds prefer to go in-shore a bit. The usual clutch of eggs is three, but on several occasions I have found four; it must be very difficult for an Oyster-catcher to sit on four such big eggs. Guy and I found one nest in a grassy hollow at the very top of some rocks on Fort Island, a quaint place. Another nest was found by me eight feet up the side of a sand-cliff near Orrisdale at the back of a large stone. It is amazing to watch the birds sneak off in an unconcerned manner as if they had no nest, and I am quite sure that, certainly on one occasion when I left Ballaugh shore, the birds set up a regular pean of joy at our departure, whether jeers or cheers I know not. The young are nice little things, with grey and brown stripes like plush in texture, and pale flesh-coloured legs, and a squeak not unlike the call of the parents. I have watched a youngster cuddling up against its mother in the sweetest way. This was just after I had seen two old birds go for a raven and drive it off, honking in an amazed manner. The birds are well worth watching on the shore; they are quite the perfect bathers, dipping well in and throwing water over themselves. As the tide is coming in a bird will hop back a bit on one leg as the water gets too much round it; a comical sight. Once, in November, J. F. Cregeen and I watched a bird on Fort Island which went off a rock straight into the sea and swam out—and the sea was fairly rough at the time—rather down in front and with the tail well cocked up; and it continued on quite happily, and was still at it when we had to leave.
This is the commonest wader on the Island shores, and may be seen throughout the year in suitable places, and at times in considerable numbers; great numbers also remain to nest. Wherever there are sandy, muddy, stretches, there they may be found looking for food. Wherever there is shingle or sand or both, from the latter part of April to July, there they may be observed with nests or young. The courting starts early in the year. On one occasion two pairs were under my observation; one female pretended to be quite unmoved by the male’s atten- tions as he crept towards her ; the other pair kept staring into each other’s eyes—not unknown among mere humans! On another occasion a courting male strutted about with all his feathers up on his back like a ruff. As often as not, the four eggs are laid on the sand or shingle and among stones, with no attempt at a nest. A few are arranged quite artistically with a lining of shell chips; the best which I have seen were all lined with white coral. The earliest date which has been noticed by me is April 26th when there were three eggs in a nest near Orrisdale Head. One year I found three nests on the Ayres on July 9th. Many nests must get washed away every year when they are put too close to the tide-line, and there happens to be an inshore wind. It is amusing to watch the birds when a human being approaches a nesting area; they slowly walk off in an uncon- cerned way as if they had no interest in the neigh- bourhood. When young are about, they will come the broken wing game, dragging their wing painfully along the ground, and slowly moving away from the danger point, hoping to draw the person after them. To me there is something pathetic about the parental concern. Some birds prefer to nest off the shore either among the adjacent sand-hills or right inland among grass and pebbles. The chicks are on the move at once, and pass through various stages of plumage. I noticed one over-grown chick, one day in July, with very long and very red legs, with which it had great difficulty in doing the right thing. And the weeks roll on and the autumn and the winter are on us again, and the birds, once more care-free, collect in large packs, and an on-looker may have the joy of watching those wonderful swift moves, sometimes high up in the sky, more often just above the sea, first dark, then white, in one combined thrilling move as they flash past one at express speed. How is it done?
This species is a regular visitor to the Island during the autumn and winter, generally speaking, from October until towards the end of March. I have a note of a bird which was brought to me on August 26th with the right wing badly damaged and its bill bent. I let it loose in my garden at Garwick, and it soon disappeared. I have found a couple up on the Beary Mountain early in September. Derbyhaven and its neighbourhood are favourite resorts, though I have seen them inland in several places, notably about Ballaugh Curraghs. Once in October I saw some 1z0 on the Derbyhaven sands close together, and keeping up a chattering purr all the time; then they rose, and the sound of their wings was like the rustle of a silk dress. One November Canon C. E. Raven and I saw fully 300 on the rocks near Derbyhaven ; but the greatest sight I have had here was an army of fully 2,000 which were first by Castletown Bay, and then rose and made for South Barrule like a living cloud; and their evolutions in the air are marvellous, especially whén sometimes wee dunlins join in the happy throng. But I believe that the biggest pack which I have had near me was one 23rd of March when, about 8.20 p.m., I was walking into Parkfield and near St. Ninian’s, and there was a dense mist. Suddenly I heard whistling — honestly, for a moment, I thought it was a man — then, from every direction I could feel, more than see, myriads of these birds passing continuously and calling; they would have been beyond counting, and all heading west. Before they leave for their nesting quarters — and perhaps occasionally a stray pair may stay to nest here, I do not know — I am sure that they are paired and courting. One March I watched a pair in a ploughed field ; they were sort of walking round each other and then standing very quiet and then on again ; it was very amusing to watch, and I have no doubt that they were not bored, even if they looked so.
One may, with luck, see a bird, or birds, before the end of September. Rex and I saw three one year on the 20th ; but the best sight of all was on the 26th one year when T. A. Coward and I saw two grey plover with four sanderlings and three little stints standing close together in the "Pool of Siloam" by the gate of Langness — so-called because things are always moving there. Their visits are apparently most irregular, they drift in from time to time in very small parties. Guy and I have seen as many as seven together. Often it is only a solitary bird which will hang about for weeks, presuming, that is, that it is the same bird ; looking so lonely, perched on a rock which is very often half submerged as if it liked paddling ; sometimes coming on to such a rock with wings lifted over its back and showing the dark axillaries. Except that Guy and I once saw four birds off Scarlett, all observations have been round Derbyhaven Bay; and before they, or it, finally disappear in the spring, they begin to show more silvery on the back. I did see one once on April 2nd, but that was exceptionally late.
This species is very capricious in its movements in the Island. At times hardly any may be seen anywhere ; at times there can be none. Then, when England is having a very cold spell of weather, it arrives in thousands; probably many go to Ireland, but a lot will stay. Only recently fully 2,000 were seen by me which were coming in over Onchan Head and passing west inland. It may safely be said that birds may be seen every month of the year. Late in February of a very cold year I saw birds near Ronaldsway which were trying desperately hard to dig into the frozen ground and not meeting with much success. The numbers which stay to breed are not very large. The courting starts early in the year and I have watched much spreading of wings when showing off before the mate, and heard soft, plaintive calls when at a breeding site. H. M. Rogers found a nest with eggs on the Ayres on March 23rd one year. My earliest date is April oth, when Guy and I had two nests in the St. Jude's Curraghs, both of which were on hummocks of grass, which they seem to like when available. The lining is very slight, just a little grass or bits of straw. I always feel sorry for the old birds when near the nests; their “ mewing sounds so heart-broken; and, outside of human beings, from whom I fear that they suffer badly (but not so badly as it used to be), crows and magpies are always on the look out for an egg for a meal. The young things look very quaint with huge, long, grey legs, a pattern in brown and black and a little red. The chicks, just hatched, have a nice white neck-band, The lapwing in its maturity has a strong flight and will make good progress against the stiffest breeze; at times it is most interesting to hear that curious crackling noise which it makes with its wings, especially noticeable when agitated.
I have notes of seeing Turnstones in every month im the year, except July. The latest date which I have is June 26th, when one was on the Ayres with three oyster-catchers close to it. Colonel Sares and I saw three here on June 4th. Once I was here in the middle of January—pretty cold it was too — and I found twenty-five huddled together on the edge of the tide. I love their habits; their quiet little calls when they fly away; their business-like habits of turning over odd bits of seaweed and wrack on the shore to look for the tit-bits which may possibly be concealed underneath. They never seem to be in a hurry; and when they have got their full tortoise-shell plumage in the summer, they are a thing of beauty. Once I saw them in their thousands on the shore in the north of Texel, Holland; it was a sheer glory of colour. They were, of course, resting on their way to the nesting places in the far North. Once in November Guy and I were near the Scarlett quarry and found eight in a row on a rock, looking very thoughtful ; it was exactly like that very good photo which is to be seen of these birds on the second volume of T. A. Coward’s famous bird book.
As its name might suggest, this bird is more of the sandy shores; and, quick as others may be in searching for food along the tide-line, this little chap leaves the others standing. Its movements are like lightning, so to speak. I saw it once, in its anxiety and haste to get to a new feeding ground, dash into a crack between some rocks, fall into the sea and have to swim some way to get out; truly more haste, less speed. It is very fast on the wing, as it goes off at a great rate, possibly giving its little call of "quik quik", but I do not think that it dashes round in headlong flight quite as much as some of the other small birds of its kind. Birds of this species may be seen here practically every month of the year, though in the summer they are reduced to a few unmated ones which have not gone further north to the far-off breeding grounds. They have been seen by me on the Ayres in May and the middle of June, and again about the middle of July, through August and September; during the later months they appear to be less in evidence, but I have notes of them being about in December and January when they have been round Derbyhaven and Castletown bays in small numbers. Once these birds have shed their black and cinnamon summer plumage they are the greyest birds of their size to be seen scampering about.
If anyone wants to see the Knot in countless hordes, and generally in the autumn, I can recommend them Ainsdale beach on the Lancashire coast. So far as the Island is concerned I have found it rare and in comparatively small numbers. What movements there are also correspond to those of the curlew-sand-piper and little stint, except that they do come here on very rare occasions, from my observations, later in the winter. I saw three at Derby Castle which flew in with a grey plover and settled near a red-shank; and that was in February. A party of eight which were in their lovely summer plumage were seen by me late in May on the Ayres when there were so many other waders passing; and they have been seen by me again in August; and I think that the young birds make a very lovely sight. But as a rule it is as grey and white birds that they may be seen, whether on the Ayres or round Derbyhaven, where T. A. Coward and I once saw 24 on some muddy ground in September, or at Port St. Mary where some 40 were seen by me in the same month. They always look stout and stable fed; but, stout or not, they make a splendid show on the wing, even in small numbers, as they turn and twist and skim over the water at speed. I could wish that we saw more of them, but I fear that this is evidently not their feeding ground and they decrease rather than increase.
Next to the Ringed Plover, the Dunlin is our commonest wader, although, so far as I know, it does not nest here. T. A. Coward says that it ought, and some day will — may it be in my time. Paul Kneen picked up the remains of one on the side of Garaghan one August, but that was no doubt a bird which was flying over. This poor thing had this peculiarity, that it had pitting at the apex of the bill, which T. A. Coward says is only to be found in a small percentage of birds. Anyhow, I have notes of birds being on the Island in every month of the year — June, naturally, being the month when very few are about ; and the numbers vary greatly, an average pack being about 20 or 30, though I have counted over 50 by the Pool of Siloam; but they are not easy to count, as they are generally mixed up with ringed plovers and are very restless. Their course of feeding is not quite so energetic as some of the small waders, but it is delightful to listen to their little calls kept up as they move about; at times they are very talk- ative. The black plumage on their little tummies, which is part of their summer kit, is very noticeable ; they lose it in the winter months. All the sandy, shingly beaches may be their feeding haunts; and then they vary things by those amazing flights in numbers when they go through marvellous turns and twists with never any collisions, one with another ; and their speed is tremendous. One poor little chap hit the telegraph wires at Ballasalla and completely severed one of its wings.
A few of these birds pass through the Island on the return migration from the north and may be either young or old birds. It is curious what a very short time elapses between the last departure for the north and the first arrival for the south. F. G. Cornish and I came on nine birds on the 11th of May which were on the Ayres shore and very chestnut in plumage. Returning birds have been seen by me in the last days of July, but I must add that very few birds appear to pass through here when going north; when they do, they always seem to be desperately hungry and racing round for food. I watched one very tired bird, which was also wanting sustenance badly; it wasted no time in frequently burying its bill almost to the eyes in water and seaweed and sucking in what it could find. Once at Derbyhaven I found a young bird which had only one leg, but it was wonderfully active and got about surprisingly well, but fed by itself ; it probably did not want to get jostled. These birds never stay late in the autumn, they are off some time in October, though I did see two immature birds at Derbyhaven on November 22nd, unusually late ; possibly they had been hatched out very late. I like their little "Whit Whit" call. I like their active feedings, and they make a pretty picture when they are rising with their flicking flight, and what more beautiful than a group which I once saw of two of these birds on the Ayres with three sanderlings and two ringed plover ?
The movements of these very small waders are very similar to those of the curlew-sandpiper, but the numbers which pass through are only ones and twos. I did once see five together, and my observations would suggest that their visits are erratic and uncertain. They seem to have a great liking for the place which I call the Pool of Siloam, with its filthy black mud; once T. A. Coward and I saw three there which were close to two grey plover and four sanderling ; this was late in September after a heavy south-east gale. Twice I have seen birds which were, during May, working north with other waders; on one occasion the Ayres was thick with these weary waders. All my other observations have been in the months of August and September, except for one date in October, the 4th, when Rex and I saw two on the sands at Derbyhaven with some ringed plover which looked quite large alongside of them.
This wader is a great favourite of mine, it is such a cool customer, and nothing seems to put it out; if it is caught by the incoming tide, and it often is when on a reef of rock, it just swims for land or rock quite calmly. If a yelping red-shank comes and bawls in its ear, like some specially noisy boy selling news- papers, well, it does not even look up! It can feed fast enough, but it is not greedy, and takes quite long spells off for an "easy"; in fact, one day, I caught half a dozen asleep, one might say leaning against a rock near Douglas Pier, with their heads tucked back on their shoulders; but, believe me, they were quickly alert. If the water rises over the legs of a small party, they give a little skip, and then, as their perch gets precarious, they will fly off to another feeding place, sometimes giving a little call like “ Whit whit’’; and then, having landed once more, they creep about for food so quietly ; or, may-be, some go and have a wash and a preen on the tide-line. I have seen birds on the Ayres about the middle of August, and they have been about as late as nearly the end of April. As a rule they are only in small numbers. Port St. Mary is a favourite place, but Douglas has been a very regular feeding ground, though 1 fear that the widening of the Promenade has rather spoilt some of their haunts, and I do not see so many about. The finest sight of these birds was one year on December 5th ; it was blowing a tremendous storm from the south-west, the tide was well in in Douglas Bay. I met T. F. Cregeen on the Loch Promenade, and he took me over to the seaside ; and there, lined up in rows on the ledges below the parapet of the sea-wall, were over fifty of these birds, storm-driven and sheltering.
This charming bird passes through the Island regularly every year in small numbers. It may be looked for by some stream or on the shore between April roth and 24th, and it is pretty regular. Round Douglas, as one might expect, the stream through Port-e-Chee is a favourite resort. on arrival. Guy and I were watching a bird here once when we saw a sparrow-hawk swoop at it, but the sandpiper was far too quick and went off up-stream whistling merrily ; and it is such a cheery call, especially when a bird dashes along over a stream or sheet of water, carolling away all the time. One April I came upon eight by a pool, which looked very tired, as if they had just arrived off a long flight, but I had not been watching long before one bucked up and dashed off up and down the pool singing away. A bird was seen by F. G. Cornish and myself on May 21st along the Sulby river; this is a very likely place, but we could find no mate. I am assured that pairs have mated in that vicinity and I can well believe it. I hope it is a treat to come, for the eggs are so pretty and the young are delightful little fellows. Once I found a nest with eggs, and a young one, within a few yards of a big glacier in Norway, and these birds must be full of wisdom, as the nest was high up on a hillock, long experience having taught them that there may be a rush of water and such-like from that glacier. I have seen a bird back on the Ayres on July 19th and a few birds pass through from then on, my latest date for the return journey being August 2oth, when a bird was on the Ballaugh shore. May the time be not far distant when their whistle may be heard in the land right throughout the summer, with the nests and young.
I have only on one occasion seen this bird in the Island. It was in September, and the bird flew close past me, a picture of black and white, and came to ground by a ditch of water by the Curraghs ; and I got the darkish under-wing or axillaries as it came to rest. I have seen this bird in Kent, and also with T. A. Coward in Cheshire, where it appeared to be increasing in its numbers when on the move.
This bird is very common round the coast of the Island throughout the non-breeding months. It comes and goes, one day in numbers, again here and there one, but, as the spring comes in, birds flock here and in due course pass on, and I feel sure that the numbers continue to increase. From an observer’s point of view, this handsome red-legged bird is a most disturbing factor ; the minute the mere human approaches it starts to yelp, fairly shrieks its dislike, bobs up and down for a moment and then darts off still shrieking and upsetting all the other birds in its neighbourhood; and, in the course of its yells, it sometimes produces various other shrill calls. It is also not backward in making trouble; it is so restless and in a hurry and bumps into a neighbour possibly not so restless, and then they start jumping in the air and pecking at each other. The most determined fellow I have seen was one which had a wounded leg, and it would keep on at another bird and, though it overbalanced and fell into a pool more than once it still kept on. The redshank pairs fairly early in the year and goes through a courting period. I have seen a pair on the shore, the one chasing the other on foot all down the shore ; or perhaps on the wing and, after a long and weary chase, they have seated themselves well apart on two separate rocks. I have watched two rise very high in the air, the male fairly dancing as he rises with his wings outstretched and yodelling as he goes, a sort of "tchu tchu" note very different to his horrid yelp ; then, down he comes, and a couple of "piu-pius" are sounded, and lands on to the rocks, and stands in-an unconcerned way. I have had the luck of finding nests in Holland, Norfolk and Norway. I knew that birds must nest here, as I often came across them under such conditions as to show that nesting was going on; and, at last, H. M. Rogers, after a long and pertinacious watching, found a nest, and has found others since, more power to him. He very kindly showed me the nests which were, as I have always found them, beautifully hidden in a big tuft of grass. On one occasion the female was sitting so tight that I almost touched her. Then come the young, leggy, active little things which can run almost as soon as they are hatched; and the father excels himself once more, but more so in his abominable shrieks if one approaches too close; and soon they are all, young and old alike, down by the shore.
This bird is a not uncommon visitor to the Island shores. I have on most occasions found it alone ; I have on one occasion seen three together. Like Ireland, where I have seen numbers of them, they seem to like to come here all time during the winter ; indeed birds have been noted by me in every month but April, May and June. 1 have watched a bird. on the Ayres on July 7th, and I have a note of one which was by the Big Dub in Ballaugh Curraghs — the only time I] have seen one inland — on March 28th. Generally speaking, all my observations concern Derbyhaven. I remember seeing one here which was near Fort Island on a half-submerged rock; it was squatting by some oyster catchers, and it must have | been dead tired as nothing would induce it to move, I have heard them calling their "choo choo choo" round here; but once, quite early in September, I was on the Douglas promenade near the Jubilee clock at the time when the steamers were coming in, when I heard "cha-weet, cha-weet" and, there, sure enough, was a greenshank flying about close in-shore, and then it circled once more and left.
A bird of this species was killed against the Point of Ayre Lighthouse on September 23rd, 1926. Mr. J. B. Henderson, the lighthouse keeper, very kindly sent me the bird, which was, up to that time, I believe, the first of its kind recorded in the Island. It was a mature bird in winter plumage, and is now in the Manx Museum.
These birds visit the Island in small numbers, but are somewhat irregular in their arrivals and departures; sometimes they may not be seen for weeks. I once saw two at Derbyhaven on August 9th ; as a rule they are not seen until early September. It is interesting to watch one of these birds feeding ; it has a long way to pass its food through its up-tilted bill, and I have watched it bob its head slowly up and down so as to help the food along. When these birds alight, they seem to land with a sort of sideways motion. They are mostly in winter plumage while on the Island shores ; and, as a rule, they leave quite early in the year, but occasionally signs of the spring chestnut-colouring may be seen. Once, on January 18th, a great sight was seen by T. F. Cregeen and myself, when quite a thousand, or more, of these birds flew close along the shore at the Point of Ayre in great packs and hordes and in complete silence ; travelling from east to west and, presumably, making for Ireland. The last letter which I had from the late T. A. Coward referred to the sudden cold snap in England and the absence of bar-tails; and this was, no doubt, part of their movement to warmer climes.
I have only seen one bird in the Island; that was once on November 18th, on the Derbyhaven shore, when I was with F. G. Corris. It looked so huge and leggy, standing next to some curlew. I wish that it came here more often ; it is a delightful bird to watch, and I know it well, having, among other places, seen it at its breeding haunts in Holland.
The Curlew is no doubt our commonest shore-bird, although, in the breeding season, it is, as might be expected, rarely seen. In the autumn the numbers on the shores are vast—Mr. Coward says far greater than in Cheshire. Even as early as July roth I have a note of thousands on the sands below the Ayres, the shore being simply black with them. Migrants and residents, we cannot tell t'other from which. Spring movements bring more vast crowds, on the shores and passing. I remember one crowd passing Douglas on April 12th continuously from 9 to 1I p.m., with much calling; and working north, as Point of Ayre reported them passing that same night. Early, very early, in spring you may see the courting dis- plays, often carried on in the air. I have seen a bird going in for a curious cork-screw twisting flight on to the rocks; another doing a wonderful prolonged hovering like a hawk. Soon, those who are nesting in the Island—and they are many—repair to the moors and Curraghs; and then may be heard that lovely bubbling sound, so especially charming if one is tramping over the moors of an evening. And the nests, not too easy to find, are so interesting ; sometimes flat on the ground, sometimes on a slight rise ; generally made of some grass—I have seen some straw used. How beautiful are those four vast brown and black eggs—so huge for the size of the bird ; and the parents are never far off. Once I witnessed a tragedy; a heron raided the nest. Whether it got all the youngsters I cannot say for certain, but it had done damage enough for the mother bird to furiously attack it and drive it off, and then the poor curlew kept flying round in circles uttering the most plaintive notes. The young birds are so interesting and so leggy, a picture of black and buff with a very black eye, and a slate-coloured bill which at first is straight, and making calls not unlike those of a chicken, And then soon back to the coast once more where, in due course, you may put up a crowd off the rocks like a brown cloud; or they may be rooting about in the fields not far from the tide-way, even through the snow, as I once saw. And, wherever they alight, it is certain that they will be resting head to wind.
This bird, so like a small edition of the Curlew, but with a bill not quite so curved, is a regular visitor to the Island in spring and autumn; whether on its journey further north or on its return to more southern parts. Outside of the fact that it is not so shy as the curlew, its call is very distinct and easily recognizable, a kind of "toot-toot", sometimes repeated up to seven times. When it is tired after a long journey I have heard a peevish sort of "til-ten" or "tit-tit-tit". My earliest date for spring arrivals is April 26th, when Rex and I saw birds on the Ayres. May is the usual time, when I have seen birds at Derbyhaven and Port St. Mary. The earliest return date which has been noted by me is July 27th, when I both heard and saw birds at Derbyhaven; but August is more common. One September I saw a very tired bird on Derbyhaven shore which was having a glorious feed off sand-eels, or so I thought the feast was; he was fairly guzzling them, as if hungry after a long flight. A few birds come through from the north very late. One fairly late arrival was seen by H. M. Rogers and myself on the Marine Drive which was picking at the grass on the brows. Again, one was flying about late in November off Douglas Pier, very silent and looking as if it were lost; it came near where I was standing, and there I left it picking at the green slime on the wall. But, to my surprise, I found a bird here again on Decem- ber 14th looking very wretched — could it have been the same bird? Perhaps it was a sick or wounded bird. But, quite recently, on February 12th, L. Sim, F. G. Corris and I were near Langness when a bird passed quite close to us, calling loudly; now, I can only wonder, with great surprise, what could have been the history of this bird which was still wandering about so late ?
I approach this record with some diffidence, as I shall probably be severely criticized. I can only say that I give it in the belief that, without personal examination, the birds which have been seen by me could be nothing else. The first date when I believe that I saw one was on November 30th, 1930, when, accompanied by F. G. Corris, I put up this bird. It has a straight heavy flight, and it soon dropped again ; and we put it up again and had another good view. It was a heavy bird, heavier than the Common ; it showed white about the tail as it flew. It was on dry ground when first seen. The late T. A. Coward was in agreement with my description, and I must add that it called very slightly, and, as he says, it agrees with what Ticehurst says, " generally silent, it sometimes utters a monosyllabic guttural croak on rising"; and this is just what this bird did — a call which I had not met with before. Now on January 15th, 1933, I was on the same ground with Corris again as well as L. Sim (who, incidentally, has seen this species of snipe in Japan), and we put up just the same sort of bird with the same characteristics. L. Sim was sure that it was this species, from what he could judge. We saw it again a few days later, probably the same bird still resting. I leave it in the hands of my readers.
This bird is very numerous in the Island in suitable places, but it also adds to its numbers considerably in the autumn and winter with in-coming migrants. It is quite a usual thing to kick up several tired birds which have just landed and are lying to rest near the shore or inland in certain places; the most which I have put up in one wisp is ten, and I have heard of more. Out of one field we turned out twenty-five snipe and one jack over a very small area. They are such fine fellows, too, as they fly off in their zig-zag manner, sometimes silent, generally calling ; often in dry places other than marshy land, just as it may happen where they have dropped. I love their flight, and they can speed up, as any gunner will tell one. I have watched them as they fly away to a great height, or go out over the sea and come in on a great semi-circle like a sand-piper. On Clay Head I have seen a bird hovering for a while with its long wings well out, in a most hawk-like fashion ; and then, rising to a great height, it flew off. Then there is the curious bleating or drumming noise which, though not always necessary done for courting only, is nevertheless part and parcel of the male bird's display, especially from March to May, from my experience. So much has been written about this that I refrain from making any comments, except that it is glorious to watch as the bird planes down from a height. From April onwards comes the nesting, and the birds breed in numbers in suitable places. I have known as many as six nests in one small area. They are wonderfully well concealed in grass or rushes, though I found one once on a damp spot rendered quite open by a recent grass fire. I have known a nest to be placed on rough ground where carts were likely to pass; a cart-wheel actually passed over the nest, but the birds carried on. Then come the youngsters, and it is worth a long sloppy walk if one is lucky enough to see the charming soft little things, a blending of grey and dark chestnut colours, with a black bill, and smoke-grey legs; and how they scuttle to cover and hide is a joy itself. And it is a bit of luck to see them under such conditions, and it makes one realize more and more the wonderful intelligence which birds have from birth.
This species, smaller than the common snipes, come in on migration early in autumn, and may be found, on arrival, near the shore, or, later, in much the same places as their relation the larger snipe. One day, in December, F. G. Cornish and I were wandering along the shore by Castletown Bay, and, close to the rocks and saltings, when we flushed a bird out of some seaweed. It flew a few yards and settled ; and then again. This time it stood well up behind some seaweed and gave a splendid view; finally it flew away some distance, having kept up its usual silence all the time ; for indeed they rarely call when put up, and usually their flight is straight and of no distance. Once in November W. E. Mylecraine and I watched four jacks and one common which came flying along the shore on the Ayres — this was about 3.0 p.m.—from west to east, with a slight south-east wind blowing; once they half halted as if they were going to rest on the shore; one did actually touch ground; and then on again and soon out of sight. J. F. Crellin and I once flashed a bird on April 15th, which is a late date for spring and not to have left for further north. The bird is very small; it only weighs, on an average, about 24 to 3 ounces.
What a lot has been written about the Woodcock, and I expect that a great deal more will be written. Personally, I only know it, mostly as a migrant, in small numbers as a resident and breeder. Unless one is a shooting man and has a dog, the chances are none too bright for seeing a bird or birds, as the woodcock lies very close during the day. But it is a joy to watch a bird when that chance comes one's way. I believe that it is on the increase as a nester in the Island and will continue to do so if not inter- fered with. It does not seem to mind where it nests. I once, by the courtesy of R. Howarth, was able to see a nest which was under a fir-tree high up on one of the mountains; another which was seen by me, by the courtesy of F. A. Craine, was in a flat, wettish place; and that was a beautiful sight, as she sat perfectly still on her eggs and never moved, though we were quite close; and there was all the glory of the lovely plumage and the graceful way of sitting, never to be forgotten. I have, largely through the kindness of E. C. Kneen, had the chance of carefully examining the plumage of many birds, but I refrain from any comments as to dark or light plumaged birds and remain just satisfied with the delicate blendings of colours to make so splendid a result, and, as a wonder of Nature’s great handiwork, the very large ear below the eye.
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Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received
The Editor |
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