. The aquatic birds of Great Britain and Ireland . specially on the ooze-flats 862 ^ devoid of cover, is well knov^n to every observer of shore-birds. Each member of the Hock grows uneasy andsuspicious should it see an observer watching it even froma distance. Presently a shrill whistle is given forth from awary veteran, then from a few more birds, soon a dozenor^ more voices are heard as the outlying members wingtheir way towards the densest part of the flock. The alarmrapidly spreads among the ranks, until, with one accord, animmense mass of birds is seen taking wing, accompanied
. The aquatic birds of Great Britain and Ireland . specially on the ooze-flats 862 ^ devoid of cover, is well knov^n to every observer of shore-birds. Each member of the Hock grows uneasy andsuspicious should it see an observer watching it even froma distance. Presently a shrill whistle is given forth from awary veteran, then from a few more birds, soon a dozenor^ more voices are heard as the outlying members wingtheir way towards the densest part of the flock. The alarmrapidly spreads among the ranks, until, with one accord, animmense mass of birds is seen taking wing, accompanied bya babel of whistles of Curlews and other shore-birds. Forthe warning has by this time reached far and wide, so thatRedshanks, Plovers, and other species, growing anxious,also relinquish their feeding-grounds. The Curlew is anunduly timid bird, and will leave the shore at the sight ofa man even though far beyond gunshot-range. Most wild-fowl rather shun the society of the Curlew when theycan, as its constant note of alarm, sounded unnecessarily. Fig. 48.—head OF CUKLEW. Nat. size. often, becomes a source of worry and uneasiness. But infoggy weather Curlew can be approached closer on the openstrand, and it is extraordinary how much magnified theyappear as they stand along the edge of the tranquil thick weather I have been almost startled as one ortwo of these great birds, looming out of the fog, uttered apiercing screech immediately over my head, at the sametime swerving sharply in its flight the instant that itsaw me. Flight.—The flight, though much less cleaving andtwisting than that of the smaller shore-birds, is neverthe-less rapid and sustained. The steady up-and-down wing-strokes remind one of the hurried flight of a Gull. Whentravelling long distances the birds of a flock may be seento arrange themselves in a V-shape, or less often in a rather CUKLEW 363 iiregular line; just before alij^hting Ibey usually clusterclose together. Voice.—The whistle of a star
Size: 2928px × 854px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectwaterbi, bookyear1906
