. The birds of California : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 580 species and subspecies of birds found in the state. Birds; Birds. The Semipalmated Plover on their own account. One such I saw, a Semipalmated Plover, at Sandyland on the 29th day of August, 1911. This bird suddenly detached himself from the company of his fellows and went whistling and cork- screwing through the air like a paper in a cyclone. The presence of the birdman may have been the innocent cause of all this excitement, for as often as this mad prophet repassed the main flock, he shrieked at them to avoid
. The birds of California : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 580 species and subspecies of birds found in the state. Birds; Birds. The Semipalmated Plover on their own account. One such I saw, a Semipalmated Plover, at Sandyland on the 29th day of August, 1911. This bird suddenly detached himself from the company of his fellows and went whistling and cork- screwing through the air like a paper in a cyclone. The presence of the birdman may have been the innocent cause of all this excitement, for as often as this mad prophet repassed the main flock, he shrieked at them to avoid the wrath to come—but the other birds paid no attention whatever to him. Semipalmated Plovers are common, but never abundant visitants during the fall migrations. Their movement at this season is leisurely, and they occupy about two months in passing, from August 15th to October 15th, with exceptions of a month or so on either side of these dates. There are early accounts of the species wintering at San Diego, but none have been seen at that season in a good many years. The return movement of spring is much more condensed and purposeful. The bulk of the species passes through our borders during the first week in May, but again there are exceptions on either side, and a few stragglers, as always, linger into June, or else abandon the northern journey outright. On a magic day in May, camera-laden, I visited Cavaletto's Point, west of Santa Barbara, and straightway became engrossed with a little flock of Semipalmated Plovers. Old hand that I am at the game, I shall not soon forget the arduous and delightful hour spent in the company of these confiding little gleaners. A thin fog kept rolling up over the scene of operations, only to be burnt oft again by a sturdy sun. The alternating moments of enshrouded mystery and stark revelation would have been romantic enough in themselves, but when the chance of a lifted curtain might bring one face to face with a gentleman from Peru, the
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1923
