The sandpiper utters on the wing a clear musical note, thrice repeated;
and in the pairing season the male has a trilling note, or song,
emitted while hovering in the air. Both old and young birds are able to
swim with ease, and, to escape danger, dive as readily as a moorhen or
water-rail.
Green Sandpiper.
Helodromus ochropus.
Upper parts olive-brown glossed with green and spotted with white and
dusky; under parts white; tail white, the central feathers barred with
black. Length, nine and a quarter inches.
* * * * *
The green sandpiper, like many other members of its family, is a
visitor to the British Islands after the breeding season. This species
differs from others in coming earlier and departing later. Half a
century ago it was observed in Norfolk that the green sandpiper was to
be met with during nearly every month in the year. The discovery was
made later that it differs from other sandpipers in breeding in trees,
in old nests of other birds, in squirrels’ dreys, and on mossy trunks
and branches. On account of this singular habit its nest is rarely
found; but that it has bred, and does breed, in this country scarcely
admits of a doubt.
In continental Europe it is known to breed in Scandinavia, North and
Central Russia, and North Germany. The eggs are four in number, pale
greyish green in ground-colour, with small purple-brown spots and
markings.
The green sandpiper frequents inland watercourses and swamps in wooded
districts, and is excessively shy and wary in its habits; it flies
rapidly, and utters when on the wing its shrill, piping note, thrice
repeated.
Redshank.
Totanus calidris.
Summer plumage: upper parts pale brown closely streaked and barred with
umber; secondaries nearly white; rump white, with a few dusky flecks;
tail-feathers white barred with blackish; under parts white, streaked
on the neck and breast with umber; legs and feet orange-red. Winter
plumage: upper parts ash-colour; rump and under parts white, sparsely
streaked and spotted with grey on the neck and breast. The female is
slightly larger than the male. Length, eleven inches.
* * * * *
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