Page:Bird-lore Vol 08.djvu/69

 Some Bird-Notes from the Magdalens 45 in the dry sand a little way back from the shores of the inlets. Their eggs are not easy to see, and while we are walking about with downcast eyes, trying to make eggs out of stones, the pretty birds are pattering along just before us, uttering melodious piping calls. The eggs begin to hatch soon after the middle of June, and, if we can discover a single one of the odd- looking, stilted puff-balls of chicks, there will be a good chance to snap- shot the mother bird as she comes bravely to the rescue. At least I know that the mother "Ringneck " will be that accommodating, for one of these trotted up and brooded her baby on the sand close by where I was seated with the camera. Of the omnipresent Spotted Sandpiper, we can find nests by the dozen, and who can tell but what the nest of the Lesser Yellow- legs may be the lucky strike, for I have seen these birds at East Point in the breeding season. If one is fond of the Wild Ducks, it will prove interesting and profit- able to search for their nests, — on small islands, in reedy bogs, on the grassy shores of ponds, and under small spruces. It is well to beat over any favorable ground syste- matically, and without making much noise. Then, when approach hap- pens to be made to the right spot, the Duck will sit close until almost SEMI- PALM ATED PLOVER stepped on, and then go fluttering off, to the entrancing excitement of the ornithologist, who must be spry to note color and markings and identify her before she gets too far away. 1 have thus found nests of the Dusky Duck, Blue-winged Teal, American Scaup and Red-breasted Merganser. The Green -winged Teal is also there, and of course breeds, as, I suspect, from local reports, the Oldsquaw occasionally may do. The Dusky Duck is common, and generally breeds early, having some broods out by the middle of June. However, I have found sets of fresh eggs late in that month. The Teal is also early, but the Scaup and the Merganser are late. The latter is very abundant, being the commonest Duck, but one will not readily find nests before about the first of July, or as long as the females are seen in numbers with their mates. Most of their nests seem to be located under thick, low spruces or juni- pers, and hence they are hard to find. One nest which we discovered, however, was in a tract of thick grass, just back from the shore of an inlet. Another was in the grass by a small bush on a small islet, or 'nubble', in a pond. Another, on Seal Island, I found by accident. I was coming through the spruce -thicket out to the steep, rocky shore, when I noticed two or