Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/313

Rh attention was attracted by the very peculiar cry of a sandpiper flying at a great height over Roserk, and as I never before heard a similar call I was much puzzled to find out what bird it was. Again, on the 13th September of the same year, I started a sandpiper off the Moyview shore, which uttered the same peculiar callnote, and surprised me by its wild and powerful flight. It rose from the shore like a wild snipe, soaring to a great height and going right off out of sight, so unlike the habit of other sandpipers. I next heard the call near the island of Baunros on November 15th, 1871, and again on November 27th, 1874; and I both saw and heard the bird on the 23rd April, 1875, when passing Baunros in my punt, but it was so wild that I was unable to get a shot at it. Although I went on two occasions to the island I was always unsuccessful, and after the 25th the bird disappeared altogether for the season. My next meeting with it was on September 4th, 1876, when I heard it call as it flew along the shore here, and afterwards saw and heard it on several occasions, but although most anxious to obtain it, I was always unsuccessful, owing to its great wariness. On the 30th October I was in my punt near Roserk, when I got a close view of the bird resting on the strand amongst a flock of Redshanks. As the punt drifted near, the latter made off, but the stranger ran along the shore before the boat, calling loudly. I was well able to see its long slender bill and legs (so very different from those of the common bird), and the streak between the eyes and bill, and when it flew off the dark wings also proved that it was the Spotted Redshank. After leaving the shore, it flew a couple of hundred yards away to another island, and as it was alone I easily got a shot from the punt and knocked it over—the third Spotted Redshank known to have been obtained in Ireland. My curiosity as to what bird uttered the peculiar calls that had so long puzzled me was thus satisfactorily gratified.

Green Sandpiper, Totanus ochropus.—A very rare visitant, and only twice obtained here. The first I shot at a little lough on the 13th January, 1866, and the second was shot at the same place on August 25th, 1874, by Mr. A.G. More, who saw a pair there.

Common Sandpiper, Totanus hypoleucos.—A regular summer visitant to all the lakes and rivers.

Greenshank, Totanus glottis.—Common. It very probably breeds on the shores of some of the little bay lakes, as I have met the