2 CURLEW SANDPIPER.
rapidly across the flats apparently secured, the small worms and other insects usually extracted hy the
majority of Waders. After a stormy night large quantities of Plovers, a few Uodwits and Knots, together
with several parties of Terns were on the water early on the morning of the 20th. I did not recognize
a single Curlew Sandpiper; but on picking up the results of a shot with the lug gun into a flock of Knots,
a specimen in full winter plumage was discovered in the midst of the slain. This bird, though exhibiting
the winter dress, would shortly have moulted, being thickly covered with red pin-feathor>, a few of
which bad hurst, but were invisible till carefully looked for. No other Curlew Sandpipers were seen this
season, though Breydon Hats were closely watched till the cud of the month.
Id the spring of 1S72 I was on the Sussex coast and failed to recognize this species among the
Hocks of Waders frequenting Shoreham Harbour and the Hat coast-line on toward* Worthing.
Though the whole of May 1873 was passed on lireydon it was only on the 10th that this species
was observed. The day was cold with a fresh easterly breeze anil several Plovers and Godwits made
their appearance on the Hats. One Curlew Sandpiper which had partially acquired the summer plumage
was shot and another (a dark red bird in full dress of the adult male) passed the punt so rapidly, (lying
duo cast, that there was not even time to snatch up the shoulder-gun.
Being nbscnt for some years during spring on the Scotch coasts and various parts of the country
apparently out of the usual range of this species, it was not till May 1S81 that I ngain fell in with
an adult Curlew Sandpiper. Several small parlies of Godwits, Grey Plovers, ami Knots having arrived en
the muds in Shoreham llarliour on the 10th of May, I was on the spot early on the 11th. A cold
breeze from the north-east blew over the flats soon after sunrise, the wind being especially suitable at this
date to bring Waders along the coast. A flock of some twenty birds were soon made out on the flats,
feeding gradually before the rising tide towards the embankment enclosing the river. This small
gathering proved to be • mixed party composed of Godwils, Grey Plovers, Knots, Dunlins, and a single
Curlew Sandpiper. The latter, I soon discovered, was a male in the flnest stage of summer plumage; and
the whole number being utterly unsuspicious of danger, there was not the slightest difficulty in examining
them thoroughly by means of the glasses. In addition to this handsome specimen two brightly coloured
Knots fell to the Bhot. As the survivors were not molested, they remained about the Hats all day,
betaking themselves at high water to the shingle-hanks.
To record every instance wdiere the adults (changing from summer into winter plumage) bavo
been met with in autumn is unnecessary. In 1971, 1972, and 1973 I noticed numliers on Breydon
during August and September. Several exhibited the transformation of plumage in a most singular
manner, the breast at times retaining its red colouring, while grey and white Helium had made their
appearance on the back. In these stages Curlew Sandpipers are not uncommon in Shoreham llarliour and
other flats on the Sussex coast.
With the exception of the bird showing the grey feathers of winter, shot on Breydon on May 20,
1871, I have met with but one other specimen in the same state of plumage; this was obtained near
Shoreham early in November 1975, being at the time in company with a small flock of DunUns.
The young of the year usually reach our shores in autumn, much about the same date as the adults.
1 lind the earliest arrival on the coast of Sussex is recorded, in my notes for I*."i9, under date of August
30lh. This season birds in immature plumage were especially numerous about the Nook at Bye, and also
on the flooded marshes stretching towards Winehelsea. The following year large flocks were also met
with in the same locality, the birds being especially plentiful on September I 1th. Though occasionally
intermixing with Dunlins, they showed their predilection for the company of Stints (ZHNGM luiutiht), flocks
numbering from forty to fifty composed entirely of these two species being often si-en. In 1901 a
considerable portion of iho flats forming the Nook were drained: after more than one failure a sen-wall
CURLEW SANDPIPER.
was built that successfully held back the flowing tide. The change from mud-batiks to grass-marshes was
evidently but little relished by the Sandpipers; the first autumn after the alteration I happened to be
present when a large mixed flock of Curlew Sandpipers and Stints, after wheeling round two or three times,
settled down among the sheep, which were now the occupants of their former quarters; after running
about in the grass for a time, evidently bewildered by the transformation that had taken place they
appeared at last to comprehend the state of attain, and uttering n succession of low cries, the whole
flock took wing in search of more congenial feediug-groumls •. After this date the flocks of Curlew
Sandpiper! resorted for the most part to the pools in the marshal, where a constant overflow from the
dykes caused a muddy bottom, nllbrding an abundance or food whenever the water feB.
On again visiting the district in September 1909, I found most of the old haunts or these birds about
the Nook and the adjoining marshes d.-scrlcd, improved drainage having reudcred the nature or the soil
utterly unsuitable to their requirements. Though I railed to detect the spot f to which they retired at
high water, Curlew Saudpijiers came in view soon after tho tide commenced to ebb. On the extensive
sands to the east of Bye Harbour, parties of small Waders were noticed, as the tide fell, gathering into
one large body; on examining them carefully through the glasses and procuring a few specimens, I
ascertained that the flock, numbering at least five hundred, was contused for the most part of Curlew
Sandpipers with a sprinkling of Sauderliugs and Kentish Plovers. Though feeding together on the
flats, the various species separated when disturbed, alighting again, however, in company and at no
great distance, and immediately spreading out to search the soft mud in the channels in the sand. Most
of the birds were exceedingly tame; though watched closely through the glasses, I could not identify a
single adult of this species, the whole mimlicr exhibiting the immature plumage.
I remarked that there appears but little difference in the dates at which these Sandpipers make their
appearance in autumn on the Norfolk coast and the flats in the east and west of Sussex. As n rule,
I gather from my notes and the information from the coast-gunners that the earliest arrivals arc noted
on Breydon. To the best of my knowledge, none were seen about Shorehau
when a smaU party, all immature, passed along the coast about n mile at sea,
of 1S83 I observed about half a dozen young birds feeding on tho flats, in
Dunlin, as early as the loth of September.
! till September 29,
est. In the season
with Dotterel and