Knots making THEIR way from this far north appear on our shores as early as tho middle of
summer, the first flock* heing composed nf young birds. Under date of Judy 8, 1808, while on the
east coast of ltoss-shiro, I find the following in my notes:—*' LEFT the Mcikle Terry early and pulled
down the firth towards Tain, afterwards crossing over to the Dornoch shore. Several large flocks of
Knots «ere teen during the day Hying over the water as well as pitched on the saud-bauks. Tho
birds, as usual, were exceedingly tame, ample opportunities being obtained to examine them closely with
the glasses. After repeated observations 1 at length came to the conclusion that there was not an
adult in their ranks. Iletween twenty and thirty knocked down at one discharge, in order to aseerlaiu
thrif condition, proved to be in the juvenile plumage, their breasts coaled with fat, and their legs and
beaka exceedingly soft and fleshy. Many hundreds might have bean obtained with the shoulder-gun
alune ; to slaughter them, however, nt this season was simply useless destruction."
Though the young, according to my own experience, invariably show first on the north 00it coast
of the Highlands and also in the south of Scotland, I have on more than one occasion remarked adults
arriving on the Norfolk mudllats in advance of the immature birds. While shooting ou lireydon in tho
autumn of 1878, an adult Knot, partly red, though plainly exhibiting the change into winter plumage,
was killed on the 1st of August. No young had as yet lieen seen, and it is seldom they arc met with
in this part before the middle of the month. In 1871 the first Hock, numbering about a score, was
seen on the 2lllh during a strong gale of wind from the west; these were all young with the exception
of a single adult thai appeared in perfect plumage till pinked up, when its feathers were found to be
much faded and worn. In 1972, on the same water, I noticed a few old Knots in company with adult
Grey Hovers on August 24th. On the 27th it blew a hurricane from the north-east, rendering the work
of navigating lireydon in the punts utterly impossible. On scanning the flats at low water from the
North Wall, I made out a large Hx'k of Knots, apparently- all young. On the following morning at
daybreak young birds were met with in large numbers, several, intermixed with Golden Plover, being
bagged with the punt-gun. August 27th is the earliest at which 1 noticed the young so far south as
Sussex, a pair being killed in the Nook at live Harbour on that dale in 1958.
Though immature birds, according to my own observa lions, make the laud towards the north of
Scotland, the course followed by the adults appear- to point more to the northern and eastern counties of
England. Por n couple of mouths from the beginning of August l~>7t. I carefully watched the arrival
of Knots nlonir the shores of the Firth of I'jrth, and during this season not a single adult came under
my notice. Ahead the middle of September a large addition to the birds previously observed was
remarked; the following extract from my notes refers to the fact:—"September 10. While pulling slowly
back from <i ill hi no Ray, during a dead calm, immense nuuiliors of Knots were observed resting on the
slabs of ruck round the island of Ebris. Ou making an examination through the glisses, they appeared,
so far as 1 was able to judge, to cousist entirely of young of thu year. There were also a few
Har-tailed Gudwits, Turnstones, Oyster-cutcbers, aud Purple Sandpipers scattered here and there over
the lower ledges. As we approached, a couple of Hulls showing immature plumage flew round the
hunt, nnd nfter circling for a few moments over the swarm of birds ou the rocks, continued their euurse
towards the south-east. No rarities being visible, we were about to leave the Waders unmolested, when
one of the ITCW remarked that a few of the Plover (Knots) would prove most aciTptublu to some of the
old folks at Oanty Hay. The boat was consequently dropped quietly within range, and the birds drawing
into n compact body as they rose from the rock, I was enabled to discharge a couple of 10-bores with
good effect into the Hook. In addition to the four hands from Canty Bay, we carried to-day two
sturdy young fishermen belonging to oue of the North llerwiek boats, to assist in pulling the lung
oars ¡U case of hard work in chasing wounded birds. These laddies proved extremely useful, though
the eagerness they displayed while overhauling a brood of Kiders somewhat discmoortod the elder portion
of the crew. This was probably their first experience In •hooting, and the quaint remarks they uttered,
as well the excitement shown in the sport, was most amusing. 'Shi but yen's a hounie slauehter!'
exclai d the leader, when despatched to collect the slain, as, springing on the rocks, they started in
pursuit of the cripple* rapidly making their way among the broken ledges. After a Tew minules' search,
between fifty aud sixty, all in immature plumage, were gathered, several having been carried away by
the tide, aud others escaping, owing to the roughness of the ground."
Ou the northern and eastern coasts a heavy gale during autumn and winter frequently eauscs the
immanent of large bodies of Knots along the shore, the course hold being usually head to wind. The
following lines are from my notes in Norfolk in 1972 and East Bothian in 1971:—" November 11, 1973.
Gule of wind with squalls of iniu from north-norlh-ensi. Knots in flocks of from fifty to one hundred,
intermixed occasionally with Grey Plover and a few Turnstones, were flying all day to the north along
the Yarmouth beach. Though this Kale, commencing on the 111li, did not abate till the evening of the
l(»h, I remorked that but few Knots were seen aBer the first day." "September 19, 1S7I. Blowing
a gale from west and south-west. While on the shore between Canty Bay aud North Berwick, 1
noticed immense flocks of Knots Hying along the coast in the face of the slorm. There were also
thousands of Dunlins and a few Grey Plovers nnd Turnstones."
On the coast of Sussex I have repeatedly remarked that dirty weather setting in, with rain and
wind from the south or south-south-west, about the middle of September, brings large numbers of Knots
into the muddy harbours and saltwater estuaries. Immature Bar-tailed Godwits, clouds of diminutive
Waders, and Terns of various species usually accompany them inlo the sheltered waters, all parlies seeking
to escape the bufferings of the raging storm outside. No sooner do the drilling squalls abate and the
weather gives signs of moderating, than with the first gleams of sinishiue breaking through the clouds
the weary fugitives appear to pluck up strength and, winging their way across the dreary shingle banks,
again betake themselves to the open const-line.
Unfortunately for their own welfare Knots, and especially the young birds, are the most unsuspicious
of the feathered tribe. Occasionally in winter and early spring I have met with large Hocks as wild
and unapproachable as the watchful Curlew ; but, as a rule, continued persecution will he required to put
them on their guard. They may commonly be seen IQ company with almost every specie* of Wader
that frequents the mudflats ; it is seldom, unless wounded, that a solitary Knot is observed. On the
south coast I have often remarked a single bird or a pair the most conspicuous figures in a small party
of Dunlins, while on the shores of the Highland Hrths flocks of hundreds, if not thousands, commonly
join in company with immense bodies of Bar-tailed Godwits.
When shooting on any extensive mudflats, I have often decoyed small partial of Waders, and
occasionally even large flocks, by placing out a number of wooden dummies • ; Knots and Dunlins
were usually the first, lo gather, and their presence would speedily attract the more wary species. A
short extract from my notes while gunning on Breydon during the autumn uf 1*71 will give some idea
of the actions of Knots after alighting to the decoys, as well as an account of the various Waders to
lie met with at that season on those well-known mudflats;—"The weather turned exceedingly coarse
during the afternoon September 8), and several Wlgeon and Curlew were bagged. Septemlier 1): on
reaching our former station shortly before daybreak, n large flock of Waders were detected feeding on tho