Last Cutting Farman

“ What few remain are driven, mainly through steam drainage, to the Suffolk side of the Waveney, where the marsh is yet suitable for them, between the river and the Herringfleet Hills. Owing to the long drought, the land is now almost as hard as rock. The young Lapwings are thus seeking their sustenance by the water's edge at the ditches. ”

“ Redshank.—Redshanks, like the Lapwings, have entirely forsaken the old haunts; fifteen years ago, many couples of these birds nested on the rushy marshes at the foot of the uplands, quite two miles from the river. Just ten years ago the last couple nested there, and in 1894 the last of the Redshanks nested on the Norfolk side of the Waveney. In early spring by the river side it is not uncommon to witness twenty Redshanks in one flock before they pair for nesting. I have noticed this species on the fens in almost every month of the year, and in 1894 I saw one on Christmas Day. ”

“ I generally shoot a few young one during the month of August, high tides driving them from the Rands to the fen ditches.
Reed Warbler.—The Reed Warbler is nothing near so numerous in the district as of yore. When a youngster, I was fond of trailing through the tall reeds to search for Reed Warbler's nests, and had little difficulty in finding half a score. Now it would take a lot of searching to find that quantity of nests, and judging from the few birds one sees, this species has decreased very much during the past ten years. ”

“ We usually have a good day or two with the Snipe in November, but these birds have very much diminished during the past twenty years, our marshes becoming more solid and unsuitable for them, and we have to tramp the ditches for the few couple we yearly obtain. We have some good sport with Snipe during moonlight weather by sitting near a swamp of shallow water facing the moon, and I have knocked over several in an evening. They come screaming through the air like bullets, and dropping into the shallow water can be easily discerned in the moonlight, and, with care, shot sitting. ”

“ It is almost needless to state that in such a district, and despite the revenue tax, wildfowlers are numerous, and on favourable nights an almost incessant fusillade is kept up in select spots when heavy rains or some breakage in the river's bank have flooded a few acres. ”

“ Meadow Pipit.—Of late years the Meadow Pipit seems to be on the decrease, though several still breed with us. I have seen a few nests myself this season, and allowed the same to remain undisturbed.
Yellow Wagtail.—The Yellow Wagtail is only second to the Skylark in breeding numbers. Annually, at the beginning of April, a large number of these handsome birds visit us, and I have seen some scores of them dotted about the fens. Their bright yellow plumage very much resembles the blossom of the dandelion, which at that time abounds in the locality. ”

“ In a wood near my home I found a Sparrowhawk's nest containing six eggs, which have now been successfully hatched. And I know of three pairs of Redback Shrikes and two pairs of Redstarts in the village; but I note that Whinchats and Stonechats are very scarce with us this season. Nightingales have bred in quantity. Cuckoos, Swallows, and Martins are plentiful. I have only heard the Wryneck's note once this season, this species having locally decreased very much of late years. ”

“ Owing to the fine and open winter of 1898 few rare birds paid us a visit. A friend obtained a very beautiful specimen of the Common Bittern, the only one I heard of during the winter, and which was killed by the side of the river Waveney. ”

“ You do not see them when once on the wing. Lapwings and Plovers are similar in habit, and these come before the Ducks' flight. After having done with the Snipe, &c, you can often add a Duck or two to your bag.
In some winters we have a number of Geese on the fens, but, owing to absence of cover, not many are shot. ”