"stands" rest by day on the sandy flats of the Estuary near Bartragh, and are most numerous when the moon is full.
Ringed Plover, Charadrius hiaticula.—Very common in winter. A few pairs breed on Bartragh, where I have found the nests a short distance above high-water mark: they were merely slight hollows scratched in the sand, and every nest that I saw was lined with little bits of broken cockle-shells. I have met with a few pairs in summer on the shores of that fine fresh-water lake, Lough Conn, and have no doubt that they breed wherever there are sandy bays on the margin of the lake.
Gray Plover, Squatarola cinerea.—Met with in very limited numbers on the sands and shores during the winter, generally not more than one or two birds being seen together; but towards the latter end of March and beginning of April they commence to collect together preparatory to leaving for their summer haunts. On the 29th March last I saw a flock of nearly thirty birds on the sands near Bartragh, and shortly afterwards saw a flock of eighteen flying past. They frequently remain as late as June before leaving for their breeding quarters. Near Bartragh, on the 29th June, 1860, I saw a flock of thirteen Gray Plovers, two of which showed the black breast peculiar to the summer plumage, and on April 23rd, 1875, near the same place, I saw a flock of nine, two of which had black breasts.
Lapwing, Vanellus cristatus.—Very common, and breeds on all the low swampy lands throughout the country, but in autumn their numbers are increased by thousands of new arrivals from the north, at least I see no other way of accounting for the multitudes that are to be seen everywhere, especially on the sands, which is the more strange as they seldom feed by day unless when the nights are dark. They frequent the sands in large numbers up to December, and by the middle of that month the flocks are much reduced in numbers, and become more so as the season advances, probably by many of the birds going farther south. In February and March there is a partial return of the flocks to the coast, but not in such numbers as appear in September and October.
Turnstone, Strepsilas interpres.—A regular visitant, appearing generally in August and September, and remaining occasionally as late as May and June.
Sanderling, Calidris arenaria.—Common during autumn and spring on the shores the bay and estuary. Sometimes to be seen
