|
Wild Geese: Kinds, Shooting, Feeding, Habits, Breeding; Black-headed Gull and Birds that breed on the River-banks
CHAPTER XIX.
Wild Geese: Arrival of; Different kinds of Anecdotes of-Shooting Wild
Geese - Feeding-places-Wariness - Habits - Breeding-places - Black-
headed Gull-Birds that 'breed on the River-banks.
On the 2nd of March a flock of twelve wild geese passed
over my house, flying eastwards towards the Loch of Spynie:
these are the first birds of the kind I have seen this spring.
On the 6th I hear of the same flock being seen feeding on a
clover-field to the eastward, in the flat country between this place
and Loch Spynie. This flock of geese are said to have been
occasionally seen during the whole winter about the peatmosses
beyond Brodie, there having been no severe frost or snow to
drive them southward.
The first wild geese that we see here are not the common grey
goose, but the white-fronted or laughing goose, Anas albifrons,
called by Buflbn V Oye rieuse. This bird has a peculiarly harsh
and wild cry, whence its name. It differs in another respect
also from the common grey goose, in preferring clover and
green wheat to corn for its food. Indeed this bird appears to
me to be wholly graminiferous. Unlike the grey goose too, it
roosts, when undisturbed, in any grass-field where it may have
been feeding in the afternoon, instead of taking to the bay every
night for its sleeping-quarters. The laughing goose also never
appears here in large flocks, but in small companies of from eight
or nine to twenty birds.
Though very watchful at all times, they are more easily approached than the grey goose, and often feed on ground that
admits of stalking them. I see them occasionally feeding in
small swamps and patches of grass surrounded by high banks,
furze, or trees. The grey goose appears to select the most open
and extensive fields in the country to feed in, always avoiding
any bank or hedge that may conceal a foe.
On the 10th of March last year, when out rabbit-shooting in a
small furze cover, I saw a flock of some fifteen or sixteen white-fronted geese hovering over a small clover-field, not far from
where I was. My attendant, who has a most violent liking for
a " wild-goose-chace," immediately caught up the dogs, and made
me sit down to watch the birds, who presently pitched, as we
expected, on the clover-field. I was for immediately commencing the campaign against them, but this he wrould not
admit of, and pointing out a part of the field sheltered by a bank
overgrown with furze, where the clover was greener than elsewhere, he told me that in ten minutes the birds would be there.
Knowing his experience and cunning in these matters, I put
myself entirely under his orders, and waited patiently. The
geese, after sitting quietly for a few minutes, and surveying the
country around, began to plume their feathers, and this done,
commenced feeding in a straight line for the green spot of grass,
keeping, however, a constant watch in all directions. " They
will be in that hollow in a minute, Sir," said Simon ; " and
then, Sir, you must just run for it till you get behind the bank,
and then you can easily crawl to within thirty yards of where
they will pass." Accordingly, the moment they disappeared in
the hollow, I started literally ventre a terre. One of the wary
birds, however, evidently not liking that the whole flock should
be in the hollow at once, ran back and took up her station on
the rising ground which they had just passed over, where she
stood with her neck erect and looking in all directions. I was
in full view of her, and at the moment was crossing a wet rushy
spot of ground ; nothing was left for it but to lie flat on the
ground, notwithstanding the humid nature of my locale; the bird
appeared rather puzzled by my appearance, and my grey clothes
not making much show in the rushy ground and withered herbage
which I was lying in, she contented herself with giving some
private signal to the rest, which brought them all at a quick run
up to her side, where they stood looking about them, undecided
whether to fly or not. I was about two hundred yards from the
birds ; we remained in this manner for, I dare say, five minutes,
the birds appearing on the point of taking wing during the whole
time : suddenly I heard a shout beyond the birds, and they instantly rose in confusion and flew directly towards me. As soon
as they were over my head I stood up s the effect of my sudden
appearance was to make them break their line and fly straight
away from me in all directions, thus giving me what I wanted,
shots at them when flying away from me, in which case they are
easy to kill. My cartridges told with good effect, and I killed a
brace, one dropping perfectly dead and the other extending her
wings and gradually sinking, till she fell on the top of a furzebush three or four hundred yards off, where I found her lying
quite dead. It appeared that Simon, seeing that the birds had
observed me, ran round them, and then setting up a shout, had
luckily driven them nolens volens over my head. They were
the white-fronted goose, with pure white spots on their foreheads. About three weeks after this time, at the end of
March, large flights of grey geese appear here, feeding on the
fresh-sown oats, barley, and peas during the day, and passing the
night on the sands of the bay, whither they always repair soon
after sunset.
I had passed a great part of several days in endeavouring to
get at these wary birds, and had occasionally killed a stray one
or two, but some ill luck or error on my part (Simon would
never admit that his own tactics were wrong) had always prevented my getting a good shot at the flocks. As for Simon, he
protested that " his heart was quite broken with the beasts."
One morning, however, I got up at daylight and went to the
shore ; a heavy mist was rolling over the bay, and I could see
nothing, but heard the wild and continued cry of hundreds of
geese answering each other, and apparently consulting as to what
direction they should seek their morning's repast in. Presently
I knew from their altered cry that the birds were on wings, and
were coming directly towards where I was : I sat down, ana very
soon a long line of geese came cackling and chattering within
fifteen yards of me, and I killed a brace with no trouble. In
the afternoon, while walking on the shore, I saw a large flock of
geese rise off the sea and fly inland, in a long undulating line,
evidently looking for a place to feed on. I watched them with
my glass, and saw the field in which they alighted, at the distance of at least two miles from me. I sent for Simon, and started
in pursuit. We came within two fields of the birds, and could
advance no nearer without risk of putting them up. On two
sides of the field " in which they were feeding," was a deep open
drain ; and once in this we were nearly sure of a shot. Luckily
a farmer was ploughing in an adjoining field, and though at every
turn he approached the ditch' of the oatfleld where the geese were,
the birds, according to their usual custom, took no notice of him.
We joined the ploughman, and keeping behind the horses, slipped
unperceived by the geese into the ditch, which, by the by, had
in it about a foot of the coldest water that I ever felt. It was
deep enough, however, to conceal us entirely, and following Simon
I went about three hundred yards down the drain, till we came
to another which ran at right angles to the first; we turned
along this ditch, which, not being cut so deep as the other, obliged
us to stoop in a manner that made my back ache most unmercifully. Simon appeared to understand exactly what he was at,
and to have a perfect knowledge of the geography of all the drains
in the country. Putting on a nondescript kind of cap, made of
dirty canvass, exactly the colour of a ploughed field, he peered
cautiously through a bunch of rushes which grew on the edge of
the ditch; then looking at me with a most satisfied grin, floundered
on again till he came to another ditch that crossed us at right
angles ; up this lie went, and of course I had nothing to do but
to follow, though as I occasionally sank above my knees into
cold spring water, I began to wish all the wild geese were consigned to his black majesty.* we went about a hundred yards up
this last drain, till we came to a part where a few rushes grew
on the banks ; looking through these we saw about fifty geese
coming straight towards us, feeding ; we got our guns cautiously
on the top of the bank and waited till the birds were within
twenty-five yards of us, they then began to turn to cross the
field back again. Some were within shot, however, and on our
giving a low whistle they ran together, preparatory to rising;
this was our moment: only one of my barrels went off, the other
having got wet through, copper cap and every thing, during our
progress in the ditch. We, however, bagged three birds, and
another flew wounded away, and at last fell close to the seashore, where we afterwards found her. Having collected our
game, I was not sorry to walk off home in double-quick time to
put a little caloric into my limbs, as I felt perfectly benumbed
after wading for such a distance in a cold March wind.
On our way home we saw an immense flock of geese alight to
feed on a small field of newly sown peas. Simon was delighted,
and promised me a good shot in the morning, if I left him at
the nearest farm-house to take his own steps towards ensuring
me the chance.
Accordingly the next morning, at daylight, I went with him
to the spot: the geese were still resting on the sands, not having
yet made their morning meal. In the very centre of the peafield Simon had constructed what he called an " ambush ;" this
was a kind of hut, or rather hole in the ground, just large enough
to contain one person, whose chin would be on a level with the
field. The ground was rather rough, and he had so disposed the
clods of earth that I was quite invisible till the geese came within
a yard or two of me. Into this hole he made me worm myself,
while he went to a hedge at some distance, for the chance of the
birds coming over his head after I had fired. The sun was not
yet up when I heard the cackle of the geese, and soon afterwards
the whole flock came soaring over my head ; round and round
they flew, getting lower every circle. I could several times
have fired at single birds as they flew close by me, and so well
concealed was I with clods of earth, dried grass, &c, that they
never suspected my presence in the midst of their breakfast-table.
Presently they all alighted at the farthest end of the field from me,
and commenced shovelling up the peas in the most wholesale
manner. Though the field was small, they managed to feed from
one end to the other without coming within sixty yards of me;
having got to the end of the field, they turned round, and this
time I saw that they would pass within shot. Suddenly they all
halted, and I saw that something had alarmed them ; I looked
cautiously out, and saw, in the direction in which their heads
were turned, a large fox sitting upright and looking wistfully at
the geese, but seeming quite aware that he had no chance of
getting at them. The morning sun, however, which was just
rising, and which, shining on his coat, made it appear perfectly
red, warned him that it was time to be off to the woods, and he
trotted quietly away, passing my ambuscade within forty yards,
but always keeping his head turned towards the geese, as if
unwilling to give up all hope of getting one of them. The
distant bark of a dog, however, again warned him, and he
quickened his pace and was soon out of sight. The geese seemed
quite relieved at his departure, and recommenced feeding. I
cocked my gun and arranged my ambuscade, so as to be ready
for them when they came opposite to me ; presently one or two
stragglers passed within ten yards ; I pulled the dead grass in
front of my face, so that they could not see me, and waited for
the main flock, who soon came by, feeding hurriedly as they
passed ; when they were opposite to me, I threw down part of the
clods and grass that concealed me, and fired both barrels at the
thickest part of the flock: three fell dead, and two others
dropped before the flock had flown many hundred yards. Simon
ran from his hiding-place to secure them; one was dead, the
other rose again, but was stopped by a charge from his gun.
Our five geese were no light load to carry home, as they had
been feeding on the corn for a fortnight or three weeks, and had
become very fat and heavy.
The common grey goose, after having fed for some time in the
fresh-sown corn-fields, is by no means a bad bird for the larder.
But before they can procure grain to feed on, their flesh is neither
so firm nor so well flavoured. In this country there are three
kinds of geese, all called by the common name of " wild geese,"
namely, the white-fronted goose, already mentioned ; the common grey-leg goose, Anas Anser; and the bean-goose. The
latter kind differs from the grey goose in having a small black
mark at the end of their bill, about the size and colour of a
horse-bean. This bird, too, differs in being rather smaller and
more dark in its general colour than the grey goose. It is a
great libel to accuse a goose of being a silly bird. Even a tame
goose shows much instinct and attachment; and were its habits
more closely observed, the tame goose would be found to be by
no means wanting in general cleverness. Its watchfulness at
nighttime is, and always has been, proverbial; and it certainly is
endowed with a strong organ of self-preservation. You may
drive over dog, cat, hen, or pig; but I defy you to drive over a
tame goose. As for wild geese, I know of no animal, biped or
quadruped, that is so difficult to deceive or approach. Their
senses of hearing, seeing, and smelling are all extremely acute ;
independently of which, they appear to act in so organized and
cautious a manner when feeding or roosting, as to defy all danger.
Many a time has my utmost caution been of no avail in attempting to approach these birds ; either a careless step on a piece of
gravel, or an eddy of wind, however light, or letting them perceive the smallest portion of my person, has rendered useless
whole hours of manoeuvring. When a flock of geese has fixed on
a field of new-sown grain to feed on, before alighting they make
numerous circling flights round and round it, and the least suspicious object prevents their pitching. Supposing that all is right,
and they do alight, the whole flock for the space of a minute or
two remains motionless, with erect head and neck reconnoitring
the country round. They then, at a given signal from one of the
largest birds, disperse into open order, and commence feeding in
a tolerably regular line. They now appear to have made up
their minds that all is safe, and are contented with leaving one
sentry, who either stands on some elevated part of the field, or
walks slowly with the rest--never, however, venturing to pick up
a single grain of corn, his whole energies being employed in
watching. The flock feeds across the field ; not waddling, like
tame geese, but walking quickly, with a firm, active, light-infantry
step. They seldom venture near any ditch or hedge that might
conceal a foe. When the sentry thinks that he has performed a
fair share of duty, he gives the nearest bird to him a sharp peck.
I have seen him sometimes pull out a handful of feathers, if the
first hint is not immediately attended to, at the same time uttering
a querulous kind of cry. This bird then takes up the watch,
with neck perfectly upright, and in due time makes some other
bird relieve guard. On the least appearance of an enemy, the
sentinel gives an alarm, and the whole flock invariably run up to
him, and for a moment or two stand still in a crowd, and then
take flight; at first in a confused mass, but this is soon changed
into a beautiful wedge-like rank, which they keep till about to
alight again. Towards evening, I observe the geese coming from
the interior, in numerous small flocks, to the bay; in calm
weather, flying at a great height; and their peculiar cry is heard
some time before the birds are in sight. As soon as they are
above the sands, where every object is plainly visible, and no
enemy can well be concealed, flock after flock wheel rapidly
downwards, and alight at the edge of the water, where they
immediately begin splashing and washing themselves, keeping up
an almost incessant clamour. In the morning they again take
to the fields. Those flocks that feed at a distance start before
sunrise ; but those that feed nearer to the bay do not leave their
roosting-place so soon. During stormy and misty weather, the
geese frequently fly quite low over the heads of the workpeople
in the fields, but even then have a kind of instinctive dread of
any person in the garb of a sportsman. I have also frequently
got shots at wild geese, by finding out the pools where they drink
during the daytime. They generally alight at the distance of
two or three hundred yards from the pool; and after watching
motionless for a few minutes, all start off in a hurry to get their
drink. This done, they return to the open fields or the seashore.
In some parts of Sutherland-for instance on Loch Shin, and
other lonely and unfrequented pieces of water-the wild goose
breeds on the small islands that dot these waters. If their eggs
are taken and hatched under tame geese, the young are easily
domesticated ; but, unless pinioned or confined, they always take
to flight with the first flock of wild geese that passes over the
place during the migrating-season. Even when unable to fly,
they evince a great desire to take wing at this season, and are
very restless for a few weeks in spring and autumn. In a lcnely
and little-frequented spot on the banks of Loch Shin, where the
remains of walls and short green herbage point out the site of
some former shealing or residence of cattle-herds, long since
gone to ruin, I have frequently found the wild goose with her
brood feeding on the fine grass that grows on what was once the
dwelling of man. The young birds do not fly till after they are
full grown; but are very active in t3ie water, swimming and
diving with great quickness.
March is a month full of interest to the observer of the habits
of birds, particularly of those that are migratory. During the
last week of February and the first week in March thousands of
pewits appear here : first a few stragglers arrive, but in the
course of some days the shores of the bay are literally alive with
them.
The black-headed gulls also arrive in great numbers. This
bird loses the black feathers on the head during the winter, and
at this season begins to resume them. I see the birds with their
heads of every degree of black and white just now ; in a fortnight their black cowl is complete. In the evenings and at
nighttime thousands of these birds collect on the bay, and every
one of them appears to be chattering at once, so that the whole
flock together make a noise that drowns every other sound or
cry for a considerable distance round them.
March 6th.-I observe that the herons in the heronry on the
Findhorn are now busily employed in sitting on their eggs, the
heron being one of the first birds to commence breeding in this
country. A more curious and interesting sight than the Findhorn heronry I do not know : from the top of the high rocks on
the east side of the river you look down into every nest, the
herons breeding on the opposite side of the river, which is here
very narrow. The cliffs and rocks are studded with splendid
pines and larch, and fringed with all the more lowly but not
less beautiful underwood which abounds in this country. Conspicuous amongst these are the bird-cherry and mountain-ash,
the holly and the wild rose ; while the golden blossoms of furze
and broom enliven every crevice and corner in the rock. Opposite to you is a wood of larch and oak, on the latter of which
trees are crowded a vast number of the nests of the heron.
The foliage and small branches of the oaks that they breed on
seem entirely destroyed, leaving nothing but the naked arms
and branches of the trees on which the nests are placed. The
same nests, slightly repaired, are used year after year. Looking
down at them from the high banks of the Altyre side of the
river, you can see directly into their nests, and can become acquainted with the whole of their domestic economy. You can
plainly see the green eggs, and also the young herons, who fearlessly, and conscious of the security they are left in, are constantly passing backwards and forwards and alighting on the
topmost branches of the larch or oak trees, whilst the still
younger birds sit bolt upright in the nest, snapping their beaks
together with a curious sound. Occasionally a grave-looking
heron is seen balancing himself by some incomprehensible feat
of gymnastics on the very topmost twig of a larch-tree, where
he swings about in an unsteady manner, quite unbecoming so
sage-looking a bird. Occasionally a thievish jackdaw dashes
out from the cliffs opposite the heronry and flies straight into
some unguarded nest, seizes one of the large green eggs, and flies
back to his own side of the river, the rightful owner of the
eggs pursuing the active little robber with loud cries and the
most awkward attempts at catching him.
The heron is a noble and picturesque looking bird, as she sails
quietly through the air with outstretched wings and slow flight;
but nothing is more ridiculous and undignified than her appearance as she vainly chases the jackdaw or hooded crow who is
carrying off her egg, and darting rapidly round the angles and
corners of the rocks. Now and then every heron raises its head
and looks on the alert as the peregrine falcon, with rapid and
direct flight, passes their crowded dominion ; but intent on his
own nest, built on the rock some little way farther on, the hawk
takes no notice of his long-legged neighbours, who soon settle
down again into their attitudes of rest. The kestrel-hawk frequents the same part of the river, and lives in amity with the
wood-pigeons that breed in every cluster of ivy which clings to
the rocks. Even that bold and fearless enemy of all the pigeon
race, the sparrowhawk, frequently has her nest within a few
yards of the wood-pigeon, and you see these birds (at all other
seasons such deadly enemies) passing each other in their way to
and fro from their respective nests in perfect peace and amity.
It has seemed to me that the sparrowhawk and wood-pigeon
during the breeding-season frequently enter into a mutual compact against the crows and jackdaws, who are constantly on the
lookout for the eggs of all other birds. The hawk appears to
depend on the vigilance of the wood-pigeon to warn him of the
approach of these marauders ; and then the brave little warrior
sallies out, and is not satisfied till he has driven the crow to a
safe distance from the nests of himself and his more peaceable
ally. At least in no other way can I account for these two
birds so very frequently breeding not only in the same range of
rock, but within two or three yards of each other.
But first, if you want to come back to Scotland's History and Legends again, just add www.historyandlegends.com to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy!
Also, please consider sharing our Scottish History and Legends website with your online friends.
Our Privacy Policy can be found at www.cholesterolcholestrol.com/privacypolicy.htm
Copyright © 2000-present Donald Urquhart. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our legal disclaimer.
|
