5.58.—Eight more, silently. Cry still from the heather.
6.2.—One more in silence. Still hear the ground-note. Cry ceases shortly after 6.5, and at 6.10, when I leave. Have heard it no more.
October 23rd.—No Great Plovers on amphitheatre in middle of afternoon, as I walked all over it without putting any up. Afterwards walked to bank, and could see none, with glasses, in the heather. Waiting by the road, however, from a little after 5, heard their note amongst the heather till about 5.20. There was a mist, and I saw none fly.
October 28th.—5.10 p.m. At the old place on the road by moor.
I watched till 5.40, and during that time thought I heard once or twice the note of the Great Plover; but, if so, it was very low and subdued. Saw no bird fly off.
October 29th.—5.15 p.m. At same place. Quite dusk. Should have come a little earlier. Stayed till 5.30, by which time any bird there should have flown off. I saw none fly, and did not hear the note. Once or twice I had a suspicion that I did, faintly, and in the distance, but I do not think this was really the case. Neither, whilst walking up (when it was lighter) nor returning, did I see or hear a bird.
October 30th.—At 10.40 a.m. walked to the bank, and from it searched with the glasses that portion of the heather which, three weeks ago, had been the daily resort of some hundred or so of the Great Plovers. I could not see a bird, and upon walking right down upon and all over it, I failed to put up a single one.
Returning, I walked to the nearer part of the amphitheatre, and searched it with the glasses without discovering any of the birds. Being in a hurry, I had not time to walk over it, but had any been there I should certainly have put them up at this distance. At least, I have always done so before.
It would appear, therefore, that all the Great Plovers that were here have now gone—migrated in all probability.
4.55 p.m.—On road by moor, same place as yesterday.
At 5.20 thought I heard note of the Great Plover. It was the tone, but only a single note, not repeated, and very subdued.
At 5.30 left, having heard it no more.
