The Second Ladybird Book of British Birds #13 – The Turnstone

Here’s the double-page spread on The Turnstone from The Ladybird Book of British Birds and their nests:

The Second Ladybird Book of British Birds - The Turnstone

The book is entitled ‘British Birds’ but says:

The Turnstone comes to England for the winter, and to see one you must go down to the seashore.

There’s no mention of Scotland or Wales. I’m in Orkney, which doesn’t feel very much like Scotland to me, when I go down to the seashore and see a Turnstone:

Turnstones - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

This bird derives its name from the habit of turning over stones with its beak, to catch the insects and shell-fish that live underneath.

That is exactly what they are doing:

Turnstones - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

They are birds on a mission.

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