Wetland Stories (3)

["Philip Veerman" <>]

I have a "Book of British Birds" that mentions both those ideas about the bird's name. However it says that the idea about "little Canute at the edge of the waves ......is more fanciful than probable" and tends towards the call idea.  And yes the photo shows a Red Knot.

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew, David [
Sent: Wednesday, 7 December 2011 1:29 PM
To: 'Geoffrey Dabb';
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Wetland Stories (3) [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

I always thought they were named after King Canute as they were forever chasing the tide out ...

 

 

From: Geoffrey Dabb [
Sent: Wednesday, 7 December 2011 1:12 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Wetland Stories (3)

 

Perhaps one more illustration of the interesting stuff to be found at Werribee.  Below, from last Wednesday, is what I take to be a Red Knot, in company with stints (above) and curlew sandpipers (in water).  At lower right for comparison is a Great Knot, snapped coincidentally at almost exactly the same spot in November 2008.  We are told that at the time the bird would have acquired the name, ‘knot’ was pronounced ‘k’not’ and not ‘nott’, so the original pronunciation should be retained if the name is to represent the cry, as it was meant to.