Buckshaw Jack Snipe

[Brian Derbyshire]

Decided to have a quick look at that waste land that is Buckshaw! On arrival a chap was exercising 2 large dogs which were running free over a wide area putting up lots of birds so I thought there wouldn't be much left to see - anyway first birds flock of 31 Skylarks plus 2 Linnets then venturing into the middle put up the first Snipe and over the next few minutes approx 17 Snipe went up.
Then from under my feet a Jack Snipe and in the next 10 minutes another 10 Jack Snipe, some of them almost from under my boot, very difficult to see on the ground but managed to watch a couple at very close quarters squatting on the ground, neck outstretched - fascinating!

11 Jack Snipe in 15 minutes - more than I've seen in the last 40 years! Heaven only knows how many are there over the whole site!! Has anyone heard if there has been an influx - say along with the Waxwings??

[Neil Southworth]

Brian,

Why not enter your sightings as random records on the BTO Atlas web site?

Neil

[Brian Derbyshire]

Neil, I'm going to be spending more time on this computer now than when I was at work!, but will do - when I remember!