The Lincolnshire Bird Club

I was amazed to find a flock of c350 Snipe roosting on the islands of one of the pits at Bardney this morning.
I had counted up to 230 on three of the islands when something spooked them and they all took off. With birds from the two other islands, which I had not counted, and birds from the far sides of the islands I had counted I am certain that there were at least 350 birds present.
I have never seen such a large flock of Snipe concentrated in one place before. An impressive sight with them all flying around in two large flocks.

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Regards,

Andy.

Hi Andy,
The only time I've seen something similar in Lincs was at Killingholme a few years ago during a big freeze. All the ditches, reedbeds etc were frozen and the Snipe had formed a huge Golden Plover-like flock in a nearby pasture. It is, as you say, a startling sight.

Cheers

Steve

In the early 90's we ringed several Snipe in a flooded field (now a housing estate!) at Market Rasen. They were passing through on spring passage (March/April). I have not recorded them there at this time of year - are there normally good numbers in autumn.