A snippet on Snipe

Snipe have been the bird highlight of this week. Particularly in the snowy weather they are a lot easier to see as they come out of their hiding places in search of more food.

Snipe in the snow at RSPB Dungeness - Graham Parry

Snipe are medium sized, skulking wading birds with short legs and long straight bills. They eat small invertebrates, including worms and insect larvae. The UK population of snipe has undergone moderate declines overall in the past twenty-five years, with particularly steep declines in lowland wet grassland, making it an Amber List species.

Males vibrate their stiff outer tail feathers to create a drumming sound during flight to attract a mate during the breeding season. The display is usually made during dawn when birds are most active. Unfortunately they don't breed here at Dungeness, but we do get quite a lot over-wintering on the reserve. They are very difficult birds to survey as they crouch down and hide in ditches, camouflaging with their environment. 

Common snipe 'drumming' - Jens Kirkeby, xeno-canto

It may not feel like spring (especially after last weeks weather!) but wildlife are preparing themselves for the quickly approaching breeding season. The photograph below was taken by regular visitor Martin Casemore of two male hares squaring each other up in our Boulderwall Fields.

The great crested grebes are starting to dance and other birds are practising their mating calls and songs. The first bittern was heard booming in February, slightly optimistic but glad to hear the male is clearing his throat and getting ready for bigger performances for our Bittern Breakfast events in April! It won't be long before we start seeing our first spring migrants here on the reserve, our wildfowl are preparing to leave already we are seeing less wigeon and reports of ducks such as pintail and goldeneye are fewer. Our smew are still here, so visit us and see them before they head north for the summer.