Snipe count

Today we carried out a controlled Snipe count through the marsh reeds. A team of 8 enthusiasts split in to flushers and spotters. The flushers carefully made their way through the reedbed at the rear of the marsh pool, flushing the birds as they went. Spaced out around the area were the spotters who were tasked with identifying and counting whatever took flight from the advancing flushers. The results were 30 Common Snipe and 3 Jack Snipe flushed out. The numbers were down on previous years and now we're trying to establish the reasons for this.