A Lincolnshire farm is proving to be a regular attraction for one of the country's most distinctive wading birds, thanks to careful management under Defra's Countryside Stewardship Scheme.
Snipe, with their characteristic short legs, long narrow bills, and aerial drumming display, have been heard once again by farmer William Hales from Lusby, near Spilsby. The birds return regularly to nest on his land, and he welcomes their presence so much he is now managing 75 acres of it for their benefit.
Mr Hales joined the Countryside Stewardship Scheme ten years ago, and is so pleased with the changes the Scheme has brought about that this year he's added an extra 50 acres to the 25 acres already under management to further benefit the Snipe.
Mr Hales said:
"Snipe have undergone declines in the past twenty five years, especially in lowland grassland areas, so it's incredibly rewarding to seen them return and use the nesting areas we've created. Stewardship has enabled us to retain wet areas in grass fields, and under the new agreement we will be adding to these. We're also hoping to create areas of bare ground for nesting lapwings and grow a crop mix to provide birds with seed over the winter."
Visitors to the area can try to spot the snipe by walking the footpath from near Hagworthingham up to the Spilsby-Horncastle road, giving access to Sow Dale Nature Reserve. The birds' preference for thick vegetation can make them difficult to see, but they can also be identified by their rasping, sneeze-like flight call, and the low-pitched whirring sound produced by their outstretched tail feathers.
John Badley, Wash Warden for the RSPB in Lincolnshire, said:
"Snipe are an increasingly rare nesting bird in Lincolnshire. It is a shame they're restricted to only a few sites as the fenland could provide the right conditions for them to breed. They have declined quite dramatically in the area so projects like this are a vital way to maintain Snipe as a breeding bird in the county."
Peter Graves, Snipe Dales Warden for Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust,
said: "It's encouraging to see farmers taking up the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, particularly adjacent to our nature reserves. It certainly helps to bolster the biodiversity of the area"
John Richardson, Technical Advisor for Defra's Rural Development Service (RDS) in the East Midlands, said:
"The number of Snipe that have made their home on the wetland conserved by Mr Hales has been extremely encouraging. By adapting land management practices he has helped safeguard the habitat of an important bird, as well as giving increased enjoyment to the public who visit the site."
