After a local tip-off about common and Jack snipe, I spent an hour walking around the semi-frozen wasteland that used to be a Royal Ordnance factory. It was full of tiny pock-marked-pockets which may or may not have held snipe overnight. And suddenly, to my delight, I saw my first jack snipe - very stripy and rising up only a boot's length away.It made me wonder whether these birds have wintered here for years, safely hidden within the restricted area. A factory with more than one kind of secret....
Also claiming the wasteland were 2 reed buntings, a stonechat, pied wagtail and a small flock of meadow pipits. Not bad for a site now surrounded by the ringing of hammers and growl of construction vehicles. I wonder where the wild life will go as the developers move in?
3 comments:
I think its amazing where wildlife will find refuge...
I have been trying to leave a 'hello' message for some days. I loved seeing my first snipe on Skye back in June. It must be cold there now ...
CGP - I agree. Today I've just heard that there were waxwings in the middle of Chorley town centre! Just shows that we should never stop looking.
Coastcard - lovely to see you're back. I've missed your blog entries.
First sightings are SO special. I think I'll recall this jack snipe for some time. And also the pleasant birder I'd met just moments before. It was the info he'd just given me that helped me know it was a jack snipe. Glad he was there - whoever he was....
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