BREEDING SNIPE

IN THE

SOUTH-WEST SHROPSHIRE HILLS

2004

Executive Summary

INTRODUCTION

A Survey was carried out in April-June 2004 to establish the population, distribution and breeding requirements of Snipe in the south-west Shropshire Hills.

The Survey was supported and funded by

• Defra
• The National Trust
• Shropshire Wildlife Trust
• RSPB
• English Nature
• Shropshire County Council (on behalf of the Shropshire Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Steering Group)

Three nature reserves where Snipe are known to have bred previously were surveyed – Long Mynd, The Stiperstones National Nature Reserve, and Rhos Fiddle Nature Reserve. 

In addition, a large number of other apparently suitable sites throughout the south-west Shropshire Hills (total area approximately 580 square kilometres) were assessed. The 24 sites judged to have the greatest potential to hold breeding Snipe were then surveyed.

Results

On the Long Mynd, an estimated 7 – 8 pairs were found.  This is only around one-third of the population found in 1994-98. The range has also contracted considerably – Snipe were only found on and around Wild Moor.

On The Stiperstones NNR, none were found, although Snipe are known to have bred there in 1995-96, when the population was estimated at six pairs.

On Rhos Fiddle, an estimated 3 - 4 pairs were found (including a possible pair at an adjacent site on Bicton Hill).

On the other 24 sites, plus an additional site adjacent to The Stiperstones, only three sites were found to hold breeding Snipe:

• Black Mountain , near Anchor
• Black Marsh / Stapeley Common, near Stapeley Hill and Shelve
• The Hollies Farm, east of The Stiperstones National Nature Reserve.

Each of these three sites apparently only held one pair, so the total estimated population of all 25 sites is only three breeding pairs.

The total population of the Survey Area is therefore estimated at 13 – 15 breeding pairs.

Habitat Management AND NEW BREEDING SITES

The breeding requirements of Snipe are summarised in the Report. Recommendations are made to safeguard and improve the few current breeding sites, and improve the potential of other sites.

The recommendations aim to

1. Ensure that substantial areas of wet (not damp) ground, with very short vegetation or mud, remain right through until the end of July
2. Minimise nest loss as a result of predation and trampling, through
• Control of predators
• Removal of livestock from nesting areas during the breeding season

Implementing these recommendations will contribute to achieving the Shropshire BAP target to “provide suitable breeding conditions on an additional 10 sites . . . by 2010”.

 A total of 18 potential Additional Sites have been identified:-

• three that apparently require little work to raise the water level and create extensive habitat
• five near existing breeding sites that probably require extensive work
• ten other sites that probably also require extensive work

 PREDATION

The populations of Snipe, and other ground-nesting birds, have declined considerably in the last ten years. Evidence is presented to suggest that an increase in the number of predators is probably a major contributory factor.  The likely causes of such increases – the indirect results of intensive sheep farming and pheasant rearing – are discussed.  Recommendations are made to Defra to undertake further research to assess the full impact of these practices, and, based on the results, develop policies, programmes and regulations to minimise their impact on ground-nesting birds.  

Programme of Action

Recommendations are made to a variety of statutory and voluntary organisations, and the Shropshire BAP partnership, to participate in a co-ordinated multi-agency programme of action to prevent the extinction of the species in the south-west Shropshire Hills.

This includes encouraging the various landowners to make improvements to the sites which currently hold breeding Snipe, and the 18 potential Additional Sites identified in the Report, utilising resources and advice available from Defra and the other BAP Partners.

County Population

The population and distribution of Snipe in the County, and recent trends, are summarised.

The Shropshire Breeding Bird Atlas is now believed to have significantly overestimated the population and distribution, because passage birds in April were counted as possibly or probably breeding in the County.  Recommendations are made to avoid this problem, if and when the Atlas is repeated.

Unless there are substantial populations in areas currently not known to conservation bodies and birdwatchers, the County population is now estimated at only 20-25 pairs.

Evaluation of Various Methodologies

The vast majority of Snipe found during the Survey were either drumming or chipping in deep twilight, at dusk, well after sunset.  If only the standard Methodology had been used, far fewer Snipe would have been recorded than the number actually found.  Extending survey visits until dark is required.

Some birds were seen when they were flushed, but they only moved when approached within five metres.  Use of a tape recording of drumming and chipping Snipe changed the behaviour of drumming birds. It was unhelpful as a means of censusing the population, and may be counterproductive at dusk. It may be helpful at any sites visited prior to dusk.

Leo Smith    January 2005

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