As Ian says Croxdens Jack Snipe roost aint wot it used to be,gone are the days when we used to flush up to 35 Jacks.Maybe Ian and I could arrange a date in November and if people are interested they could come down with us to help out with the census.We'll announce a date and meeting place nearer the time if people are up for it.
There are 1 or 2 sites in the Bolton/Bury area where we have seen them in the past, but are hit and miss. We will check them out towards end of September. If any are reliable will let you know. Alan
I FLUSHED A JACKSNIPE LAST WINTER ON THE STRIEGHT PATH BETWEEN THE SCREEN AT PENNINGTON FLASH AND THE CANAL BRIDGE,SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE ONE MAY TURN UP
When I visited Bickershaw I didn't find any, so I'm probably not the best person to ask
If you restrict your visits perhaps to once a month or so, then disturbance is no greater than that caused by anything else (and there's a lot of disturbance up there) and the area is well worth covering for general birding, with Stonechats, lots of Skylarks, Grey Partridge, Meadow Pipits and all sorts else, infact my visit was actually an attempt to refind a large pipit, most likely a Richards, found by ex-Pennington Flash guru David Wilson although it was of course unsuccessful it does highlight the potential of the place, and it's pretty underwatched
ian a bit of advice if you would be so kind,i was planning to scour bickershaw rucks this winter as i,d really like to find a jack snipe for my list,and it is only a few minutes drive from base,i have visited the area recently and as you say its a large area to cover,should i plod on regardless or wait for a more experienced birder to find them, rather than risk disturbing them
Croxdens has been very poor in recent years with none on a couple of visits early this year, although there has been some fairly major habitat work carried out there which probably hasn't helped. The area is very sensitive and the Jack's (if they are present) even more so, so if possible I'd ask people not to visit off the cuff, Pete Berry and I will be undertaking our usual monthly counts there and if any are present and you still need them I will let you know and can take you down there, no problem. We disturb them once a month, so if several people go down there at different times you can imagine the disturbance they can receive and previous occasions have highlighted their sensitivity to it and the fact that they either disperse over a very large area (and are almost impossible to find) or just bugger off all together as has happened last year, so I hope you'll understand.
Although I've only visited Bickershaw once (again, I've stayed away to reduce disturbance) they seem to have been difficult to find there too, last year atleast and the area to cover there is very large.
A really high tide at Parkgate usually flushes a few out. Keep your eyes out on http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/index.html and there is usually some sort of event planned around the early Spring high tides.
does anyone have any info on croxden peatworks or bickershaw coal rucks as i want to find my first jack snipe this winter and have heard these are the places to try. cheers
as i,d really like to find a jack snipe for my list,and it is only a few minutes drive from base,i have visited the area recently and as you say its a large area to cover,should i plod on regardless or wait for a more experienced birder to find them, rather than risk disturbing them 