Tags
birding, birdwatching, British birds, Forest Farm, Forest Farm Nature Reserve, Snipe, Snipe in reeds
When I headed to Forest Farm Nature Reserve today, I was hoping to add a Dipper to my year list (tick) and, as frosty mornings often lure them out from the reeds, I was also hoping to see some Snipe – these are they. Not as close as I’d have liked but still good to see as they are so well camouflaged they’re often difficult to spot. There were lots of other lovelies too: a Kingfisher, two Buzzards being harassed by Crows, three Great spotted woodpeckers, a ton of Mallards and Moorhens loudly staking out territories in preparation for breeding, four Grey herons like statues in a dead tree, and my first Snowdrops of the year. T’rrific!
It’s good to see that the snipe are back there again.
I helped with cutting back the reeds last autumn (together with the Park Rangers service, and other volunteers from Cardiff Rivers Group and Cardiff Conservation Volunteers) to try to create the sort of ‘scrape’ habitat they prefer. It’s really rewarding to know that we did ok!
And yes, the snipe are usually a bit in the distance, although I’ve been lucky enough to see them almost in front of the second hide.
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Well done and thanks for your volunteering efforts, Jon. I certainly appreciate being able to see these beautiful birds and I know many other birders do too.
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I saw these 3 in the same place at about 3pm.
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I was hoping for them closer, but it was lovely to see them. 🙂
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Blimmin’ heck woman – you have bagged the entire waterworld!
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Ha! I wish. 🙂
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