Second flush count of the winter and again we have set a record for snipe numbers when compared to previous years. November last year was itself significantly higher than previous Novembers, but this morning we trumped it by five, counting 85 snipe (5 of them Jacks) across the Fauna fields. The Hay Meadow started off yielding 5, then 3 in Upper Sowerholme, 28 in School Pond (2 Jack) and 47 in Big Meadow (3 Jack). The marshes are exceedingly wet, but it seems to be suiting the birds if not those trying to count them who found it very hard going. But no wellies were lost and no-one ended up stuck in the mud!
Queens Award for Voluntary Service