WELCOME BIRDS OF ELMORE WOODS By Jack M Year 9

SNIPE Overview SNIPE ARE MEDIUM SIZED, SKULKING WADING BIRDS WITH SHORT LEGS AND LONG STRAIGHT BILLS. BOTH SEXES ARE MOTTLED BROWN ABOVE, WITH PALER BUFF STRIPES ON THE BACK, DARK STREAKS ON THE CHEST AND PALE UNDER PARTS. THEY ARE WIDESPREAD AS A BREEDING SPECIES IN THE UK, WITH PARTICULARLY HIGH DENSITIES ON NORTHERN UPLANDS BUT LOWER NUMBERS IN SOUTHERN LOWLANDS (ESPECIALLY SOUTH WEST ENGLAND). IN WINTER, BIRDS FROM NORTHERN EUROPE JOIN RESIDENT BIRDS. THE UK POPULATION OF SNIPE HAS UNDERGONE MODERATE DECLINES OVERALL IN THE PAST TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, WITH PARTICULARLY STEEP DECLINES IN LOWLAND WET GRASSLAND, MAKING IT AN AMBER LIST SPECIES. Where to see them DURING THE BREEDING SEASON SNIPE ARE BEST LOOK FOR ON MOORLAND, ESPECIALLY ON EARLY SPRING MORNINGS WHEN MALES CAN BE HEARD GIVING THEIR 'DRUMMING' OR 'BLEATING' DISPLAY. IN WINTER, LOOK PATIENTLY AROUND THE EDGES OF POOLS IN WELL-VEGETATED WETLANDS.

THE SNIPE

LITTLE OWL Overview THIS SMALL OWL WAS INTRODUCED TO THE UK IN THE 19TH CENTURY. IT CAN BE SEEN IN THE DAYLIGHT, USUALLY PERCHING ON A TREE BRANCH, TELEGRAPH POLE OR ROCK. IT WILL BOB ITS HEAD UP AND DOWN WHEN ALARMED. IN FLIGHT IT HAS LONG, ROUNDED WINGS, RAPID WINGBEATS AND FLIES WITH A SLIGHT UNDULATION. Where to see them FOUND IN ENGLAND AND WALES WITH A FEW IN SOUTHERN SCOTLAND. IT LIKES LOWLAND FARMLAND WITH HEDGES AND COPSES, PARKLAND AND ORCHARDS. MOST COMMON IN CENTRAL, SOUTHERN AND SOUTH EASTERN ENGLAND, AND THE WELSH BORDERS.

THE LITTLE OWL

WILLOW TIT Overview BETWEEN BLUE AND GREAT TITS IN SIZE, WITH NO YELLOW, GREEN OR BLUE. IT HAS A LARGE SOOTY-BLACK CAP EXTENDING TO THE BACK OF THE NECK AND A SMALL UNTIDY BLACK BIB. IT IS MID-BROWN ABOVE, WITH WHITER CHEEKS AND PALE BUFF-GREY UNDERPARTS. ITS WINGS SHOW A PALE PANEL NOT FOUND IN MARSH TITS. ITS RECENT POPULATION DECLINES MAKE IT A RED LIST SPECIES. Where to see them FOUND MAINLY IN ENGLAND AND WALES, WITH SOME IN S SCOTLAND. WILLOW TITS ARE OFTEN, BUT BY NO MEANS EXCLUSIVELY, FOUND IN WILLOW THICKETS IN DAMP PLACES, SUCH AS THE EDGE OF LOWLAND PEAT BOGS, MARSHES, AND AROUND GRAVEL PITS.

THE WILLOW TIT

WOODCOCK Overview THE WOODCOCK IS A LARGE BULKY WADING BIRD WITH SHORT LEGS, AND A VERY LONG STRAIGHT TAPERING BILL. IT IS LARGELY NOCTURNAL, SPENDING MOST OF THE DAY IN DENSE COVER. MOST OF THE BIRDS IN THE UK ARE RESIDENTS; IN THE AUTUMN BIRDS MOVE TO THE UK FROM FINLAND AND RUSSIA TO WINTER HERE. THE BREEDING POPULATION HAS BEEN FALLING RECENT YEARS, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF LESS HABITAT AS CONIFER PLANTATIONS BECOME TOO MATURE FOR WOODCOCKS TO FIND OPEN ENOUGH BREEDING AREAS. Where to see them IT CAN BE FOUND IN SUITABLE HABITAT IN SUMMER THROUGHOUT THE UK, EXCEPT FOR SOUTH-WEST ENGLAND. IN WINTER, BIRDS ARE WIDESPREAD IN LOWLAND AREAS. YOU WOULD BE VERY LUCKY TO SEE ONE, BUT YOU MAY INADVERTENTLY DISTURB ONE FROM ITS RESTING PLACE, WHEN IT FLIES OFF, ZIGZAGGING BETWEEN THE TREES AND DROPPING BACK INTO COVER.

THE WOODCOCK

BUZZARD Overview THE COMMONEST UK BIRD OF PREY, IT IS QUITE LARGE WITH BROAD, ROUNDED WINGS, AND A SHORT NECK AND TAIL. WHEN GLIDING AND SOARING IT WILL OFTEN HOLD ITS WINGS IN A SHALLOW 'V'. IT IS VARIABLE IN COLOUR FROM ALL DARK BROWN TO BIRDS WITH PALE HEADS AND BREASTS, ALL HAVE DARK WINGTIPS AND AN UNBANDED TAIL. Where to see them GREATEST NUMBERS IN SCOTLAND, WALES, THE LAKE DISTRICT AND SW ENGLAND. FOUND ON FARMLAND WITH WOODED HILLS, MOORLAND AND IN MORE ARABLE AREAS TO THE EAST WHERE IT IS SPREADING. LOOK FOR BIRDS SOARING OVER WOODED HILLSIDES IN FINE WEATHER, OR PERCHED ON FENCE POSTS AND PYLONS.

THE BUZZARD