Snipe and Woodcock

 If the number of old prints showing our ancestors shooting snipe were any indication of the popularity of the sport, there has been a sad decline in modern times. With the heavy demand for more shooting this is surprising, for there are thousands of farms all over the country where more could be done to encourage snipe - and at a low cost.

Evidence of snipe populations is difficult to obtain, but in this country it is generally believed that a decline in numbers was first noticed about the beginning of the nineteenth century. This decrease has been associated with the draining of marshland and the introduction of the breech-loader. More recently the icy winter of 1962-3 killed thousands, particularly in south-west England where they were most numerous. It is only now, after several years have elapsed, that in some - but not all - areas, snipe numbers are returning to the pre-1962-3 level. The overall picture, so far as we have been able to discover, is that snipe are not declining further. They are certainly shot less than in times gone by.

Migration In the autumn and winter months the numbers of native snipe are greatly increased by immigrants from north-west Europe. These may stay with us or move on to more southern countries bordering the Mediterranean: some may reach the Equator. Before the evidence from ringed birds was available, it was (and still is) thought that our home-bred snipe moved south before the winter visitors and passage migrants arrived. It now appears that during August and September a local re-distribution takes place, and this accounts for the oft-reported scarcity of snipe in their breeding areas during these months. It is possible that some home-bred snipe may get caught up in the southward migration later in the year.

Migrants and winter visitors begin to arrive in September from Iceland, Scandinavia or other European countries, but the main movement takes place in October, November and December. This southward migration is often triggered off by the onset of a cold spell and is usually most marked during periods of bright moonlight.

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