Peterborough Bird Club annual report Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus | A | Scarce 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Scarce passage and winter migrant. This year saw a large increase in records submitted, with most sightings during the first four months of the year with numbers increasing in March and April. The last bird of this first period was on 27 Apr at Ferry Meadows CP (DG) with the first returning birds seen on 24 Oct at Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR (KD) and Prior’s Fen GP (BHS). Most records are generally of 1-2 birds and occasionally counts in the high single figures are reported; this makes the counts at Fletton BP of 27 on 8 Jan (the highest ever Cambridgeshire site total) and 15 on 14 Feb (both SPD, MW, KAF, BHS) all the more remarkable. One or two birds recorded from a further 13 locations. A single, most obliging, bird spent the period 26 Mar-27 Apr sat in front of Prestt Hide at Ferry Meadows CP (MJW et al) and provided many people with their best ever views of this species. Image © Brian Stone. Click for a bigger version.
2002	Scarce passage and winter migrant. Single birds were present at Dog-in-a-Doublet and North Bank on 30 Jan (MF), Stanground on 13 Jan, RSPB Low Wash on 10 Mar and 19 Apr. Organised counts at Fletton BP yielded nine on 3 Feb, 11 on 15 Feb and seven on 3 Apr (SPD, KAF, BHS, MAW, MW). During the latter part of the year, singles were regular from 8-21 Oct and two were at Stanground on 9 Dec (all RSPB). Another splendid set of counts came from Fletton BP, with 11 on 1 Nov and a minimum of 26 on 13 Dec (SPD, KAF, BHS, MAW, MW) - outnumbering Snipe! Image © Steve Dudley. Click for a bigger version.
2001	Scarce passage and winter migrant. No records received for Jan–Feb, but singles at Prior’s Fen GP on 22 Mar (GW), Hampton Lakes 25th (NC) and King’s Dyke NR 27th (GW). In autumn, seen on the Nene Washes 23 Sep, 15 Oct, 9 Nov (RSPB), 19 Nov (Stanground Wash) (BHS) and two on 1 Nov (RSPB). Solitary birds seen in Dec at Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR 4th (TB) and at Fletton BP 24th (SPD).
2000	Rare winter visitor. Three were at Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR 22 Jan, with two at Hampton Lakes 30 Jan. Stanground Wash had one on 13 Feb-12 Mar. Three were present at Ben Johnson Pit 12 Mar, with a single also at Peakirk on 25 Mar. In April, individuals were at Baston Fen NR 1-2 Apr, and two were on the Nene Washes RSPB reserve 28 Apr. In the second half of the year, two at Woodwalton Fen NNR 12 Nov and 27 Dec, one 16-19 Dec, one at Ben Johnson Pit 12 Nov and one at Orton BP 28 Dec.
1999	Rare winter visitor. Only six records. There was one at Stanground Wash 20 Feb and four there on 27th (GW). A single bird was at Baston & Langtoft GP on 28 Mar with two on 2 Apr (TW). In the autumn, singles were noted at Nene Washes 10 Oct and 9 Nov.
1998	Rare winter visitor. Seven birds at Stanground Wash on 24 Feb (GW) had decreased to two by 4 Mar. A single bird was at Maxey GP on 10th and 17 Oct (BT). Nene Washes: It was a poor year with singles on 21st and 29 Sep, three on 12 Oct and two on 20 Oct.
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