JACK SNIPE – Lymnocryptes minimus

Jack Snipe was first recorded in 1663 and Pennant uses it in 1768 as its main name in preference to Half Snipe. The epithet 'Jack' refers to the birds small size when compared to other snipes. There was a view that Jack Snipe was the male of Common Snipe and may have been a misinterpretation of the name 'Jack' as though it denoted the male bird; of which it occasionally does in other cases.

Jack Snipe are far from common in S. Gloucestershire, those reported are;

1940: (2)

One was seen at Stoke Gifford on October 5th; One was seen at Stoke Gifford on November 11th.

1941: (1)

A single bird was shot from marshy ground adjoining Dyrham Wood on December 23rd.

1943: (2)

Two were flushed from marshy ground adjoining Dyrham Wood on December 13th.

1971: (1)

One was reported from Yate Rocks on August 30th.

1972: (2)

One was noted at Aust some time in January; One was seen at Aust on December 24th.

1973: (3)

Individuals noted at Aust in February, March and December.

1975: (c.12)

Up to twelve birds were seen at Aust Warth until March 15th with up to six from October 25th.

1976: (c.8)

Up to eight were seen at Aust Warth until March 13th with several from October 2nd until the year end.

1977: (c.10)

Five were seen at Aust Warth on January 1st; Ten were noted at Aust Warth on January 22nd; At Aust Warth until March 6th with generally one or two from October 9th onwards.

1978: (3)

Up to three were seen at Aust Warth until March 18th with several from October 22nd until the year end.

1979:(c.3)

One was noted at Littleton Warth on March 13th; Noted occasionally at Aust up to March 4th and again from October 8th onwards.

1980: (c.3)

One was reported from Oldbury Power Station on December 13th; Seen occasionally at Northwick Warth from October 24th onwards.

1983: (1)

One was reported fro Monkswood Reservoir south of Cold Ashton sometime this year.

1984: (1)

One was seen at Hallen sometime in February.

1985: (c.2)

One or two reported from Aust in April, October and December.

1987: (c.2)

One was seen at Severn Beach sometime in the first winter period; One was seen at Northwick Warth on November 13th.

1988: (3)

One was seen at Oldbury Power Station on September 25th; One was seen at Northwick Warth on October 29th; One was seen at Northwick Warth on November 12th.

1989: (c.3)

Single birds were reported on five date from Northwick Warth up to March 27th; One was seen at Northwick Warth on November 26th; One was noted at Oldbury Power Station on December 10th.

1991: (c.3)

One was reported from both Littleton and Olveston sometime in the first winter period; One was reported from Littleton sometime in the second winter period.

1994: (3)

Single birds were seen in the Oldbury Power Station/ Littleton area on February 21st, October 10th and November 1st.

1995: (2)

One was seen on January 12th at Littleton Warth; One was present at Northwick Warth on April 5th.

1996: (1)

One was seen at Littleton Warth on March 3rd.

1997: (5)

One was seen in the Oldbury Power Station/ Littleton area on November 3rd, three on December 6th and one on December 14th.

1998: (7)

Three were present at Oldbury Power Station on January 1st, two on January 17th, one on February 14th and one on March 14th.

1999: (c.20)

All from Oldbury Power Station: One was seen in January; Six were present on February 18th; Two in March; Three in April; Four in November; Four in December.

2000: (c. 25)

All from Oldbury Power Station: Eight in January; Eight in February; Four in March; Four in April; One in December.

2001: (11)

All from Oldbury Power Station: Two in January; Seven in February; One in November; One in December.

2002: (11)

One was seen at Severn Beach on February 17th; Four were present at Oldbury Power Station on March 3rd; At Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth single birds were seen on March 2nd, 3rd and 30th; Two were seen at Littleton Warth on October 19th; Two were reported from Littleton Warth on December 21st.

2003: (17)

One was flushed from the salt marsh at Severn Beach on January 6th; Two were present at Northwick Warth on January 31st; One was seen on the salt marsh at Severn Beach on February 28th; Noted at Oldbury Power Station with one in November; One was seen at Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth on November 9th; One was flushed at Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth on November 16th; Five were present at Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth on November 22nd with another flushed at Aust Warth late afternoon; Noted at Oldbury Power Station with one in December; One was seen at Northwick Warth on December 6th and was still present on December 7th; One was present at New Passage on December 27th with another nearby at Aust Warth.

2004: (9)

One was seen at Aust Wart on January 3rd; One was present on the salt marsh at Severn Beach on January 29th; One was present at Aust Warth on February 1st; One was noted at Northwick Warth on February 7th; One was flushed at Severn Beach on November 3rd; One was noted at Littleton Warth on November 13th; One was flushed from the salt marsh at Severn Beach on December 3rd; One was seen in the open on a shingle spit at Severn Beach on December 6th; One was flushed at Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth on December 28th.

2005: (17)

One was seen at Aust Warth on January 2nd; Two were present at Oldbury Power Station on January 16th; One was flushed from the salt Marsh at Severn Beach on February 22nd; Six were seen at Oldbury Power Station on March 12th; One was noted at Severn Beach on August 26th; One was seen at Oldbury Power Station on November 19th; One was seen at Severn Beach on November 23rd; One was seen at New Passage on December 9th; One was present at Severn Beach on December 23rd with two at Aust Warth.

2006: (12)

One was flushed at Orchard Pools near Severn Beach on January 15th; Two were seen at Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth on February 11th; Two were seen at Aust Warth on March 1st and 3rd; On March 21st one was seen at Aust Warth; One was noted at Shepperdine on March 26th; One was seen at Severn Beach on October 21st; On November 4th one was seen at Severn Beach; One was present at Northwick Warth on November 5th; One was reported from Northwick Warth on November 24th; One was seen along the shore at Oldbury Power Station on December 9th.

2007: (20)

One was flushed from Aust Warth on January 4th; On January 19th one was seen at Aust Warth, it was seen again on January 24th; One was seen on the salt marsh at Severn Beach on January 25th; One was seen around Grebe Pond, Northwick Warth on January 25th with two there on January 26th - 27th; One was seen around Grebe Pond at Northwick Warth on February 4th - 5th; Two were seen around Grebe Pond at Northwick Warth on February 24th; One was seen at Northwick Warth on April 14th; One was seen at Northwick Warth on September 29th; One was seen at Northwick Warth on October 7th; One was seen at Northwick Warth on October 15th and 19th; On November 4th one was seen on the salt marsh at Severn Beach; On November 12th there was one seen on Aust Warth; Three were reported from Lagoon II at Oldbury Power Station on December 15th; One was seen at Aust Warth on December 16th; Two were reported from Filton Pool & over the Airfield in the morning on December 20th.

2008: (c.12)

Two were seen on Northwick Warth on January 19th; Four were flushed from around Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth on February 3rd; There were at least 5 around Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth on February 6th; One was noted at Severn Beach salt marsh on December 10th; Seven were noted at Northwick Warth at 09:30 on February 11th; One was noted at Aust Warth on February 18th; Two were present around Grebe Pond and Northwick Warth on February 19th, 21st and 23rd; One was flushed from Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth on March 8th; One was noted at Aust Warth on March 9th & 10th; Five were flushed from around Grebe Pond on Northwick Warth on March 11th; One was seen on Northwick Warth March 15th, 16th & 25th; Up to seven were present at Northwick Warth fresh marsh on March 21st & 23rd with five present on March 22nd & 28th and three on March 24th & 30th; One was still present on the freshmarsh at Northwick Warth on April 6th;