Wiltshire Wader Group
Farmland Wader Species
A variety of wading birds can be found on farmland across the U.K. In Wiltshire many species which were once a common site have declined markedly and disappeared form former haunts. Our work focuses on the following four species; chosen based on their local status, national declines and relevance to Wiltshire.
Curlew
Numenius arquata
The curloo-oo call of the Curlew is to many embodiment of the wild. This large wader uses its long bill to probe for for. The Curlew is a resident in the U.K, wintering on the coast and then moving inland to breed.
Although Curlew still breed in Wiltshire, notably on Salisbury Plain and the Braydon forest; the open wet grassland needed by this species has meant that they have suffered at the hands of intensive agriculture. Nationally numbers are down by 46% since 1994 and globally the species is 'Near Threatened'.
Lapwing
Vanellus vanellus
Known to many in the county as the Pee-wit, the Lapwing was once widespread and a very common sight across the fields and downs of Wiltshire both as a breeding bird and a wintering migrant.
This familiarity earned it a place as the logo of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. Lapwings in the south west have declined by 80% since 1960 and is globally 'Near Threatened'. In Wiltshire birds are gone from former haunts and winter flocks reduced. Salisbury Plain is one area where Lapwings still breed.
Redshank
Tringa totanus
Often found standing on top of posts guarding its territory during the breeding season. The distinctive bright legs are one of the easiest features to identify and unsurprisingly that give this wader its name.
The Redshank has never been as common in Wiltshire as some of the other species listed here. Indeed it can still be found quite widely in places such as Cotswold Water Park during winter. However as a breeding bird it has been reduced to only a few scattered locations around he county.
Snipe
Gallinago gallinago
A bird of wet meadows and marshes. The Snipe has a distinctive mating display where the males engage in a 'drumming' flight to attract a mate. However they are often more secretive using their cryptic colouring.
Much like the Redshank; the Snipe is much more common across Wiltshire during the winter months. Birds congregate in areas of water and wetland. Unfortunately breeding has declined to be almost non-existent within the counties boundaries making the drumming display a thing of the past.