Roding on the railway

Last night we did our first woodcock survey at a local country park as part of a national voluntary survey being coordinated by the British Trust for Ornithology and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Woodcock are the only wading bird in Britain to be adapted to breed in woodland and their range is thought to have declined since the 1968-72 Breeding Atlas (Sharrock 1976). The first national survey was undertaken in 2003 and our survey site is one of the 805 high priority sites, being a repeat survey.

The survey involves spending 75 minutes around dusk at a fixed count point, the number of "roding" male woodcock are recorded during the survey in order to give an estimate of numbers.

Our count point is located on a disused railway viaduct over a small wooded valley connecting the country park to another nature reserve with woodland and heathland (excellent woodcock habitat!). We were treated to some fabulous views of woodcock roding; flying along at tree top height, calling and turning their heads looking for any interested females. Although our males seemed to only be versing the "swick" part of the call last night. Perhaps, like the weather, they've not properly warmed up yet?!