Breeding Waders of Wet Meadows 2020
The purpose of this survey is to assess the importance of both existing and new wet grassland and also other breeding wader habitats in England (as provided by agri-environment schemes) for declining breeding birds such as Curlew, Lapwing, Redshank and Snipe. The survey will re-visit sites from the 1982 and 2002 surveys, including sites from the 2009-10 RSPB targeted areas, as well as other new sites since 2002. The survey will involve up to four visits between mid-April and end of June to count and map all waders within allocated sites featuring wet grassland and/or farmland sites containing specific agri-environment scheme (AES) options. Simple habitat and land management measures will also be recorded during the field work.
The survey will require three daytime visits, with at least one week separating each, and a single dusk visit for Snipe during May – only if present at the site (there have been no records of breeding Snipe in Bedfordshire in recent years). It is important to make the first visit in April if possible, as this is an optimal time to survey Lapwing. Daytime visits should be carried out preferably between dawn and midday – avoiding cold, wet or windy weather.
A map will be provided showing you the boundary of your site. Cover all of the area indicated to ensure results are comparable to the 2002 surveys. Sites will need to be surveyed systematically, field by field, walking 100m of each part of the site. Record all waders on maps provided using standard BTO species codes.
Ducks should also be recorded and we are also keen to use the opportunity to record Yellow Wagtail and Meadow Pipit. Only wader species need to be mapped.
The following sites have been designated for Bedfordshire (BTO regions are defined by 10km squares, so some of these sites are in neighbouring counties). Please review the site list. If you visit any of these sites regularly and know they are no longer suitable or occupied by waders, please let me know and they will be withdrawn from the survey.
| Priority | Site_name | County | Type | CentralGR |
|
1 |
Near Heath And Reach | Beds | SP914265 | |
|
1 |
Astwood: Green Valley Farm | Bucks | AES Fields B_2445 | SP959463 |
|
1 |
Bromham | Beds | Lapwing Plot L_2166 | SP996506 |
|
1 |
Marston Vale MCP: Jubilee Meadow | Beds | AES Fields B_1333 | TL003409 |
|
1 |
Bourne End | Beds | Lapwing Plot L_1638 | TL017594 |
|
1 |
Maulden Wood | Beds | Lapwing Plot L_963 | TL061388 |
|
1 |
Willington | Beds | Lapwing Plot L_1198 | TL122498 |
|
1 |
Pegsdon Common Farm | Beds | AES Fields B_2463 | TL125309 |
|
1 |
Shuttleworth | Beds | Lapwing Plot L_995 | TL154430 |
|
1 |
Blunham Bridge To Girtford Bridge (Ivel) | Beds | TL157503 | |
|
2 |
Chicheley: Grange Farm | Bucks | Lapwing Plot L_513 | SP906469 |
|
2 |
Olney Water Meadows (Great Ouse) | Bucks | SP911515 | |
|
2 |
Harrold To Turvey (Great Ouse) | Beds | SP938535 | |
|
2 |
East End | Bucks | Lapwing Plot L_2446 | SP950454 |
|
2 |
Sharnbrook – Harrold | Beds | SP967571 | |
|
2 |
Felmersham: Hardwick Farm | Beds | Lapwing Plot L_2144 | SP978565 |
|
2 |
Radwell – Sharnbrook | Beds | TL011581 | |
|
2 |
Oakley (Great Ouse) | Beds | TL014526 | |
|
2 |
Clapham (Great Ouse) | Beds | TL032518 | |
|
2 |
Swinshead: Grange Farm | Beds | Lapwing Plot L_1261 | TL043649 |
|
2 |
Luton: Leagrave Park | Beds | AES Fields B_2585 | TL058248 |
|
2 |
Lower Dean | Beds | Lapwing Plot L_219 | TL058689 |
|
2 |
Bedford: Fenlake Meadows | Beds | AES Fields B_174 | TL066488 |
|
2 |
Haynes: St Judes Farm | Beds | Lapwing Plot L_1675 | TL071409 |
|
2 |
Barton-Le-Clay: Faldo Farm | Beds | Lapwing Plot L_648 | TL072324 |
|
2 |
Wilden: near cricket ground | Beds | AES Fields B_2549 | TL088559 |
|
2 |
Blunham Bridges To Ouse/Ivel Confluence | Beds | TL155527 | |
|
2 |
Shefford To Langford | Beds | TL166402 | |
|
2 |
Tempsford Bridge – Eaton Soton Lock | Beds | TL170558 | |
|
2 |
Sandy To Lower Caldecote (Ivel) | Beds | TL175480 | |
|
2 |
Eynesbury: Pocket Park | Cambs | Lapwing Plot L_915 | TL177585 |
|
2 |
Langford Mill To Henlow (Ivel) | Beds | TL183393 | |
|
2 |
Langford To Biggleswade (Ivel) | Beds | TL184433 | |
|
2 |
Ickleford Common (Hiz) | Herts | TL185331 | |
|
2 |
Biggleswade To Lower Caldecote (Ivel) | Beds | TL185461 | |
|
2 |
Tempsford Airfield | Beds | TL189519 | |
|
2 |
Biggleswade Common (Ivel) | Beds | TL194465 | |
|
2 |
Ashwell | Cambs | Lapwing Plot L_911 | TL278404 |
For more information, including how you can take part, please visit the BTO Breeding Waders of Wet Meadows web pages at
https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/breeding-waders-wet-meadows
or contact me at rogerkhicks@hotmail.com
Roger Hicks
BTO Regional Representative for Bedfordshire