This splendid photo of a snipe was taken by Stephen Burch last February in cold, icy conditions at Shellingford pit. It shows features of the bird not often seen as it stands in the snow with its long bill raised and legs poised for flight.

Snipe normally spend most of their time low down in vegetation where their cryptic plumage patterns render them difficult to see.

They will jump into the air when disturbed, twisting from side to side at great speed to escape any possible predators.

It seems strange that they should reveal their presence as they fly away by making harsh rasping calls, but this certainly warns other snipe to be aware of approaching danger.

Many arrive in Oxfordshire in autumn, mostly coming from the continent to escape the severe weather.

Here they seek soft ground in which to probe for favoured foods such as earthworms. Some will gather in large numbers in suitable locations; for example, in recent years groups of up to 150 have wintered in a wet field near Kidlington.

Unfortunately, snipe have become rare in Oxfordshire in the summer.

In the past, I recall hearing their drumming in many parts of the county such as Minster Lovell, the Trap Grounds in Oxford, Rushey Mead at Kidlington, Radley, and Somerton.

Otmoor remained one of the few places in the 1990s where they still bred, and efforts were made by the MOD and several organisations to keep a hold on their numbers.

When the RSPB created the fine reserve in adjacent fields there were only about five pairs remaining.

The hope that they could recover has yet to be achieved, although other listed species such as redshanks, curlews and lapwings have made impressive progress.

Declines in snipe populations have occurred across southern Britain, although changes seem to be less in northern areas. The Atlas of British Birds, which is being organised by the British Trust for Ornithology, will enable us to discover the true extent of the losses suffered by these interesting birds.

John Brucker