Arkadiusz Sikora
Ornis Polonica 2010, 51: 182–194
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2010.3.1
Abstract: Wintering of Water Rail, Snipe and Woodcock was studied during 12 winters (1998–2010) in Gdańsk Pomerania and western part of Warmia and Masuria (northern Poland). All three species wintered regularly in the area, but they were a few times more numerous in Gdańsk Pomerania than in Warmia and Masuria. In total, 52 wintering Water Rails, 173 Snipes and 88 Woodcocks were recorded. The most frequently 1–2 individuals were seen, and only Snipe occurred in groups of 4–7 ind. Water Rail and Snipe were the most numerous along midfield ditches. Woodcocks initially had been recorded in similar habitats, but during the last season most birds were found in woodland areas with groundwater outflows. 37% of Water Rails and as many as 90% of Snipes were detected visually. The proportion of Woodcocks found visually amounted to 43% in 1998–2009, and 60% during the last winter. Some Water Rails and Woodcocks were recorded using footprints and traces of probing left by birds on the ground. The results suggest that Woodcock numbers wintering in northern Poland are much higher than it has been assumed so far. The present-day knowledge is incomplete mostly due to the species secretive habits and preference for habitats rarely visited by bird observers. The author’s experience indicates that wintering Woodcocks are best searched for in the areas of woodland groundwater outflows during daytime in January and February. Chances for finding birds are higher in periods following cold weather and fresh snowfall, which reduce the number of suitable wintering places and forces birds to concentrate in unfrozen groundwater outflows.
