About Breeding Waders of Wet Meadows

The purpose of this survey was to assess the importance of both existing and new lowland 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 re-visited sites from the 1982 and 2002 surveys, including sites from the 2009-10 RSPB targeted areas, as well as other new sites. It covered historic wader sites as well as newly created/managed farmland wader habitat, including arable Lapwing Plots. All regions of lowland England were covered, as well as Welsh sites that were covered in 2002.

Requirements

The survey required 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. An April visit was made to detect Lapwing, and morning survey visits were preferable.

Surveyors needed to be able to identify common wader species and be familiar with display and territorial behaviour. They also needed to record simple habitat and land management measures.

All survey forms and documents were downloadable from the Resources page and a site map with numbered fields could be downloaded and printed from your site list, once allocated. Plot all waders in each field on the downloaded maps provided using standard BTO species codes.

Ducks were also recorded and we were also keen to use the opportunity to record Yellow Wagtail and Meadow Pipit. Only wader species needed to be mapped.

Monitored sites

View the surveyed sites in the map.

Resources

Key instructions and forms

• BWWM Survey instructions
• BWWM Data entry guide
• BWWM Visit and habitat recording form
• BWWM Bird recording form
• BWWM Site change form
• BWWM Letter of introduction
• Habitat and Lapwing plot guide

Health and safety guidance

• BTO volunteer health and safety guidance
• Ticks and Lymes Disease advice

Other resources

Guides on managing habitat for Snipe and Lapwing.

• Lapwing habitat guide
• Snipe habitat guide

Code of Conduct

Volunteers must follow BTO’s Code of Conduct. This code applies to our staff, our members, and volunteers, including surveyors and participants in the Ringing and Nest Record Schemes, (hereafter referred to collectively as ‘staff and supporters’). It applies to all BTO activities, whether online (including meetings and events, telephone, letter, and email) or offline (any face-to-face interaction). We've also written some guidance for volunteer fieldworkers, which will help beginners in particular.