Overwinterende Houtsnippen Scolopax rusticola in de duinen bij Castricum in 2000-23: voedsel van roofvogels

During raptor surveys in the coastal dunes near Castricum in 2000-23, 372 Woodcocks were flushed on 178 field days during the winter months, on average 2.09 Woodcocks per day. Woodcock numbers did not correlate with winter severity (expressed by Hellmann index), but it should be noted that in the study period all winters were either mild or extremely mild (Hellmann’s cold index ranging from 0.0 to 94.7). Winter densities varied between 0.00-0.56 Woodcock per ha woodland. In the Dutch coastal area Woodcocks have been recorded as an important winter prey of Goshawks Accipiter gentilis. Regarding the Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus residing in Heemskerk (village near Castricum), 18 out of 225 prey items identified during the breeding season were Woodcocks (8%). On 20 March 2021, a Woodcock was observed that tried – unsuccessful eventually – to escape from a female Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus by walking away whilst raising its tail and flashing the conspicuous white tips on the underside of the tail feathers.