Fen Management Handbook - Scottish Natural Heritage

2.4.3 Grazed or cut fen in floodplain
Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), redshank (Tringa totanus), curlew (Numenius arguata)
and common snipe (Gallinago gallinago) are amongst the wading birds which
breed in fens and wet grasslands where grazing and cutting result in a short sward
in early spring. Other birds which also frequent open floodplain fens include shorteared
owl (Asio flammeus) and yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava).
Redshank is one of the
wading birds which
commonly breed in
short, wet grassland/
fen in early spring
(RSPB).
2.4.4 High marsh (tall herb) and carr
The range of birds associated with scrub, wet woodland and carr includes longeared
owl (Asio otus), willow tit (Poecile montanus), reed bunting (Emberiza
schoeniclus) and the rare Cetti’s warbler (Cettia cetti).
Reed bunting with food for young (RSPB)
pictured alongside high marsh and carr, ideal
habitat for breeding reed bunting (B. Hamill).
A study at Attenborough, in Nottinghamshire has shown that managed
stands of reed and green osier support the highest concentration of
nesting reed warblers, feeding sedge warblers and reed buntings
of all English habitats.
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