Snipey Hat-Trick

Common Snipe

The recent deluges have turned parts of the patch into a mire of quag – in other places a marshy morass. On Monday morning I was picking my way through the puddlesome bog (enough synonyms already – ed), when a bird took off, almost from under my feet. I immediately recognised it as a Jack Snipe, distinguishable from  its common cousin by the much shorter beak, size, markings and behaviour.  I was delighted to encounter this scarce and elusive bird – a patch first. On Wednesday I had a similar encounter with a Common Snipe allowing me to compare the contrasting escape strategies of these two waders. The Jack Snipe is much harder to flush, relying on its camouflage – they will occasionally even, allow themselves to be picked up rather than take off. They rise silently and half-heartedly then drop down again, fairly nearby. The Common Snipe, on the other hand is “as flighty as a feather”, once flushed they shoot skywards, seemingly in panic, letting out  an expletive -   ‘crek’  - then zig-zagging high into the distance. Wednesday’s Woodcock completed  the snipey hat-trick, elevating me to the pantheon of sporting greats, alongside Geoff Hurst, Stuart Broad and Geoffrey Archer. The patch usually holds a good number of wintering Woodcock.  They flush with noisily whirring wings, level off and fly a short way before setting down. For the past couple of months I have been delaying my patch perambulations -  waiting for good light - whilst getting to know, and photograph, the Fungi, Lichens and Bryophytes of the patch. Last week, however, I reverted to my normal routine of first-light-footslogs. I’ve been rewarded with an excellent week of birding with a number of patch scarcities. In addition to the waders - Peregrine, Raven, Stonechat, Brambling, Willow tit and Barn Owl. I also found a pair of Teal on the lake. Teal would barely register if seen at somewhere like Martin Mere or Marshside -  here, however it's something noteworthy... ...the joys of  patch watching in a nutshell.

Recent Patch Sightings 11/1 - Jack Snipe, Roe Deer (3) 13/1 - Common Snipe, Stonechat 14/1 - Woodcock, Brambling, Raven, Willow tit 15/1 - Peregrine, Raven (2) Barn Owl - daily Jack Snipe - the internet is full of photographs of birds before, they've flown off. Frankly it's getting boring now - the novelty has worn off. So here's a picture of Jack Snipe after it has flown off. Note the diagnostic features: 1) lack of any bird in the frame 2) not that interesting really Brambling -  a male visited the garden - always a treat to see Raven

Great Tit - one of several species which have been in song recently - along with Coal Tit, Dunnock, Robin, Wren, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Treecreeper, Stock Dove

Signs of Woodcock. All manner of tracks were visible after Saturday's covering of snow including a surprising number  of places where a Woodcock had been probing for worms. I hadn't previously realised that this was such a good way of monitoring Woodcock. 

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