Pin-tailed Snipe, Swinhoe's Snipe and Common Snipe
Found a mixed flock of about ten birds — Pin-tailed Snipe, Swinhoe's Snipe and Common Snipe. Scanning for Pin-tailed Snipe first, I turned up only two. Most were Swinhoe's Snipe, with two Common Snipe.
From there I settled in to try to photograph tail feathers, keeping an eye on my surroundings so as not to get in the way of the farmers working nearby, while staying focused on the snipe through the viewfinder and binoculars. It is more tiring than you might expect, but when you manage a clean tail-feather shot, it makes for a very satisfying day out. ^^
Pin-tailed Snipe, juvenile. A typical individual — no room for doubt.
Same individual as above.
Same individual as above.
This one is also an unambiguous Swinhoe's Snipe.
Same individual as above. The outer tail feathers were the narrow type, which made it doubly exciting!!
This one is also a Swinhoe's Snipe, juvenile.
Same individual as above.
It was the closest bird to me, but showed no sign of moving. Perhaps exhausted from just having arrived on migration.
Common Snipe, juvenile.
A Common Snipe being chased by a Pin-tailed Snipe (background). This Pin-tailed Snipe didn't bother the Swinhoe's Snipes, but it drove away every Common Snipe.
Common Snipe, juvenile.
Pin-tailed Snipe (foreground) and Swinhoe's Snipe. All juveniles.
Pin-tailed Snipe, juvenile. Same individual as the foreground bird in the photo above.
Swinhoe's Snipe, adult (right) and juvenile.
Swinhoe's Snipe, juvenile.
Swinhoe's Snipe, juvenile. The individual whose tail feathers I spent four days photographing a few days ago. Even seeing it again on this day, it was a confusing individual leaning toward Pin-tailed Snipe.