Long-awaited Latham's Snipe at the away Snipe Camp!! (video)
I visited Aichi Prefecture for an away Snipe Camp. Taking the shinkansen from Nagoya Station, I arrived in Toyohashi. On the first day, two powerful local helpers supported me, and I was finally able to observe the long-awaited Latham's Snipe — both adults and juveniles!!
On the second day I headed alone to Aisai City to search for Latham's Snipe. The lotus fields were thick with leaves and looked hard to work, so I covered the nearby paddy areas instead. Of four birds found, one could be observed well. On the third day I returned to the same spot and photographed one bird.
Wood Sandpiper, Greater Painted-snipe, and Little Ringed Plover were also present, though their numbers were overwhelmingly fewer than on Ishigaki Island.
I am now a little better prepared for the one-in-a-million chance of encountering Latham's Snipe on Ishigaki Island. ^^
An adult Latham's Snipe. I had a good, fairly close look at it.
The same individual as above. When startled by something, it retreated into the adjacent grass.
It occasionally paused from feeding to rest on a field bank.
It also showed off the tail feathers.
I observed it preening several times as well.
A Latham's Snipe fanning its tail feathers at a Grey-headed Lapwing in a threat display.
A Latham's Snipe lit by the early morning sun.
A juvenile Latham's Snipe seen in Okazaki. The only juvenile of this camp. I wanted to observe it at length, but we flushed it at close range and it flew off immediately.
The first adult Latham's Snipe I saw on this snipe camp. It was distant, but I was thrilled!!
Same individual as above. I was just barely able to confirm the tail feathers as well.
Also found a Greater Painted-snipe.
There were several Green Sandpipers.
As always, Grey-headed Lapwings were recorded in good numbers.
Found a Little Ringed Plover with a curved bill tip. You see it occasionally.
Located a Japanese Wagtail by its call. After waiting a while, it appeared briefly from the grass.
Juvenile Eurasian Skylark. There were many birds hatched this year.
Also observed many juvenile European Greenfinches.
