5th Ishigaki-jima Snipe Camp!!
We held the Ishigaki-jima Snipe Camp again this season — five years running, thanks to everyone who has taken part. This time there was one participant. We met at 9 a.m. and spent the day watching snipe until around 4 p.m.
Because we held it about a month later than usual, Pin-tailed Snipe numbers were low — only 2 individuals out of several dozen snipe seen. Swinhoe's Snipe were the most numerous and are at peak, so almost all were juveniles. Common Snipe juveniles are now arriving to join the adults, and numbers should peak soon.
Please also have a look at past Ishigaki-jima Snipe Camps. The next one is planned for spring next year. Come and sharpen your skills at separating Pin-tailed Snipe from Swinhoe's Snipe. ^^
First Grey-tailed Tattler juvenile of the season, Great Knot, and Temminck's Stint juvenile were all seen. Common Greenshank juveniles are increasing. While watching the snipe, a Ruddy-breasted Crake appeared — the first in a while.
A Pin-tailed Snipe finally squeezed out after scanning through dozens of snipe.
While watching a group of around ten Swinhoe's Snipes, a snipe appeared in the grass. It was a typical Pin-tailed Snipe juvenile, so I followed it with binoculars hoping to get a look at the tail feathers — and it bathed rather sooner than I expected. ^^
Same individual as above. Wing-flapping after bathing.
The needle-like tail feathers are also visible during preening.
A different Pin-tailed Snipe individual. Also a juvenile, and it was together with the bird above. They look like typical examples of a similar type, so they may be siblings. I would have liked to show a variety of Pin-tailed Snipe types, but these two were the only Pin-tailed Snipes this time.
Same individual as above. Preening in the grass.
Swinhoe's Snipe adult. The only adult of the day.
Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile.
Same individual as above.
Another Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile.
Yet another Swinhoe's Snipe juvenile.
Same individual as above.
By this time of year, Swinhoe's Snipe are almost all juveniles.
Same individual as above.
A juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe resting in the grass.
A juvenile Swinhoe's Snipe that showed little wariness.
An adult Common Snipe.
First juvenile Grey-tailed Tattler of the season.
Also the first Red-necked Stint of the season — a juvenile.
Also the first Great Knot of the season. It was a juvenile.
Juvenile Common Greenshanks have been increasing too.
A Ruddy-breasted Crake appeared while I was watching snipe.