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. ^^
