Islet with roosting Shoveler, Pintail and Snipe A marsh harrier flew low over the reed beds.
A water rail was squealing as we looked out across the fresh-water pool to an islet where water birds roosted. Shoveler of bold colours and long, broad bill. A cluster of Pintail, an elegant duck with long central tail feathers. Sheltering on the far side of the islet were some four or five snipe. Roosting with heads turned and bills tucked into the feathers of their mantles. These birds might seem somnolent but their eyes were watchful.
A water rail was squealing as we looked out across the fresh-water pool to an islet where water birds roosted. Shoveler of bold colours and long, broad bill. A cluster of Pintail, an elegant duck with long central tail feathers. Sheltering on the far side of the islet were some four or five snipe. Roosting with heads turned and bills tucked into the feathers of their mantles. These birds might seem somnolent but their eyes were watchful.
Amongst the much larger Shoveler and PIntail, Snipe are hidden in the stubble of the reeds, protected by their cryptic colouring. They are furtive birds and hard to see. In a flurry of flight a cluster of snipe lands on the islet. I could see the snipe on the far side of the islet outlined against the water. The new arrivals were closer but the reed stubble was perfect camouflage .
Pintail are such a beautiful duck, their plumage exquisite. But I neglected them because the snipe posed a challenge. Sometimes a blink of the eye reveals them, or a slight movement. Editing images, I marvel at intricacies of pattern and colour. The snipe is dark chocolate and rich cream, bold stripes and a head like a humbug, breast tiny flecks of dark on white.
Somehow, the zoom on video works better than for still images. So I came home with videos which show snipe well. One bird uses its long, straight bill to preen its breast feathers, revealing a darker down beneath. Then the bird raises its wader's foot and scratches itself below the head. In photographing snipe, I'm looking beyond the brightly coloured Shoveler- and so showing its lovely colouring. And the beautiful patterns and subtle colours of Pintail plumage. I'm also playing hunt the snipe, both at Leighton Moss and back home in editing. They keep popping up.
I like the art of birding and PIntail is a fine subject. The elegance of the bird and the beautiful, subtle colouring. The cream of the vent on the male is echoed in a flush of cream on throat and breast, below a chocolate head. Patterns are exquisite, the striking borders on each feather of the mantle and the fine patterning on the grey of breast and belly. This last sequence of images was taken in February 2020 so the male is in breeding plumage.
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