A Jack Snipe at Amwell

20th March 2024

A Jack Snipe was seen at Amwell earlier in the winter frequently the cut reed ride in front of the James Hide. Unfortunately it was spending most of the time at the far end of the ride and was therefore fairly equidistant between the James and White Hides allowing just record shots. However on the 18th March possibly the same bird was re-discovered in the same ride but now closer to the James Hide, so time for a visit.

A quick scan from the main view-point produced just two Common Snipe hunkered down and fast asleep.

So now on to the James Hide and the first thing I saw as I looked down the ride was this magnificent buck Muntjac which was casually browsing the reeds. If only the Jack Snipe was going to be this cooperative!!

The Jack Snipe was visible but only because of its bobbing motion and most of the time was 80% obscured, and at one point I was only able to take a photograph of its eye through a tiny window in the reeds.

It was feeding in what was actually a slow-flowing stream that ran across the ride, with clumps of old and fresh reeds of varying density. Not too surprisingly it was spending all its time in the most dense part of the reeds and then went to sleep. After two hours it began to feed again and started moving left which eventually brought it into a less vegetated area allowing some shots to be taken.

Well worth the wait!!!