Seymour Birdies Diary: A Jack Snipe at Lemsford Springs

14th January 2026

Jack Snipes are not routinely found on the cress beds at Lemsford Springs, but are known to feed on the surrounding fields. It is only when the fields are frozen that they move onto the springs where the relatively warm running water keeps most of the feeding area ice-free.

So once settled into the hide time to look around. Not too surprising to see the usual suspects of Little Egret, Grey Wagtail and Green Sandpiper

Also good to see the large dead tree put to good use with a Cormorant and a Heron.

This is the Heron sunbathing and using its wings as reflectors to reflect the sun's rays onto its body.

And more recently the new kid on the block, the Ring-necked Parakeet.

So how can you tell the difference between a Snipe and a Jack Snipe? Well luckily there was a Snipe feeding by the far bank and you can see it has a very long bill and a gold central crown stripe.

The good news was that the Jack Snipe was close to the hide, but the bad news was because of this it was in the shade. I normally go to Lemsford Springs after 12pm as by then the sun has moved round and the full width of the cress beds is in the sun.

Let's look at the Jack Snipe. The Jack Snipe is smaller than the Snipe, but this can be difficult to use as a differentiator when you are looking at a single bird with nothing to compare with. The more reliable features are the bill which is only about two thirds the length of a Snipe bill, and the lack of a gold central crown stripe. And of course the Jack Snipe's famous bobbing up and down action when feeding, but be aware that the occasional Snipe have been seen bobbing, and I have seen it myself.