A Jack Snipe at Lemsford Springs

10th November 2026

A sunny day and a couple of hours to spare, so what better place to go than Lemsford Springs? Good to see that the numbers of Teal were building up with at least 10 present, but interestingly they were the only species of duck present today, not even a single Mallard.

One of the resident Grey Wagtails was feeding in the shallows amongst the watercress. Just look at those colours!!!!

There were about six Green Sandpipers present out of the usual dozen or so, so perhaps the others were up the local gravel pits.

There was very little activity, but then one started having a bath, which is always a spectacle.....................

.......................followed by a wing flap to dry those wings before preening.

But the best performers today were the Snipe. Here is one showing the gold stripe down the middle of the crown which confirms it as a Common Snipe. This may come in useful later.

All very photogenic in the afternoon sun.

And when you have finished feeding, time to have a chill-out with your mates.

Just look at the colours on that tail!!!!

But then bath time, and like many other waders Snipe really go for it.

As an ex-ringer I have held many Snipe in the hand and am aware just how flexible their mandibles are, just like they were made of rubber. This is what happens when the shake their head when bathing!!!

Get those feathers wet!!!

Anf then again a wing flap to dry the wings.

At that point a call came through on the red phone from the InFocus Hide Outpost, which turned out to be Agent Rose saying she had found a Jack Snipe. Unfortunately by the time I got there it had retired behind a small concrete wall, but still a sufficient view to see it was a Jack Snipe with the lack of the gold central stripe down the crown.

And then on subsequent views when it came out more into the open you could see the bill which is about two-thirds the length of a Common Snipe bill. Apologies for the Moorhen trying to get into the act.

Well. that was a bit unexpected and great to spend the afternoon in the company of Rose and Dave, and well done Rose for finding the Jack Snipe.