HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

Jack Snipe is a scarce and somewhat localised winter visitor to Britain. The first wave of arrivals from Scandinavian breeding grounds tends to occur in October and November and in these months birds can be found at a much more widespread selection of sites. According to current population estimates, around 110,000 Jack Snipe winter in Britain, although this figure certainly isn’t backed up by visual records; the species is notoriously elusive and hard to see. The scientific name, Lymnocryptes minimus, includes references to Ancient Greek words for ‘hidden’ and ‘smallest’ – enough to suggest it’s no easy customer to locate. That said, it’s likely the species is under-recorded in Britain.

There are two main reasons why Jack Snipe is especially difficult to lay eyes on. For starters, it doesn’t tend to flush until almost trodden on, unlike Common Snipe. In another difference to its larger congener, it tends to fly low and briefly, and very rarely calls – quite unlike the oft-loud, lengthy and explosive take-off of Common Snipe. Another reason is Jack Snipe’s preference to feed away from open mud and water, preferring low, damp vegetation, reedy margins, water meadows and coastal marshes. This makes the species somewhat unfussy – as long as a site is damp and secluded, it will consider using it.

Compared to Common Snipe, Jack Snipe has much larger wings in proportion to the rest of its body, meaning the species is well suited for long-distance migration. Many of the birds that pass through Britain in October and November are heading for south-west Europe; others will remain for the winter. Jack Snipe is thought to migrate individually and often overnight, unlike Common which sometimes moves in flocks. Despite its notoriety for being hard to see, every now and again a showy bird will reveal itself, much like the one in this photo, offering a rare opportunity to enjoy up-close-and-personal views of one of Britain’s most retiring birds. ■