To celebrate the first day of spring I made a quick stop by the Horseheads Marsh (aka, the Holding Point) this evening. Two things crossed my mind as I pulled in: it's wonderful to drive home in not just daylight, but sunlight, followed by how deceptive this spring day was. Bright and sunny, but breezy with a temperature in the upper 30*s (F).
One bird surprised me when it flushed from under my feet as I walked the railroad tracks between two pools. As it flew it took a few seconds to process the fact I had a camera and I should "shoot" it.
Here's the view I had. Can you identify it? (Click the image for a larger version.)
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5 comments:
Great shot! That's not a view you see very often.
Love those racing stripes on the back.
Nate - Thanks! I have to admit, I'm pretty proud of this shot, especially given how little time I had to get the shot off. I don't know that I've ever really seen the tail in all my previous encounters (that is, a lot of time seeing snipe, just not the tails). The reddish color surprised me.
-Mike
Would it be a Wilson's snipe?
Yes! Jan_m got it: the bird is a Wilson's Snipe, to be featured in an upcoming post. Horseheads Marsh, by the way, is a decent place to encounter them: last year in early spring I stood on the "hump" and listened to the winnowing of at least one snipe.
Mike, I don't really get credit for that one. I found another way to come up with the answer besides a field guide.....Did you sense the guilt emanating from my neck of the woods?
In my defense, why isn't the Wilson's snipe included in my Peterson's Field Guide, copyright 2002?
Did I mention that it's a beautiful photo?
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