Snipe for ID Malim Nawar Wetlands, Perak, Malaysia Extensive ex-tin mining area with pond/lakes, wetlands, fish farming 2nd March 2013 Nikon D7100 SLR with Nikon AF-S 80-400mm, ED VR, handheld We all know that field identification of Snipe is not easy unless the tail is seen well in preening, especially for the Pintail and Swinhoes Snipes. The 3 migratory Snipes to the Peninsula are the Pintail Snipe (Gallinago stenura), Swinhoes Snipe (Gallinago megala) and the Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago). There is a possibility that the Lathams Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii) also transits the region. I recently posted some Snipe on a local nature facebook that stimulated some wider discussion and Swinhoes and Lathams Snipe were considered. I went back to same location, which is ‘Snipe-ful’, to try and find the same bird but only saw it briefly. However I managed to get a longer observation of another Spine preening in the early morning (lighting not optimal & air quality poor). I took a few videos and about 350 images trying to capture that brief moments of rapid preening, always focusing on the tail. Posting some images here for an opinion, mainly trying to focus on outer tail feathers while preening. A short video taken from the car as a hide here: youtu.be/cctbuKZZbEE Besides all the texts & guides I have looked up, consider these good posts: ayuwat.wordpress/2013/10/05/notes-on-swintail-snipe/ digdeep1962.wordpress/2013/10/03/possible-lathams-snipe-in-sabah/ (see tail feather paintings by Osao and Michiaki Ujihara) britishbirds.co.uk/search?id=8919 Post 1 – a general overview of the bird at rest Post 2-4 - show the tail in preening. Note that in image 3a the tail feather peeping out is rather white suggesting Swinhoes and Lathams Snipe but image 4a suggests there are some pintail feathers. Possibly a Pintail Snipe but value opinions. More images possible on request. None available in flight as I did not flush the bird.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 11:17:55 +0000