Dear All
Still trying to decide what to call the Katherine Sewerage Ponds snipe. I managed some more photos today including some in flight, posted here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewianbell/sets/72157625573042634/
On previously posted shots I have had votes for all three species, but everyone with an “I’m not a snipe expert” disclaimer.
I’m hovering between Swinhoe’s and Pin-tailed, with probable Swinhoe’s based on the limited resolution view of the tail. However it’s behaviour does not seem Swinhoe’s, when flushed it flies low and direct and doesn’t call. I also think the bill is lighter than I thought it should be in a Swinhoe’s and the very wide supercilium in front of the eye makes me think Pin-tailed.
So – any Snipe-sperts out there? Or is it too hard without having the bird in the hand?
Cheers
Andrew Bell
– Also a nice Black Bittern at Chinaman’s Creek near Katherine this afternoon – led me a merry chase from tree to tree along the creek.
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G’day Andrew,
I had a very quick look at your bird a couple of days back and was swayed by the half toe length projection beyond tail tip of the bird in flight to think it was probably a Swinhoe’s, and quickly interpreted everything else about the bird accordingly without looking closely enough.
But I set aside more time last night for a more prolonged look without the blinkers on and almost straight away decided the plumage seems a perfect fit for Latham’s.
First off whatever it is it is in first winter plumage, eg retained juvenile wing and tail combined with fresh first adult head, breast and back.
Secondly it’s the wrong relative shape for a Pintail, much too long in the rear end and the fanned tail of the flying bird is completely wrong, also Pintail tends to project almost a full foot beyond tail tip in flight. There are other features also wrong for pintail but these are enough.
Negatives on this bird for Swinhoe’s would be, too much brown flecking in crown stripe, cheek stripe not dark enough especially under and forward of the eye, the lower of the two stripes running away behind the eye is not darkly defined enough, and this would go also for the loral stripe which should be a tad thicker at the bill, the dark juv markings in the wing coverts and tertials are not broad and black enough, the ground colour of these coverts and tertials in juv Swinhoe’s is often a more richer brown than shown here. The relative tarsus length to the bird’s body seems a tad too short and finally the outer tail feathers are not really dark enough. All of these features can be somewhat individually variable but taken all together I feel they are convincing.
All the negatives I have described for Swinhoe’s are perfect for a juv Latham’s. The only problem is the toe projection, but it is a short half toe and the bird does have a juvenile length tail.
So my suggestion would be first winter Latham’s Snipe and I am reasonably confident about it, or I am for the moment anyhow.
Cheers Jeff.