Snipe-Gallinago gallinago
Well camouflaged and took a while to find it.
Summer visitor to Ireland from west Europe and west Africa, winter visitor from Faeroe Islands, Iceland and northern Scotland.
A wader but not easily seen, unless flushed out of marshy vegetation, when it typically runs away in a frantic zig zag fashion. The disproportionately long, straight bill is easily visible in flight. If you are lucky enough to see one standing partially or wholly out in the open (usually at the edge of reeds), you will make out the series of dark brown, pale buff and black stripes and bars on the head and body - this produces a good camouflage effect.
Snipe-Gallinago gallinago
Well camouflaged and took a while to find it.
Summer visitor to Ireland from west Europe and west Africa, winter visitor from Faeroe Islands, Iceland and northern Scotland.
A wader but not easily seen, unless flushed out of marshy vegetation, when it typically runs away in a frantic zig zag fashion. The disproportionately long, straight bill is easily visible in flight. If you are lucky enough to see one standing partially or wholly out in the open (usually at the edge of reeds), you will make out the series of dark brown, pale buff and black stripes and bars on the head and body - this produces a good camouflage effect.