Winterwatch 2022 - Jack snipes

A wonderful segment from the first episode of Winterwatch 2022, focused on the smallest snipe species, the Jack snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus). The bird is presented to us by Colin McShane who also shows us a brilliant method of spotting these elusive waders, using a thermal imaging camera.
I do not own this clip. Uploaded solely for educational purposes.
You can also visit the blog Belvide Ringers where you can find out more about the ringing of birds in South Staffs.

[@Pookerly]

Enjoyed that, love the technique!

[@scarecrownester8936]

"they dont move unless you get very close to them" - this isn't always the case, freezing or squatting along with flushing up are just some of the HalfSnipes natural defensive strategies, but they can & will creep or even run away from observers (& grazing stock) when they are aware of them approaching. I think we'd be hard pressed to find many sites as productive as your purpose built site there....? Our large former coalfield has nothing like that. We've carried out massive survey effort over much of our region over the last 2 decades & had a good handle on the bird & its requirements long before thermal technolgy became popular. There are huge differences in numbers dependant on weather & site conditions from week to week, & routine movement between local diurnal roost sites. If our regionl census is rule rather than the exception, then there wont be anywhere near as many JS out there as people think. Nice video.