Snipe

Bijdezee

I've just seen one of these in my garden probing with it's long beak. Very unusual, must be the frozen ground and low temperatures forced it here  to look for food. 

Obelixx

Lucky you.  They're usually very shy and I believe are now a protected species in Belgium.  Our farmer neighbours in Belgium said we had them along a stream which was our boundary between their paddock and ours but I never saw one.

Fire

Amazing.

Hostafan1

We have resident snipe on / around the lake.
The previous owner used to charge folk to come and try to shoot them.

nick615

As soon as autumn comes and the fields become wet, the snipe arrive by the dozen and it's impossible to walk a field with the dog without putting up at least six.  For the sad individuals who need to kill things for entertainment, the snipe is a 'fun' target because it zigzags in flight every 20-25 metres and requires greater skill to shoot.  I've never discovered why they fly at night but we hear them calling at all hours.  (SW Ireland)

Blue Onion

Haha.. I've been on many a snipe hunt as a child at various summer camps.  Some of the counselors would occasionally catch one, but they escaped before us campers ever got a good look.  Usually out through a hole in the bottom of the paper bag supplied to everyone.