Jack Snipe

I had set jack snipe as one of my target birds for this winter so with an afternoon off wrok I set off for canal scrape at Kilnsea.This was my second attempt at jack snipe this year.
When I got to the hide there was a small crowd fixated on a small patch of reeds to the left of the hide.
About 15m away there was a rather motionless jack snipe that 'had been in that position for the last 3 hours'.
I got a few shots of it as it was then after about an hour it began to feed, curiously bobbing along as it went.
A couple of times it came out in the open allowing for some decent shots.
The light was not good and coupled with its constant movement made a sharp shot a little difficult, however I was extremely happy with the shots.
Coupled up with some good company in the hide it made for a most enjoyable afternoon.

Red Flanked Bluetail

Although I didn't manage any shots, I thought this bird deserved a mention.
Went for a look around Holmpton yesterday dinner time and didn't see much apart from a couple of reed buntimg.
It was probably too blustery.
On the way back to the car I got an alert confirming a red flanked bluetail at the Crown and Anchor.
On arriving, the bird had been trapped and ringed and released near the canal scrape.
A quick dash along the bank to the crowd eagerly awaiting a re-appearance.
I waited just over an hour with no sign so set off back to the car (it was getting chilly).I had a quick look back at the last few bushes near the fence line and there it wa sat up on some dead brambles, the views weren't great but I watched it flicking about for a couple of minutes.Then a big crowd descended and it seemed to disappear.
It was good enough for me a proper Siberian mega.Superb.