Snipe

<< Previous Next >>
Snipe
Photo Information
Copyright: Pekka Valo (pekkavalo1) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 241 W: 21 N: 861] (2657)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-04
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark II, Canon 100-400L 4.5-5.6 IS USM, RAW ISO 400, B+W 77 010 UV-Haze 1 x
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/640 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite Bird photos [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-06 1:19
Viewed: 570
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This Common Snipe was shot at North Yorkshire Moors National Park.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Common Snipe or Fantail Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) is a small, stocky shorebird.

The breeding habitat is marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows in Iceland, the Faroes, northern Europe and Russia. Common Snipe nest in a well-hidden location on the ground.

European birds winter in southern Europe and Africa, and Asian migrants move to tropical southern Asia.
Adults are 23-28 cm in length with a 39-45 cm wingspan. They have short greenish-grey legs and a very long straight dark bill. The body is mottled brown on top and pale underneath. They have a dark stripe through the eye, with light stripes above and below it. The wings are pointed.

These birds forage in soft mud, probing or picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects and earthworms, also plant material.

The male performs "winnowing" display during courtship, flying high in circles and then taking shallow dives to produce a distinctive sound - which is given its Finnish name taivaanvuohi, "goat of a sky" because that sound reminds baaing of goat.
This species closely resembles the Wilson's Snipe, G. delicata, of North America, which was until recently considered to be a subspecies G. g. delicata of Common Snipe. The latter differs from the North American species in having a wider white edge to the wings, and seven pairs of tail feathers instead of eight.

There are two other races of Common Snipe; G. g. faeroeensis in Iceland, the Faroes, Shetland and Orkney, and G. g. gallinago in the rest of the Old World. The latter is a species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

This well camouflaged bird is usually shy and conceals itself close to ground vegetation and flushes only when approached closely. They fly off in a series of aerial zig-zags to confuse predators. Snipe hunters, therefore, needed to be very skilled to hunt these birds and they came to be called snipers - a term later adopted by the military.
pvs, SelenE, eqshannon, jaycee, Maite, Royaldevon, uleko, iris, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To joey: Snipepekkavalo1 2 05-07 01:03
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1133 W: 259 N: 2406] (10803)
  • [2008-05-06 1:22]

Hi Pekka,

A great capture with good sharpness and detail,a bird that is not seen that often on TN,well done and tfs

Paul

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2337 W: 59 N: 4094] (13345)
  • [2008-05-06 2:40]

Hi Pekka,
Good POV, composition and focus. I like the eye contact and the details on the plumage. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

Superb...A fine image, of which had the bird an emotional side, might even like as well! Hard to get great images sometimes....not this time! Hello Mr snipe! Been waiting to see you for a long long time....thanks mucho Pekka!
Bob

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4022] (13255)
  • [2008-05-06 9:45]

Hi Pekka,

A beautiful shot of this Snipe. He's posing perfectly for you even if he's considered shy. Excellent colors and details of his face and plummage. I love the slightly opened beak.

Jane

Hi Pekka,


good POV, composition and focus.
Looks like he has an halo on the bird.
Eye contacting is wonderful.

Gert

Nicely done, Pekka.
Well composed and good POV and DOF.
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5091] (17959)
  • [2008-05-06 13:20]
  • [+]

Excellent shot of this Snipe!!
That long beak is amazing!
Very sharp with brilliant detail.
Superb exposure too.
Effective low-down POV and a great composition.
How close were you?
Very well done, Pekka!

Joe

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 982 W: 64 N: 1199] (4856)
  • [2008-05-07 2:22]

Hello Pekka
How cute this Snipe! I like a lot the details on its plumage and the long beak. The lovely eye-contact makes me wonder what it should be thinking of you :)
An excellent close-up on this interesting species.
Congratulations and TFS
Best regards
Maite

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1223 W: 0 N: 4449] (13290)
  • [2008-05-07 3:05]

Hi Pekka

Great shot - really excellent detail and pose here - well done.

James

Hello Pekka,
Beautiful photo in an excellent POV. Great sharp details, natural colours and composition. Very nice pose.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Pekka,

This is an excellent shot of a bird that is reputed to be very timid! Your pov allows us to see the markings clearly, right down to the underbelly!
I like the pose!!

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2297 W: 163 N: 6694] (21146)
  • [2008-05-07 7:08]

Hello Pekka,
I love the Snipe and its courtship behaviour. The sound is lovely! It's a bird hard to get close to though so you've done very well here!
Excellent close capture showing sharp details and beautiful light and colours.
Many thanks and cheers, Ulla

Hi Pekka, lovely bird in great with fine details and excellent sharpness, it's athe first time that I see this specie, thanks, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 368 W: 39 N: 654] (2053)
  • [2008-05-08 1:22]

Hi Pekka,
Good cpature of the common snipe with a great amount of details on its plumage.The eye contact is good and foucs very well done.
TSF & Cheers

hello Pekka

i missed this wonderful bird's image,
excellent shot with fine POV and DOF,
i love your DOF at the level of the bird,
excellent sharpness and details
of the Snipe and his plumage, TFS

Asbed

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF