Two 'Wotsits'?

[Catherine]

I'm not sure if the ringed bird is a Sanderling, Dunlin, Greenshank or other at Keyhaven, but the stripey bird in the background looks like a Snipe of sorts...

(Another ringed wader of the same species as the first was not far away!)

Any ideas?

[rolf]

Certainly looks like a Snipe Catherine, the second bird looks like a Greenshank, although I'm not sure whether the beak is upturned from the photo.

[Chocky]

The bird on the left in the left photo is a Snipe

http://www.thamesvalleybirds.co.uk/a...gallinago.html

[rolf]

Been looking at my guide and don't think the second bird is a Greenshank, as there doesn't appear to be any curvature of the beak, so may perhaps be a Wood Sandpiper, a passage visitor.

[Catherine]

Thanks for the information, folks!

So I don't have a Jack Snipe then - just a plain one!

It certainly looks like a Green Sandpiper. The one in my book doesn't have an upturned beak though. It was smallish and VERY pale in colour....

I take it that one sex has red ring on left leg while the other has the blue/green one there - and vice versa?

[Chocky]

It could be a Jack snipe Catherine. It's difficult to tell which snipe But well done

[rolf]

I think the beak is too short for a Jack Snipe.

[rolf]

Thanks for the information, folks!

So I don't have a Jack Snipe then - just a plain one!

It certainly looks like a Green Sandpiper. The one in my book doesn't have an upturned beak though. It was smallish and VERY pale in colour....

I take it that one sex has red ring on left leg while the other has the blue/green one there - and vice versa?

Sorry Catherine, I meant to type Greenshank, have now changed my post to read as what I meant to say.

The body looks too slim for a Green Sandpiper.

[Merlin]

Common Snipe and a Greenshank as Beryl/Rolf have both described Catherine. However, the ring/s are more than a little interesting and if you have precise details of it/them I'd be eternally grateful.


Pete.

[Catherine]

Greenshank had been my first guess - though only a guess I'm afraid! They were very pretty, shy birds, and I could only see those two in the area.

This site confirmed it for me as the photographer had taken a pic of one of the same (or similar) birds!
Chris Thomas - Bird Photography - January 2008 Pictures & News - Keyhaven & Cardiff

I'll email a local RSPB guy about the rings - and whether the colours on different legs on different birds indicate sex. I haven't found anything online - yet.....!