I couldn't have picked a worse afternoon to go looking for Jack Snipe for my year list _ cold, windy, driving rain....
But to see the blighters you have to become one with the Jack Snipe and their world.
Here's my latest tips, to be attempted only after chanting the mantra
"ITISWATCHINME"
several hundred times:
* Ignore the sky and elements, enter the Jack Snipe's universe _ so that's muddy wet grass, reeds and tidal rubbish then, with an attention ceiling of about 6 inches.
It was Confuscius I think who said, "The watcher of the Jack Snipe does not have clean, dry shoes."
* Reduce the size of your karma to zero _ the Jack Snipe likes to be as invisible as possible, so you should too.
* Ignore all other species _ Jack Snipe know when you are not concentrating, and ALWAYS choose this moment to break cover and fly a short distance.
* Just because the first 15 snipe that DO break cover are Common Snipe, it doesn't mean the 16th will be a Jack _ never make assumptions with these critters.
* Ignore all flushed birds making a noise _ Jack Snipe live in a silent world until their bizarre "horses hooves" display flights in Spring.
* If you know exactly where the Jack Snipe lands and are able to walk to the spot without seeing it don't worry _ IT WILL STILL BE THERE.
* Jack Snipe will always fly at the precise moment you stop looking for them.
* And finally, and almost seriously, if you know you're going to put Jack Snipe up out of cover, ALWAYS approach them from downwind, that way, when they fly they stall into the breeze which sometimes slows them down and allows you to look at them in the air for more than a nano-second.
Away from Tagg's Island, Derek Williams reports Buzzard, Merlin, Sprawk and Peregrine from Downholland Moss, and had a Little Egret there earlier this month.
Plus other highlights (in first week of Feb): 35 Corn Bunting; 33 Chaffinch; 80 Linnet; 133 Carrion Crows.
Elsewhere plenty of Siskins and Bramblings at the feeders at Meres Sands Wood, Rufford, apparently _ they must have been hiding during my last visit.
Oh yeah, and surely a report I got of SIX barn owl at Martin Mere is a missprint????
Or are there really that many out there at the moment? I know the young male Marsh Harrier is still around there.
Smew down at Tatton Park Mere still, and Snow Buntings (a scarce bird this winter) up at Lytham St Annes.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies.
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