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Peregrine Craig Nash
08-14-2008, 02:38 PM
Photographed in June. In Ireland

John Chardine
08-14-2008, 05:33 PM
Looks like a snipe to me. Do you have more than one species?

Melvin Grey
10-10-2008, 04:46 PM
This is a lovely capture of a Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago, 'drumming' - a shot I have been trying for for years! They are common and very distinctive birds in all the bogs of Ireland - surely you must know this bird! The unusual 'drumming' noise is made by the wind vibrating the outer tail feathers, which are held at right angles to the body, as the bird dives. This position is beautifully illustrated here.
Melvin Grey, UK

Melvin Grey
10-10-2008, 04:55 PM
Peregrine, as an Irishman you must surely know this bird! It is a Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago - common throughout all the bogs of Ireland. It is a fantastic image of the male 'drumming' over it's territory. The unusual winnowing 'drumming' noise is made by the wind vibrating those outer tail feathers, held at right angles to it's body, as the bird does a shallow dive. It is an image I have been trying to capture for years!!!
Melvin, UK

Melvin Grey
10-10-2008, 04:57 PM
Sorry about the double reply - I thought I had deleted the first one by mistake.
Melvin