Mega News -
A Pintail or Swinhoe's Snipe in the BetShean Valley
2nd September 2003

This morning I discovered an extremely interesting snipe (Gallinago) in the damp turf fields of Kefar Ruppin, in the Bet Shean Valley. After close observation and direct comparison with Common Snipe (Gallinago gallingo), I soon realized that the bird could only be a Pintail or Swinhoe's Snipe (G. stenura or megala) and I began collecting a series of images, six of which are presented here. The bird was a juvenile and present until at least 11:30 hours.

The photos include two flight shots in direct comparison with Common Snipe (G.gallinago). In each case, the Pintail or Swinhoe's Snipe is on the lower left of the image.

The complications of separating these two species in the field were recently highlighted in the journal British Birds by Paul J. Leader and Geoff J. Carey (BB Vol.96 No.4), and the authors concluded that safe field identification is generally not possible.

There are two definite records of Pintail Snipe (G. stenura) in Israel, one from November 1984 in Eilat and one from November 1998 at Kefar Ruppin. Both of these birds were trapped and ringed when the diagnostic 'pin' tail feathers clinched the identification. Furthermore, the Kefar Ruppin turf fields have produced three other records of Pintail or Swinhoe's Snipe since 1998, all of which were presumed to be Pintail Snipe.

Today's observation is by far the earliest recorded in Israel, all other records referring to the October - December period.

Other exciting species discovered in Kefar Ruppin this morning included an adult Rufous Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis meena) and a juvenile Rosy Starling (Sturnus roseus), all in all representing the first genuine (and very early) wave of Asiatic species of the autumn.

Please enjoy the images of this beautiful snipe. We hope to bring you regular field reports from the Bet Shean Valley over the next two months.

Click on the below pictures to enlarge (+)

Good birding to all,

James P. Smith & The Birdingisrael Team

Contact info

Daphna Abell
Program Coordinator
lotan-programs@lotan.ardom.co.il
Tel: +972 8 6356935;
Toll Free: 1800 2000 75 (when in Israel)