Thank you all. Definitely a lucky occasion - I see them pretty regularly here in S Florida, but always hiding in grasses and shallow water, reeds, etc., and often in shade. I think this is the first I've ever spotted completely out in the open on land in the sun.
We were on fairly equal ground, but I shot from about knee level to try to get that better angle...used the tilt screen to shoot low - I could easily get down on the ground to take the shot, but that was a younger me's game - getting back up looks less than graceful, so I prefer to stay on my feet when shooting!
We have a local spot where we can count on seeing snipe somewhat regularly during fall/winter/early spring. However, its part of a pasture with a marshy area running through it and they hide marvelously among all those clumps. It takes patience to find them and I've never gotten one hang around close enough to get a decent picture of them. Private property and a working farm, so can't go trekking through. The road running through the middle gets lots of birders, though. Good work on this one.
Thanks Sue. That's pretty much how we usually see snipe as well - almost every shot of one I've gotten was standing in shallow water, among reeds and mud...often I spot one, start shooting, and realize there are 3-4 more standing around that I didn't even see the first time.
