At about 1700h today (Friday 28 Oct) I observed a single Painted Snipe
feeding on the western shore of Kellys Swamp behind the ‘perching log’ which is
visible on the left as one scans the swamp from Cygnus hide. As it was quite
distant and the light was awkward and I was scopeless at the time, I can’t be
positive as to gender but I think it was a male.
While I was watching, a Purple Swamphen approached the Painted Snipe which
faced the Swamphen, raised its wings and dipped forward, thus giving full view
of its wings to the Swamphen which looked startled and quickly turned around and
headed away. About ten minutes later, a White-faced Heron approached the Painted
Snipe and the wing display was repeated with the same immediate result. I was
quite impressed given the size difference in both encounters. A few minutes
later, however, a Black-fronted Dotterel charged at the Painted Snipe which
turned and fled with the Dotterel in pursuit. Once the Painted Snipe had reached
the cover of the tussocks, the Dotterel ceased pursuit and the Painted Snipe
settled down to a resting position among the tussocks.
Regards,
Leo.
