While not as active as when in Japan, sometimes the Australian birds do more than just feed. Below is a copy of a message I sent to the chatline in December
2016 including video of behaviour rarely seen in Australia.
Steve
A group of Latham’s Snipe directly in front of Ardea hide today provided plenty of photographic opportunity. Only one of the eight birds seen (they were all visible at once for a short time) was banded (R9). Links to videos below show some
of the behaviour observed.
Steve
Calling from a grass mound
http://www.hbw.com/ibc/1300453
Aggression http://www.hbw.com/ibc/1300464
Rhynchokinesis http://www.hbw.com/ibc/1300494
From: helen walker [
Sent: Thursday, 1 March 2018 9:34 AM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Latham's snipe (a much livelier fellow in Japan)
http://www.japannatureguides.com/wild-watch/my-birding-paradise-hokkaido-ii
"Perhaps the most dramatic “songster” of summer is Latham’s Snipe. This extraordinary shorebird spends its winters in southeastern Australia and Tasmania, but breeds here in Hokkaido. Known locally as the “Kaminari-shigi” (or thunderbird!)
its dramatic undulating display flight above the marshes involves it climbing high into the sky giving hoarse “tsu-biyaku, tsu-biyaku, tsu-biyaku” calls, then plunging into a steep dive during which its stiff outer tail-feathers vibrate, rattle and drum, thrumming
with a strange “gwo-gwo-gwo” sound, before the bird swoops upwards once more calling as it goes."
