|
Travelling back from Broome stayed o'night at Barkley
Homestead on 8th October.In late arvo went for walk to three small water
treatment ponds behind camping area, found single Common, Sharp-tailed and
Curlew Sandpiper. In last pond found a Gallinago snipe working its way around
muddy edge, probing mud as snipe do.Thinking this was a fair bit inland for any
snipe, and immediately wondering whether it was Latham's or Swinhoe's went back
to camper for telescope and field guide. Fortuitously my neighbour in campground
was Stuart Pell, a fellow BQ member. In fading light we scoped the snipe and
consulted field guides(S & D, Pizzey, Morecombe). None showed any of the
three Gallinago extended to where we were (Barkley Homesead is approx 190 East
of Tennant Creek, and 250 km West of Qld. border). The bird never fly or spread
wings. Relying most on Morecombe we concluded (?guessed?) it was a Lathams based
on the extent of (rufous) tail projecting beyond folded wings, an imprecise
diagnostic we suspected, but the best we could do in the
circumstances.
On arriving home and checking recent Atlas I found the
most westerly sightings of Latham's to be quite east of Mt Isa, possibly
Longreach and ?Hughenden.There is no map distribution for Swinhoe's , but
in the Uncommon & Vagrant Species section there are two records for the NT,
one in or near Darwin and the other (18.133) somewhat NW of Tennant Creek. One
Qld record (20.139) appears to be very close to Camooweal.
So, what was it? To late, I
know, unless someone is passing-by and it's still there. What was it most likely
to have been, Latham's or Swinhoe's? Has anyone else seen Gallinago in this area
recently or in past? Would be interested to hear views/opinions re this
snipe.
Russ Lamb, Maleny, SEQ
|
