When most people think of snipe hunting they imagine an innocent person being told to wander around in the dark while hoping to catch some illusive, nonexistent creature. Snipes can be challenging to see, but they are real.
Earlier this month, near the small, repaired bridge over Arboretum Creek, I saw this one. If it had not been facing me, i.e. providing a bit of contrast between its belly and its surroundings, I might have missed it.
(This is the same bridge that was hit by an airborne car a year or two ago. For months, the bridge had bright orange barricades instead of the normal metal railings. It is just southeast of the intersection of Lake Washington Blvd and Boyer Street in the Washington Park Arboretum.)
This part of Arboretum Creek was enhanced with native plants in 2017 as part of the Loop Trail Project. This area of the creek is currently maintained by Seattle Parks and Recreation with assistance from the Friends of Arboretum Creek, The University of Washington Botanic Gardens, and The Arboretum Foundation.
Last year, a young woman doing her UW Capstone project reported seeing a Snipe further downstream along Arboretum Creek. I have seen them many times in Duck Bay, further down beyond the mouth of the creek, however, this was my first time spotting one along the creek.
This sighting tells me that the creek is no longer just a ditch for Lake Washington Blvd runoff. The return of the Snipe is nature's way of saying "Good job! Well done." They stopped to feed here because a healthy ecosystem is coming back along the creek.
Here is an example of a typically camouflaged view of a Snipe. (It is slightly to the left of the center.) If you look closely you will notice the bird is looking back at the camera.
While taking the photos I would occasionally stop to make sure the photos were turning out OK. Each time I looked away from the Snipe I would have to search hard to find it again. Even though my feet, the Snipe's feet, and our relative positions remained virtually unchanged
I am sure the snipe noticed me, however, it seemed confident that I could not see it. I love it when wild creatures just go on about their business as if I wasn't there. The Snipe was feeding on worms.
Unlike a Great Blue Heron or a Belted Kingfisher Wilson's Snipes do not throw their heads back, and use gravity to help pull their prey into their mouth. If anything the Snipe consumed its food more like a Pileated Woodpecker or a Northern Flicker eating ants.
There were no extravagant movements just constant and efficient feeding. The eyes of a Snipe are placed on the sides of its head. They can see in a three hundred and sixty degree circle, even when their bill is embedded in the ground.
Later in the morning, I stopped by again. The Snipe had only moved a few feet when a flicker of motion caught my eye. (Did you notice that its bill and legs are about the same length?)
A pair of Mallards floated into view while feeding in the creek. Spring is coming and if anything the female seemed a bit more focused on feeding than the male. I suspect part of the male's evolutionary job is to be on the lookout while the female build up nutrients so she can lay a dozen or more eggs come Spring.
The Snipe was probably five or six feet from the open water where the Mallards would pass by. Mallards can weigh as much as two and a half pounds while Snipes usually weigh under six ounces. Immediately, I began wondering if the Snipe would fly. (I wasn't expecting that the Mallards would attack the Snipe, but the size difference is so great that even accidental contact could damage the Snipe.)
The Snipe stopped feeding and carefully watched the Mallards' progress.
It began stretching a wing, just in case it needed to fly.
I was amazed at the bright orange of the tail feathers, partially visible behind the primary wing feathers.
After it closed the wing the spread of the tail feathers remained wider than normal, indicating it was fanning and stretching its tail as well.
A moment later it raised both wings above its back without unfolding them. Stretching out a different set of muscles.
It seemed like scratching its neck might be its final flight preparation.
Notice how the tail feathers are now back to the "normal" resting width with most of the feathers stacked one on top of another.
The Snipe peered back at the Mallards as if trying to decide if they were really a danger or whether it was safe to continue feeding.
The Mallards continued feeding. They did not seem to notice the Snipe.
The careful Snipe also returned to feeding. However, it kept turning so it could keep a watchful eye focused on the Mallards.
Suddenly, there was a great thrashing and splashing of water by the male Mallard. Immediately, the Snipe stood tall and watched with keen interest.
The Mallard caught a dark-colored creature. He immediately turned his back on the female Mallard and started moving upstream. He kept his body between his treasure and his mate. The female sensing something special was afoot crept closer, as if waiting to gobble up anything the male happened to drop.
Mallards, unlike Raptors, are not equipped with sharp bills that can quickly dispatch living prey. Much of the year they eat mostly vegetation, during breeding season they eat more larvae, worms, and other small creatures that they can easily swallow.
The creature the Mallard caught was probably five or six inches long. It would be a feast for the Duck, if it could manage to subdue it, and also not lose it to the female. In the past, I have seen bull frogs in the Creek. I wondered if the Mallard had caught a very large tadpole.
I occasionally saw the tail of the creature as it struggled.
The Mallard could only squeeze it, repeatedly, until the resistance ceased.
During this whole process, the Snipe stopped feeding and stood stiffly at attention - like a soldier at the funeral of a fallen friend.
The female stayed very close as the male worked its way slowly upstream.
For a moment, it appeared the Mallard lost its catch.
Click Here to find the Lower Woodland Pond on my map, which also includes nearby nest sites.
Over the years, I have had many readers tell me that Google is no longer sending them email announcements. As of 2021, Google has discontinued the service.
My email address is:
Another common issue is losing your input while attempting to leave a comment on this blog. Often everything functions fine, however, sometimes people are unable to make it past the robot-detection challenge or maybe it is the lack of a Google account. I am uncertain about the precise issue. Sadly, a person can lose their comment with no recovery recourse.
Bottom Line:
If you write a long comment, please, copy it before hitting enter. Then, if the comment function fails to record your information, you can send the comment directly to me using email.
Sincerely,
As the Mallards disappeared around the bend...
...the Snipe continued to pay close attention.
Then, it turned and looked directly at me, almost as if to say, "Did you catch all that?"
Finally, with the danger passed, the Snipe returned to feeding.
On this occasion, the worms the Snipe was eating were relatively large and visible. I understand with smaller items they can pull them up and swallow them even while their bill is stuck in the mud and searching around for more food.
The next day and the day after there were two Wilson's Snipe at this location.
Have a great day on Union Bay...where nature lives in the city and Black Birders are welcome!
Sincerely,
Larry
Going Native:
Each of us, who breathes the air, drinks water, and eats food should be helping to protect our environment. Local efforts are most effective and sustainable. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and the local native creatures. Even the microbes in the soil are native to each local landscape.
I hope we can inspire ourselves, our neighbors, and local businesses to respect native flora and support native wildlife at every opportunity. I have learned that our most logical approach to native trees and plants (in order of priority) should be to:
1) Learn and leave established native flora undisturbed.2) Remove invasive species and then wait to see if native plants begin to grow without assistance. (When native plants start on their own, then these plants or trees are likely the most appropriate flora for the habitat.)3) Scatter seeds from nearby native plants in a similar habitat.4) If you feel you must add a new plant then select a native plant while considering how the plant fits with the specific habitat and understanding the plant's logical place in the normal succession of native plants.
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Keystone native plants are an important new idea. Douglas Tallamy, in the book "Nature's Best Hope ", explains that caterpillars supply more energy to birds, particularly young birds in their nests, than any other plant eater. He also mentions that 14% of our native plants, i.e. Keystone Plants, provide food for 90% of our caterpillars. This unique subset of native plants and trees enables critical moths, butterflies, and caterpillars that in turn provide food for the great majority of birds, especially during the breeding season.
Note: Flowering plants and trees, i.e. those pollinated by bees, are also included as Keystone Plants.
This video explains the native keystone plants very nicely:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5cXccWx030
The Top Keystone Genera in our ecoregion i.e. Plants and trees you might want in your yard:
Additional content available here:
https://wos.org/wos-wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Native-Plant-Resources-10-7-22.pdf
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In the area below, I am displaying at least one photo with each post to help challenge us to know the difference between native and non-native lifeforms.
There are two different plants in this May, 2019, photo. One is native to our area and one is not. Do you know which is which?
Scroll down for the answer.
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Tall Oregon Grape: The native plant on the left. It belongs in our yards and is a contributing member of a healthy PNW ecosystem.
English Holly: The non-native invasive plant on the right. If left unchecked it will cover up and shade out native plants. The Holly reduces the richness and health of the ecosystem, and it is poisonous to humans and pets.
These two can be confused, especially, in the Winter, when they are without fruit or flowers.
Learning to distinguish these plants will help us to protect the local ecosystem. A key difference, which I am still working to remember, is that on the native plant the leaflets are in pairs, directly opposite of each other, except for the final leaflet. It is like they are working together, maybe that can help us to remember this species works together with other native plants and creatures in the PNW.
With English Holly, the leaves sprout out at alternating locations. It is as if each leaf is only concerned about itself and its own growth.
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The Email Challenge:
In response, I have set up my own email list. With each post, I will manually send out an announcement. If you would like to be added to my personal email list please send me an email requesting to be added. Something like:
Larry, Please add me to your personal email list.
My email address is:
LDHubbell@comcast.net
Thank you!
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The Comment Challenge:
Bottom Line:
If you write a long comment, please, copy it before hitting enter. Then, if the comment function fails to record your information, you can send the comment directly to me using email.
My email address is:
LDHubbell@comcast.net
Larry
