129025 Great Snipe Gallinago media. Superficially very similar to a Snipe. Compared to that species and in all plumages, note the proportionately shorter bill, three striking white wingbars and more extensively barred underparts. When taking off,the outer tail feathers are revealed as being largely white. Great Snipe usually favour drier habitats than Snipe; Stinging Nettle-covered wetland margins are ideal for migrants. The species breeds in eastern Europe and winters in Africa. Most records in our region (four or five in a good year) occur in autumn and in the northern isles.
