A bird which has an almost 100 per cent belief that it would sit tight in its marshy domain hiding from those who wanted to see it whether friend (me the birdwatcher) or foe (the predator).

This my first introduction to the Jack snipe caught me by surprise as a bird or two took to the air from a mere half metre away as I wandered through a soggy. Oh the joys of birdwatching.

In time I learnt how to find a few of these wintering migrants without them springing off into the air. These were moments savoured when I could watch the crouching bundle of feathery life, take a photo or two and move on, with the bird content that I had not seen it.

In 2023, I must admit that there have been fewer of these birds on the moss and when I have been out recording the wildlife on the moss those I have noted each sprang into the air before my rheumy eyes could settle upon them.

At the start of another year, I mused on the fact that perhaps, as in a lot of things I have discovered of late, that I am past my best in being able to revel in views of these cryptically feathered 20cm long birds. Today, the two that I encountered were away before I could find their roosting place.

My thoughts saying well you were happy as a lad with such, therefore rather than regret, be happy to connect to my youth, which is now as cryptically hidden as these birds were today.

Day 10 of #12DaysWild celebrated in ‘youthful style’ and let’s face, it I said to myself, I still have photos of these birds when I did see these birds on the ground.

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