Moorland bird Wales id if possible (1 Viewer)

[Stranger]

Seen today at Llangattock near the Chartist cave.
Habitat. Upland moors
Wader type bird with dark upper wings, head and back,cream belly with reddish throat,Underwings appeared olive, bill straight and dark similar in size to redshank as was body size.
Flight was high with many Jinks, feet just protruding from body in flight.
No wing bars discernable in flight.
2 birds seen would fly a short distance when flushed by walkers and seemed to be a pair.
No calls heard.
Any ideas?

 

[Jane Turner]

Snipe? Red doesn't fit though.

 

[nickderry]

snipe sounds good, reddish is ok, they can look quite rich toned, and the tails can certainly look reddish.

 

[Adam W]

Would have thought some other features would have been mentioned as more obvious if they were Snipe such as very long bill,under wings quite white not olive and pale stripes on the back are quite noticable also wouldnt expect Snipe to keep being flushed and only fly a short distance and they almost always make a scraping noise when flushed.

 

[andrew bryson]

Sounds a bit like a red necked phalarope. Except they are not here in winter.

 

[Jacana]

I think Snipe would be the most obvious option given the habitat, location and time of year. Also, they don't always call when flushed.

 

[nickderry]

I suppose short distance is relative, I often used to see where snipe landed when I inadvertently flushed them, sure, they go further than jacks (mostly) but rarely do they fly off and out.

 

[Adam W]

I must encounter different Snipe to everyone else as the desciption and behaviour doesnt fit at all to me.

 

[Stranger]

I have seen plenty of Snipe in my time and have never seen one that had such a
dark upper body,Could have been a trick of the light I suppose,it was snowing at the time.
Instinct tells me it probably was,but I still have some doubts.
I guess I will have to label this one unidentified.
Thanks for all suggestions.

 

[ginger john]

How about a male Ruff,coming into breeding season for an early leck.

 

[mike from ebbw]

There are certainly very good numbers of Snipe up there all year round so that is what my money would be on.