Bird ID Help

[Xurek]

Hello all.

I was wondering if you could help me with some bird identification. This year I am currently working for the Northern Ireland Forest Service and I have been carrying out work up and down the East coast on various sites.

Whilst walking across a lot of the re-stock sites I have been having encounters with a certain bird species. They have a habit of flying out of the vegetation right in front of you. These sites are usually covered in brash / debri, old stumps, grasses, rushes etc and usually quite wet. Basically not long after the tree crop on it has been felled.

The bird itself has a long straight beak and a brown colouring and looks quite reddish from behind as it flies away. I have a growing passion for birds and I am getting better but still struggle with ID outside of the garden. Done some reading and my own instincts tell me either a Snipe or a Woodcock.

Unfortunately no pictures for you as I never have my camera with me and would only get a split second to take one anyway!

Any help appreciated.

Thanks for your time.

[Dogghound]

A woodcock

A snipe is similar but prefers more open areas and doesnt show any reddish/brown feathers as it flies away.

[Wild-Woman]

Woodcock sprang to mind from your description.

[faz]

hello xurek welcome to WAB

it could be either when you saw them flying was it rapid wing beats ?
what size comparerd to a wood pigeon

[Tursiops2]

Sounds spot-on for Woodcock

[Xurek]

Thank you for the speedy replies.

@faz - yes very rapid wingbeats as it flies away and size I would say slightly smaller than the wood pigeon.

[diggleken]

Good description of classic Woodcock behaviour and view.
Cheers
Ken

[faz]

woodcock then me thinks