and now another potential north american first

[AndyB]

Solitary Snipe from Alaska, photos here:

http://www.surfbirds.com/cgi-bin/gallery/display.cgi?gallery=gallery10

[Brian S]

Andy

What a claim, though the images are not all that great. It's on its own, so I suppose it must be one......

Seriously though, images of Solitary Snipe can be viewed here, for those that want to compare the structure and loral length and pattern.

http://orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=1185&Bird_Image_ID=4609&Bird_Family_ID=130

Brian S

[Bobolink44]

quite woodcock-like as a species esp bottom photo by graham talbot:
http://www.surfbirds.com/cgi-bin/gallery/search2.cgi?species=Solitary%20Snipe
out of interest are the vagrants that turn up in alaska indicative of what might vagrate to europe?

[Richard Guthrie]

"out of interest are the vagrants that turn up in Alaska indicative of what might vagrate to Europe?"

Interesting thought.

Alaska being much closer to the Asia mainland (their Governor can see Russia from Alaska!) I would think birds would have a much better chance to survive a "crossing" there than a bird traversing the North Atlantic.

On the other hand, there are far fewer birders in likely put-down spots in Alaska then in UK or even Ireland to find what the winds have blown in.

[MichaelF]

vagrate
I think you've just invented a new word there!