Latham's Snipe

The first of these attractive summer visitors are now arriving from Japan and their arctic breeding grounds escaping the northern winter. We had one on our driveway in Topaz on Sunday 28^th August. The next day we saw it again and then found 2 at the side of the dirt road section along Old Boonjie Road. These 2 have remained there since then. They were seemingly unfazed by a local farmer mowing the verge,  just popping over the fence into the pasture and then reappearing on the verge when he had finished. They continue foraging as we drive past. Luckily there is very little traffic along this road so they are probably safe.