After birdwatching for over 50 years and over that time I've seen some wonderful birds I'm embarrassed to say that I've never seen a Water Rail. I've had the odd fleeting glance of it's backside as it sprints into the reeds but never a really good view of one out in the open. They are notoriously very shy and seem to favour staying deep in the reed beds where the only clue to their whereabouts is their loud calls which sound like pig like screams. They may come out to the edge of the reeds or on icy Winter days come out into the open looking for food but mostly stay hidden away. There has been some cracking pictures on social media of Water Rails but whenever I've gone to these locations it's always been a no show. So on Sunday the 9th March Steve Bool and myself went to Forest Farm nature reserve near Cardiff, lovely area with an old canal and river with plenty of trees and two hides made out of shipping containers which over look ponds and a small reed bed. We sat in the first hide for a while with not really much showing so decided to give the second hide a go. Within 10 minutes of us being in there Steve spotted a small bird up near some Moorhens I got my binoculars on it and at last there it was my first proper sighting of a Water Rail.
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| at long last (rallus aquaticus) |
I was pleased as punch to have finally bagged my first Water Rail, it didn't hang about for long and soon ran back into the reeds. Luckily it came out a few more times allowing Steve and myself some great views and we were able to get some pics and a bit of video.
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| great to finally see one out in the open |
A short clip Steve took of the Water Rail
After the buzz of seeing the Water Rail we decided to walk along the old canal where Steve spotted this male Green Woodpecker. I managed to get some decent images even though it was quite a way into the trees.
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| male green woodpecker |
They are a stunning looking bird, it was calling quite loudly as we stood and watched it for a while.
Here's some more birds that I photographed while we were there.
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| a very tame robin |
The Robin's and Blue and Great tits were so tame that they would fly into the hides inches from where we were sitting.
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| moorhen |
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| grey heron |
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| grey heron showing off it's breeding plumage |
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| jay |
A super morning at Forest Farm especially for myself having finally seen a Water Rail.
Another big thank you to Steve Bool for once again doing the driving and making my birding list grow ever bigger cheers mate, who knows what the Spring and Summer will bring I can't wait.
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