Water Rail
Al Tracey
and saw my first ever Water Rail!
I was sat in one of the hides watching various tits at a peanut feeder,
when out it popped from behind a tree stump! It was that close I couldn't
get it all in the scope.
But what was it doing under the peanut feeder?
I couldn't see because of the tree stump but apparently it is a regular
visitor, but would it actually eat peanuts that had dropped to the floor?
--
Al Tracey
Chris Mead
from "Al Tracey" <altr...@lineone.net> contains these words:
> --
> Al Tracey
Probably. But it would also catch and eat any small bird that got too close!
--
Chris Mead, Hilborough, Norfolk
chris...@zetnet.co.uk or chris...@farm-direct.co.uk
Visit http://www.farm-direct.co.uk/ to find your local farm gate outlets
Visit http://www.birdcare.com/birdon for bird information
And finally http://www.bto.org for real bird science.
Carl and Jan Reavey
<altr...@lineone.net> writes
(incredibly long..) life. Never on Islay...
Why, because you saw it under a peanut feeder, does that mean it was
eating peanuts?
Just asking - I have no idea whether they eat peanuts or not..
Cheers
--
Carl Reavey
http://www.portcharlottehotel.co.uk
http://www.islaylamb.co.uk
Carl and Jan Reavey
<mal...@ogilvie.org> writes
>
>In article <r4TUcTAO...@portcharlottehot.demon.co.uk>, Carl and Jan
>Reavey <ca...@portcharlottehot.demon.co.uk> writes
>>In article <3c3ad...@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com>, Al Tracey
>><altr...@lineone.net> writes
>>>Just spent an enjoyable couple of hours on my local reserve (Potteric Carr)
>>>and saw my first ever Water Rail!
>>> I was sat in one of the hides watching various tits at a peanut feeder,
>>>when out it popped from behind a tree stump! It was that close I couldn't
>>>get it all in the scope.
>>> But what was it doing under the peanut feeder?
>>>I couldn't see because of the tree stump but apparently it is a regular
>>>visitor, but would it actually eat peanuts that had dropped to the floor?
>>>
>>>
>>(incredibly long..) life. Never on Islay...
>>
>around in the bird enclosures at Slimbridge right out in the open, just
>like the Moorhens, in fact. They seemed to have forgotten that they were
>meant to be secretive and to skulk around in thick cover.
>
>I've not seen one here, either, but I've heard them squealing in the
>spring. A few, or maybe several, pairs breed.
>
My 3 sightings were all in front of hides - Minsmere (twice) and
Titchwell, which are almost zoos <grin>. Never seen a proper wild
one...
Bill Alexander
--
"Malcolm" <mal...@ogilvie.org> wrote in message > >>
<snip>
> I've not seen one here, either, but I've heard them squealing in the
> spring. A few, or maybe several, pairs breed.
>
> --
> Malcolm
Probably Carl hunting Robert & Claire's pigs?
Bill....
http://www.proactnow.org/
JayDee
<altr...@lineone.net> writes
peanuts, so why not other rails
--
JayDee
Bill Alexander
"JayDee" <pid...@care4free.net> wrote in message
news:Cw1n1jDB...@care4free.net...
BWP says
Food
Omnivorous; predominantly animal matter, though regularly takes plant
material. In both breeding and winter territory, uses definite paths,
courses of which are fixed by position of favourable food sources, and
repeatedly visits successful hunting spots (Koenig 1943). Feeds while wading
in shallow water, taking items on and below surface, and from emergent
vegetation (Dementiev and Gladkov 1951c). Sometimes searches while swimming
(Koenig 1943), and rarely by diving (Glutz et al. 1973). Frequently searches
on land or in mud near water, usually washing food in nearest water before
swallowing (Glutz et al. 1973). Insects on vegetation may be caught by
leaping upwards with tightly closed wings (Percy 1951). Also reported to
climb vegetation, e.g. for berries of woody nightshade Solanum dulcamara
(Koenig 1943). Recorded flying into apple trees Malus to remove fruit then
eating it on ground (Portal 1927). When tackling small vertebrates (e.g.
fish, frogs) first paralyses them by vertical blows on spinal cord just
behind head, then kills themľstrikes with body, neck, and head remaining
relatively stiff, main movement coming from stretching and bending of ankle
joints (Glutz et al. 1973).
Throughout year, insects and their larvae: caddisflies (Trichoptera);
earwigs (Dermaptera); water-bugs (Hemiptera) including Notonecta, Halticus;
dragonflies (Odonata); beetles (Coleoptera), including Carabidae,
Hydrophilidae, Dytiscidae, Staphylinidae, Curculionidae; flies (Diptera),
including craneflies (Tipulidae) (Percy 1951); moth larvae (Lepidoptera).
Also recorded: small snails (Mollusca), including Bulinus, Zonites, Helix,
Lymnaea, Planorbis, Pisidium, Bithynia; worms and leeches (Annelida);
shrimps and small crayfish (Crustacea); spiders (Arachnida); small
vertebrates (as carrion or killed) including amphibians (frogs, toads,
newts), fish (including bullhead Cottus gobio, eel Anguilla anguilla,
Thompson 1962), birds (see Glutz et al. 1973) and eggs (Mylne 1963), and
mammals. Plant foods (more important during autumn and winter) include
shoots, roots (particularly of watercress Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum,
Turner 1924), seeds, berries, and fruits (Witherby et al. 1939; Glutz et al.
1973).
HTH
--
Bill....
http://www.proactnow.org/
Andy Mabbett
<altr...@lineone.net> writes
> But what was it doing under the peanut feeder? I couldn't see because
>of the tree stump but apparently it is a regular visitor, but would it
>actually eat peanuts that had dropped to the floor?
I saw Rails feeding under a feeding station at Sandwell Valley on New
Year's Day.
Mind you, I've seen so many Water Rails, I don't know what all the fuss
is about, If some people have a "bogey" bird, Water Rails must be my
"lucky" bird ;-)
--
Andy Mabbett
The next virus you download could be the one which wipes your hard-drive.
Get a virus checker *today* - if you already have one, get the latest update!
Gordon Hamlett
"Chris Mead" <chris...@zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:200201081...@zetnet.co.uk...
> The message <3c3ad...@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com>
> from "Al Tracey" <altr...@lineone.net> contains these words:
>
>
> > Just spent an enjoyable couple of hours on my local reserve
(Potteric Carr)
> > and saw my first ever Water Rail!
>
>
too close!
>
>
"6 Bearded Tits, one of which (a male) was killed and eaten by a Water
Rail"
Gordon
peter kook
"Gordon Hamlett" <gordon....@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:a1fkc4$pbc$1...@helle.btinternet.com...
brenden Preece
are driven out of hiding by the rising tide and caught and swallowed whole
by the waiting Herons. A good proportion of all the Water Rails I have ever
seen were like this. Not been for a few years, does this still happen?
Brenden Preece.
Mike Hill
<an...@pigsonthewing.org.uk> wrote:
>In article <3c3ad...@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com>, Al Tracey
><altr...@lineone.net> writes
>> But what was it doing under the peanut feeder? I couldn't see because
>>of the tree stump but apparently it is a regular visitor, but would it
>>actually eat peanuts that had dropped to the floor?
>
>I saw Rails feeding under a feeding station at Sandwell Valley on New
>Year's Day.
>
>Mind you, I've seen so many Water Rails, I don't know what all the fuss
>is about, If some people have a "bogey" bird, Water Rails must be my
>"lucky" bird ;-)
Was one at Pennington, by chance ?
Mike.
Al Tracey
news:a1fqfe$858$3...@epos.tesco.net...
certainly a surprise to me! Apparently they also eat Water Voles, Rats and
small Rabbits. What do they do with bits they can't digest, do they
regurgitate
and leave pellets?
Al Tracey
Bill Alexander
--
Bill....
Proact, campaigning for birds and their habitats ..... before it's too
late
http://www.proactnow.org/
"Al Tracey" <altr...@lineone.net> wrote in message
news:3c3bee68$1...@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com...
Hi Al,
They also eat a lot more things than that.
I started compiling a list a few years back of "things that Heron's eat"
So my annual offer of a FREE uncollated copy in Word format
is open to anyone in the group who wishes this.
--
Bill....
Proact, campaigning for birds and their habitats ..... before it's too
late
http://www.proactnow.org/
Martin Sage
>>Year's Day.
Water Rails are often seen near the passerine feeding area at
Slimbridge.
--
Martin Sage
www.sagefarm.demon.co.uk
Chris Dunlop
news:8Ohdr9G0...@pigsonthewing.org.uk...
> Mind you, I've seen so many Water Rails, I don't know what all the fuss
> is about, If some people have a "bogey" bird, Water Rails must be my
> "lucky" bird ;-)
Would you care to post locations/dates/tips? They could be useful for the
many (including me) who haven't been so fortunate.
Chris Dunlop.
Bill Alexander
news:a1h3n8$4rp$1...@cpca14.uea.ac.uk...
Certainly heard plenty in the UK, but have not seen any for a few years.
I had just got on to one(if you excuse the expression?) at a certain UK
reserve a couple of
years ago, when there was the most almighty roar, and it shot back into the
reed bed.
The roar had been a reserve volunteer shouting at a Wildlife Explorer
group(YOC)
to keep quite.
Urghhhhh!
Anne Burgess
> > Mind you, I've seen so many Water Rails, I don't know what all the fuss
> > is about, If some people have a "bogey" bird, Water Rails must be my
> > "lucky" bird ;-)
> Would you care to post locations/dates/tips? They could be useful for the
> many (including me) who haven't been so fortunate.
> Chris Dunlop.
FWIW I have seen three at Leighton Moss, and heard squealing at Loch of
Strathbeg and Spynie Loch. All in winter, but I don't have a note of dates.
Anne
Michael J Davis
On New Year's Day we went to Elton reservoir Bury, to look for the
Firecrest (seen daily by everyone but us), apparently there were Water
Rail there, too! Needless to say....... :(
Mike
--
Michael J Davis
<><
Some newsgroup contributors appear to have confused
the meaning of "discussion" with "discursion".
<><
Chris Dunlop
"Anne Burgess" <anne.b...@NOSPAMbtinternet.com> wrote in message
news:a1h8bi$42h$1...@knossos.btinternet.com...
> FWIW I have seen three at Leighton Moss, and heard squealing at Loch of
> Strathbeg and Spynie Loch. All in winter, but I don't have a note of
dates.
Thanks.
Two were seen from the East hide at Minsmere last Saturday. I was in that
hide for a while in the afternoon (not knowing about the Water Rail
sightings) but didn't see them.
We did of course have fun scoping 3 Smew on the far side of the scrape, in
front of the South hide. Later in the circuit we entered the South hide,
just in time to see the Smew take off and fly to the other side of the
scrape... in front of the East hide :-)
Two things to continue to look forward to then.
Chris
W K
Martin Sage <Mar...@sagefarm.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:Krx6eUAp...@sagefarm.demon.co.uk...
> >>I saw Rails feeding under a feeding station at Sandwell Valley on New
> >>Year's Day.
>
> Water Rails are often seen near the passerine feeding area at
> Slimbridge.
I had thought that I had seen one in the gardens of castle howard. Nr York.
When I read that they were very hard to spot I automatically assumed that I
had been mistaken.
Any thoughts? Does it pass? After all I do know what coots and moorhens look
like :)
Richard Watkinson
"Bill Alexander" <Pitl...@btinternet.com> wrote:
Since January 1st I have seen several Water Rails at Leighton Moss and
Old Moor. They have all seemed very unconcerned with human presence. At
Leighton Moss I heard one scuffling about on one side of a path so I
stopped and watched it. It carried on regardless then crossed over the
path in front of me and started hunting in the ditch on the other side
of the path. At Old Moor a juvenile was furtling about in front of a
hide for nearly an hour.
My theory is that recent hard weather has driven them to feed away from
their preferred habitat and possibly preferred food. Bill's list of
foods from BWP supports this to some extent.
I go further to suggest that they are not the shy and skulking birds we
always read about in the books but just appear that way because they
normally don't need to come out of the reed beds.
Makes no odds of course either way for us 'cause they will still be just
as hard to spot.
The same is true with Bitterns, I hazard. I have seen more Bitterns in
winter (apart from females in flight during the breeding season). In
particular I have noticed them sitting out in the sun during cold
spells. I suggest that they are neither skulking nor shy but that their
preferred food is found deep inside the reedbeds.
I await your flames!
Richard
__ __ __ _ __ __ __ _____________________________
|__|| |__|| |/ |_ |_||_ |_ |__| / ...Ceilidh/Barndance music
|__||__ | ||__ |\ _|| ||__|__| / for all occasions.
___________________________/ black...@argonet.co.uk
Turn left where the chip shop used to be.
jp
> >>of the tree stump but apparently it is a regular visitor, but would it
> >>actually eat peanuts that had dropped to the floor?
> >
> >I saw Rails feeding under a feeding station at Sandwell Valley on New
> >Year's Day.
> >
> >Mind you, I've seen so many Water Rails, I don't know what all the fuss
> >is about, If some people have a "bogey" bird, Water Rails must be my
> >"lucky" bird ;-)
> Was one at Pennington, by chance ?
> Mike.
I think they're often seen at Bunting Hide at Pennington. I see them
sometimes on the Plank Lane end of the Flash where the brook runs in,
especially in hard weather when they show up on the bank of the brook
- mind you, birdwatchers never go beyond 200 yards of the car park do
they? Before it was a country park Pennington was a refuse dump, I
used to see them occasionally mouching about around some filthy pools
of water, they didn't seem to mind! My German Pointer once pointed one
that had taken refuge in a length of drainpipe!
Cheers
Jonathan
Malky @ Westhill
> >I was aware that Herons ate fish and frogs, but whole Water Rails was
> Malcolm
There is a Heron on the Ythan, which is quite adept in taking Eider chicks
in early summer. I have video if it somewhere. Down in one gulp.
Malky @ Westhill
Andy Mabbett
<c.du...@uea.ac.uk> writes
>> Mind you, I've seen so many Water Rails, I don't know what all the fuss
>> is about, If some people have a "bogey" bird, Water Rails must be my
>> "lucky" bird ;-)
>
>Would you care to post locations/dates/tips? They could be useful for
>the many (including me) who haven't been so fortunate.
It goes something like this:
Visit hide/ visitor centre
Hear someone exclaim "good grief, a Water Rail, I've never seen
one/ haven't seen one since 1963!"
Yawn
Examine finger nails
Tighten boot-laces
Saunter to other end of hide/ visitor centre
Yawn again
Say, "oh, another one"
Return to original position
OK, I exaggerate somewhat; they're beautiful birds, and always exciting
to see. I think that, when I started birding, the were the first bird I
saw, which I'd never even heard of, so have a special place in my heart
of that.
I saw my first at:
RSPB Sandwell Valley, 31/07/2000
from the Visitor Centre, and have seen several there since, from there
and from the Marsh Hide, and the screen which replaced it.
Then:
Pennington Flash, 3/12/2000
Conwy RSPB, 04/02/2001 About 2' from me, on the other
side of the plate glass windows
of the visitor centre, and again
later in the day.
Llanelli WWT, 25/1/2001 Two; one swimming IIRC
Then again, I've yet to see a Bittern. Maybe this year...
peter kook
> --
> Andy Mabbett
>
not see at least one bittern
Stephen Poley
<an...@pigsonthewing.org.uk> wrote:
>In article <3c3ad...@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com>, Al Tracey
><altr...@lineone.net> writes
>> But what was it doing under the peanut feeder? I couldn't see because
>>of the tree stump but apparently it is a regular visitor, but would it
>>actually eat peanuts that had dropped to the floor?
>
>I saw Rails feeding under a feeding station at Sandwell Valley on New
>Year's Day.
>
>Mind you, I've seen so many Water Rails, I don't know what all the fuss
>is about, If some people have a "bogey" bird, Water Rails must be my
>"lucky" bird ;-)
Apparently. I've been birding for over a quarter of a century now
<gulp!> and only seen Water Rails three times. That's the same number of
times that I've seen Spotted Crake - it's strange how these things go.
--
Stephen Poley
uk.rec.birdwatching FAQ: http://www.xs4all.nl/~sbpoley/ukrb.htm
Bill Alexander
"Stephen Poley" <sbp...@xs4all.nl> wrote in message
news:3c3cb47a.7037910@localhost...
But how many times have you heard them Stephen?
I wish I had a euro for every time I have heard both species.
JayDee
<sbp...@xs4all.nl> writes
>
>Apparently. I've been birding for over a quarter of a century now
><gulp!> and only seen Water Rails three times. That's the same number of
>times that I've seen Spotted Crake - it's strange how these things go.
>
>--
lame in one leg, and it showed well for an extended period right by the
visitor centre on a regular basis.
--
JayDee
Malky @ Westhill
of the railway companies. Leaves on the line is now played out, so they will
probably be looking for another excuse.
The post header seem right for the job.
Attention commuters, the 08:35 London to Doncaster has been cancelled due to
water rail!!
Malky @ Westhill
Richard Candeland
<pid...@care4free.net> writes
>Only seen one so far - that was at Arundel WWT in 2000. I believe it was
>lame in one leg, and it showed well for an extended period right by the
>visitor centre on a regular basis.
An unusual thread this - for once I feel rather smug! My wife and seem
to be the only people who have seen water rail NOT on a reserve of some
sort or other. In the undergrowth on the bank of the river Cober next to
Helston Sewage works in SW Cornwall back in about 1994. The same day we
saw 2 firecrests and a woodcock, which my wife somehow spotted sitting
totally motionless under a bush. We sat and admired it for about 15
minutes through binocs from about 10 feet away - the only unflushed
woodcock I've ever seen.
Sadly this wonderfully productive area has now been sanitized as
'Penrose Amenity Area' or some such nonsense with mown grass for dog-
walking and the river tamed. A kingfisher occasionally pops up there but
that's about it for recent years. Progress :-(
We did see a Water Rail skulking on the edge of Marazion Marsh on New
Years eve - the only interesting thing we've ever seen there despite its
regular appearance in lists of places one should visit. Good job its on
the way from father-in-law's house to the Hayle Estuary, where on 31/12
we singularly failed to spot either the Drake American Wigeon or the
Green-Winged Teal supposedly present in the flocks of thousands of their
Eurpoean relatives. How do people find them?
--
Richard Candeland
Richard Candeland
<alcedo...@btinternet.com> writes
>Snipped
>There is a Heron on the Ythan, which is quite adept in taking Eider chicks
>in early summer. I have video if it somewhere. Down in one gulp.
>
--
Richard Candeland
Al Tracey
news:a1ii0p$qtse8$1...@ID-113788.news.dfncis.de...
Nice one! Don't jest though, you never know....
Al Tracey
Chris Dunlop
> Then again, I've yet to see a Bittern. Maybe this year...
Oh those - I usually see them as soon as I get to the car-park at Cley NWT
:-^
Perhaps that's *my* lucky bird, but I have seen them from that car-park at
least 3 times, twice over the car-park itself. And at two other locations
in Norfolk that I don't want to publicise on-line. Care to swap a bittern
sighting for a water-rail this year? :-)
Thanks for the water-rail tips.
Alan Gardiner
Waltham Abbey in the Lee Valley.
Alan
Malky @ Westhill
> An unusual thread this - for once I feel rather smug! My wife and seem
> to be the only people who have seen water rail NOT on a reserve of
> some sort or other.
> Richard Candeland
Richard, please add me to that list with 7 off reserve sightings of the
little craters. That makes 3 of us, any more takers, or does one(s) not wish
to boast.
Malky @ Westhill
JayDee
<altr...@lineone.net> writes
excuse (having run out of all other options)
--
JayDee
Stephen and Clare
(Richard Candeland) wrote:
> In article <C86nGwP6...@care4free.net>, JayDee
> <pid...@care4free.net> writes
<snip>
In the undergrowth on the bank of the river Cober next to
> Helston Sewage works in SW Cornwall back in about 1994. The same day we
> saw 2 firecrests and a woodcock, which my wife somehow spotted sitting
> totally motionless under a bush. We sat and admired it for about 15
> minutes through binocs from about 10 feet away - the only unflushed
> woodcock I've ever seen.
>
> Sadly this wonderfully productive area has now been sanitized as
> 'Penrose Amenity Area' or some such nonsense with mown grass for dog-
> walking and the river tamed. A kingfisher occasionally pops up there but
> that's about it for recent years. Progress :-(
>
<snip>
>
I've not seen a Water rail there but we were crossing the new footbridge
over the Cober last year, halfway on a walk around the Loe, and I said to
Clare "This looks possible for a Dipper". Yep. Exactly on cue, moving
upstream. Big grin, smug chuckle, etc etc.
We must look more carefully for Firecrests though. Are they likely in the
scrubby marshy bit that is seaward of the amenity area?
Stephen
Stephen Green and Clare Wilson
Cambridge
peter kook
"Richard Candeland" <ric...@utley.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> An unusual thread this - for once I feel rather smug! My wife and seem
> to be the only people who have seen water rail NOT on a reserve of some
> sort or other.
How many people keep seperate lists for birds seen on or off reserves? Is
this the latest delineation of elitism ; real birders don't go to 'reserves'
to be spoon fed their sightings - they go and find their own birds in 'the
wild'.
Mike Hill
Bunting hide is exactly where I see them, sometimes almost daily !
Mike.
GS550E SOB ZZR600 (nearly SOB)
Richard Candeland
<msdl...@cableinet.co.uk> writes
all, as such, I just have a reasonably good memory. ..and as for 'real
birders' not going to reserves, most of my bird-sightings are from when
I'm out walking or cycling. I visit reserves if they are handy, but as a
non-car-owner, most of them are not. Leighton Moss is my favourite as
it's almost on a direct train ride from where I live ('almost' meaning a
3-mile walk each way from Carnforth, where the connections are so crap,
but not to worry - the walk over the hill from Warton often provides
some good woodland birds.) ...and , yes I have seen Water Rail at
Leighton Moss. Sadly Arriva Northern have knocked that one on the head
for the moment with their emergency winter timetable (shortage of
drivers or water rail on the line, who knows?) and one of the trains
missing is the morning Leeds to Lancaster I always used to use. Perhaps
in the spring when the new wave of drivers comes on stream ... unless
the guards go on strike, as they are threatening to do.
--
Richard Candeland
Daje
question.
I was very surprised to see great reed warblers catching and eating fish, is
this standard behaviour for the species or did I stumble on a local
specialisation?
This was in the reed fringe of lake Skadarsko which is on the border between
Yugoslavia as was and Albania. The warblers would stand at the bottom of a
reed and wait for a fish fry (up to about 2cm in length) to swim close
enough, they would then strike at the fish, once caught the fish were beaten
senseless against the stem of the reed and then swallowed whole. We watched
a number of individuals feeding in this way, they all seem very experienced
and rarely missed a strike.
It would be nice to know if anyone else has witnessed this behaviour or if
any of your books have any references to anything similar.
Many thanks
Dave.
> 1973).
>
> HTH
> --
> Bill....
> http://www.proactnow.org/
>
>
Al Tracey
> In article <a1l792$rfnko$1...@ID-104599.news.dfncis.de>, peter kook
> <msdl...@cableinet.co.uk> writes
> >
> >"Richard Candeland" <ric...@utley.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
<snip>
Sadly Arriva Northern have knocked that one on the head
> for the moment with their emergency winter timetable (shortage of
> drivers or water rail on the line, who knows?) .
> --
> Richard Candeland
See what you started Malky!!
Al Tracey
Bill Alexander
news:FGz%7.19523$Si6.5...@monolith.news.easynet.net...
> sadly I don't have a copy of BWP to hand as it would probably answer my
> question.
>
> I was very surprised to see great reed warblers catching and eating fish,
is
> this standard behaviour for the species or did I stumble on a local
> specialisation?
> This was in the reed fringe of lake Skadarsko which is on the border
between
> Yugoslavia as was and Albania. The warblers would stand at the bottom of a
> reed and wait for a fish fry (up to about 2cm in length) to swim close
> enough, they would then strike at the fish, once caught the fish were
beaten
> senseless against the stem of the reed and then swallowed whole. We
watched
> a number of individuals feeding in this way, they all seem very
experienced
> and rarely missed a strike.
> It would be nice to know if anyone else has witnessed this behaviour or if
> any of your books have any references to anything similar.
>
> Many thanks
> Dave.
>
Hi Dave,
Hope the following helps :-)
I worked on Kvismaren during the GR Warbler breeding season, traps were put
out daily
to see what nymphs etc were in the water, I have only ever watched them
feeding on insects but as you can see from BWP fish fry are certainly taken.
If you wish any further info on the project, which was basically research
for a paper by
The great Staffan Bensch and Dennis Hasselquist
http://www.teorekol.lu.se/ekol_inst/mol_ekol/grw_homepage.htm
--
Bill....
Proact, campaigning for birds and their habitats ..... before it's too
late
http://www.proactnow.org/
Taken from the BWP on CD-ROM: copyright Oxford University Press.
Food
Mainly insects, with some spiders, snails, and small vertebrates; some
fruits and berries outside breeding season. Feeding techniques not as well
studied as in other Acrocephalus. Composition of diet and visual
observations suggest that most prey caught in short leaps as bird moves
through vegetation, searching leaves and stems carefully; mobile, flying
prey (e.g. Lepidoptera, Odonata) caught by using long jumps or leaps, or
flycatching techniques, akin to ,leap-catching' and ,fly-catching' of Reed
Warbler A. scirpaceus, though less agile. Compared with A. scirpaceus, tends
to feed lower down, near base of vegetation. Feeding in trees and bushes
(e.g. willows Salix, oaks Quercus) is regular at many sites and may provide
main source of food. Many of the more frequent prey items (dragonfly nymphs,
aquatic beetles and their larvae, aquatic Hemiptera, fish fry) are
presumably taken from water surface or just beneath, though many of the
aquatic insects could also be taken when they come onto land, e.g. to pupate
or moult. Feeding at margin of water and vegetation also reflected in high
incidence in diet of newly emerged adult insects (e.g. Odonata, Diptera),
with wings still unexpanded. Feeding on ground is regular, though usually
only brief; normally involves pounce at prey and return to vegetation.
(Dolgushin et al. 1972; Bibby and Green 1983; Sharrock 1984; Kazlauskas et
al. 1986; T Akriotis). In Lithuania (western USSR), estimated 44.9% of items
(by weight) collected from vegetation, 39.9% winged insects, 11.5% from
water surface, and only a few taken on ground (Kazlauskas et al. 1986); in
Camargue (southern France), estimated 25.3% (by number) taken from water,
3.4% from ground, 61.4% from vegetation, and 9.8% from air (Bussmann 1979);
compare A. scirpaceus (p. 198). Recorded taking insects trapped in spiders'
webs (Palfery 1989). Bee in collar-sample from young had had sting removed
(T Akriotis).
Diet includes the following. Invertebrates: mayflies (Ephemeroptera), damsel
flies and dragonflies (Odonata: Lestidae, Coenagriidae, Aeshnidae,
Libellulidae), stoneflies (Plecoptera), grasshoppers, etc. (Orthoptera:
Gryllotalpidae, Tettigoniidae, Acrididae), mantises (Dictyoptera: Mantidae),
termites (Isoptera), adult and larval bugs (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae,
Lygaeidae, Gerridae, Notonectidae, Corixidae, Cicadidae, Cicadellidae,
Aphidoidea), adult lacewings, etc. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), scorpion flies
(Mecoptera), adult, larval, and pupal Lepidoptera (Hesperidae, Sphingidae,
Hepialidae, Cossidae, Pyralidae, Arctiidae, Noctuidae, Lymantriidae), adult
caddis flies (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae, Limnephilidae), flies (Diptera:
Tipulidae, Culicidae, Chironomidae, Cecidomyiidae, Blepharoceridae,
Stratiomyidae, Tabanidae, adult and larval Syrphidae, Chloropidae,
Tachinidae), Hymenoptera (larval sawflies Tenthredinidae, Ichneumonoidea,
ants Formicidae, wasps Vespoidea, bees Apoidea), adult and larval beetles
(Coleoptera: Carabidae, Gyrinidae, Dytiscidae, Hydrophilidae, Staphylinidae,
Scarabaeidae, Helodidae, Buprestidae, Elateridae, Lyctidae, Anobiidae,
Oedemeridae, Tenebrionidae, Coccinellidae, Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae,
Curculionidae), spiders and their egg cocoons (Araneae: Araneidae,
Tetragnathidae, Agelenidae, Lycosidae, Clubionidae, Philodromidae),
harvestmen (Opiliones), freshwater shrimps (Amphipoda), small snails
(Gastropoda: Valvatidae, Bulimidae, Zonitidae, Hydrobiidae, Helicidae,
Lymnaeidae, Physidae, Planorbidae; possibly egg mass of Limnaea),
Nematomorpha (Gordius), and leech (Hirudinea). Vertebrates: fish fry
(Scardinius, Rutilus, Gasterosteus, Perca), larva of newt Triturus, newly
metamorphosed frogs (Hyla, Rana), and small lizard (Sauria). Plant material
rarely taken: berries (elder Sambucus nigra, alder buckthorn Frangula,
mulberry Morus, Salvadora), seeds, and once (perhaps accidentally) duckweed
Lemna. (Naumann 1897; Csiki 1907; Noll-Tobler 1924; Witherby et al. 1938b;
Dolgushin et al. 1972; Bussmann 1979; Dyrcz 1979; Bibby and Green 1983;
Cardenas et al. 1983; Thiede 1984; Kazlauskas et al. 1986; T Akriotis.)
In Córdoba (southern Spain), stomach contents of 72 birds obtained using
emetics, April-September, comprised 290 items: by number, 43.4% beetles (in
99% of stomachsžespecially Chrysomelidae, Scarabaeidae, and Tene-brionidae),
13.8% Hymenoptera (in 44%), 10.3% Diptera (in 45%), 5.5% spiders (in 9%),
3.1% Hemiptera (in 18%), 1.7% Lepidoptera (in 25%), 1.7% Odonata (in 9%),
and 1.0% caddis flies (in 3%), also 9.% soil particles, 3.5% seeds (Cardenas
et al. 1983). Of 23 stomachs from Hungary, April-August, beetles present in
17, Odonata in 6, Hymenoptera in 3, spiders in 2, and Diptera (Tabanus),
caddis fly, Hemiptera (Gerridae), and fruit of Morus alba each present in 1
(Csiki 1907). In Moldavia (western USSR), 14 stomachs (no date) contained
Odonata, Diptera, beetles (including Curculionidae), and spiders; 2 also
contained unspecified plant material (Averin and Ganya 1970). In Volga-Kama
region (east European USSR), of 5 stomachs (no date), 3 contained beetles
and 3 Odonata (Popov 1978). In year of high grasshopper (Acrididae)
population, south-east Greece, birds breeding near edge of marsh took large
numbers of these from surrounding vegetation, both for themselves and also
for young (T Akriotis). At 2 sites in western France, July-September,
average number of items per faecal pellet (n = 18) of autumn migrants and
local breeders in post-breeding period was as follows (ranges show variation
between sites): reed-plum aphid Hyalopterus pruni 0-18.8, mayflies 0-2.80,
damsel flies 0-0.10, Hemiptera 0.30-2.25, Diptera 0.75-1.20, wasps
(Hymenoptera) 0-0.10, beetles 0.60-2.50, spiders 0.38-0.70. Distribution of
body lengths of flies, wasps, beetles, and spiders as follows: 2-4 mm 64.3%,
4-6 mm 28.5%, more than 6 mm 7.2% (n = 56). Like A. scirpaceus, able to
fatten up without need for abundant supplies of slow-moving or immobile
prey. (Bibby and Green 1983.) Birds from Port Said (Egypt),
October-November, contained large spiders and beetles (Lynes 1912). In
autumn, berries of elder may be taken from waterside bushes, and berries of
alder buckthorn once recorded (Naumann 1897). Similarly, fruits of Salvadora
commonly eaten on shores of Lake Chad before spring migration, April-May
(Fry et al. 1970). Winter diet not well known, but presumably similar: in
Zambia, mostly insects (larger prey than taken by other warblers); seen to
take Lepidoptera, grasshoppers, dragonflies, mayflies, winged termites, and
small frogs (P B Taylor).
Nestling diet assumed to be similar to that of adults, though, as in A.
scirpaceus, some very small food items (e.g. aphids) may be taken by adults
but not brought to nestlings (Dyrcz 1979). In Lithuania, 82 collar-samples
from 6 broods, June-July, contained 581 items: 68.7% (by number)
Chironomidae, 2.4% other Diptera (including Tipulidae, Stratiomyidae, and
Muscidae), 12.7% beetles (almost exclusively Donacia), 4.6% spiders, 3.3%
snails, 2.6% damsel flies, 1.9% fish fry, and less than 1% others (including
Gerridae, caddis flies, water beetle larvae, and adult and larval
Lepidoptera); by weight (categories with more than 1%), 28.4% adult beetles,
27.4% Chironomidae, 4.3% other Diptera, 10.8% damsel flies, c. 11% spiders,
8.1% fish, 2.3% water beetle larvae, 1.5% Gerridae, 1.5% adult and larval
Lepidoptera, 1.5% caddis flies, and 1.4% snails (Kazlauskas et al. 1986). At
eutrophic ponds of Milicz (Poland), collar-samples from 41 broods of various
ages, June-August, contained 1096 items: 17.2% (by number) adult Diptera,
15.1% adult Odonata, 6.6% larval Odonata, 15.6% spiders, 14.0% adult
beetles, 9.2% caddis flies, 5.8% snails, 4.4% Heteroptera, and 12.1% others
(including water beetle larvae and small frogs Rana); by weight, 21.3% adult
Odonata, 16.2% larval Odonata, 14.5% spiders, 12.1% adult beetles, 4.8%
water beetle larvae, 6.7% adult, larval and pupal Lepidoptera, 6.5%
Heteroptera, 5.2% caddis flies, 5.1% adult Diptera, 1.7% snails, 1.7% frogs,
and 4.2% others; 22.5% of items (by number) were aquatic, 46.4% ,good fliers
'; average prey size 13.1 mm (2-47), n = 1066. At oligotrophic lakes
Neuenburgersee and Bielersee (Switzerland), collar-samples from 9 broods of
various ages, June-August, yielded 486 items: 67.8% (by number) adult
Diptera, 7.2% adult beetles, 6.8% caddis flies, 4.9% spiders, 3.1%
Hymenoptera, 2.6% adult, larval, and pupal Lepidoptera, 1.9% scorpion flies,
1.8% snails, and 3.9% others (including small frogs Rana); by weight, 27.9%
Lepidoptera, 24.4% adult Diptera, 20.7% adult beetles, 4.9% scorpion flies,
4.2% spiders, 3.3% small frogs Rana, 3.2% snails, 3.0% caddis flies, and
2.0% Hymenoptera; 1.2% of items (by number) were aquatics, 80.9% ,good
fliers', average prey size 7.9 mm (3-35), n = 476. Difference between Polish
and Swiss sites attributed primarily to habitat difference, especially in
association with nutrient status. (Dyrcz 1979.) At 2 sites in Hungary,
collar-samples had average prey sizes 21.2 mm (2-67), n = 290, and 9.7 mm
(1-31) n = 55 (Csörgö 1983). In Camargue (southern France), 313
collar-samples collected from 11 broods of various ages, April-August,
yielded 533 items: 32.2% (by number) Orthoptera, 20.8% snails, 18.9%
spiders, 11.9% Diptera (predominantly Brachycera/Cyclorrhapha), 6.6%
Lepidoptera, 5.5% adult Odonata, 1.1% Hymenoptera, and 3.0% others; by
weight, 50.4% Orthoptera, 15.5% spiders, 12.2% Odonata, 9.5% Diptera, 8.3%
Lepidoptera, 1.7% snails, and 2.2% others; 41.6% of items were aquatic,
45.4% from moist places, and 13.0% not dependent on moisture; average prey
size 14.6 mm (1-70) (Bussmann 1979) (compare A. scirpaceus, p. 200). In
south-east Greece, 49 collar-samples from 25 broods 4-9 days old, May-June,
contained 117 items: 17.9% (by number) adult Diptera (chiefly Tabanidae and
Syrphidae), 15.4% adult beetles (including 11.1% Dytiscidae), 14.5%
Heteroptera, 12.8% adult and larval dragonflies (mostly Sympetrum), 10.3%
snails, 9.4% Dytiscidae larvae, 7.7% spiders, 5.1% adult and larval
Lepidoptera, 2.6% Orthoptera, and 4.3% others; by weight, 19.4% dragonflies,
14.6% Dytiscidae larvae, 12.4% adult Diptera, 12.4% Lepidoptera, 11.9% adult
beetles, 9.7% Heteroptera, 8.5% Orthoptera, 5.7% spiders, 1.5% snails, and
2.1% others; median prey size 12.8 mm (1-c. 50); 58.1% of items by number
(53.8% by weight) were aquatic, 7.7% (8.8%) from moist places, 1.7% (0.1%)
associated with Phragmites, and 32.5% (37.2%) other, mostly not directly
dependent on water (T Akriotis); compare A. scirpaceus (p.200).
Daje
> Hi Dave,
> Hope the following helps :-)
Snip - answer to my question and 400 others I hadn't yet asked.
> Bill....
> Proact, campaigning for birds and their habitats ..... before it's too
> late
> http://www.proactnow.org/
Bill,
Many thanks for that.
Dave.
Graham Ramsay
What's a collar-sample ?
--
Graham Ramsay
Blairgowrie (UK)
Michael J Davis
>...and , yes I have seen Water Rail at
>Leighton Moss. Sadly Arriva Northern have knocked that one on the head
>for the moment with their emergency winter timetable
Talking about knocking on the head, my closest encounter with a rail
(water not Arriva) at Leighton Moss was while walking one frozen winter
day along the causeway. A rail was flying one way, I was walking the
other.
I think we each assumed that the other was going to veer off. I was
getting my bins focussed on this close approaching bird, anyway, it
rapidly became apparent to each of us that we were on a collision
course, when I ducked, and it veered off through the scrubs into the
reeds. Not before I had a close up of its wonderful markings.
Mike
--
Michael J Davis
<><
Some newsgroup contributors appear to have confused
the meaning of "discussion" with "discursion".
<><
Malky @ Westhill
> Sadly Arriva Northern have knocked that one on the head
> > for the moment with their emergency winter timetable (shortage of
> > drivers or water rail on the line, who knows?) .
> > --
> > Richard Candeland
>
> See what you started Malky!!
>
> Al Tracey
>
A Repentant Malky @ Westhill
John Macdonald
<rwa...@argonet.co.uk> writes
>Since January 1st I have seen several Water Rails at Leighton Moss and
>Old Moor. They have all seemed very unconcerned with human presence. At
>Leighton Moss I heard one scuffling about on one side of a path so I
>stopped and watched it. It carried on regardless then crossed over the
>path in front of me and started hunting in the ditch on the other side
>of the path. At Old Moor a juvenile was furtling about in front of a
>hide for nearly an hour.
>
>My theory is that recent hard weather has driven them to feed away from
>their preferred habitat and possibly preferred food. Bill's list of
>foods from BWP supports this to some extent.
>
>I go further to suggest that they are not the shy and skulking birds we
>always read about in the books but just appear that way because they
>normally don't need to come out of the reed beds.
>
You may be interested to see a rather unusual Water Rail picture taken
at Leighton Moss on Friday 4th of January -certainly not shy and
skulking!
http://www.macdonald.demon.co.uk/birds.htm
--
John Macdonald
Tony Day
"Malcolm" <mal...@ogilvie.org> wrote in message
news:JIg6YqHc...@indaal.demon.co.uk...
> I don't know whether it still happens, but Water Rails used to walk
> around in the bird enclosures at Slimbridge right out in the open, just
> like the Moorhens, in fact. They seemed to have forgotten that they were
> meant to be secretive and to skulk around in thick cover.
My first (of only two) in UK was at Slimbridge, from a hide, but on farmland
beyond the reserve itself. Er, one of the hides at the far end, if that
makes any sense! That was about 2-3 years ago? It was strutting around in
the open, too.
Tony
Tony Day
>
> Sadly this wonderfully productive area has now been sanitized as
> 'Penrose Amenity Area' or some such nonsense with mown grass for dog-
> walking and the river tamed. A kingfisher occasionally pops up there but
> that's about it for recent years. Progress :-(
Sorry, you've just reminded me of something I saw a couple of weeks ago.
From the Exmouth-Exeter train, not far north of Exmouth, overlooking the Exe
at high tide. The train flushed a bird, which flew away fast and directly
onto the river at 90 degrees to the bank. I expected redshank, until it
didn't wheel around back to the bank, and then realised (a) it was too small
and (b) I had seen blue on the back and (c) it was probably flying faster
than redshank.
So this kingfisher (no doubt in my mind that it was, and I have seen a few!)
was fishing/roosting (?) on a salt water estuary - not in very good light
(dull overcast day) and with the water very murky. I have seen one half a
mile further south where a flood relief channel comes out onto the Exe, but
in the channel, a couple of times, but this one seems to have been fishing
the river estuary proper.
Well, I was surprised. Should I have been?
(The lady behind was saying to her travelling companion "look at all those
ducks" - I had a hell of a job to stop myself turning round and saying "but
didn;t you see the kingfisher?"!)
Tony (rambling again!)
Tony Day
> In article <a1l792$rfnko$1...@ID-104599.news.dfncis.de>, peter kook
> <msdl...@cableinet.co.uk> writes
> >
> >"Richard Candeland" <ric...@utley.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> >
> >> An unusual thread this - for once I feel rather smug! My wife and seem
> >> to be the only people who have seen water rail NOT on a reserve of some
> >> sort or other.
> >
> >How many people keep seperate lists for birds seen on or off reserves? Is
> >this the latest delineation of elitism ; real birders don't go to
'reserves'
> >to be spoon fed their sightings - they go and find their own birds in
'the
> >wild'.
> >
> >
> I hope this was not a dig at me, 'being elitist'. I don't keep lists at
If it was, ignore it anyway - it was from P Kook - top of most people's
killfile list. Please add to yours!
Tony
Bill Alexander
"John Macdonald" <jo...@macdonald.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:ipfBMJAG...@macdonald.demon.co.uk...
Ahhh the sub-species Rallus aquaticus nigra :-)--
Malky @ Westhill
> Well, I was surprised. Should I have been?
>
> (The lady behind was saying to her travelling companion "look at all those
> ducks" - I had a hell of a job to stop myself turning round and saying
"but
> didn't you see the kingfisher?"!)
>
> Tony
>
Ythan Estuary.
Malky @ Westhill
Bill Alexander
At least 6 on the Eden Estuary..nah.....nah.......nahnahnah :-)
To Tony,
I have just put in a record of one on the Culm, a tributary
of the Exe,
as well as Dipper and L.Egret, this river valley is greatly underbirded.
Paul Rooney
<ton...@exmouth.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>, but this one seems to have been fishing
>the river estuary proper.
>
>Well, I was surprised. Should I have been?
>
I saw one on the Mersey between Widnes and Hale around this time of
year a few years ago. I was very surprised, but it's not actually all
that uncommon a sight.
Paul
Tony Day
"Bill Alexander" <Pitl...@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:a1ovo4$s8l86$1...@ID-112384.news.dfncis.de...
> To Tony,
> I have just put in a record of one on the Culm, a tributary
> of the Exe,
> as well as Dipper and L.Egret, this river valley is greatly underbirded.
> --
> Bill....
Hi Bill,
Longish river, no?
Without looking at my map, I believe this is the one whose confluence with
the Exe is next to Bowling Green at Topsham?
Source somewhere up in mid or even North Devon. Certainly its valley
provides much of the route for the Great Western railway once it emerges
south from Blackball tunnel.
Whereabouts do you bird it? Wouldn't have thought kingfisher, egret or
dipper were much of a surprise - all very nice to see, but not surprising on
a Devon river?
Tony
Andy Mabbett
<jo...@macdonald.demon.co.uk> writes
>You may be interested to see a rather unusual Water Rail picture taken
>at Leighton Moss on Friday 4th of January -certainly not shy and
>skulking!
>
>http://www.macdonald.demon.co.uk/birds.htm
Looks like one of those tin-plate silhouettes sold by garden centres!
--
Andy Mabbett
The next virus you download could be the one which wipes your hard-drive.
Get a virus checker *today* - if you already have one, get the latest update!
peter kook
"Tony Day" <ton...@exmouth.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1010794713.19465....@news.demon.co.uk...
the award winning peter kook no less.
only in the killfile of moppett apologists
peter kook
farmland
> beyond the reserve itself. Er, one of the hides at the far end, if that
> makes any sense! That was about 2-3 years ago? It was strutting around in
> the open, too.
>
> Tony
>
I would ask myself but he keeps me in his kill-file, dontcha Tone you silly
sausage ;-)
peter kook
> <jo...@macdonald.demon.co.uk> writes
> >You may be interested to see a rather unusual Water Rail picture taken
> >at Leighton Moss on Friday 4th of January -certainly not shy and
> >skulking!
> >
> >http://www.macdonald.demon.co.uk/birds.htm
>
silhouette for a patio door
Chris Mead
from Paul Rooney <paulv...@btinternet.com> contains these words:
> Paul
In Central Europe KFs are fully migratory because of freezing of
their feeding areas. Here in Britain a few move around but, if it
becomes really freezing, they can always move a short distance to
salt or brtackish water. I have even seen one feeding in rock pools
below the cliffs ar Hunstanton!
--
Chris Mead, Hilborough, Norfolk
chris...@zetnet.co.uk or chris...@farm-direct.co.uk
Visit http://www.farm-direct.co.uk/ to find your local farm gate outlets
Visit http://www.birdcare.com/birdon for bird information
And finally http://www.bto.org for real bird science.
JayDee
currently about 20 Water Rail around the reserve.
--
JayDee
Bill Alexander
At Culmstock Tony,
Not saying that they are surprising,
just making the point they are there,
if we go looking for them. I also found last year's Kingfisher nest.
I do not think there is any records of any of these birds for that part of
the river though.
I will check with Mike Langman, the Devon recorder.
Anne Burgess
> In Central Europe KFs are fully migratory because of freezing of
> their feeding areas. Here in Britain a few move around but, if it
> becomes really freezing, they can always move a short distance to
> salt or brtackish water. I have even seen one feeding in rock pools
> below the cliffs ar Hunstanton!
I have seen one by the tidal lagoons at the mouth of the River Spey.
Anne
Richard Candeland
Day <ton...@exmouth.demon.co.uk> writes
>
>Sorry, you've just reminded me of something I saw a couple of weeks ago.
>From the Exmouth-Exeter train, not far north of Exmouth, overlooking the Exe
>at high tide.
>So this kingfisher (no doubt in my mind that it was, and I have seen a few!)
>was fishing/roosting (?) on a salt water estuary - not in very good light
>(dull overcast day) and with the water very murky. I have seen one half a
>mile further south where a flood relief channel comes out onto the Exe, but
>in the channel, a couple of times, but this one seems to have been fishing
>the river estuary proper.
>
>Well, I was surprised. Should I have been?
>
Cornwall.
>(The lady behind was saying to her travelling companion "look at all those
>ducks" - I had a hell of a job to stop myself turning round and saying "but
>didn;t you see the kingfisher?"!)
>
Reminds me of when we were in the Picos in Northern Spain, we were sat
on a bank watching two booted eagles and a red kite, whilst a flock of
about 50 alpine choughs wheeled around above us. A couple with a baby
walked past and in English one said to the other:
"I expect they are watching the crows."
--
Richard Candeland
Chris Mead
from Richard Candeland <ric...@utley.demon.co.uk> contains these words:
snip
> Reminds me of when we were in the Picos in Northern Spain, we were sat
> on a bank watching two booted eagles and a red kite, whilst a flock of
> about 50 alpine choughs wheeled around above us. A couple with a baby
> walked past and in English one said to the other:
> "I expect they are watching the crows."
> --
> Richard Candeland
How very reassuring - I have just booked for the Picos at the
beginning of June!
Sandy Saunders
wrote:
>The message <3$lS+IAbI...@utley.demon.co.uk>
> from Richard Candeland <ric...@utley.demon.co.uk> contains these words:
>
>snip
>
>> Reminds me of when we were in the Picos in Northern Spain, we were sat
>> on a bank watching two booted eagles and a red kite, whilst a flock of
>> about 50 alpine choughs wheeled around above us. A couple with a baby
>> walked past and in English one said to the other:
>> "I expect they are watching the crows."
>> --
>> Richard Candeland
>
>How very reassuring - I have just booked for the Picos at the
>beginning of June!
>
>
>--
>Chris Mead, Hilborough, Norfolk
Beware!
Nice though it is to watch Alpine Choughs at close range, they do
share certain habits with other, more common, birds. My wife can now
proudly claim that she has been shit on by an Alpine Chough. She
wasn't very pleased at the time though. :-)
Sandy Saunders
Tony Day
"Sandy Saunders" <p.s.sa...@dial.pipex.com> wrote in message
news:3c4324d...@news.dial.pipex.com...
> >> Reminds me of when we were in the Picos in Northern Spain, we were sat
> >> on a bank watching two booted eagles and a red kite, whilst a flock of
> >> about 50 alpine choughs wheeled around above us. A couple with a baby
> >> walked past and in English one said to the other:
> >> "I expect they are watching the crows."
> >> --
> >> Richard Candeland
> >
> >How very reassuring - I have just booked for the Picos at the
> >beginning of June!
> >
> >
> >--
> >Chris Mead, Hilborough, Norfolk
>
> Beware!
>
> Nice though it is to watch Alpine Choughs at close range, they do
> share certain habits with other, more common, birds. My wife can now
> proudly claim that she has been shit on by an Alpine Chough. She
> wasn't very pleased at the time though. :-)
>
> Sandy Saunders
Surely she didn't mind being shat on by such a splendid bird? ;-)
(They're on my "very nearly ate out of my hand" list! At a hotel on top of
a Swiss mountain, to which I went by train, I hasten to add....)
Tony
Peter James
<ton...@exmouth.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
>(They're on my "very nearly ate out of my hand" list! At a hotel on top of
>a Swiss mountain, to which I went by train, I hasten to add....)
The JungfrauJoch by any chance? I got out of the train at the top of
this mountain, staggering about with the altitude and freezing my
balls off, and there just out by the Observation Platform were three
Alpine Choughs. Eating odds' n'sods thrown at them by the trippers.
-
Reply to peter.jamesT...@eudoramail.com
Remove the obvious to reply
Sandy Saunders
<ton...@exmouth.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>> Nice though it is to watch Alpine Choughs at close range, they do
>> share certain habits with other, more common, birds. My wife can now
>> proudly claim that she has been shit on by an Alpine Chough. She
>> wasn't very pleased at the time though. :-)
>>
>> Sandy Saunders
>
>Surely she didn't mind being shat on by such a splendid bird? ;-)
>
>(They're on my "very nearly ate out of my hand" list! At a hotel on top of
>a Swiss mountain, to which I went by train, I hasten to add....)
>
>Tony
>
Well she likes to boast about it now. She is disabled and remained at
the top ski-lift station at Fuente De whilst I wandered off in search
of some of the other fine birds to be found there. When I returned
she was moaning, so she wasn't very pleased at the time!
Incidentally, the base of the ski-lift is often below the cloud and
clear at the top, so don't be deterred by thick cloud.
As you say, a splendid bird to shit on you, and they are very tame
there too.
Sandy Saunders
>
Richard Candeland
<p.s.sa...@dial.pipex.com> writes
bicycle from Potes - they really could do with a bicycle-tow to get lazy
cyclists to the bottom of the ski-lift. The 'crows', the booted eagle
and the red kite were just upstream from Potes.
We spent nearly a week around the North side of the Picos - Arenas de
Cabrales - which had an amazing cheese shop and everywhere sold proper
cloudy cider in 75-cl bottles - it was here where we had splendid views
of both Griffon and Egyptian Vultures and Short-toed Eagle.
--
Richard Candeland
Tony Day
> On Mon, 14 Jan 2002 20:04:44 -0000, "Tony Day"
> <ton...@exmouth.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
> >>
> >> Nice though it is to watch Alpine Choughs at close range, they do
> >> share certain habits with other, more common, birds. My wife can now
> >> proudly claim that she has been shit on by an Alpine Chough. She
> >> wasn't very pleased at the time though. :-)
> >>
> >> Sandy Saunders
> >
> >Surely she didn't mind being shat on by such a splendid bird? ;-)
> >
> >(They're on my "very nearly ate out of my hand" list! At a hotel on top
of
> >a Swiss mountain, to which I went by train, I hasten to add....)
> >
> >Tony
> >
> Well she likes to boast about it now. She is disabled and remained at
> the top ski-lift station at Fuente De whilst I wandered off in search
> of some of the other fine birds to be found there. When I returned
> she was moaning, so she wasn't very pleased at the time!
I think even my missus would moan if I left her on top of a mountain and
went off ogling lady skiers! Oh, sorry, see what you mean....
Tony
peter kook
> > the top ski-lift station at Fuente De whilst I wandered off in search
> > of some of the other fine birds to be found there. When I returned
> > she was moaning, so she wasn't very pleased at the time!
>
> I think even my missus would moan if I left her on top of a mountain and
> went off ogling lady skiers! Oh, sorry, see what you mean....
>
> Tony
Martin Sage
>Sorry, you've just reminded me of something I saw a couple of weeks ago.
>From the Exmouth-Exeter train, not far north of Exmouth, overlooking the Exe
>at high tide. The train flushed a bird, which flew away fast and directly
>onto the river at 90 degrees to the bank. I expected redshank, until it
>didn't wheel around back to the bank, and then realised (a) it was too small
>and (b) I had seen blue on the back and (c) it was probably flying faster
>than redshank.
I have seen a Kingfisher from the hide at Dawlish Warren. I am ashamed
to say I don't know whether the water in the lagoon there is salt or
fresh, but the bird was certainly there.
--
Martin Sage
www.sagefarm.demon.co.uk
Tony Day
"Martin Sage" <Mar...@sagefarm.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:8qSZ5hA8opR8EwV$@sagefarm.demon.co.uk...
Very salt, Martin! Tidal, with open sea about 300 yards round the corner.
Thanks for that - do you remember what time of year (I'm getting the
impression that most people seeing kfs on salt water see them in winter?)
I've heard of (but not seen, AFAICR) kfs on the pond on the Warren, but
never seen one at the hide. And I dunno whether the pond is salt or fresh!
Tony
Martin Sage
>Thanks for that - do you remember what time of year (I'm getting the
>impression that most people seeing kfs on salt water see them in winter?)
--
Martin Sage
www.sagefarm.demon.co.uk
Sandy Saunders
<ton...@exmouth.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> >
>> Well she likes to boast about it now. She is disabled and remained at
>> the top ski-lift station at Fuente De whilst I wandered off in search
>> of some of the other fine birds to be found there. When I returned
>> she was moaning, so she wasn't very pleased at the time!
>
>I think even my missus would moan if I left her on top of a mountain and
>went off ogling lady skiers! Oh, sorry, see what you mean....
>
>Tony
No skiers, the snow melts in the summer. Plenty of ladies though, not
that I noticed. Honest. :-)
Sandy
John H Wood
<ton...@exmouth.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>Longish river, no?
Not quite as long as you think.
>Without looking at my map, I believe this is the one whose confluence with
>the Exe is next to Bowling Green at Topsham?
from Exeter
>Source somewhere up in mid or even North Devon. Certainly its valley
>provides much of the route for the Great Western railway once it emerges
>south from Blackball tunnel.
called Culmton
John
Uplyme
East Devon
Email:remove s from upslyme
Stephen Poley
<ton...@exmouth.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>Very salt, Martin! Tidal, with open sea about 300 yards round the corner.
>Thanks for that - do you remember what time of year (I'm getting the
>impression that most people seeing kfs on salt water see them in winter?)
Certainly all the ones I've seen on the Dart estuary were in winter.
--
Stephen Poley
uk.rec.birdwatching FAQ: http://www.xs4all.nl/~sbpoley/ukrb.htm
Stephen and Clare
Mar...@sagefarm.demon.co.uk (Martin Sage) wrote:
Not sure if this helps but we saw lots of Kingfishers (ordinary sort we
see in Britain) on the sea and salt estuaries in Crete in October 2000.
Apparently normal.
Stephen
Tony Day
"Stephen and Clare" <stephe...@cix.co.uk> wrote in message
news:memo.20020118...@stephenclare.compulink.co.uk...
Now you mention it, I have also seen "our" kingfisher in India (known there
as little blue, IIRC) - and on water which I would think was salt - in silly
temperatures.
It helps, in so far as it buggers up the theory I was testing! ;-)
Tony
Gordon Hamlett
"Stephen and Clare" <stephe...@cix.co.uk> wrote in message
news:memo.20020118...@stephenclare.compulink.co.uk...
> Mar...@sagefarm.demon.co.uk (Martin Sage) wrote:
>
> > >Very salt, Martin! Tidal, with open sea about 300 yards round
the
> > corner.
> > >Thanks for that - do you remember what time of year (I'm getting
the
> > >impression that most people seeing kfs on salt water see them in
> > winter?)
> >
> >
we
> see in Britain) on the sea and salt estuaries in Crete in October
2000.
> Apparently normal.
>
I was surpised to see one flying round the coast at Porthgwarra in
Cornwall while seawatching there in October
Gordon
Bill Alexander
news:a2ce0s$3o$1...@helle.btinternet.com...
one I saw the previous October round the coast of Marazion.
--
Bill.... who has been playing digiscoping all day, with limited success.