Thought some of you might enjoy this. Just before Christmas our office got a call from a bargain shop whose name begins with "Pound...", based on the trading estate on the estate at the edge of town. "We've caught a snipe in the shop" they said. As it was Christmas and only a mile down the road I decided to go out and fetch it (I must emphasise here that the RSPB is not a bird-rescue charity, we do not do this sort of thing as a matter of course, it was a personal decision!)
I got there, looked in the box, and found - not a snipe - but a water rail! It was very lively and clearly in the best of health, so I took it home overnight, kept it in the warm and released it first thing the following morning down at the edge of the canal. What it was doing in the middle of a trading estate I'll never know but the fact that all the local watercourses were frozen hard obviously had a lot to do with it.
Anyway, it made for a memorable afternoon. The title of this thread was a joke cracked by a colleague when they heard about it. Quite good, I thought, for a spur of the moment gag!
That's a fascinating story Colin - and a brilliant title by your colleague! I have to say I have heard tell of several bird sightings in unlikely places in my time but that has to be the most unusual. Thanks for sharing your experience.
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
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That is lovely story with a happy ending and a great title.
Amazing story, as they are usally so shy and difficult to see, we did once have one wander through our back garden.
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag" Mary Poppins
Well done Colin the Hero!
Hail the water rail hero!!!
Can I ask what policy the RSPB has to not do wild bird rescues. I think maybe it should provide funds for the various charities & people who do take on the abandoned fledglings, injured or sick birds. These people are making a huge benefit to conservation in a different way to the RSPB. If birds weren't rescued they couldn't go on to breed etc. There's very little support out there when there are emergencies to deal with. The RSPB could set up a sideline of rescue work.
Great Story Colin, just one thing.. What does a Water Rail look like..?
Good question Juno!!!
Cheers, Linda.
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I have seen a photo but I can't remember what it looks like either!
As a little aside, several months back someone on another forum started a post headed Water Rail (being where I saw the photo) and one rather unbright individual (having viewed the post) added a comment of "Oh, I thought it was a ride". (as in theme park ride, in case you are wondering). I nearly fell off my chair laughing.
Juno said: Great Story Colin, just one thing.. What does a Water Rail look like..?
Just go to RSPB site and enter water rail. The last one I saw, was at a very high tide and it was flushed out of the marshes and the BH Gulls caught it !
They are very shy - I saw one at Wood Lane Nature Reserve and at Titchwell Reserve.