16 December 2009

Data Manager Julia Harris receives all sorts of odd reports involving a variety of birds. Two emails from members this year concerned the finding of Water Rails in living rooms! The first was on 1 April and the second on 15 October – both at times when Water Rails are on the move. In both instances, the birds were let loose unharmed.

In May, Stephen Edwards wrote to say: “Friends of mine who live in the St Thomas area of Exeter found a strange bird in their living room and promptly released it in the garden, though not before taking a photograph [see the first image below]. As you can see, it was a Water Rail! This happened on 1st April! The (now quite proud) finders who sent me the picture are Kate and Tom Lea. The bird seemed uninjured and presumably was on migration. They live in a suburban area with no marshes/fen/reedbed nearby.”

Then, in October, John Ladlow was helping his neighbour with making a cupboard in his bedroom when they heard a “funny squealing noise” downstairs. Investigating, they found a Water Rail in the living room. They put it in the garage [where the second photo below was taken], after which it flew off into a nearby ditch. Whether it had been chased indoors by the cat, John couldn’t say.

Thanks to Stephen and John for sending in their unusual encounters.

Water Rail – St Thomas, Exeter – © Tom and Kate Lea – 1 April 2009

Water Rail – near Gulworthy – © John Ladlow – 15 October 2009