Water Rail
- 18 January 2009 18:5513106Aside from our very lovely and rare Little Egret which is currently to be seen along Barton Path and B&Q, another unusual bird has taken up residence in the same area. This is a Water Rail and only the second one I've seen in Dover in five years.
To see it, go to Bridge Street and look down into the reeds lining the small 'island' in the Dour. You'll need to stand and look at the B&Q side of the island. The Water Rail is very secretive and likes to hide in the reeds so you might have to wait awhile before catching it quickly darting out. They prefer to eat insects and molluscs but failing that pretty much anything goes.
Apologies that the attached pictures are not great - I had to take them at extreme zoom and thing would insist on darting about very quickly. I just count myself lucky to have photographed it at all!
- Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,695
18 January 2009 19:1713107Excellent work Phil"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi - 18 January 2009 19:1813108Thank you for that - lovely!
- 18 January 2009 19:3813110Thanks! Just to clarify where I am referring to in case anyone would like to have a crack at spotting it:
- 18 January 2009 19:5113112What a lovely little bird, great shots there Phil.
- 18 January 2009 20:1213116Wow! well done again Phil, lovely work as ever. Its always thrilling to see these wildlife shots you do... and ..always great to hear info re the Dour, a sign there is some life in this river.
email: dover7@msn.com - 18 January 2009 20:1313117Thanks, while I'm here (and bored on a Sun afternoon) I might as well post a couple of other pics. Here is our Little Egret on Barton Path this afternoon and a Moorhen down by B&Q. There are lots of Moorhens and Ducks around at the moment proving that the Dour must be quite healthy.
Having said that, I struggled to find a single Egret picture that wasn't ruined by stacks of rubbish floating or stuck in the reeds and mud banks. There is an armchair, dozens of bottles and cans, umbrellas and a shopping trolley all along the Path and it looks really quite disgusting. Unfortunately us volunteers won't be allowed in until April(?) to clear it out.
- 18 January 2009 21:0113136sadly the story is the same on the pencester stretch, the volunteers can only do so much.
unless the powers that be invest a small amount in a warden with powers to inflict on-the-stop fines, then these areas will always be used as rubbish dumps. - 19 January 2009 08:3213163A water rail is indeed a rare bird, well done Phil.
I've sent letters and emails to many and various people about a River Warden who could also double up and a "Strategic Park" attendant - never even had the courtesy of a reply.
With all the millions being invested in Dover and riverside develpments, I'd have thought it was at the top or very near, of everyone's list, but apparantly not.
Roger - 19 January 2009 08:3813167Once again more lovely pix. Yes these highlight the rubbish situation with the Dour so much more. To see beautiful and rare birds wading through plastic bottles where none should exist is very sad indeed.email: dover7@msn.com
- 19 January 2009 10:5613197This is a new breed of bird to me, some great pictures there Phil its an awful shame to see them surrounded by rubbish in the Dour shame
- 19 January 2009 11:0513201Lovely photos Phil and yes a shame to see them surrounded by so much rubbish.
- 19 January 2009 11:1113203Great shots there Phil, I've never seen a Water Rail before The detrius floating in the river is a crying shame.
- 20 January 2009 23:3113365It's a crying shame that NO ONE gives a toss any more. ( or pretend to )
Ian...grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet. - 20 January 2009 23:4413367at least the environment agency have created the stones thing.
that has brought wild fowl to the town centre.
i think that roger is shouting in the dark on the subject of a warden/parkie.
we need to hear from the fuhrer as to why not, such a paltry sum involved, in the grand scheme of things. - 21 January 2009 00:1313370See Howard I do post now and again.
I'm afraid to tell you and Roger that the pantomime season is now over and the EA now go into hibernation until the sun comes out.
Fishing out of season has been prolific, people are already letting their dogs off the lead in the river, and we have the breading season for the wild fowl to come yet..............what more can I say. apart from all of the S**t that haunts the river.
These guys do not know or aint got a clue or more to the point, DON'T CARE.
They get paid for it. ( they have the authaurity )
I'm still here.....Watching.....and waiting. and laughing at the pillocks that are running the SIDE show. It's a joke.
Ian...grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
