Off the rails

Visited BOG's Stockbridge reserve this evening and bumped in to Andy and Sean who were attempting to trap Water rail as part of a ringing study.


Water rail shown here on the cover of BOG's latest annual report. A rattling good read!

The traps were baited with Stilton and catfood (a Water rail favourite apparently) before our duo began their patient vigil. It was quiet on the reserve with only a handful of species in view; one of which (a hapless gull) expired as we waited. With only mobile phone videos of questionable taste to amuse themselves, time passed slowly. However, the rails, while making occasional fleeting appearances, were showing little interest in the bait until, at dusk, Andy played a recording of rail calls. Almost immediately two rails headed resolutely out of the vegetation, toward the trap and fought agonizingly on the threshold before one went in. The trappers hardly dared breathe but the trap failed to close and the rails escaped. Colourful language ensued!

Wish Andy and Sean luck in their varied ringing activities by posting on Sean's blog and see more of Sean's great pictures on his website, Gray Images.