As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Monday 8 February 2016

Secretive reedbed bird makes surprise appearance in Deganwy


09:00, 2 FEB 2016

RSPB Conwy's Julian Hughes reveals what birds have been spotted in the past week and where to go birding in the coming days

Ralaqu.jpgHundreds of people across North Wales counted flying visitors in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch last weekend, with over 4m birds reported to the website by Monday afternoon.

One Daily Post reader photographed a Water Rail in her Deganwy garden, feeding on seeds dropped by other birds beneath her feeder.

I have seen Water Rails do this at RSPB Conwy, usually in cold conditions when the reedbeds have frozen, but as a garden sighting, it’s unusual.

Last week’s winter survey of Water Rails found 20 individuals at the Conwy reserve.

They are secretive birds, their presence given away only by a loud squealing call.

Water Rails move into Wales from continental Europe in Winter, but as a breeding species, this is a scarce bird locally, resident at only a handful of sites.


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