I did finally manage to see a water rail this time (twice in fact) - of all places, though the mesh back of the water shrew exhibit! Quite happily pottering about.
(also got a very brief view of the shrew itself, so good news all round!)
For people who don't know Slimbridge, this fox is in the wild bird area, outside the collection's boundary fence. This winter there have been regular sightings of bitterns in the reed bed in front of this hide, but not when I have been there I've never seen a fox or a water rail at Slimbridge either.
For people who don't know Slimbridge, this fox is in the wild bird area, outside the collection's boundary fence. This winter there have been regular sightings of bitterns in the reed bed in front of this hide, but not when I have been there I've never seen a fox or a water rail at Slimbridge either.
We were there (for complicated reasons) Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. The water rail was pottering about behind 'Back from the Brink' both days, and a bittern put in an appearance on Monday morning (superbly spotted by zoospud) - we were able to watch it swallow what appeared to be a very large vole! Was one of the more productive Slimbridge visits I've had, but very low on waders due to the frozen ponds and lakes - they'd presumably all pushed off to the estuary to feed.
