Even in the quietest parts of winter, our local chalk streams hum with activity. As coots and moorhens glide across the surface, one of their relatives may be hiding in plain sight. At around 23-28cm long, the water rail is smaller than these more outgoing members of the Rallidae family, but just as fond of damp places. Ponds, marshes, reedbeds, wetlands, and rivers are all potential homes for this enigmatic bird.
One reason for the water rail’s wide variety of habitats is its omnivorous diet. Although it mostly eats fish, snails, and insects, it will also snack on roots, seeds, and berries. There are even reports of water rails catching small amphibians, mammals, and birds. With its long legs, long toes, and long beak, this species is perfectly adapted for hunting and foraging on boggy ground or in shallow water.
The water rail sports distinctive colouration that makes it fairly easy to identify. Its face and underside are grey, while its back is dappled brown and black. Zebra-like stripes along its flanks lead into bright white feathers under its tail, and both its eyes and beak are a striking red. As a chick, the water rail’s black feathers make it resemble a baby coot or moorhen – the trick is to look for a pale yellow beak instead of a red one.
Despite having snazzy plumage and being relatively widespread, the water rail is notoriously elusive. Its camouflage helps it to blend into the undergrowth, and its skittishness causes it to run for cover when startled. The odds of a sighting do increase during winter, when the UK population is boosted by visitors from the colder parts of Europe. True to their cautious nature, these migrating birds usually travel at night.
While you need sharp eyes and good luck to see a water rail, you may have a better chance of hearing one. Of their greatest hits – which include creaks, whistles, groans, and even purrs – their most common call in wintertime is known as “sharming”. Used to converse, mark territory, or express alarm, this call is a mixture of grunting and squealing that would make a piglet proud!
Since the water rail is so shy, it likes riverbanks that have lots of lush plant life. To welcome these beautiful birds, we need to allow a thick fringe of vegetation to flourish along the water’s edge. To learn more about how chalk streams can be improved for wildlife, check out the Watercress and Winterbournes scheme at hiwwt.org.uk/winterbournes. Our work is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Poetry Prize-winners
Sixteen young poets – including Amelia O’Hara, Eden Baker, Emily Leighton, Georgia Marriner, Penny Carter, and Rio Dominguez; all from Andover – have been named as winners in the Tales from the Riverbank Poetry Competition. Ranging from 7 to 17 years old, the winners recently received their prizes at a special ceremony in Winchester. Their fantastic chalk stream poems can be read on the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust website at hiwwt.org.uk/winterbournes in the form of a beautifully illustrated anthology. Congratulations to all!
Photo Credit: Joshua Copping
