Water Rail responding to Brambling call

Walking along the south bank of the River Glen, east of Tongue End this morning, I heard a couple of Water Rails call briefly at Bourne Eau Pumping Station. Later, as I was listening for overhead migrants, Merlin detected Brambling calling. Sceptical (mistakes are very common with the app, and indeed I think it was wrong this time), I played the call to remind myself of the variation and almost immediately a Water Rail responded to it. The bird called back, with a call I'd not heard from Water Rail before, and came out to the edge of the river.

Water Rail Rallus aquaticus

Water Rail calling sonogram

Link to call:  2025-10-22 11_07.wav

N American waders

Managed to connect with a few this Autumn. First was the long staying Lesser Yellowlegs at Etton/Maxey GP that I first saw on 17th September, then again on 24th and finally on 14th October when I got this photo. With one at Minsmere in April 2022 and another at Frampton Marsh in October 2023, this species is becoming virtually annual for me.

Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes

Then I managed to get distant view of another long-staying bird. The Baird's Sandpiper at Rutland Water on 9th October. The clip I got of this is so poor I'm not posting it. Glad I've seen a couple previously, including one at Frampton in October 2024.

Finally today I managed to relocate the American Golden Plover in a flock of European Golden Plovers at Eye Brook Reservoir just before the sun went down. Another distant sighting but my first for some years.

Often hidden behind other birds this was quite a challenge to pick out. The noticably smaller size was very helpful in picking it out, as was the contrasting dark skull capped appearance and greyish plumage. Soon after I took this the sun went in and the bird went to sleep.

American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica

Jack Snipe, Frank's Pit, Bainton

A dull morning and rather distant but good to get a clip of this bird bobbing along. There's a Common Snipe just to the right but more obscured unfortunately. Also Great White Egret, Water Rail and Kingfisher here this morning.