Mystery wader ID sought Merriott Somerset TA16 30-09-22 (1 Viewer)

[earleybird]

Strange find today in our South Somerset village .Never seen a wader of any sort in the village before although we have a sizeable river running through the village and a small sewage site nearby. Cannot ID this in any of my bird books can anyone help please.

The dead bird was found by the roadside with no obvious injury or affliction so we were wondering if it might be a result of bird flu. If it is I guess we should report it somewhere as we currently have no reported bird flu cases in this area as far as I know.

 

[Torchepot]

It’s a water rail, sad to see it’s dead. If it’s beside the road my guess would be a glancing blow from a car.

 

[earleybird]

It’s a water rail, sad to see it’s dead. If it’s beside the road my guess would be a glancing blow from a car.

thank you for that ID . I saw the orange beak and the lack of white patches around the eyes in my bird book and dismissed it too soon it seems .

 

[angusmcoatup]

I’ve seen 3 road kill Water Rails like this over the last 7 months - presumably because they’re low flying from a well vegetated pond across to a lake reedbed.