This stream is fed by multiple small springs that run off both sides of the valley down from Rath Cottage, and historically was dammed in three places to create small irrigation ponds. These dams all now leak, so the valley is a collection of wet patches, a small stream, and extensive beds of willow and sallow. The camera covered an area just upstream from one of the dams, where the main stream goes through a relatively clear patch a few square metres in size, and is joined by the flow from a small spring.
This winter the area of willows/sallow has been especially good for Water Rails: seen or heard most days. In the past it has had regular Snipe, but only a few were flushed this winter. But the trail cam over the end of February and early March showed far higher numbers of Snipe (up to 4 seen in a single picture), Teal (a regular group of a drake and two ducks), and a range of other waders. Plus the utterly ubiquitous Water Rails, with two in the same shot on multiple days.
Great shots of Jack Snipe, too: real "compare and contrast" with Common Snipe. The "tramlines" along the back of Jack Snipe show up remarkably well at night, too.
As the weather got worse, more wader species dropped in to what is really a very small patch of running water totally surrounded by willow bushes. Spot the Dunlin
Two Lapwing. These were only recorded on the coldest day (look at the temperature on the photo): 2nd March.
The Teal stayed for at least 6 days, with photos both by day and night
Apologies for the rather murky quality of some of the photos, but these reflected the tough conditions over the period. In total, photos of 14 species over the 2 weeks, many of which we would not otherwise have recorded in the garden this winter.
Interestingly, the photos split around 40% at night (Water Rail, Snipe and Teal all feeding very actively through the night), 60% "day" (or near to it, given the conditions); all the species, and especially the thrushes and other waders.
We have learned a fascinating lesson about the benefits of continuous monitoring with a trail cam of such hard to access areas, especially since the area could be so easily disturbed.