Unusual animals that can be seen from UK trains

[backontrack]

You can sometimes masses of deer on the Far North Line between Scotscalder and Helmsdale, it's beautiful.

Agreed!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I always enjoy seeing the Shetland Ponies on the Far North Line

Then there are the seabirds on the coastal stretches. And the seals...

 

[Spamcan81]

Even saw camels on the track at Cardiff Central back in the 70s when quickly rising floods drove them out of a circus in Sophia Gardens. They went through the streets trying to escape the waters and found their way towards the station and somehow managed to get onto the tracks. They were on Platform 7 and the old Riverside platforms used for Parcels vehicles.

Many types of animals can be seen from the Severn Valley Railway near Bewdley when passing the West Midlands Safari Park.

Likewise the Whipsnade Railway and the private railway at Fawley Hill.

 

[341o2]

Saw a tawany owl one morning on lineside fence post while working for BR, early morning in daylight.
first sighting of Red deer in a paddock adjacent to the Lymington branch
Red kites at Chinnor, one member of staff was virtually divebombed

And there is the Great Whipsnade railway, and that at Marwell zoo from which all manner of animals may be seen!

 

[HowardGWR]

Down here in the SW, I often see interesting wildlife, not rare species, although egrets are spectacular, sometimes observed along the river Axe. Roe deer are of course everywhere, if you look further than the trackside mileposts. I often look around the coach at such a moment and all are buried in their smartphones. We might as well be in a tunnel (as HS2 pax mainly will be).

 

[6Gman]

Once saw a Kingfisher from the train on one of the many creeks near Laira, Plymouth. Not particularly rare but seeing such a small, fast-moving bird from the train at 60mph or whatever was a treat.

Was very excited to see my first Little Egret from a train, back in the late 1980s (when they were rare visitors). Now a journey from Exeter to Newton Abbot can produce 20 or 30+.

Black Swans (an Australian species) can usually be seen at Dawlish and sometimes wander onto the estuaries locally.

 

[Cletus]

There's a private zoo between Ashford and Tonbridge. It's on the left as you travel London-bound.

 

[Stewart2887]

I've only once seen a capercaillie, from the train in Perthshire many years ago. I was impressed by the wildlife visible from the train on the Borders railway earlier this year. Nothing rare but interesting nevertheless. Deer, dippers, hares etc

 

[Chrisgr31]

Used be be a Llama in a farm between Crowborough and Eridge (protected the sheep i hear)...

and there used to be a Donkey in a back garden which backed onto a platform at Ashurst...

Add to that a pair of geese who used to wonder around a field near Eridge too. The uckfield line is like a farmyard....

I havent mentioned the chickens, pigs, horses and cows either!

Haven't mentioned the passengers either, and theres some right odd versions of those

There is also a large herd of deer between Eridge and Crowborough, used to include an albino one, but that was taken out by a train recently.

 

[Taunton]

Escaped Puma, Chessington North?

 

[M7R]

Just outside attenborough station on the way to long Eaton you go past the nature reserve, after that just as you go over the river Erewash there is a small holding that seems to have various sheep on there and llamas, plus in the past I have seen Aberdeen Angus wooly cows too in those fields.

 

[Kentish Paul]

There's a private zoo between Ashford and Tonbridge. It's on the left as you travel London-bound.

Yes it's just before Headcorn as you head towards London. Mainly big cats but also buffalo as well I think. I believe Virginia Mckenna (born free) had sonething to do with it.

 

[zaax]

Seen Osprey HL 8 near Melton Station Suffolk

 

[najaB]

...plus in the past I have seen Aberdeen Angus wooly cows too in those fields.

Highlands cows are woolly, Angus not so much.

 

[Kneedown]

Several Llamas in a field at Mantonwood, east of Worksop.
Plenty of Barn, Tawny and Little Owls, and occasional Short Eared Owl.
Red Kites Grantham to Peterborough, and Lakenheath is good for Marsh Harriers.
I've seen Muntjac's as far West as Stamford.
Saw a Cuckoo at Lowdham once, and a Nightjar at Matlock Bath.
Possible Montagu's Harrier at Welney but that's far from certain.
Yes, i'll confess to being a bit of a birder!

 

[Calthrop]

Many years ago, I saw a fairly large herd of deer in the middle distance, from the West Highland line near Rannoch. (My travelling companion on that run had poor eyesight; when I excitedly pointed the deer out to him, he reported total failure to see them. Left me feeling a bit of a fool !)

 

[Tracked]

Llamas at Chesterfield, though I've not seen them since June/July, they were to the north of the station in that field near the footbridge (eastern side). Thought I was seeing things the first time, but I know a couple of people who saw them

Leeds station after away games?

 

[Tim R-T-C]

A big bird of prey, possibly some sort of eagle or osprey seen from the Ravenglass.

Can't recall anything else particularly interesting in the UK. Jumping dolphins from the Coast Starlight on the Pacific coast of the US would be an international highlight.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Saw a seal looking up at the train once many years ago going past the Friog Avalanche shelter on the Cambrian coast.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Adders trackside fairly common in some areas - around Aldershot , and nearly trod on one when trespassing on a little used colliery sidings near Pontardulais.

(this was around 1974)

 

[M7R]

Highlands cows are woolly, Angus not so much.

I knew I shouldn't have just winged it and googled it to check before posting

The main thing is I knew they weren't normal run of the mill black and white cows

 

[MELVYN]

Deer at Powderham near Exeter and Llamas between Totnes and South Brent.

 

[Sprinter153]

Adders trackside fairly common in some areas - around Aldershot)

They seem to like inhabiting signalposts and SPT housings, there are a few in the Gomshall area marked with 'adders inside'. I don't do reptiles, I don't know what I'd do if I opened an SPT cabinet to find one!

 

[Trainfan344]

Escaped Puma, Chessington North?

You'd hope that it'd be at Chessington South than North :P

 

[6Gman]

There used to be a bull stud just south of Bromsgrove - good view of some impressive bulls. Sadly no longer there.

 

[theageofthetra]

Eurostar tweeting this morning of delays due to a train hitting a wild boar. Wild? It was livid *courtesy R Atkinson.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

They seem to like inhabiting signalposts and SPT housings, there are a few in the Gomshall area marked with 'adders inside'. I don't do reptiles, I don't know what I'd do if I opened an SPT cabinet to find one!

Also found inside cable troughings...

Really do not like snakes ! - seen a few over the year and have literally done the long jump.....

 

[pemma]

You'd hope that it'd be at Chessington South than North :P

As a puma can sprint at 50mph it wouldn't need long to get to Chessington North if it did escape. It might even overtake the train!

 

[QueensCurve]

Guillemots near Whitehaven a few months ago.

 

[Clip]

Probably been mentioned but theres Red Kites to be seen around the Risborough area

 

[hawk1911]

After years of browsing this forum I've finally signed up. Probably the rarest animal I've seen from a train is a Purple Heron on Doxey Marshes, just north of Stafford station.