Unusual animals that can be seen from UK trains

[theageofthetra]

Following on from the beached whale near Dawlish story, what other unusual animals can be seen from a UK railway?

On the routes I drive we have the Crayford spur emus- judging by how they keep coming up to the boundary fence I suspect that drivers are chucking a bit of food to them when held on the spur.

I have also had a large bird of prey flying next to the cab several times between Gravesend and Hoo jct.

Other ones I can think of are the zoo animals which can be seen from the Severn Valley plus the alpacas in a couple of lineside farms

There used to be wild boar in a wood next the Tenterden bank- as some lineside photographers discovered to their cost! and minature horses next to (appropriately) the RHDR just past New Romney towards Dungeness.

 

[swt class 450]

Following on from the beached whale near Dawlish story, what other unusual animals can be seen from a UK railway?

On the routes I drive we have the Crayford spur emus- judging by how they keep coming up to the boundary fence I suspect that drivers are chucking a bit of food to them when held on the spur.

I have also had a large bird of prey flying next to the cab several times between Gravesend and Hoo jct.

Other ones I can think of are the zoo animals which can be seen from the Severn Valley plus the alpacas in a couple of lineside farms

There used to be wild boar in a wood next the Tenterden bank- as some lineside photographers discovered to their cost! and minature horses next to (appropriately) the RHDR just past New Romney towards Dungeness.

I once saw a Badger from a train many years ago near Horsley in Surrey.

 

[ComUtoR]

There's a Deer that lives down the Mid Kent. I never used to believe it and put it down as urban legend but I saw it myself a while back.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I once saw a Badger from a train many years ago near Horsley in Surrey.

I know I've been fished in but I probably see about 4/5 a week. Usually in the same spot...

 

[neilmc]

Various species of deer can be spotted, especially in Scotland. The Silverdale area is always good, and I've seen a Water Rail on the Morecambe Bay marshes, which was bettered by my wife who once glimpsed a Corncrake near the level crossing coming into Silverdale which was actually on the RSPB reserve at Leighton Moss but couldn't be seen from any of the hides!

 

[Ianno87]

Not sure if you can see Shepreth Wildlife Park's Tiger enclosure on the way past.

Once saw a club(?) of seals on a beach south of Helmsdale.

 

[cf111]

Various species of deer can be spotted, especially in Scotland. The Silverdale area is always good, and I've seen a Water Rail on the Morecambe Bay marshes, which was bettered by my wife who once glimpsed a Corncrake near the level crossing coming into Silverdale which was actually on the RSPB reserve at Leighton Moss but couldn't be seen from any of the hides!

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

 

[Darandio]

Often see some unusual species when travelling through Middlesbrough station on a night. Still haven't been able to identify their origin though.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

There's some very strange feral creatures passing through Leeds station every other Saturday. Generally they have a white/pink coat with bright red faces, just about bi-pedal in gait, with a distinctive mating call that sounds like "Maaaaarchinontogevvvaaaagh!"

 

[Orchid]

The most interesting thing I have seen is an Osprey just sat on a fence post right by the lineside. Also a couple of Little owls and the odd barn owl. Saw a weasel/stoat once run across in front of the train (couldn't tell which). I was looking out for the lammergeier when it was around recently but didn't see it.

 

[30907]

Not UK but I photographed camels from the Radebeul narrow-gauge near Dresden some years ago.

 

[thenorthern]

I think there are some alpacas near Stoke-on-Trent that I have seen on the train.

Of course on the train I have seen many "friendly" aggressive looking dogs who like to bark on the train but that's another story.

 

[Waldgrun]

I recalled seeing some concrete cows near Milton Keynes!

 

[30907]

the Crayford spur emus

Shall I be the first to make the obvious comment?

 

[fergusjbend]

I have also had a large bird of prey flying next to the cab several times between Gravesend and Hoo jct.


That would be a Common Buzzard or a Marsh Harrier - both quite numerous on the north Kent marshes.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

I saw Deer and Hares near Barnetby last time.

But unusual animals (not urban, standard pet or farm related), no.

 

[PHILIPE]

Not UK but I photographed camels from the Radebeul narrow-gauge near Dresden some years ago.

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.

 

[mrcheek]

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

You can also see a few on the York to Harrogate line

 

[physics34]

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!

 

[Bookd]

Severn Valley has been mentioned; when on a trip with friends earlier this year and I casually mentioned the rhinoceros outside they thought I was made until they looked out of the window!

 

[theageofthetra]

There's a Deer that lives down the Mid Kent. I never used to believe it and put it down as urban legend but I saw it myself a while back.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


I know I've been fished in but I probably see about 4/5 a week. Usually in the same spot...

Yes forgot about the Hayes deer. Its a strange minature breed and I've seen it twice between West Wickham & Hayes.

 

[najaB]

Often see seals sunning themselves on rocks and banks in both the Tay and Forth when travelling between Dundee and Edinburgh. Seen the occasional dolphin in the Tay.

 

[theageofthetra]

I have also had a large bird of prey flying next to the cab several times between Gravesend and Hoo jct.


That would be a Common Buzzard or a Marsh Harrier - both quite numerous on the north Kent marshes.

Thanks- it flew right alongside the open cab window easily matching the 50mph and gave me a right nasty look!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

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!

The emus are for the same sheep protection purpose I believe, having encountered them in the Flinders ranges in SA they are highly territorial and mostly angry (rather like the Slade Green clientele)

 

[bnm]

Masses of Fallow Deer, several hundred, to be seen at the Powderham Estate between Exeter St Thomas and Starcross. Of course most people on this stretch of line prefer the view from the other side of the carriage.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

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

Some fine stags among them too, in the valley just north of Helmsdale.
On the other side of Helmsdale towards Brora you can see seals on the beach.

There's also a herd of deer on top of the grassed wartime shelter alongside the line at Beeston Castle between Crewe and Chester.

Red kites are now ten a penny flying around the Chilterns (High Wycombe and Reading to Banbury).
Plenty of owls in the woodland alongside the Wherry lines out of Norwich.

And the celebrated Dyfi osprey nest near Dovey Jn on the Cambrian (right next to the line).

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Yes forgot about the Hayes deer. Its a strange minature breed and I've seen it twice between West Wickham & Hayes.

Sounds like it might be a Munjack deer?

Picture near the top of the page here: http://www.thenewforestguide.co.uk/biodiversity/deer/muntjac-deer/ ( Note: This page does not seem to allow copying and pasting of text ).

Yes I know Kent is nowhere near the New Forest, but the deer are quite widespread these days!

 

[PHILIPE]

There's a big white horse looking down on Westbury station !!!.

 

[randyrippley]

everyone sees rabbits everywhere, but around 20-25 years ago the ones seen NE of Carnforth on the line to Leeds were almost universally black. The local belief was that black ones were more adaptable to living above ground rather than in burrows, so were less exposed to fleas and thus less at risk of myxomatosis. The population has reverted to normal now, but black was predominant for several years.

 

[route:oxford]

Didn't passengers report a chap caught engaging in intimacy with a llama somewhere between London and Reading? I'm sure it ended up in court.

I can't think of reasonable search engine terms to find the story though...

 

[MidnightFlyer]

There's a big white horse looking down on Westbury station !!!.

Also at Uffington and (from quite a distance) Woodborough

 

[Spamcan81]

Saw a couple of otters from a train to Kyle of Localsh.