Baillon's Crake

Having blipped back on the 12th September that there were a couple of exceedingly rare birds within "reasonable" driving distance (47 & 155 miles) I've had it in mind that I really should get out and see them. However the 155 mile drive to Weymouth isn't exactly appealing while getting a glimpse of the closer bird at Rainham Marshes from a packed hide isn't in my book what bird watching is about. So here we are with another bird from the garden, unfortunately no Baillon's Crake visited our feeders today, so you'll have to make do with a Common Toad - Bufo bufo, which was discovered during our patio excavations. He'll need to find a new home soon.

To give a flavour of what might be involved in seeing the Baillon's Crake at Rainham Marshes, here's an extract from an email from LGRE:

In Greater London, the juvenile BAILLON'S CRAKE is still to be seen but incredibly elusively (perhaps revealing itself for literally seconds at a time, five times a day). It favours the reedy island and back edge just right of the centre of the Rifle Butts Hide - a 20 minute walk from the reserve centre. Special opening times operate again this weekend thanks to Howard Vaughan, the RSPB reserve staff and local volunteers - from 0500 to 1930 hours. The hide can take up to 125 birders at a time and has special access for wheelchair users, although to be in with a chance of seeing the bird, one needs to be at the right hand end of the hide.

PS After yesterday's blip, Youngshanks would like it known that he won today's backgammon session 5-4.