Rail

Nothing was going to de-rail me from getting this bird which was top of my wish list for blipping since the bittern which hurried off today into the reeds. The water rail - difficult to track down but I knew I was on the right lines! :))

Such a secretive little thing which scurries under the protection of the reeded shallows which it likes to hide and feed in. It bobs and darts from out of the cover to look for freshwater shrimps, earthworms, insects, the roots of grasses and seeds. It flies with rapid wingbeats with it's legs dangling sounding like a pig squealing - I am told!

I couldn't guard against the noise from upstairs in the Hide and never stationary for long it soon signalled with it's cute white tail that it was pulling out. My ticket to leave so I switched hides! I felt sooo lucky though!!

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