Water Rail

There was a good chance of an hour's sunshine today, and we nipped up to Slimbridge for a windy wander and a warming cuppa...

There were absolutely thousands of lapwings flying in murmurations over the wetlands, although I couldn't spot what it was that was spooking them.

In the flooded margins I spotted this water rail emerging briefly from the reeds in case there was anything tasty lying around.

Do go large; the sun-shadowed plumage of the bird really shows best on the bigger screen.