WATER RAIL

Rallus aquaticus

I was pleased to see two of these secretive beasties today, just after I'd seen a Merlin and some Snipe. I'd taken myself off to the bird reserve to try and get rid of a headache that's been hanging around all day and which still hasn't gone, but I'd rather have been outside with it than in front of the computer. I probably haven't helped myself much by eating a slice of chocolate tiffin, but it was there and I was forced to. You know how that works.