Water Rail

Water rail emerging from a marshy reedbed. Water rails are incredibly shy and elusive birds. Rarely straying from the shelter of dense reedbeds, they are much more often heard than seen. After spending a couple hours on the edge of a marsh one afternoon, I got some great views of these very secretive birds.

Water Rail

“Smaller and distinctly slimmer than the moorhen, the water rail is a fairly common but highly secretive inhabitant of freshwater wetlands. It has chestnut-brown and black upperparts, grey face and underparts and black-and-white barred flanks, and a long red bill. Difficult to see in the breeding season, it is relatively easier to find in winter, when it is also more numerous and widespread. Although usually secretive they can become confiding but are still far more often heard than seen.”
Read more at https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/water-rail#kS2BPkqkhqi1AxjR.99