Hi,
I spent many hours trying to see them. Just tips:
-using i*** is a sure way, but I will not advertise using the darned thing for those who I am unsure know how to deal with it. Especially if it is area which sees disturbance of regular birders.
- as others said, freeze-up is the best, when they will run around unfrozen pools outside the cover. I saw three at the same pool this winter.
- otherwise, try large mudflats or wet sand bordering reedbeds. Sort of drained fishponds, overgrown estuaries, sewage farms, drained reservoirs etc. Water rails (and crakes, if you are lucky) will walk out from reeds on the mud. Often scoping helps.
-listen to calls, especially repeated short metallic alarm call 'pik!' in the reeds just near mud. Sooner or later the darned thing will be seen moving behind reeds.
-watch over wide muddy area with your bins, or look behind the first line of reeds.
-rails will walk right to your feet if you are absolutely immobile. They will however run blindly into reeds at any movement or sound, even eg. Snipe landing nearby. Also, I never seen one crossing dry path between reedbeds.
- One don't: don't waste time on staring where ditches cut reedbeds, or reedbeds border deeper water. Rails never show up there, even if they call just a meter away.
