water rail

A bit of fun, a colourful watercolour of a banded demoiselle hitching a ride on a not altogether happy water rail, hence the title. Background wasn't really thought through (a regular failing of mine) and am not happy with it so will no doubt do a more accomplished version when I get the chance.

OK so the half pun in the title is not that witty...so may be I am just a half wit! I enjoyed photographing this easily spooked bird

The water rail is very elusive and a bird which is frightened of its own shadow. This bird came out several times and no photographer would miss the opportunity to try and photograph it. Given that this bird was moving ....if only slightly I was very pleased with the result ...I think the EXIF...

Annette and I visited Marbury Park. we had a feast of blue tits , great tits and the odd reed bunting at the hide. It was cold and very windy with the wind coming through the slays of the hide my eyes were watering and body shivering with the cold. A water rail appeared and seemed to be more...

Water Rail.

The only time i could get a shot is when it swam between banks.

Didn't stop yapping and squawking for some time. Probably didn't like the company of another water rail stepping into its limelight!

For once it stopped moving, and in sunny conditions! Found something of interest in the mud, had a brief poke around before scuttling off into the reeds once again.

This is one of a pair that were trotting around in the damp woodland. Only this one obliged by coming into the open. Unfortunately the picture most in the open has a slight movement blur.

Unfortunately, the light wasn't very good which is why this photo isn't as good as it might be but it is my first presentable shot of this generally shy bird and so I thought I would post it anyway.

A bit blurred, but still quite effective. This water rail charged past between the patches of reeds, with this whopper (comparatively) of a fish for lunch!

well folks here's another new species for me,and from my favourite birding location,hope you like,john.

This was one of two birds last winter that became quite well watched in Northants. However, they didn't normally put on a great show for the photographers (a birders' "showing well" and photographers' "showing well" mean quite different things ;) ).

I spend ages trying to get this image.

Not sure how I managed to overlook this shot of a water rail, over the weekend. Too much alcohol, I'm guessing! Anyway, this is the last of my somewhat cursed attempts at a decent pic of the bird(s).

For once, the water rail seemed unsure where to go, and stopped still for a few seconds. In the fading light, it was the best I could get. Maybe the water rail knew I was about to leave?

A water rail zips across the water to hide once more in the safety of the reeds. They really motor too!

One of these days I might get to see this bird in favourable conditions! Last time thick fog, this time a monsoon!

Taken at Mere Sands Wood, Lancashire.

another water rail from this week

Pottering along the edge of the Moors Lake at Upton Warren. As with the other pics from today, I've had to enhance the details etc as the mist wsa very thick and the original image somewhat grey!

saw four today, but only got the camera on this one.

Looking for food

I am pleased with this because of the poor lighting conditions. I was sitting on a bench among the reed beds, ehen this Water Rail came out of the reeds. The shutter speed was only 25/1 of a second F/5.6 ISO 800. The camera was on a tripod but the bird was moving quite quickly but still retained...

Water Rail