Spotted Crake at Old Moor (1 Viewer)

[Dave Adshead]

Today, I decided to visit Old Moor in the hope of seeing the Spotted Crake that had been reported.
When I left home it was raining stair rods and on arrival, I was informed that it had not been seen since Tuesday 20th Sept.
I decided to stay and after a couple of hours I was rewarded with good views of it, just in front of the hide.
I've never seen one before and to be truthful I was expecting to see a Moorhen sized bird, but its about half the size.
I've attached a couple of photographs of it.

Best wishes
Dave

 

[Steve G]

Excellent images of this difficult skulker Dave.

 

[Gramayr]

Saw it on the 17th at Old Moor, only saw it briefly - there was a good few people climbing over each other to see it, resting their scopes on each others shoulders.
I wouldn't have known it was there if it wasn't for an enthusiastic bloke stopping us all on the way to the hide to tell us, he said he was sat there for hours and saw it 3 times.
Nice pics btw, I didn't have chance to snap it.

 

[lark o'dell]

great pics btw where is old moor

 

[Dave Adshead]

Sorry about that. Old Moor is near Barnsley, South Yorkshire

 

[dan pointon]

Super pics Dave, what kit do you use???

Dan

 

[Dave Adshead]

Dan,

I used a Canon 500mm lens with 1D Mk2 body, and I've cropped the photos to about 75% of their original size
Dave

 

[dan pointon]

They're cracking shots Dave, they're very crisp, normally with Spot Crakes it's a hit and run job and they're gone before your cameras even turned on!!! Good stuff.

Dan

 

[markho]

They're cracking shots Dave, they're very crisp, normally with Spot Crakes it's a hit and run job and they're gone before your cameras even turned on!!! Good stuff.

Dan

I hope to see one of these at the London WWT centre tomorrow. they say its giving good views believe it when I see it. Nice shots though , how far away were you Dan.

 

[dan pointon]

Mark - they're not my pics, they're Daves!!!!! Good luck for tomorrow.

Dan

 

[Dave Adshead]

Thanks Dan.
Right, Mark.
The bird was just in front of the hide, I would guesstimate approximately 10 - 12 metres. But, I am hopeless at distance.
It really kept showing itself, reeds and grass was never in the right place though, I actually got a photo of it wing stretching but with a large clump of reed across its head. Ah well.
Dave

 

[Tectortony]

Wonderfull shots Dave, I nearly went there yesterday, but I had jobs to do around the garden,oh well thats life !!!!

 

[markho]

Wonderfull shots Dave, I nearly went there yesterday, but I had jobs to do around the garden,oh well thats life !!!!

I went to the London WWT today and although I saw a Spotted Crake it was about 350 yds away and moving in and out of the reeds on the River Thames side of the scrape. And your right Dave I didn't realise either just how small they are. Even with my digiscoping kit zoomed in I still couldn't get any decent shots. But still very nice to see them (we have 2 at the London WWT ) right in the heart of Europes biggest city.

 

[Dave Adshead]

Hi Markho,
I like picture number one, I like to see photos that show the bird in its environment.
Yes, birds in the heart of London, I know exactly what you mean.
I live in sunny donny, over winter we have 2 or 3 Bitterns that come into a local nature reserve, just 2 miles from Doncaster town centre, and only two miles from where I live.
Best wishes,
Dave