Water Rail
Water Rail / rallus aquaticus. Attenborough, Nottinghamshire. 20/03/18.
'A SLEEPY TEASE'.
When I arrived at Attenborough one of the Water Rails was showing, busily searching for food at the dry end of the channel in rank vegetation. The area is almost directly below the footbridge leading to the Visitor Centre so doesn't offer a good PoV for image making.
Eventually it dashed along the right hand side of the channel to the edge of the gravel pit where it settled. Partially hidden by brambles and dead stems, it obviously felt safe. Puffing out its feathers it had a prolonged sleep, teasing its expectant audience.
In this image you can see the eye is almost completely covered by the nictitating membrane.
BEST VIEWED LARGE.
Even through the screen of stems, it's red beak gave its position away! I kept an eye on it for over an hour and was eventually rewarded with more feeding action out in the open.
Water Rail
Water Rail / rallus aquaticus. Attenborough, Nottinghamshire. 20/03/18.
'A SLEEPY TEASE'.
When I arrived at Attenborough one of the Water Rails was showing, busily searching for food at the dry end of the channel in rank vegetation. The area is almost directly below the footbridge leading to the Visitor Centre so doesn't offer a good PoV for image making.
Eventually it dashed along the right hand side of the channel to the edge of the gravel pit where it settled. Partially hidden by brambles and dead stems, it obviously felt safe. Puffing out its feathers it had a prolonged sleep, teasing its expectant audience.
In this image you can see the eye is almost completely covered by the nictitating membrane.
BEST VIEWED LARGE.
Even through the screen of stems, it's red beak gave its position away! I kept an eye on it for over an hour and was eventually rewarded with more feeding action out in the open.