2010
SM9737 : Dead water rail (Rallus aquaticus)
taken 13 years ago, near to Llanychaer, Pembrokeshire/Sir Benfro, Wales
Dead water rail (Rallus aquaticus)
I wish it could have been an image of the live bird but regrettably this one fell prey to a cat as has happened on a few occasions. These shy and secretive birds, although commoner along the east coast, frequent the marshy watercourses of the surrounding fields in winter here in North Pembrokeshire. They are particularly vulnerable in frosty weather when the wet areas freeze up and, no longer able to probe the mud for insects, they are forced out of hiding to search for food, sometimes reaching the point of starvation.
Water rails have evolved some unusual features: their bodies are laterally flattened to enable them to slip easily through the reeds, and, although seldom seen, they betray their presence by a range of peculiar sounds (grunting, squealing etc.) known as 'sharming' - listen to it here
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More about them here
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