Normally elusive and shy, one of our resident water rails has been parading up and down the ditch that runs along the west side of the main path to the beach. It seems oblivious to visitors walking past just ten feet away. Needless to say the photographers have been filling their boots and their memory cards. Water rails are resident on the reserve and a handful breed in our reedbed.
Most of the time they feed on insects and vegetation but cold weather is known to bring out a darker carnivorous side to their behaviour. I have seen them picking at the dead corpse of a mallard and they have also been known to take live birds....impaling prey on their stiletto-like bill being a favourite option!