The freezing weather we have had recently makes life pretty tough for creatures that rely on access to open water to make a living. The lake and the reedbeds in the reserve have been frozen this week, making things difficult for birds that live in the reeds, especially those that can't fly far. Water rails are normally fairly shy and reluctant to come out into the open but I saw half a dozen as they risked coming out onto the ice to dash from one reed bed to another. There were plenty of fox tracks around so they were right to be wary.
The water rail is a smaller, slimmer and smarter looking relative of the moorhen. Here is a moorhen for comparison.
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